HUNTER GATHERERS ON EXMOOR

Archaeologists have recently been unearthing the traces of Exmoor's oldest inhabitants.

Working on remote moorland at Larkbarrow near Exford they have discovered flint tools which were left there between 6000 and 8000 years ago by hunter gatherers who visited and lived in and around Exmoor, exploiting its natural resources in order to survive. The preservation of such ancient remains is highly unusual and follows on from recent excavations by the University of Bristol and Exmoor National Park Authority at the remarkable 8000 year old site at Hawkcombe Head a little over a mile away.

Exmoor National Park Authority's Historic Environment Manager, Rob Wilson-North, said that the Larkbarrow excavations had been run by Exmoor National Park Authority with a team of volunteer diggers to establish the approximate date of the site but that more work is needed there to fully understand it. He added that without doubt it is an archaeological site of national importance.”  

During the excavations children from Exford Primary School, Dulverton Middle School and St Michael's School, Tawstock visited the site and were able to learn about and experience a range of archaeological techniques at first hand. Heather Adams from the University of Plymouth demonstrated how Exmoor's peat can be read like a document to reveal the past. Heather is studying Exmoor mires with part funding from Exmoor's Sustainable Development Fund and showed the children how peat can also be a record of past climate change.

The children also learnt how to look at the changing landscape through air photographs from Exmoor's National Mapping Programme's Katherine Toms who showed how military activity during WWII had altered the look of the area.

Jessica Turner, Conservation Adviser (Archaeology) for Exmoor National Park Authority said: It has been really rewarding to see over 70 children from local schools learning about archaeology by actually doing it. We have been able to teach them how to use a trowel like real archaeologists and also to show them some of the skills of their hunter gatherer ancestors from expert flint knapper Karl Lee.”