There is a long tradition of geographers at Plymouth University working alongside archaeologists to understand past human-environment interactions. We focus on reconstructing past environments through examination of ecofacts recovered from excavated sites or from sedimentary deposits close by. These ecofacts include pollen and plant remains, spores from dung fungi, and insect remains. Together these help to understand past landscape character and management.
The Hangingstone Hill model is from excavations led by Dartmoor National Park archaeologists in 2016. Geographer Ralph Fyfe has taken samples from the trench for dating and pollen analysis. The site is a cairn from the Bronze Age, built between 4-3,000 years ago. It lies on one of the highest parts of Dartmoor. Cairns are associated with burials. This cairn is being investigated as part of a wider project to understand the nature of activities during prehistory on Dartmoor. Placing such monuments within their correct environmental context is crucial.
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