This thesis research involves a macrofossil analysis of late Mesolithic – early Neolithic sediment horizons from the rare remains of a submerged forest site at the Bay of Ireland on west-Mainland...Show moreThis thesis research involves a macrofossil analysis of late Mesolithic – early Neolithic sediment horizons from the rare remains of a submerged forest site at the Bay of Ireland on west-Mainland Orkney. It serves as part of a wider, multidisciplinary investigation of Orkney’s early prehistoric environment. The results of the analysis facilitated a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction that indicated the presence of a late Mesolithic tidal saltmarsh. The data also suggested that, due to Orkney’s prevalent stormy weather, the formation of a coastal barrier initiated the saltmarsh’s evolution into a freshwater wetland. By the early Neolithic, the site consisted of a partially wooded fen. Throughout this process human activity does not appear to have affected the local vegetation, though some animal grazing may have occurred. Comparison with other Orcadian palaeoenvironmental work revealed this vegetational ecology and succession to be a recurrent feature of Orkney’s early prehistoric environment. Three investigations conducted at other bays around the Mainland also described similar floristic communities that underwent comparable transformations due to the same process of coastal morphology. Significantly, two of these sites, like the Bay of Ireland, did not indicate any anthropogenic influence on the vegetation until after the onset of the Neolithic period. The results of this thesis research tentatively suggest that while saltmarshes may have comprised a type of common ground within the early prehistoric Orcadian landscape, they did not constitute important exploitation environments to the first settlers of the Orkney Isles. Future research is recommended to test this hypothesis.Show less
