Lismore Fields

{{short description|Stone Age settlement in Buxton, Derbyshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date = March 2020}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox ancient site|name=Lismore Fields|epochs=Mesolithic and Neolithic|designation1_number=1007019|designation1_offname=Lismore Fields Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement|designation1=Scheduled Ancient Monument|website=https://www.lismorefields.com/|condition=Buried remains|public_access=Footpath|type=Settlement|native_name=|coordinates={{coord|53|15|21|N|1|55|36|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}|region=Derbyshire, England|location=Buxton|alt=|caption=Stone Age site|image=Lismore_Fields_Stone_Age_Site_at_Buxton.jpg|alternate_name=|designation1_date=}}

Lismore Fields is the site of a Stone Age settlement in the town of Buxton, Derbyshire, England. It was discovered close to the River Wye in 1984 by the Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust during a search for a Roman road.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lismorefields.com/|title=Lismore Fields Buxton Spa History Ancient Settlement Civilisation|website=lismore-fields|language=en|access-date=2020-02-22}} The site is a protected Scheduled Monument.{{NHLE|num=1007019|desc=Lismore Fields Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement, High Peak |accessdate=2020-02-22}}

File:Neolithic Longhouse at Lismore Fields.png

The first inhabitants of Buxton made their home at Lismore Fields 6,000 years ago. Excavation of the prehistoric settlement discovered the remains (floors, post holes and pits) of a Mesolithic timber roundhouse and of two Neolithic longhouses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wondersofthepeak.org.uk/facts/lismore-fields/|title=The Oldest Buildings in Buxton|website=www.wondersofthepeak.org.uk|access-date=2020-02-22}} The layout of these buildings can be clearly seen from the positions of the post holes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/11637/lismore_fields.html|title=The Modern Antiquarian: Lismore Fields|website=www.themodernantiquarian.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-22}} Flint implements were also found. Lismore Fields could be the earliest cereal cultivation site discovered in Britain. Cereal stores were revealed by the archeologists. Pollen analysis of soil samples and charred plant remains uncovered evidence of emmer wheat, crab apples, hazelnuts and flax. Researchers believe that this ancient site marks the period when Stone Age people developed from hunter-gatherers to farmers.{{Cite web|url=https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=4255&ru=/Results.aspx?p=1&n=10&a=822&t=palynological&ns=1|title=PALYNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF LISMORE FIELDS|last=|first=|date=|website=research.historicengland.org.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-22}}{{Cite web|url=https://www2.le.ac.uk/services/ulas/images/east-mid-research-framework/emidnba.pdf|title=An Archaeological Resource Assessment and Research Agenda for The Neolithic and Early-Middle Bronze Age of the East Midlands|last=Clay|first=Patrick|date=|website=University of Leicester|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}

The "Lismore Pot" is a 5,500 year-old Grimston-ware bowl,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wondersofthepeak.org.uk/objects/1-26/|title=Grimstone-ware bowl|last=|first=|date=|website=www.wondersofthepeak.org.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-22}} pieced together from pottery fragments, and is one of the oldest pots ever found in Britain. It is on display in the Buxton Museum.File:Lismore_Stone_Age_Pot.jpg

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