Direct age evidence for Early Middle and Late Upper Palaeolithic archaeology at Richings Park (Langley, England): implications for the chronology of the Middle Thames

Shaw, Andrew, Scott, Beccy and Toms, Phillip ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2149-046X (2026) Direct age evidence for Early Middle and Late Upper Palaeolithic archaeology at Richings Park (Langley, England): implications for the chronology of the Middle Thames. Journal of Quaternary Science. (In Press)

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Abstract

Pleistocene deposits of the Middle Thames terraces and the Langley Silt Complex (LSC) contain Middle and Upper Palaeolithic archaeology. Investigation of these archaeological records and their implications for regional and north European settlement history have been limited by an absence of direct dating, mischaracterisations of the LSC, and partial understanding of context. Work at Richings Park has provided a new stratigraphic and chronological framework, based on absolute dates. Reassessment of the Middle and Late Upper Palaeolithic archaeology from the area illustrates that, rather than dating to late Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 8/early MIS 7, the Early Middle Palaeolithic (EMP) archaeology probably dates to MIS 7. This challenges existing English settlement models and suggests closer correlation with northern European patterns. Additionally, the results address mischaracterisation of the LSC as dating to MIS 2 and having minimal potential to contain archaeology; the LSC in this location comprises sediments lain down by a range of processes, from at least MIS 5c–a onwards, and contains significant, largely overlooked Late Middle and Late Upper Palaeolithic archaeology.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Pleistocene; Palaeolithic; Middle Thames terraces; Langley Silt Complex
Subjects:	C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human geography. Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Arts, Culture and Environment
Depositing User:	Phillip Toms
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2026 11:55
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2026 12:00
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16623

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