The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka
This paper introduces the aims and scope of the RESET project (RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions), a programme of research funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK) between 2008 and 2013; it also provides the context and rationale for papers included in a special v...
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Language: | English |
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Online Access: | https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/719f170a-86ba-4f66-889a-1efbab50e2ef https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 |
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ftumanchesterpub:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/719f170a-86ba-4f66-889a-1efbab50e2ef 2023-11-12T04:18:05+01:00 The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka Lowe, John J. Ramsey, Christopher Bronk Housley, Rupert A. Lane, Christine S. Tomlinson, Emma L. 2015-06-15 https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/719f170a-86ba-4f66-889a-1efbab50e2ef https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Lowe , J J , Ramsey , C B , Housley , R A , Lane , C S , Tomlinson , E L , RESET Team & RESET Associates 2015 , ' The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka ' , Quaternary Science Reviews , vol. 118 , pp. 1-17 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 Last Glacial stage; Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events; Abrupt environmental transitions (AETs); Middle to Upper Palaeolithic; Volcanic ash isochrons; Tephra geochemistry; Tephra database article 2015 ftumanchesterpub https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 2023-10-30T09:15:32Z This paper introduces the aims and scope of the RESET project (RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions), a programme of research funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK) between 2008 and 2013; it also provides the context and rationale for papers included in a special volume of Quaternary Science Reviews that report some of the project's findings. RESET examined the chronological and correlation methods employed to establish causal links between the timing of abrupt environmental transitions (AETs) on the one hand, and of human dispersal and development on the other, with a focus on the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods. The period of interest is the Last Glacial cycle and the early Holocene (c. 100–8 ka), during which time a number of pronounced AETs occurred. A long-running topic of debate is the degree to which human history in Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Palaeolithic was shaped by these AETs, but this has proved difficult to assess because of poor dating control. In an attempt to move the science forward, RESET examined the potential that tephra isochrons, and in particular non-visible ash layers (cryptotephras), might offer for synchronising palaeo-records with a greater degree of finesse. New tephrostratigraphical data generated by the project augment previously-established tephra frameworks for the region, and underpin a more evolved tephra ‘lattice’ that links palaeo-records between Greenland, the European mainland, sub-marine sequences in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The paper also outlines the significance of other contributions to this special volume: collectively, these illustrate how the lattice was constructed, how it links with cognate tephra research in Europe and elsewhere, and how the evidence of tephra isochrons is beginning to challenge long-held views about the impacts of environmental change on humans during the Palaeolithic. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland The University of Manchester: Research Explorer Greenland Quaternary Science Reviews 118 1 17 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Manchester: Research Explorer |
op_collection_id |
ftumanchesterpub |
language |
English |
topic |
Last Glacial stage; Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events; Abrupt environmental transitions (AETs); Middle to Upper Palaeolithic; Volcanic ash isochrons; Tephra geochemistry; Tephra database |
spellingShingle |
Last Glacial stage; Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events; Abrupt environmental transitions (AETs); Middle to Upper Palaeolithic; Volcanic ash isochrons; Tephra geochemistry; Tephra database Lowe, John J. Ramsey, Christopher Bronk Housley, Rupert A. Lane, Christine S. Tomlinson, Emma L. The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
topic_facet |
Last Glacial stage; Dansgaard–Oeschger and Heinrich events; Abrupt environmental transitions (AETs); Middle to Upper Palaeolithic; Volcanic ash isochrons; Tephra geochemistry; Tephra database |
description |
This paper introduces the aims and scope of the RESET project (RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions), a programme of research funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK) between 2008 and 2013; it also provides the context and rationale for papers included in a special volume of Quaternary Science Reviews that report some of the project's findings. RESET examined the chronological and correlation methods employed to establish causal links between the timing of abrupt environmental transitions (AETs) on the one hand, and of human dispersal and development on the other, with a focus on the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods. The period of interest is the Last Glacial cycle and the early Holocene (c. 100–8 ka), during which time a number of pronounced AETs occurred. A long-running topic of debate is the degree to which human history in Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Palaeolithic was shaped by these AETs, but this has proved difficult to assess because of poor dating control. In an attempt to move the science forward, RESET examined the potential that tephra isochrons, and in particular non-visible ash layers (cryptotephras), might offer for synchronising palaeo-records with a greater degree of finesse. New tephrostratigraphical data generated by the project augment previously-established tephra frameworks for the region, and underpin a more evolved tephra ‘lattice’ that links palaeo-records between Greenland, the European mainland, sub-marine sequences in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The paper also outlines the significance of other contributions to this special volume: collectively, these illustrate how the lattice was constructed, how it links with cognate tephra research in Europe and elsewhere, and how the evidence of tephra isochrons is beginning to challenge long-held views about the impacts of environmental change on humans during the Palaeolithic. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lowe, John J. Ramsey, Christopher Bronk Housley, Rupert A. Lane, Christine S. Tomlinson, Emma L. |
author_facet |
Lowe, John J. Ramsey, Christopher Bronk Housley, Rupert A. Lane, Christine S. Tomlinson, Emma L. |
author_sort |
Lowe, John J. |
title |
The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
title_short |
The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
title_full |
The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
title_fullStr |
The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
title_full_unstemmed |
The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
title_sort |
reset project: constructing a european tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/719f170a-86ba-4f66-889a-1efbab50e2ef https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland |
op_source |
Lowe , J J , Ramsey , C B , Housley , R A , Lane , C S , Tomlinson , E L , RESET Team & RESET Associates 2015 , ' The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka ' , Quaternary Science Reviews , vol. 118 , pp. 1-17 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.04.006 |
container_title |
Quaternary Science Reviews |
container_volume |
118 |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
17 |
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1782334796682231808 |