A Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape: Excavations at Whitemoor Haye Quarry, Staffordshire, 1997-1999 9781841714479, 9781407319797

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BAR 340

Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit Monograph Series 5

2002 COATES

A Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape

A PREHISTORIC AND ROMANO-BRITISH LANDSCAPE

Excavations at Whitemoor Haye Quarry, Staffordshire, 1997-1999

Gary Coates with contributions by Alistair Barclay, Lynne Bevan, Marina Ciaraldi, Rowena Gale, James Greig, Annette Hancocks, Kay Hartley, John Hovey, Gwilym Hughes, Rob Ixer, Erica Macey, Elaine L. Morris, David Smith, Steven Willis and Ann Woodward

# LAFARGE E-

AGGREGATES

BAR British Series 340 B A R

2002

Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit Monograph Series 5

A Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape Excavations at Whitemoor Haye Quarry, Staffordshire, 1997-1999

Gary Coates with contributions by

Alistair Barclay, Lynne Bevan, Marina Ciaraldi, Rowena Gale, James Greig, Annette Hancocks, Kay Hartley, John Hovey, Gwilym Hughes, Rob Ixer, Erica Macey, Elaine L. Morris, David Smith, Steven Willis and Ann Woodward

FARGE

BAR British Series 340 2002

Published in 2016 by BAR Publishing, Oxford BAR British Series 340 Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit Monograph Series 5 A Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape © BUFAU and the Publisher 2002 The author's moral rights under the 1988 UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act are hereby expressly asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be copied, reproduced, stored, sold, distributed, scanned, saved in any form of digital format or transmitted in any form digitally, without the written permission of the Publisher.

ISBN 9781841714479 paperback ISBN 9781407319797 e-format DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781841714479 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library BAR Publishing is the trading name of British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd. British Archaeological Reports was first incorporated in 1974 to publish the BAR Series, International and British. In 1992 Hadrian Books Ltd became part of the BAR group. This volume was originally published by Archaeopress in conjunction with British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd / Hadrian Books Ltd, the Series principal publisher, in 2002. This present volume is published by BAR Publishing, 2016.

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A Prehistoric and Romano-British Landscape: Excavations at Whitemoor Haye Quarry, Staffordshire, 1997-1999

CONTENTS

List of Figures.........................................................................................................................................................................

Page v1

List of Tables...........................................................................................................................................................................

v1

List of Plates ............................................................................................................................................................................

vn

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................................

1

Summary.................................................................................................................................................................................

1

Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................................

1

Archaeological Background.................................................................................................................................................... Location and Geology............................................................................................................................................... Archaeology of the Region by Gwilym Hughes........................................................................................................ Geophysical Survey .................................................................................................................................................. 1992 BUFAUEvaluation.......................................................................................................................................... 1995 Tempus Reparatum Evaluation........................................................................................................................

1 1 2 3 4 4

Aims and Objectives ...............................................................................................................................................................

4

Methodology ...........................................................................................................................................................................

4

Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................................

6

THE

SITE ...........................................................................................................................................................................

9

Phasing....................................................................................................................................................................................

9

Period 1 Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age ............................................................................................................................ . 9 AreaR ...................................................................................................................................................................... . 9 Dating Evidence ......................................................................................................................................... 9 National Memorial Arboretum Site, Alrewas by Gwilym Hughes and John Hovey............................................... 9 Discussion................................................................................................................................................... 13 Period 2 Iron Age.................................................................................................................................................................... Pit Aligmnents .......................................................................................................................................................... Area S ......................................................................................................................................................... Cluster of Post-Holes.................................................................................................................... Pottery.......................................................................................................................................... Dating Evidence........................................................................................................................... Area T ......................................................................................................................................................... Watching Brief Area T ............................................................................................................................... Triple-Ditched System.............................................................................................................................................. AreaF ......................................................................................................................................................... Dating Evidence ...........................................................................................................................

