Taking core samples of peat

A team of archaeologists led by Prof Steven Mithen of Reading University have been on Islay surveying for mesolithic sites.  They are pictured taking peat cores using a boring tool, building up a series of samples each of which is half a metre long.  The sample pictured was taken from a depth of four and a half metres.  Pollen analysis of the cores will hopefully enable determination of the changing vegetation types during the formation of the peat which has built up since the end of th last Ice Age, approximately 10-12,000 years ago.

Some good examples of mesolithic tools were also found during the surveys, including this flint core from whiich the flakes to make the characteristic lithic and microlithic tool assemblages were struck.

For those interested in the degree of commitment required to bring you these fascinating snippets your dedicated correspondent was literally up to his waist in a bog immediately prior to obtaining these photographs...

Yours damply

Carl