The Early Mesolithic site of Star Carr is close to my heart. I worked on the site (2007-15) during recent excavations. I find the collection of beads and pendants at the site fascinating. Composed of 33 shale beads, an engraved shale pendant, an unengraved shale pendant, amber pendants, and tooth pendants, it is perhaps the most diverse assembalge so far recovered from the Early Mesolithic of the UK. This is a collection that I have worked on previously with colleagues, focusing on shale beads and pendants and I will expand on this during the project.

The first phase of work will focus on the creation of a reference collection for use in micrower analysis, using replica stone awls to perforate shale, amber, and teeth, but also a wider array of materials for comparison. The results will be compared against the archeological awls from Star Carr to better understand methods of production.

The sourcing of materials will also be considered in greater detail through an exploration of the wider landscape surrounding Star Carr relating to shale and amber. I am particularly interested in the relationship between Star Carr and the coast where both shale and amber can be acquired.

Finally, the relationship between personal ornaments, ochre, and colour will be considered in greater detail. Whilst ochre has been recovered from Star Carr, little work has been done on what it was used for. I have explored some worked ochre pieces from nearby sites around palaeolake Flixton and I will expand on my work to incorporate the material recovered from Star Carr.

Taken together, these strands will allow for a fuller appreciation of the biography of personal ornaments from Star Carr.