Iron Age flint utilisation in central and southern Britain : the last "Stone Age"? : an integrated theoretical and empirical study

The shed light on past social and economic processes it is crucial to analyze the ways in which past societies absorb and develop new technologies. It is generally thought that technological development is a linear process, particularly in prehistory and the British Iron Age is a very useful period in which to address and challenge this accepted notion. It has previously been argued that flint tools and technology ceased at the end of the Bronze Age, being replaced by metals. Close scrutiny of excavation records in fact reveals the fallacy of such arguments and this thesis seeks to challenge these assumptions by establishing that flint definitely was used in the Iron Age. Most archaeologists are unaware of the existence of contemporary lithics as a significant component of Iron Age artefact repertories. As such, there is no Iron Age lithic typology which might facilitate the study and identification of this very late lithic material. This study provides fresh insights into Iron Age studies that have previously been neglected and sets out to establish a fluid typology where Iron Age flint assemblages can be recognised and recorded, to explore who was producing and using the flint artefacts and what they were using them for. Thus, this thesis provides an in-depth re-analysis of the flint materials from a catalogue of sites with potential Iron Age assemblages, a re-consideration of Iron Age material cultures, and a wider theoretical analysis of social and material transitions from the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age. It is believed that the new information and hypothesis resulting from this study will greatly increase our understanding of the diversity and complexity of technological change and maximise our data resources, both of which will impact on our existing and future research on wider issues of social and economic practices.