Did A TSUNAMI Reduce Britain’s MESOLITHIC Population?

A new study uses statistical modelling to estimate how the Storegga tsunami in the Norwegian Sea 8,000 years ago impacted the Mesolithic population of Northern Britain. Much of the evidence for Mesolithic sites comes from coastal and estuarine areas which were resource-rich zones for hunter gatherers. This would have put Mesolithic groups at more risk from tsunamis. The study looks specifically at the sites of Howick and Low Hauxley in Northumbria.

#ancienthistory #mesolithic #prehistory

✨ IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Modelling Palaeotsunamis
02:29 Mesolithic Life
04:11 Howick and Low Hauxley
07:15 Population Impacts

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✨ REFERENCES

Sharrocks, P.D. and Hill, J., 2023. Evaluating the impact of the Storegga tsunami on Mesolithic communities in Northumberland. Journal of Quaternary Science.

✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS

Location of the Storegga slide, locations of Mesolithic sites in Northern Britain, aerial view of Howick and inundation modelling at Core A and Core B credit: Sharrocks, P.D. and Hill, J. in the paper referenced above.

Drawing of Star Carr pendant, credit: Milner, N. et. al.

Tsunami deposits, credit: Stozy10
Star Carr headdress, credit: Jonathan Cardy
8.2-ka event, credit: Giorgiogp2 

Reconstruction of a Mesolithic house at Howick, credit: Andrew Curtis

[MegalithHunter]

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[barrywalser]

I would say that, taking all the factors into account, the tsunami would have reduced the population. It almost certainly would have in those coastal regions. Even if it didn’t kill a large number of individuals, it may have caused them to move further inland. As you said, they would have never experienced anything like that before and might have abandoned affected areas. Very interesting. Thanks for all you do Laura! Much appreciated.

[eckligt]

As a Norwegian I also wonder how the tsunami would have interacted with our very fractured and complex coastline, and how it would have behaved entering the fjords.

[dieterschonefeld]

Have been thinking: Is it possible that a big meteor going down in the arctic sea initiated both the landslide and the reduction of sunlight plus the dropping in temperature for a period of time, because i read somewhere that there was no tsunami in the south arctic regions but a less severe "little ice age" without the peak in the beginning of it. Thank You for sharing!

[megalithicmason]

Fascinating info. The sudden drop in temperature is particularly relevant to what would happen during a pole shift (if several volcanoes exploded simultaneously).

[chrisbricky]

Great analysis, and breakdown. Thank you for your hard work and sharing the love you have for this subject.

Chris

[marenpurves]

Laura (and community here), you have gotten a great community assembled here, congrats!

[Wolffjord]

It is very likely that the coast line of the British isles may have extended far more than today: those areas were sure devastated by the tsunami.
Hunter gatherers always exploited those costal areas, so the effect on population was very substantia: they wouldn't have anywhere to run for safety.
The areas father inland, if affected as it looks from the geological evidence, would have experienced a great level of destruction.
Apart the direct death from the wave, but also for the loss of the ecosystem they were used to.
In my view the wave would have stripped the land and deposited a quantity of salt that would have greatly decreased the availability for food in the area, for several years.

[Particleman]

Great Video. Watching from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

[storkythepunk]

Great video, those people really did live on the edge, I would like to believe that communities helped each other out though in times of crisis much as they do today, I don't think that I would like to have lived in those times, scary.

[david_v.]

Wondering if Mount Sandel would've escaped the full force of the tsunami being sheltered behind the main landmass of Britain...it's an awesome wee site, easy to let the mind wander back in time when there!

[ChristaFree]

Doggerland completely disappeared with the tsunami

[martinsigley]

What is today Somerset was inundated in the 1300's by a storm surge. That had the effect of destroying all crops and salting the land. There can be no doubt that this happened many times. This would make all affected to move away.

[vulpesvulpes]

Well! That’s a tough deal! Having all the hazel nut hulls washed out from under your bed!

[judewarner]

While his inferences, based on the paleontological evidence he accumulated, were clearly faulty, Immanuel Velikovsy cites evidence of crushed and smashed mixed bones of temperate and tropical animals in Yorkshire caves, carried there by one or more tsunamis.

It appears that there is a record of tsunamis, which we have barely delved into. The one referred to above must have come from the south, rather than the north, considering the mix of animals involved.

Since the richest variety of species is usually found in the transition zones between ecosystems and historically and today, worldwide, the greatest regular accumulations of humanity are found in coastal regions, it would be surprising if this was not the case in the Mesolithic. Large coastal communities would be at risk in any tsunami activity, and the loss of life would have been significant at a regional level.

[toma]

Interesting climate graph. Wondering where I can find it

[anton]

The sea level rose considerably between 12, 000 and 8, 000 years ago.
This has not always been gradual. fishermen still collect bones of animals that lived there at the time. These animals must have been surprised by the rising of the water.
So it must have happened very suddenly.

[destob]

Yes!!! Also the wave that formed the English Channel came from a Glacier lakes breaking natral dams and flooding from the inland out
This happened 12 thousand years ago

[floydriebe]

hi ya, Laura! Barry and others already said the thots i had so, i won't reiterate....just say that i enjoyed and learned from this, as always. it'll be very interesting to see what further study will reveal🤔

sssooo, how the heck are ya? how's your fam damily? all well, i hope😊 bet yer wee bairn be not so wee, no more....sure 'n they grow like weeds...good weeds, tha' tis😉

i'll be a watchin' fer yer next premiere, extra specially i'll be able to comment on th' content 'fore e'er other folks😅 til then, me darlin'....

[davidreynolds]

😮oooo...the theories will now come flooding in ;)