Archaeological and environmental change on prehistoric Dartmoor - Current understanding and future directions

Although Dartmoor appears an ideal location for combined archaeological and palaeoecological study there are considerable periods of prehistory fbr wh ich understanding of landscape change remains poor. Proposed models of vege tation change during the Mesolithic period are discussed, but particular em phasis is given to the dearth of knowledge about the Neolithic as a whole, the termination of the use of the reaves and associated field and settlemen t systems, and the ensuing late Bronze Age and Iron Age, during which it is assumed that much of Dartmoor became depopulated. From an examination of p resent understanding and archaeological/palaeoecological potential, it is a rgued that significant advances will only be made by fresh excavations empl oying a range of modern techniques, which target specific questions, especi ally those relating to improved chronological understanding.