Archaeological synthesis research Flanders

Principal investigator

Veerle ROTS

Collaborators

Dries CNUTS, Sonja TOMASSO

Funding

Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed

Years

2019-2022

Project 2019

Functional investigation of Late Paleolithic and Early Mesolithic sites in Flanders (Functioneel onderzoek van Laat-Paleolithische en Vroeg-Mesolithische sites in Vlaanderen)

Summary project 2019

This project is made possible thanks to a subsidy from the Flemish Government in the framework of archaeological synthesis research. The goal of the project is to perform a functional analysis of a selection of prehistoric sites in Flanders (i.e. Lommel-Maatheide, Tongeren-Plinius, Meeuwen-Monnikswijer and Beveren-Schoorhavenweg) to improve our insight in the effect of excavation and processing strategies on trace preservation, to evaluate the potential of these sites for residue analysis, and to gain insight into tool use and site function. The results of this project are now published as the first volume of a new series SYNTAR, which can be accessed on-line.

More detailed information on the project in Dutch.

Project 2021

From micro to macro: understanding the presence of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups in the Lower Scheldt region through techno-functional research.

Summary project 2021

The aim of this project is to get a better understanding of the techno-functional variability throughout the Mesolithic and of the site functions, in particular the existence of craft activities linked to the specific landscape context of the Lower Scheldt basin, through extensive techno-functional research. The Beveren LPWW site takes a central position as previous research showed its very high potential and due its interesting location within the Scheldt polders. The functional results of Beveren LPWW will be compared with that of Moerbeke-Terwest and Heindonk-Tien Vierendelen that are located just outside the Scheldt polders.

The project will be executed by Dries Cnuts, Sonja Tomasso and Christian Lepers in close collaboration with Yves Perdaen of BAAC Flanders and Carole Cheval of Arkeodidacte. The research project is funded by a grant for archaeological synthesis research 2021.