13 13 13 14 15 15 15 18 18 18 18

Page Enclosures and Structures ......................................................................................................................................... 21 AreaR ......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Area A ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 The Main Enclosure ..................................................................................................................... 21 Structure 3 .................................................................................................................................... 21 Structure 1 .................................................................................................................................... 21 Structure 2 .................................................................................................................................... 27 Structure 4 .................................................................................................................................... 27 The Later Enclosure ..................................................................................................................... 27 Relationship of the Structures and Enclosure............................................................................... 27 Area B ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Enclosure...................................................................................................................................... 31 Structure 5 .................................................................................................................................... 31 Structure 6 .................................................................................................................................... 31 Structure 7 .................................................................................................................................... 31 Structures 8 and 9. ........................................................................................................................ 31 Structure 10 .................................................................................................................................. 33 Relationship Between the Structures............................................................................................ 33 AreaC ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Enclosure...................................................................................................................................... 33 Structure 11 .................................................................................................................................. 33 Structure 12 .................................................................................................................................. 33 Relationship between the Enclosure and Structures..................................................................... 34 Watching Brief........................................................................................................................................... 34 Period 3 Romano-British ......................................................................................................................................................... Droveway .................................................................................................................................................................. Area S ......................................................................................................................................................... AreaT ......................................................................................................................................................... Dating Evidence........................................................................................................................... AreaB ......................................................................................................................................................... Area T Droveway Interior ......................................................................................................................................... Enclosures and Boundaries ....................................................................................................................................... Area S ......................................................................................................................................................... Watching Brief............................................................................................................................. Pottery .......................................................................................................................................... Area A ........................................................................................................................................................ Watching Brief ............................................................................................................................. AreaB ......................................................................................................................................................... AreaC .........................................................................................................................................................

34 34 35 35 35 35 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40

Period 4 Post-Medieval........................................................................................................................................................... Plough Furrows......................................................................................................................................................... Other Features........................................................................................................................................................... AreaF ......................................................................................................................................................... AreaR ......................................................................................................................................................... Dating Evidence ........................................................................................................................... Area T .........................................................................................................................................................

40 40 40 40 40 40 40

Undated ................................................................................................................................................................................... Area C ....................................................................................................................................................................... AreaF ....................................................................................................................................................................... AreaR ....................................................................................................................................................................... Area S ....................................................................................................................................................................... Watching Brief..........................................................................................................................................................

40 40 40 41 41 41

11

THE

FINDS.......................................................................................................................................................................

Page 42

Worked Flint by Lynne Bevan................................................................................................................................................ Catalogue ......................................................................................................................................

42 42

The Prehistoric Pottery by Ann Woodward, with contributions by Rob Ixer and Alistair Barclay ........................................ Neolithic and Early Bronze Age............................................................................................................................... Fabric by Rob Ixer and Ann Woodward..................................................................................................... Form and Decoration.................................................................................................................................. Peterborough Ware by Alistair Barclay and Ann Woodward.................................................................... Forms by Alistair Barclay ........................................................................................................... Beaker ......................................................................................................................................................... Early Bronze Age urns................................................................................................................................ Discussion................................................................................................................................................... Peterborough Ware by Alistair Barclay ....................................................................................... Beaker ........................................................................................................................................... Um ................................................................................................................................................ Late Bronze Age/ Iron Age....................................................................................................................................... Fabric byRoblxerandAnn Woodward ..................................................................................................... Form and decoration ................................................................................................................................... Illustrated Sherds.......................................................................................................................... Deposition................................................................................................................................................... Vessel function ........................................................................................................................................... Chronology................................................................................................................................................. Discussion...................................................................................................................................................

43 43 43 44 44 44 45 46 46 46 46 46 47 47 48 48 48 49 49 51

Briquetage by Elaine L. Morris.............................................................................................................................................. 52 Context, Condition and Nature of the Material... ...................................................................................................... 52 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................. 52 Illustrated Sherds.......................................................................................................................... 53 Romano-British Pottery by Annette Hancocks with contributions by Kay Hartley and Steven Willis ................................... 53 Summary ................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................... 53 Methodology............................................................................................................................................................. 53 Fabrics ....................................................................................................................................................................... 53 Forms ........................................................................................................................................................................ 54 Catalogue.................................................................................................................................................... 54 Mortaria by Kay Hartley .......................................................................................................................................... 57 Treatment and Decoration ......................................................................................................................................... 58 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................ 58 Samian by Steven Willis........................................................................................................................................... 58 Catalogue.................................................................................................................................................... 59 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................ 59 Worked Stone by Lynne Bevan and Rob Ixer ......................................................................................................................... Catalogue....................................................................................................................................................

60 61

ECOFACTUAL

62

EVIDENCE

.....................................................................................................................................

Plant Macroremains by Marina Ciara/di ............................................................................................................................... Methodology............................................................................................................................................................. Identification............................................................................................................................................................. Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................. Iron Age assemblage................................................................................................................................... Roman assemblage ..................................................................................................................................... Conclusions...............................................................................................................................................................

