5.2 A large and rich site complex
Thus far every surveyed sub-zone of the Liereman Landscape yielded artefacts (table 4). The artefact density varies, with in general more artefacts and cores containing artefacts at higher zones (see e.g. fig. 5a). The association of finds with the more elevated areas recurs at all comparable sites in the Campine region, indicating a strong correlation with the natural topography (Arts 1988; Deeben 1992; Van Gils & De Bie 2008; De Bie & Van Gils 2009). Based on extent and nature, they should be considered site complexes rather than large sites (De Bie & Van Gils 2009). By analogy with these site complexes, the presence of artefacts in every surveyed sub-zone indicates that the Korhaan site in fact is part of an extensive and continuous site complex. It stretches along the wet depressions, over a length of approximately 3 km (Meirsman et al. 2008). This seems, moreover, valid for both the Final Palaeolithic and Mesolithic occupation. While the auger and survey finds confirm a stratigraphic distinction between both, no clear spatial distinction can be observed. Additional fieldwork is however needed to reliably date the artefact concentrations.
|
cores |
cores containing |
lithic artefacts | |
|
lithic artefacts | |||
|
n |
n |
n | |
|
zone 1 |
28 |
3 |
3 |
|
zone 2 |
34 |
8 |
10 |
|
zone 3 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
|
zone 4 |
958 |
189 |
481 |
|
total |
1029 |
202 |
496 |
Table 4 Corings and finds of lithic artefacts in zones 1 to 4.
The finds are, however, not restricted to the southern, higher dune ridge. The up to 1.5 m lower interdune areas, northwest of the Korhaan ridge, also yielded artefacts and in the wider landscape several findspots have been located through field walking (fig. 1: 9-11). Sometimes these surface finds were confirmed by finds in drillings (Van Gils & De Bie 2002; Van Gils et al. 2009).
All these findspots, including the earlier finds and those gathered during the recent augering campaigns, reveal the human exploitation of the wider landscape. They show that the Korhaan site complex forms part of an extensive Stone Age occupation area of at least 150 ha.
Based on the present data, the occupation intensity in this landscape can be roughly estimated by comparing the percentage of cores containing artefacts, the number of finds per core containing artefacts and the maximum number of finds in a single core. As can be expected, most indicators for an intense occupation can be found on the southern ridge, overlooking the southern fens. At those places, the auger finds possibly reflect cumulative or spatial palimpsests (see Bailey 2007).
Some variability can be observed across this ridge. New and extensive excavations may reveal whether this variability is connected with the particular characteristics or ecological conditions of the ridge at a certain moment in time or rather a random variability resulting from the accumulation of site remains in an extensive but ecologically largely uniform area. New fieldwork is also needed to characterise and date the findspots in the lower lying periphery of this ridge, but their lower number and distribution over a wide area make it possible that these are the result of single occupation events, the total of which more or less corresponds to what Zvelebil et al. (1992) define under the term ‘lithic landscape’.
The Korhaan site complex yielded the richest dataset in terms of density of the prehistoric occupation, as compared to similar sites in the Campine region and based on the aforementioned criteria. Only Meer Meirberg and Lommel Molse Nete offer a comparable context (table 5).
|
site |
cores |
cores |
cores |
lithic |
lithic |
max. |
|
containing |
containing |
artefacts |
artefacts |
artefacts | ||
|
lithic |
lithic |
per core |
per core | |||
|
artefacts |
artefacts |
containing | ||||
|
artefacts | ||||||
|
n |
n |
% |
n |
n |
n | |
|
Landschap De Liereman Duinengordel |
1029 |
202 |
20 |
496 |
2,46 |
80 |
|
Lommel Molse Nete 2003 |
188 |
46 |
24 |
120 |
2,61 |
26 |
|
Meer Meirberg |
2045 |
360 |
18 |
859 |
2,39 |
28 |
|
Ravels Witgoor |
1462 |
65 |
4 |
115 |
1,77 |
10 |
|
Opglabbeek Ruiterskuilen |
1396 |
66 |
5 |
102 |
1,55 |
5 |
|
Wuustwezel Het Moerken |
467 |
42 |
9 |
57 |
1,36 |
3 |
Table 5 Comparison of intensively surveyed site complexes in the Campine region showing occupational intensity. The proportion of cores containing artefacts, the number of finds per core containing artefacts and the maximum number of finds in a single core may not be the best criteria since they can be affected by the sampling strategy at each site, but they do offer a good indication when combined.