Palaeoecological investigations of a site at Hampstead Heath, London

Abstract

OUR understanding of the vegetational history of Britain is based mainly on studies of peat-bogs, lake and kettlehole infills¹: away from areas where such deposits exist, there is a paucity of information². A multidisciplinary investigation of a deposit associated with a Mesolithic site on Hampstead Heath, North London, is providing rare evidence about man's effect on the vegetational succession of south-east England. The pollen spectrum indicates that Tilia rich forest existed until the elm decline, followed by continuing clearance episodes and heath formation. Seeds and beetle remains, which provide more precise information on local conditions, confirm the overall pattern of change from natural forest to cleared areas used for cultivation and grazing. The Mesolithic site of West Heath, Hampstead (TQ2566 8676), is being excavated by the Hendon and District Archaeological Society under the direction of Mr D. Collins³. The site stands on dry, acid Bagshot Sands, but environmental investigations have been carried out at West Heath Spa, a boggy area about 300 m to the south-east, where permanent waterlogging is maintained by a chalybeate spring. At this spot, samples for pollen, seed and insect analyses were collected at 5-cm intervals from below the modern root layer to a depth of 130 cm. Results of these studies are briefly described here.