62 62 62 62 62 63 63

Waterlogged Wood by Erica Macey ...................................................................................................................................... 66

111

Page Insect Remains by David Smith .............................................................................................................................................. 67 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................... 67 Methods and analyses ............................................................................................................................................... 67 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................. 67 Evidence of the presence of human settlement.. ......................................................................................... 67 The wider environment ........................................................................................................... 67 The immediate surroundings ...................................................................................................................... 67 Water .......................................................................................................................................................... 68 Conclusion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 68 Waterlogged Seeds by James Greig....................................................................................................................................... Methodology............................................................................................................................................................. Results ....................................................................................................................................................................... Discussion................................................................................................................................................................. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................

72 72 72 74 74

Charcoal by Rowena Gale ...................................................................................................................................................... Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... Methodology............................................................................................................................................................. Results ....................................................................................................................................................................... Period 1: Neolithic to Early Bronze Age.................................................................................................... Period 2: Early to Middle Iron Age ............................................................................................................ Area A .......................................................................................................................................... AreaB .......................................................................................................................................... AreaC .......................................................................................................................................... Area S ........................................................................................................................................... Probably Period 2 ....................................................................................................................................... AreaF ........................................................................................................................................... Period 3: Romano-British ........................................................................................................................... Area S ........................................................................................................................................... Undated ....................................................................................................................................................... AreaR .......................................................................................................................................... Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................. Environmental implications ........................................................................................................................ Comparative evidence from other sites in the region.................................................................................. Conclusion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

74 74 74 74 75 75 75 76 76 76 76 76 76 76 76 76 76 76 77 77

DISCUSSION by Gary Coates and Ann Woodward........................................................................................................

79

The Landscape Setting . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 79 Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Activity................................................................................................................................

79

Iron Age Boundaries .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 81 The Iron Age Enclosures.........................................................................................................................................................

82

The Iron Age Structures .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .. ...... .. ....... .. ...... .. .... .. ...... .. .... .. ...... .. .. .. .. ... .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 84 The Romano- British Enclosures and Droveway .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 85 Production: Artefacts...............................................................................................................................................................

87

Production: Farming................................................................................................................................................................

88

Exchange and Status................................................................................................................................................................

88

Chronology and Population.....................................................................................................................................................

89

Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................................................

90

lV

Page APPENDIX 1 .................................................................................................................................................................... 91 Radicarbon Dates by Beta Analytic

APPENDIX 2 .................................................................................................................................................................... 94 Petrographic Descriptions by Rob Ixer

APPENDIX 3 .................................................................................................................................................................... 98 Roman Pottery Fabric Descriptions by Annette Hancocks

APPENDIX 4 .................................................................................................................................................................... 101 List of Roman Vessel Classes Represented

BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................................................... 102

V

Page

List of Figures Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Fig. 15 Fig. 16 Fig. 17 Fig. 18 Fig. 19 Fig. 20 Fig. 21 Fig. 22 Fig. 23 Fig. 24 Fig. 25 Fig. 26 Fig. 27 Fig. 28 Fig. 29 Fig. 30 Fig. 31 Fig. 32 Fig. 33 Fig. 34 Fig. 35 Fig. 36 Fig. 37 Fig. 38 Fig. 39 Fig. 40 Fig. 41 Fig: 42 Fig. 43 Fig. 44 Fig. 45

