Problems in Dating Stone-Age Settlements on Sandy Soils: The Hof Ten Damme Site Near Melsele, Belgium

Abstract

Archaeological sites on sandy soils often suffer from dislocation of artifacts and datable materials. Because stratigraphy and context lose their meaning in such cases, all 14C dates in this study were put in a dispersion diagram regardless of the sample origin. We drew conclusions about the chronology of the site by comparing this diagram with archaeological analysis of the artifacts and the evolution of the landscape. The dating series, as well as the archaeological analysis, suggest several occupation phases. In general, the archaeological chronology agrees with the 14C dates, although the two can be equated only with caution.

Onderzoeksbalans archeologie in Vlaanderen, versie 2, 19/05/2021: mesolithicum

“…Nieuw onderzoek op de Meirberg in Meer, waar in de voorgaande decennia opgravingen hadden plaatsgevonden die veel internationale 47 Parent et al 1987. 48 Crombé et al 1999Van Berg et al 1992;Van Hove 1988;Van Roeyen 1989;1993/4;Van Roeyen & Van Berg 1989;Van Strydonck et al 1995. 49 Crombé 1985bCrombé & Cnudde 1990;Fourny 2002.…”

The Site of Verrebroek ‘Dok’ and its Contribution to the Absolute Dating of the Mesolithic in the Low Countries

“…This sandy elevation in the lowlands of Flanders was intensively used during the stone ages, in particular during the Final Paleolithic and the Mesolithic, as can be demonstrated by the presence of numerous sites (Crombé 1998b:95-102). Sites situated on the eastern extremity of this sand ridge, such as the important sites of Melsele "Hof ten Damme" (Van Roeyen et al 1992;Van Strydonck et al 1995), Verrebroek "Dok" (Crombé et al in press) and the recently discovered site of Doel , are the only ones that are well-preserved. Peat and alluvial deposits from the river Scheldt have protected these sites against erosion and destruction.…”

Exploring Integrated Geophysics and Geotechnics as a Paleolandscape Reconstruction Tool: Archaeological Prospection of (Prehistoric) Sites Buried Deeply below the Scheldt Polders (NW Belgium)

“…At the start of the gradual drowning of the landscape, Mesolithic occupation clustered on levees (e.g. Van Strydonck et al, ) along the paleochannels of the Scheldt, leaving the alder carr peat land unoccupied. The basal peat formation was interrupted at the start of the Late Atlantic after a shorter Scheldt trajectory downstream had expanded the estuary further upstream (Vos and van Heeringen, ).…”