The Archaeology of the St. Neots to Duxford Gas Pipeline 1994 9780860549024, 9781407318837

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The Archaeology of the St. Neots to Duxford Gas Pipeline 1994

Edited by:

J. Price I. P. Brooks D. J. Maynard

BAR British Series 255 1997

Published in 2019 by BAR Publishing, Oxford BAR British Series 255 The Archaeology of the St. Neots to Duxford Gas Pipeline 1994 © British Gas Transco 1997 The authors’ 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 9780860549024 paperback ISBN 9781407318837 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860549024 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com 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 John and Erica Hedges in conjunction with British Archaeological Reports (Oxford) Ltd / Hadrian Books Ltd, the Series principal publisher, in 1997. This present volume is published by BAR Publishing, 2019.

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L i s to fF igu r e s

P age i

L i s to fT ab le s

P age i i

I n t roduc t ion I . P . B rook s

P age 1 4

E xcava t ion sa tL i t t le B ar f o rd , B ed f o rd sh ire . J . L . G oode

P age 5 11

E xcava t ion o f aL a te I r on A ge a nd E a r ly R oman S e t t lemen tn ea rN ew W impo le , C amb r idge sh ire 1 994 . C .M . T ay lo r , I . P . B rook s , a nd J .P r ice P age 1 2 -20 E xcava t ion sa tF ox ton , C amb r idge sh ire 1 994 . D .J . Mayna rd , R . C lea ry ,R . Moo re , I . P . B rook sa nd J .P r ice

P age 2 1-39

E xcava t ion sa tP eppe r ton H i l l , D ux f o rd , C amb r idg e sh ire 1 994 .R . C lea ry a nd J .P r ice

P age 4 0 -48

P reh is tor ic , R oman a nd P o s tR oman P o t te ry . G av in L uca s

P age 4 9 -88

B r ick a nd T i le . C .M . T ay lo r

P age 8 9

Sma l l F ind s . N o e lB oo th royd

P age 9 0 128

G la s sR epor t . R . C lea ry

P age 1 29 131

S l ag sa nd o the r Me ta lwo rk ing R e s idue s . P e t e rC rew

P age 1 32 -134

F l in two rk . I . P . B rook s

P age 1 35 -137

H uman R ema in s . J . L . G oode a nd M . B ard i l l

P age 1 38 143

A n ima l B one R . Moo re

P age 1 44 1 53

E nv i ronmen ta l R epor t K .J . D om ing a nd J . L . H a rd ing

P age 1 54 -155

R e f e rence s

P age 1 57160

L i s to fF igu re s F igu re 1

G eo logy o ft h e P ipe l ine

2

F igu re 2

T opog raphy o ft h e P ipe l ine

3

F igu re 3

L i t t le B a rf o rd L oca t ion P l an

5

F igu re 4

L i t t le B a rf o rd E xcava ted f e a tures

6

F igu re 5

L i t t le B a rf o rd P ha se p l an

F igu re 6

W impo le L oca t ion

F igure 7

W impo le g ene ra l p l an

1 4

F igure 8

W impo le p ha se p l an

1 6

F igure 9

F ox ton l o ca t ion

2 1

F igu re 1 0

F ox ton A l l F ea tu res , P reh is to r ic , 1 "C en tury AD

2 2

F igu re 1

F ox ton S ec t ions O fP reh is to r ic F ea tu re s

2 3

F igu re 1 2

F ox ton S t ruc tu re s 3 , 4 ,7 ,8

2 5

F igu re 1 3

F ox ton S t ruc tu re 6

2 7

F igu re 1 4

F ox ton 1 "C en tury D i tche s

2 8

F igu re 1 5

F ox ton 2 "a nd

F igu re 1 6

F ox ton C eme tery

3 5

F igu re 1 7

F ox ton 4 " C en tury D i tch s e c t ions

3 7

F igu re 1 8

F ox ton S t ruc tu re 1

3 8

F i gure 1 9

F ox ton E nc lo su re s equence

3 8

F i gu re 2 0

F ox ton 5 " C en tury D i tch S ec t ions

3 9

F i gu re 2 1

D uxf o rd L oca t ion

4 1

F i gu re 2 2

D uxfo rd A l l F ea tu res

4 3

F i gu re 2 3

D uxfo rd F i r s tP ha se

4 4

F igu re 2 4

D uxf o rd S econd P ha se

4 5

F igu re 2 5 F i gu re 2 6

D uxf o rd P ar to fG eophy s ica l S urvey D uxfo rd . I r on A ge p o t te ry ( 1 :4 )

