Hunter-Gatherers in an Upland Landscape: The Mesolithic Period in North East Yorkshire

The body of evidence, both archaeological and palaeoenvironmental, for Mesolithic occupation in the North York Moors and adjacent Tees Valley was collated and assessed by the North East Yorkshire Mesolithic project (2006–2014). Five sites in different topographic locations were evaluated by the project, which also included monitoring footpath erosion in key locations in order to verify and extend the known distribution of sites. Almost 50 years on from Jeff Radley’s account of the Mesolithic period in North East Yorkshire, the project’s results provide an opportunity to review the evidence. Knowledge of site distributions across this landscape has increased and understanding of the nature of the occupation has improved but there are still questions to be answered. Directions for future research are suggested, but it may be only with detailed site investigation that we will be able to make significant advances in our understanding of Mesolithic activity within this landscape.