Read on Twitter
#research: Archaeologists suggest our era should be called the 'Plastic Age' after an experimental dig at an Iron Age site in 
instead found thousands of plastic items.Here's an #Antiquitythread on new work by @HMytum & Meek (
) https://buff.ly/35hnU2t 
1/
The researchers were investigating the remains of reconstructed Iron Age roundhouses built on the original sites at Castell Henllys Iron Age fort in @PembsCoast. 2/
: The two roundhouses before deconstruction.
: The two roundhouses before deconstruction.
These had been open to visitors for over 30 years, hosting hundreds of school days out and even a reality TV show!
However, they eventually reached the end of their life and were dismantled. 3/
: A book for the reality TV show.
However, they eventually reached the end of their life and were dismantled. 3/
: A book for the reality TV show.
Before being rebuilt so school trips could return, the National Park arranged for them to be excavated after dismantlement.
It was hoped this would shed light on the decay process and how it impacts archaeological preservation. 4/
: The excavations at the site
It was hoped this would shed light on the decay process and how it impacts archaeological preservation. 4/
: The excavations at the site
However, the more dramatic discovery was the sheer amount of plastic dug up.
Despite regular cleaning & maintenance, >2,000 plastic items were found. This far outweighs replica prehistoric items or even other traces of modern life. 5/
: Some of the plastic items found
Despite regular cleaning & maintenance, >2,000 plastic items were found. This far outweighs replica prehistoric items or even other traces of modern life. 5/
: Some of the plastic items found
“We had not anticipated the large amounts of rubbish – mainly plastic – that was deposited, even though the houses did not look untidy,” said Professor @HMytum from @LivUni, lead author of the research. 6/
The sheer number of the finds prompted the researchers to join with other scholars arguing we are now living in the ‘Plastic Age’.
Even in this isolated and well-maintained space, it still dominated the archaeological record of the houses 7/
: Someone even lost their glasses
Even in this isolated and well-maintained space, it still dominated the archaeological record of the houses 7/
: Someone even lost their glasses
What would such finds tell an archaeologist in the future? It turns out the record from the houses was mostly driven by children, whose packed lunches often feature a lot of plastic. 8/
: Sweet wrappers were a common item found
: Sweet wrappers were a common item found
Meanwhile, the researchers in the present are hoping to use these discoveries to investigate how and where plastic accumulates to reduce the amount incorporated into the ground. 9/
They are also working with @PembsCoast to use these finds to better educate the public and raise their awareness of these environmental concerns. 10/
Ultimately, the researchers hope that the Plastic Age might not last as long as the Iron.
With environmental initiatives “this may be a narrow, but archaeologically distinctive chronological horizon,” the researchers wrote. 11/11
: Actual footage of future archaeologists
With environmental initiatives “this may be a narrow, but archaeologically distinctive chronological horizon,” the researchers wrote. 11/11
: Actual footage of future archaeologists
Future archaeologists will have to sort through the remains of thousands packed lunches. Read more in the original research, it's #OpenAccess
'The Iron Age in the Plastic Age: Anthropocene
signatures at Castell Henllys'
https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.237
'The Iron Age in the Plastic Age: Anthropocene
signatures at Castell Henllys'
https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2020.237