4 6 5 5

F igu re 2 7

D uxfo rd F ab r ic g roups a cco rd ing t oc on tex t( ba sed o nw e igh t )

5 6

F igu re 2 8

D uxfo rd C ond i t ion o fp o t te ry a cco rd ing t oc on tex t

5 6

F i gu re 2 9

F ox ton P reh is to r ic p o t te ry ( 1 :4 e xcep t2 -4 , 1 : 2)

6 0 6 9

3 r d

8 1 2

C en tury AD , 4 "C en tury AD , 5 'C en tu ry AD

3 3

F igu re 3 0

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

F igu re 3 1

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 0

F igu re 3 2

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 1

F igu re 3 3

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 2

F igure 3 4

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 3

F i gure 3 5

F ox ton R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 4

F i gu re 3 6

F ox ton S umma ry o fp re -F lav ian v es se l c l a sses ( ba sed o n e ves )

6 5

F igu re 3 7

F ox ton S umma ry o fL a te R oman v es se l c l a sses ( ba sed o n e ves )

6 5

F igure 3 8

F ox ton P o s t R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

7 5

F igu re 3 9

W impo le I r on A ge a nd R oman p o t te ry ( 1 :4 )

7 9

F igu re 4 0

L i t t le B a rf o rd R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

8 1

F i gu re 4 1

L i t t le B a rf o rd R oman p o t te ry ( 1 :4 )

8 2

F i gu re 4 2

L i t t le B a rf ord R oman p o t tery ( 1 :4 )

8 3

F i gu re 4 3

L i t t le B a rf ord R oman p o t te ry ( 1 :4 )

8 4

F i gu re 4 4

L i t t le B a rf o rd R oman p o t te ry ( 1 :4 )

8 5

F igure 4 5

L i t t le B a rf o rd Sma l l f i nd s

9 1

F igure 4 6

L i t t le B a rf o rd Sma l l f i nds

9 3

F igu re 4 7

L i t t le B a rf o rd Sma l l f i nds

9 5

F i gu re 4 8

L i t t le B a rf o rd Sma l l f i nd s

9 7

F i gure 4 9

L i t t le B a rf o rd Sma l l f i nd s

F igu re 5 0

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 0 1

9 8

F igu re 5 1

F ox ton H oa rd m a ter ia l

1 02

F igu re 5 2

F ox ton H oa rd m a ter ia l

1 03

F i gu re 5 3

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 04

F i gure 5 4

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 05

F igure 5 5

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 06

F igu re 5 6

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 07

1

F i gu re 5 7 F i gu re 5 8

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

1 08 1 09

F i gu re 5 9 F i gu r e6 0

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

10 11

F i gu r e6 1 F i gu r e6 2

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

12 13

F i gu r e6 3 F i gu re 6 4

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l

14 15

F igu r e6 5 F i gu re 6 6 F i gu r e6 7

F ox ton H oa rd m a te r ia l F ox ton S ma l l f i nd s F ox ton S ma l l f i nd s

16 1 22 1 24

F igu r e F i gu r e F i gu re F i gu re

F ox ton Sma l l f i nd s F ox ton S ma l l f i nd s S lag L eng th /w id th g r aph p i t3 118

1 26 1 27 1 34 1 35

F ox ton F l in tt oo l s

1 36

6 8 6 9 7 0 7 1

F igu r e7 2

L i s to fT ab le s T ab le 1 S i te sa l ong t h e p i pe l ine r ou te D uxf o rd S umma ry o fp o t te ry f a b r ic sb y s he rd c oun t , w e igh ta nd e ve s . T ab le 2 D uxf o rd V e s se l t y pe sa cco rd ing t oc on tex t( i n e ve s ) T ab le 3 T ab le 4 F ox ton S umma ry o fp r eh i s to r ic p o t te ry T ab le 5 F ox ton S umma ry o fv e s se l s i ne ve s T ab le 6 a F ox ton S umma ry o fR oman iz ing a nd G a l lo -Be lg ic f a b r ics T ab le 6 b F ox ton S umma ry o fR oman p o t tery T ab le 7 F ox ton S umma ry o fP o s t -Roman p o t te ry F ox ton S umma ry o fp os t -Roman v e s se lt ype s f r om S i te 5 T ab le 8 W impo le S umma ry o fp o t ter y f a b r ics T ab le 9 T ab le 1 0 F ox ton S umma ry o fp o t tery f a b r ics T ab le 1 O ccur r ence o fo b jec t s i n as amp le o fR omano -B r i t ish i r onwo rk h oa rds D uxf o rd A n ima l b one s T ab le 1 2 T ab le 1 3 D uxf o rd MN I F ox ton A n ima l n umbe r s T ab le 1 4 F o x t o n MN I T ab le 1 5 F ox ton A n ima l n umbe r so ve rt ime T ab le 1 6 T ab le 1 7 W impo le MN I T ab le 1 8 W impo le MN I b yc on tex t T ab le 1 9 L i t t le B a rf o rd MN I T ab le 2 0 L i t t le B a rf o rd A n ima ln umbe r s b y p e r iod T ab le 2 1 L i t t le B a rf o rd A n ima ln umbe r s

