Source/Archive record SCH8608 - Hunting for the Gatherers and Early Farmers of Cheshire: An Investigation of Prehistoric Land Use in Chapel Field, Poulton

Article examining the residual assemblage of flint, chert and stone tools recovered during the excavation of a multi-period site located within Chapel Field, Poulton. Analysis has revealed early Mesolithic activity on the plateau overlooking the floodplain of the Pulford Brook and River Dee in the form of seasonal hunter-gatherer camps. The presence of possible late Mesolithic, early Neolithic and Bronze Age tools indicates reuse of the site. Further finds of a Neolithic plished stone axe and decorated stone plaque are notable for their rarity in this part of Cheshire. The level of interpretation that can be attained is limited by the absence of stratified material but is nevertheless important given that the nature of early prehistoric land use is still poorly understood in lowland Cheshire. The outstanding survival of later occupation suggests that better quality evidence of early prehistoric activity may be preserved elsewhere in the field, presenting the opportunity to increase our understanding of these elusive human groups.