Look at the global summaries following the article below.

Which do
you think are satisfactory? Then discuss the characteristics of
effective summaries and important steps in writing them.

Summary 1
Tree-ring data research by Baillie and Munro at Queen's University,
Belfast, showing that tree growth slowed greatly at times of major northern
hemisphere volcanic eruptions, gave rise to a catastrophic depopulation
theory. According to this theory, northern parts of the British Isles were
depopulated by one particularly large volcanic eruption in Iceland in 1159 BC
(Keys, 1988).
There is further support for the theory in the examination by Barber and
other archaeologists of mounds of small, fire-blackened stones used
extensively by hunters to boil water. Their disappearance after the mid-12th
century BC from everywhere but permanent settlement sites in upland areas
suggests that the volcanic eruption may have killed off many game species
and led to a decline in hunting (Keys, 1988).
Summary 2
The existence of piles of burnt stones has led archaeologists such as John
Barber of the Scottish Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate to
conclude that a volcanic eruption in Iceland in 1159 BC led to the decline of
hunting in the northern British Isles. The stones were used to boil water for
cooking. After the mid-12th century BC, they were confined to permanent
settlement sites and not found in temporary hunting camp sites, suggesting
that the eruption had destroyed many game species. This is further evidence
for the catastrophic depopulation theory put forward after research on treering data by Baillie and Munro of the Palaeoecology Centre at Queens
University, Belfast. Their findings revealed that tree growth declined
markedly following major volcanic eruptions in the northern hemisphere,
such as the one in Iceland (Keys, 1988).
Summary 3
Archaeologists believe that a nuclear catastrophe 3,200 years ago led to
the depopulation of northern parts of the British Isles. The disaster caused
the blackening of millions of stones which have been found in temporary
hunting campsites and permanent settlement sites. After the mid-12th
century, hunting camp sites ceased to occur, suggesting huge depopulation
(Keys, 1988).
Summary 4
The findings of archaeologists are lending support to the theory that
depopulation occurred in the northern parts of the British Isles as a result of
a serious catastrophe about 3,200 years ago. It is believed that a huge
volcanic eruption in Iceland led to a rapid decline in hunting as an economic
activity in prehistoric northern Britain.
An examination of piles of small fire-blackened stones by John Barber of
the Scottish Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate and other
archaeologists has revealed that hunting probably ceased after the middle of
2

the 12th century BC. The stones, which were the main means of boiling
water and were normally used in threes, were found in permanent settlement
sites and temporary hunting sites until the mid-12th century BC. From that
time, they persisted only in settlement sites. Archaeologists believe that this
is because volcanic eruptions led to the destruction of much of upland Britain
and the demise of many game species which, in turn, caused a decline in
hunting (Keys, 1988).
Summary 5
A volcanic eruption in 1159 BC in Iceland led to depopulation in northern
parts of British Isles, according to the findings of scientists. Archaeologists
have found that the absence of millions of small fire-blackened stones, after
the middle of the 12th century BC, is evidence of a massive decline in
hunting, the stones having been used to boil water by hunters in temporary
camp sites (Keys, 1988).
Summary 6
The evidence of archaeologists on the distribution and dating of piles of
burnt stones supports the theory that northern areas of the British Isles were
depopulated by an enormous volcanic eruption almost 3,200 years ago
(Keys, 1988). After the eruption, the stones, which were used to heat water
for cooking food, were only found in permanent settlement sites. This
suggests that hunting ceased as an activity as animals became extinct. I
think this is more conclusive evidence than the previous research on treering data. The research showed that tree growth slowed very markedly when
there were large volcanic eruptions in the northern hemisphere. However,
tree-ring research may not always be reliable.