Whitemoor Haye Quarry: location map ................................................................................................................. viii Local geology and associated sites......................................................................................................................... 1x Location of geophysical surveys ............................................................................................................................ x Location of evaluation trenches.............................................................................................................................. 5 Location of excavation areas.................................................................................................................................. 7 Area R: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 8 Area R: Period 1 sections ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Plan of the National Memorial Arboretum site...................................................................................................... 10 Area S: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 11 Area S: Period 2 pit sections.................................................................................................................................. 12 Area S: scatter diagram of the dimensions of the original cuts of Period 2 pits..................................................... 14 Area T: plan of all excavated sections.................................................................................................................... 16 Area T: Period 2 pit sections .................................................................................................................................. 17 Area T: scatter diagram of dimensions of Period 2 pits......................................................................................... 18 Area F: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 19 Area F: Period 2 ditch sections ............................................................................................................................... 20 Area A: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 22 Area A: Period 2 enclosure ditch sections.............................................................................................................. 23 Area A: Period 2 structures sections....................................................................................................................... 24 Area A: Period 2 pit sections.................................................................................................................................. 25 Area A: Period 2 pit sections.................................................................................................................................. 26 Area B: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 28 Area B: Period 2 enclosure ditch sections.............................................................................................................. 29 Area B: Period 2 structures sections ....................................................................................................................... 30 Area C: plan of all excavated features.................................................................................................................... 32 Area C: Period 2 ditch sections.............................................................................................................................. 33 Area C: Period 2 structures sections....................................................................................................................... 34 Area S: Period 3 droveway ditch sections.............................................................................................................. 35 Area T: Period 3 droveway ditch sections .............................................................................................................. 36 Area B: Period 3 droveway ditch sections .............................................................................................................. 37 Area S: Period 3 enclosure ditch sections .............................................................................................................. 38 Area A: Period 3 enclosure ditch sections.............................................................................................................. 39 Prehistoric pottery: Peterborough ware .................................................................................................................. 45 Prehistoric pottery: Beaker vessels......................................................................................................................... 45 Prehistoric pottery: Late Bronze Age/Iron Age pottery from Area S, F526 (scale 1:3) ......................................... 49 Prehistoric pottery: Late Bronze Age/Iron Age pottery from Area S, F509 and F537 (scale 1:3) ......................... 50 Prehistoric pottery: Late Bronze Age/Iron Age pottery from Area A and watching brief ( scale 1:3) ................... 51 Prehistoric ceramics: Briquetage (scale 1:2) ......................................................................................................... 52 Romano-British pottery: coarsewares, mortaria (scale 1:4), Samian (scale 1:2 and 1:1) ....................................... 55 Romano-British pottery: histogram of form occurrence by fabric ......................................................................... 56 Romano-British pottery: histogram of the percentage occurrence by rim EVE for vessel classes ......................... 57 Percentage cereals, chaff and wheat from the Roman period (Period 3) ............................................................... 66 Histogram of ecological groupings for the insects present ..................................................................................... 72 Composite plan of all Iron Age features (Period 2) ............................................................................................... 80 Composite plan of all Romano-British features (Period 3) ................................................................................... 86

List of Tables Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions Dimensions

of original pits from Area S ................................................................................................................ of re-cut pits from Area S. .................................................................................................................. of post-holes from Area S................................................................................................................... of pits from Area T ............................................................................................................................. of features associated with Structure 3 ............................................................................................... of features associated with Structure 1 ............................................................................................... of features associated with Structure 4 ............................................................................................... of features associated with Structure 5 ............................................................................................... of features associated with Structure 6. ..............................................................................................

Vl

14 14 14 15 21 27 27 31 31

Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table Table

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Page Dimensions offeatures associated with Structures 8 and 9, Period 2 ..................................................................... 33 Dimensions offeatures associated with Structure 11, Period 2 .............................................................................. 33 Distribution of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age pottery by period and area ......................................................... 43 Distribution of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age pottery by area ............................................................................. 47 The occurrence of selected formal characteristics at Whitemoor Haye and in seven assemblages from the region 50 Romano-British pottery: fabric, sources and quantities in assemblage .................................................................. 54 The composition of the Samian assemblage (items identifiable to generic forms only) ........................................ 60 Charred plant remains species list.......................................................................................................................... 65 Insects from Whitemoor Haye................................................................................................................................ 68 Ecological groupings of insects from Whitemoor Haye......................................................................................... 72 Seed list.................................................................................................................................................................. 73 Charcoal taxa identified .......................................................................................................................................... 75 Charcoal from Neolithic to Romano-British deposits ............................................................................................ 78 Dimensions of Iron Age structures from Whitemoor Haye.................................................................................... 84

List of Plates Plate 1 Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15

1995 Cropmark photograph(© Crown Copyright), reproduced courtesy of Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England General view of Areas A and T, taken from the south (G.Coates) Late Neolithic Beaker vessel, in situ, in F612 (Area R) (E.Ramsey) Pit alignment from Area S, viewed from the west (G.Coates) Pit F526 in Area S, viewed from the east (G.Bellavia) Post-hole cluster in Area S, viewed from the south (G.Coates) Post-hole F537 in Area S (E.Ramsey) Area T pit alignment, viewed from the west (G.Coates) Area A general view, taken from the south-east (G.Coates) Area B general view, taken from the north (G.Coates) Area B, Structure 5, viewed from the east (G.Coates) Area B, Structure 6, viewed from the east (G.Coates) Area C, viewed from the north-east (G.Coates) Beehive rotary quern from watching brief(G.Norrie)

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