Lake and crannog: A 2500-year palaeoenvironmental record of continuity and change in NE Scotland

Wetland environments have been important resources for human habitation since prehistoric times and in parts of northern Europe these witnessed the construction artificial islet settlements, known as ‘crannogs’ Scotland Ireland. This paper presents a high-resolution multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental study from Loch Leys, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, site recently excavated crannog that provides chronological context its inhabitation. The combined datasets demonstrate first occupation AD 20–210 coincided not only with transitional phase lake to wetland (mire) but also timing major Roman campaigns northeast Scotland. Techniques including microfossil analysis, geochemistry, IR-spectroscopy physical properties integrated archaeological historical records helped better define both natural changes took place environment activity (agriculture, fires, metal working) spanning Iron Age through present. has allowed understanding responses existing communities military (e.g. continuity or change land use) well exploited frontier zones during post eras. wider significance just other had similar frontiers conflict period.