The Discovery of Mesolithic Red Deer at Skipsea Withow

Abstract

Skipsea Withow is well known for producing a barbed point and faunal remains, thought to date to the Early Mesolithic period, over a century ago. More recently bones were recovered from the eroding cliff face and have been analysed. Although it was considered that they might be elk (Alces alces) due to their large size, it was demonstrated that they are red deer (Cervus elaphus). Further examination suggested that they represent two individuals of slightly different ages. They have been dated to the Early Mesolithic period and the dates overlap with those obtained from the well-known site of Star Carr, located further north in the Vale of Pickering. It is considered unlikely that the red deer bones from Skipsea Withow represent two natural deaths on the edge of the mere, and it is possible that they are the remains of humanly deposited bones; a practice seen at Star Carr.

Keywords:

• Skipsea Withow
• red deer
• Mesolithic
• Preboreal
• Star Carr
• barbed point

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Terry O’Connor for giving a second opinion on the faunal analysis, particularly in terms of identifying two individuals. We are very grateful to Alex Bayliss for help in selecting bone for radiocarbon dating and drilling out a sample and to Gordon Cook at SUERC for his help.