THE PREHISTORIC RIVERSIDE SETTLEMENT AT RUNNYMEDE, SURREY: THE BOTANICAL STORY (FINAL REPORT).
Author(s): J R A Greig
The Middle-Late Neolithic and Late Bronze Age botanical evidence is very good from this waterlogged material, which was rich in plant remains. There are waterlogged and charred macrofossils and an extensive pollen flora too. The flora indicates the following main vegetation groups: aquatic plants, both bankside and marshland ones which are likely to have been growing close by or at the river's edge. There are many weeds, especially those which grow on light sandy soils. There are grassland plants with habitat indications ranging from damp fen or marshy grassland through to dry chalk grassland, the latter possibly having been brought to the site with animal fodder. Woodland includes alder/oak forest and some scrub around the site, and lime/elm wildwood on drier land, reduced by the late Bronze Age. There is some pollen evidence of heathland. Crop plants were emmer and spelt wheats, a little barley and some rye, flax and perhaps peas. These may have been brought there from a distance. This report supercedes AML Report 193/87.
- Report Number:
- 40/1990
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 100
- Keywords:
- Plant Remains
