In 1990 a stone covered pit containing a Trevisker Ware vessel was found eroding from the cliffs at Harlyn Bay and excavated. The vessel contained cremated bone from several individuals with some animal bone, quartz pebbles, and a small bronze pendant. A radiocarbon date on the cremated bone fell in the range 2120–1880 cal bc and is a valuable addition to the small number of securely-dated Early Bronze Age burials in Cornwall with metalwork associations. This early date also makes a major contribution to the debate on the sequence of Trevisker Ware as the vessel, of gabbroic clay, has a band of incised chevron decoration. Lipid residue analysis showed traces of ruminant dairy fat. This paper examines the significance of unmounded burial sites in Cornwall and also assesses the importance of Early Bronze Age burials around Harlyn Bay which have produced an unusually wide range of artefacts.

Background The earliest records in Britain for the western European house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) date from the Late Bronze Age. The arrival of this commensal species in Britain is thought to be related to human transport and trade with continental Europe. In order to study this arrival, we collected a total of 16 ancient mouse mandibulae from four early British archaeological sites, ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period. Results From these, we obtained ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) house mouse sequences from eight house mice from two of the sites dating from the Late Bronze to Middle Iron Age. We also obtained five ancient mtDNA wood mouse (Apodemus spp.) sequences from all four sites. The ancient house mouse sequences found in this study were from haplogroups E (N = 6) and D (N = 2). Modern British house mouse mtDNA sequences are primarily characterised by haplogroups E and F and, much less commonly, haplogroup D. Conclusions The presence of haplogroups D and E in our samples and the dating of the archaeological sites provide evidence of an early house mouse colonisation that may relate to Late Bronze Age/Iron Age trade and/or human expansion. Our results confirm the hypothesis, based on zooarchaeological evidence and modern mtDNA predictions, that house mice, with haplogroups D and E, were established in Britain by the Iron Age and, in the case of haplogroup E, possibly as early as the Late Bronze Age.

The earliest records in Britain for the western house mouse ( Mus musculus domesticus ) date from the Late Bronze Age. As a commensal species, the arrival to Britain is suggested to be related with human transport and trade. In order to study the arrival of the species in Britain, we collected a total of 16 ancient mouse mandibulae from some of the rare early sites with the species in the four British archaeological sites, ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman period. From these, we obtained the first ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) house mouse sequences from the British Isles, including eight house mice from three different archaeological sites ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the Middle Iron Age. We also obtained five ancient mtDNA wood mouse ( Apodemus spp.) sequences from across all four sites. Modern British house mouse mtDNAs are primarily characterised by haplogroups E, F and, much less commonly, haplogroup D. The presence of haplogroups D and E in our samples provides evidence of an early house mouse colonisation that may be related with Late Bronze Age/Iron Age trade and/or expansions of humans. Our results confirm the hypothesis, based on zooarchaeological evidence and modern mtDNA predictions, that house mice with haplogroups D and E were established in Britain by the Iron Age and, in the case of haplogroup E, possibly even by the Late Bronze Age.

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Fields and field systems in later prehistoric British archaeology have generally been discussed in relation to territory or land tenure. They are also frequently assumed to relate purely to arable agriculture. Alongside this, we also tend not to situate livestock animals within landscapes. Increasingly, morphological features of fields can be identified as having use in animal handling. Consequently field system morphology, and changes to layouts over time, enable their re-examination in relation to pastoral and arable husbandry (and the interplay between them), and consideration as to why differing approaches may have been adopted within the same landscape at different times. This provides models which, focussing on pastoral husbandry, are potentially applicable to a range of places and periods.The second and first millennium BC bounded landscapes surrounding the hillfort at Cadbury, Castle, Somerset, UK, reveal an intimate relationship between the occupiers of the hillfort, sites in its environs, livestock, and the landscape. A series of different forms of land division and organisation from the earlier Bronze Age onwards can be compared with both faunal and plant macro-fossil data from within that landscape. Different forms of layout appear to reflect different types of strategy and approach in later prehistoric farming. During the second and first millennium BC changes can be observed between different forms of highly extensive pastoral farming and closely integrated and intensive systems. The explanation would seem to be more social than practical in origin, but discerning this is reliant on large scale field survey, and integration of multiple strands of information.