A long chronology for the British Late Middle Palaeolithic: MIS 5–MIS 3 occupation at Great Pan Farm (Isle of Wight, England)

Abstract

Human occupation of Britain during the Late Middle Palaeolithic (LMP) has been characterised as spanning a duration of only ten to fifteen thousand years between ∼50 and 37 ka BP during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and preceded with a period of human absence, potentially stretching from ∼165 to 130 Ka BP (MIS 6). New investigations at Great Pan Farm, Isle of Wight challenge this ‘short chronology’ for the LMP. Research, including lithostratigraphic revision, archaeological analysis and luminescence dating of sediments containing archaeology demonstrates two periods of human activity at the site. The earliest occurred during MIS 5 (115–84 Ka BP) and adds to more limited evidence from Dartford, Kent. It opens up a ‘long chronology’ for British LMP and the settlement history of the margins of northern Europe, relatable to more extensive regional datasets from northern France. The younger LMP archaeology from the site dates from ∼50 to 40 ka BP (early to mid MIS 3) and reflects the reoccupation of northern Europe after a period of climatic deterioration and abandonment.