The Mesolithic site at Star Carr, North Yorkshire, is one of the most extraordinarily well-preserved sites of its age in Europe. Its initial excavation by Grahame Clark (Reference Clark1954) pioneered approaches to interpreting prehistoric archaeology; these two volumes represent the culmination of the most recent investigations at the site, almost seven decades later, and present an insight into Mesolithic life on a scale far beyond that envisaged by Clark.

Visually, the volumes are stunning. They are richly illustrated throughout, with high-resolution photographs from the various campaigns; detailed plans of artefact scatters and occupation phases; and clear, uncomplicated data representation. One standout feature is the use of QR codes that link to digital media, such as the excellent simulation of the environment around Lake Flixton at the time Star Carr was occupied (Chapters 4 & 9). Moreover, the authors’ commitment to ensuring that Star Carr remains widely accessible to all is exemplified through publication of the volumes both in hardback and as freely downloadable pdfs.

Volume I is dedicated to the history and interpretation of the site, and is divided into six parts. Part 1 introduces Star Carr, and places the significance of the site within the past and present understanding of the Early Mesolithic in Britain (Chapter 1). While this picture is painted perhaps a little bleakly, it serves to emphasise the major contribution that a truly holistic and multidisciplinary approach to archaeological investigation can make, not only to Mesolithic studies but to the discipline as a whole. This is traced through a detailed history of previous excavations and reinterpretations of Star Carr (Chapter 2), and the methodological approaches of the most recent campaigns between 2003 and 2015 (Chapter 3). The latter are described more fully in Volume 2, part 7.

Part 2 (Chapter 4) introduces the Early Holocene climate and immediate environment of the site, beginning with the formation of Lake Flixton c. 12 600 BC. This section goes on to discuss the changing environment and vegetation surrounding Star Carr throughout the course of its occupation, building upon detailed palaeoenvironmental records described in Volume 2, part 8.

Part 3 of the first volume presents an interpretation of the spatial patterning of activities conducted at the site. This begins by characterising the three dryland structures, which represent the earliest ‘built structures’ in Britain (Chapter 5), and the wooden structures that line the lake-edge (Chapter 6). The two distinct areas of dryland and wetland form the basis for a detailed consideration of the complex distribution of faunal (Chapter 7) and artefact (Chapter 8) assemblages at the site.

These spatial analyses prove key to untangling the multitudinous activities and aspects of Mesolithic life, played out over c. 800 years of occupation, which are brought together as a narrative in part 4. Chapter 9 traces the shifting patterns of activities over several generations, informed by Bayesian modelling of a comprehensive radiocarbon dating programme (Volume 2, Chapter 17). Chapter 10 considers the societal implications of the archaeological data, and how human relationships with plants, animals and stones affected the organisation of activities and treatment of the materials deposited at the site. This is supported by ethnographic evidence and a wealth of experimental projects that accompanied and informed the post-excavation process.

Part 5 situates Star Carr within the context of Early Mesolithic occupation in Britain (Chapter 11), Southern Scandinavia and Germany (Chapter 12) through brief descriptions of the archaeological material recovered from major contemporaneous sites. It highlights the significant contribution of Star Carr in enhancing our understanding of rarely observed aspects of Early Mesolithic life in Northern Europe. Star Carr stands alongside only a handful of similar remarkably well-preserved sites that indicate distinct regional differences in hunter-gatherer lifeways across the Northern European plain at this time. The representation of activities at this site are certainly the exception rather than the rule.

Chapter 13 brings Star Carr into the public domain, describing the ways in which the excavation has widened participation and promoted public engagement with this little-known period of prehistory. A proposed framework to enhance the accessibility of the Mesolithic to a wider public audience is based on engaging and interactive museums displays in Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands. Similarly, the authors have developed an exceptional (and, again, free) online resource pack for primary schools, which is a great leap forward in ensuring this period of prehistory is successfully embedded within the education system.

Lastly, part 6 concludes Volume 1 by distilling the three main aspects of Mesolithic life that Star Carr has transformed our understanding of: a persistence of place, a people with strong belief systems, and crucially, a people with their own history.

Volume 2 provides the data to supplement and enhance the narrative of Volume 1. It is rigorously scientific yet accessible for non-specialists. Part 9 discusses the sedimentology of the site and, importantly, the precarious preservation conditions that threaten its future. The subsequent sections follow Clark's original format of animal (part 10), vegetable (part 11) and mineral (part 12), presenting the data for each of the various faunal, botanical and lithic assemblages. These are enhanced by an arsenal of scientific and experimental inquiry that has rarely been applied to Mesolithic excavations, including soil geochemistry (Chapter 21), traceological analysis of osseous technology (Chapters 24–26), phytolith analysis (Chapter 32), and microwear and residue analyses. It is noteworthy that the authors do not shy away from the fact that the delicate and unstable nature of the site has affected certain interpretations, and they readily acknowledge that there is still work to be done.

Clark's investigations are described as “an example of what can be achieved by asking new questions and examining new classes of data” (p. 18). These volumes fittingly uphold his legacy. Milner, Conneller and Taylor set a precedent for the capabilities that a forensic-level of archaeological investigation can achieve, and use this to interpret life in the Early Holocene on a truly human scale.