Durrington Walls to West Amesbury by way of Stonehenge: a major transformation of the Holocene landscape

A major transformation of the Holocene landscape around Stonehenge, Avebury, and associated sites has been revealed through sediment analysis, pollen data, and molluscan studies conducted during the Stonehenge Riverside Project. The research shows that while early post-glacial vegetation was slow to establish, human activities began to significantly alter the landscape around 2900 cal BC, coinciding with the rise of Neolithic settlements like Durrington Walls and Stonehenge. This period marked a shift from intermittent woodland modification to a more open downland with increased anthropogenic activity, including tree clearance and wet floodplain development. The landscape remained stable and managed through the Neolithic and Bronze Age but was completely cleared around 800–500 cal BC, except for marshy fringes, due to intensified arable agriculture. These findings highlight the profound impact of human settlement on the region's ecology during prehistoric times.

French, C., Scaife, R., Allen, M. J., Parker Pearson, M., Pollard, J., Richards, C., Thomas, J., & Welham, K. (2012). Durrington Walls to West Amesbury by way of Stonehenge: a major transformation of the Holocene landscape. The Antiquaries Journal, 92, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003581512000704