

Managing Lithic Scatters: Archaeological guidance for planning authorities and developers

Lithic scatters are an important part of the archaeological record. These are sites where prehistoric stone artefacts are found exposed, usually on the modern ground surface, having been disturbed from their original context and 'scattered' by natural or agricultural processes. In some cases prehistoric sites were disturbed by ploughing in the Roman period, and then covered by alluvium or colluvium over some 2000 years. Here scatters will often survive beneath the depth of modern ploughing.

Once analysed, lithic scatters can contribute significantly to understanding settlement and land-use strategies between the Palaeolithic and Bronze Age periods, while for some periods, notably the Early Neolithic, scatters are the only significant evidence for the location of occupation sites.

Additional Information

  • Series: Guidance
  • Publication Status: Completed
  • Product Code: XH20158



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