The Iron Age in the Plastic Age: Anthropocene signatures at Castell Henllys

Mytum, Harold ORCID: 0000-0002-0577-2064 and Meek, James (2021) The Iron Age in the Plastic Age: Anthropocene signatures at Castell Henllys ANTIQUITY, 95 (379). pp. 198-214. ISSN 0003-598X, 1745-1744

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Text AAM Mytum & Meek The Iron Age in the Plastic Age.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Plastic entering the archaeological and geological record may be the defining signature of the Anthropocene. Amidst the growing awareness of the role of plastic in marine pollution, this study demonstrates its terrestrial ubiquity. The excavation of two experimentally reconstructed roundhouses built on their original sites at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort, Wales, reveals evidence of 30 years of heritage interpretation and visitor activity. The nature and extent of the cultural material recovered accurately reflects known activities at this heritage site, but also reveals an unexpected amount of plastic debris in archaeological contexts, indicating how, even in well-managed contexts, plastic is entering terrestrial deposits.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Anthropocene, Iron Age, plastic, experimental archaeology, contemporary archaeology, heritage
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	14 Sep 2020 08:31
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 19:56
DOI:	10.15184/aqy.2020.237
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.237
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3100913
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.