Mesolithic
No materials from Ebbor Gorge have been attributed to the Mesolithic. This is possibly surprising. While the shallow rock-shelters at Ebbor would have offered little protection from the cold in the Palaeolithic, during the milder conditions in the Mesolithic the same sites would have been more attractive. Besides, whereas the nearest known Palaeolithic occupation sites are at Wookey Hole, flint scatters attributed to the Mesolithic have been found in fields right on the edge of Ebbor Gorge (see the Somerset HER record PRN 24450). Similarly, there are no pollen studies from Ebbor to show the changing climate, but two are available for the Wookey Hole sites; Badger Hole and Hyena Den, reported by Campbell (1977). They both show a similar pattern. During the Full Glacial the dominant vegetation was made up of herbs and ferns, with some Juniperus and Salix. In the Late Glacial there was an increase in Pinus and Betula, and a corresponding decline in the herbs and ferns. In the Post Glacial period, the amount of Corylus increased, and together with Pinus and Betula, tree pollen made up 60% of the total pollen. |
