Mesolithic stone tools are the subject of a new PhD research project being undertaken by UHI Archaeology Institute graduate Lucille Rodrigues.
Lucille moved from Norfolk to Orkney in 2022 to study an MLitt in Archaeological studies and will be graduating in September this year. For her masters dissertation, she studied part of Mesolithic assemblage from Linkshouse, in Stronsay, and will begin her PhD in October.
The prestigious SGSAH-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award is in partnership with National Museums Scotland (NMS), where Lucille will spend time on placement during her studies.
Entitled Finding Mesolithic Time: assessing Scotland’s Mesolithic stone tools as an international heritage resource, the project will bring together Scotland’s leading experts in early prehistory for the first time, address a recognised skills gap within the heritage sector, and help NMS prepare for the redesign of its Early People gallery.
The Scottish Mesolithic spans c.5600 years of hunter-gatherer activity, prior to the arrival of agricultural practices around 4000BC. The period saw oceans rise, coastlines change, and different groups of people move into and through ever-changing landscapes. As they did so, they brought with them new ideas and technologies, and altered their environments to suit their needs.
Significant advances have been made in our understanding of Mesolithic Scotland in the 26 years since the NMS’ Early People gallery was last updated, and these need to be reflected in the museum’s new gallery.
Chipped stone artefacts (or lithics) form the core archaeological material for Mesolithic – performing a multitude of functions including crafting tools, knives, plant processors and arrow tips.
Lucille will draw from understudied NMS collections and previously overlooked regional assemblages to analyse Mesolithic tools from two areas – southern Scotland (Dumfries & Galloway, the Borders, East and Midlothian) and North Highland and the Northern Isles. These collections are held by both the NMS and a string of regional museums, and their detailed study will allow them to be compared with collections from elsewhere in Scotland, Britain, and north-west Europe.
Supervising Lucille during her project with be Dr Ben Elliott (UHI Archaeology Institute), Dr Nyree Finlay (University of Glasgow) and Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark (National Museums of Scotland’s senior curator of early prehistory).
Welcoming the news, Dr Ben Elliott said: “It is brilliant to be recognised by SGSAH with this nationally-prestigious doctorial award, and I’m thrilled to be working with Lucille, Nyree and Hugo on this very exciting project. We can’t wait to get started.”
Lucille added: “I am delighted to be continuing my studies at UHI Orkney through such a fantastic PhD opportunity and look forward to unearthing more about Orkney’s Mesolithic past with the support of my supervisors, SGSAH and National Museums Scotland.”