1 1

1 5 7 5 8 5 9 6 4 6 5 6 7 6 8 6 8 7 6 -77 8 7 17 1 44 1 44 1 46 1 46 1 46 1 49 1 49 1 50 1 51 1 5 1

I n troduc t ion I . P . B rook s

T he S t .Neo t s t o D uxf o rd 9 00 mm g a s p ipe l ine w a s c ons t ruc t ed i nt h e l a te S p r ing a nd S umme r o f 1 994 . I tw a s c once ived a s p a r t o f a t wo y ea r p rog ramme l i nk ing

S i te N umber

H un t ingdon a nd C amb r idge . T he p i pe l ine w a s d e s igned a nd c omm i s s ioned b y B r i t i sh G a s p l c a nd b u i l t b y Murphy P ipe l ines L td . I nF eb rua ry 1 994 E ng inee r ing A r chaeo log ica l S e rv ice s L td . w a s c omm i s s ioned t o c a r ry o u t t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion s urvey o ft h e p i pe l ine r ou te , p r io r t ot h e e xpec ted c ons t ruc t ion d a te o f A p r i l 1 994 . A r ange o f a r chaeo log ica l t e chn ique s w a s e mp loyed . A l l a va i lab le p l oughed f i e ld s w e re f i e ld -wa lked a nd m agne t ic s c ann ing w a s a dop ted f o r f i e ld s u nde r p a s tu r e o r t ho se t h a t h ad b een ' s e t -a s ide ' . C oncen t ra t ion s o f a r chaeo log ica l a c t iv i ty w e re s ub sequen t ly i n ves t iga ted b y g eophy s ica l s u rvey . No t a l f i e ld s w e r e a va i lab le d u r ing t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion p ha se d ue t op rob lem sw i th a cce s s .

G r id R ef erence

P ar ish

1

T L4 74444

D uxf o rd

2

T L3 00511

C roydon

3

T L2 69536

G r ea tG ran sden

4

T L4 15477

F ox ton

5

T L4 02482

F ox ton

6

T L3 43495

W impo le

7

T L2 87522

C roydon

8

T L 1 67547

T emp sf o rd

9

T L4 25468

F ow lme re

1 0

T L3 98484

S hep r e th

1

T L2 15543

T e two r th

1 2

T L4 05477

F ox ton

T ab le 1S i te sa l ong t h ep i pe l ine r ou te

An umbe r o fa r chaeo log ica l s i te s w e r e l o ca ted t oge the r w i th a r ea s o fm o re m odern d i s tu rbance i n c lud ing aS econd Wo r ld Wa r p r ac t ice b omb ing r a nge ( S i te 2 ) a nd t h e c r a sh s i t e o fa S econd Wo r ld Wa rb ombe r( S i te 4 ) . T he se s i te s w e r e c l ea red b yt h e RAF B omb S quad .

B arr ing ton . T he p rox im i ty o f t h e p ropo sed r ou te t o t h e k nown S axon c eme te ry a tB a r r ing ton ( Ma l im , 1 990 ) w a s t h e c au se o fs ome a nx ie ty t oB r i t ish G a s . T hey a r ranged f o r t h i s s e c t ion o ft h e p i pe l ine t o b e t op so i led u nde r a r chaeo log ica l s uperv i s ion i na dvance o fc on s truc t ion . T he c eme te ry p roved n o tt oe x tend a sf a ra st h ep ipe l ine r ou te .

T he p r e -con s t r uc t ion s u rvey w a s c omp le ted b y e a r ly Ma r ch 1 994 a nd B r i t i sh G a s w e r e a pp r a i sed o f t h e f i nd ing s . A m i t iga t ion s t ra tegy w a s d eve loped w i th B r i t i sh G a s t o m in im i se t h e d e s t ruc t ion o ft h e a r chaeo log ica l r e co rd w h i ls t c onf o rm ing t o t h e c on s t ruc t ion d ead l ines . F ou r m a jo r c oncen t ra t ion s o fa r chaeo log ica l a c t iv i ty w e r e r e cogn ised i n t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion s u rvey a nd i tw a s a cknow ledged t h a t t h e k nown S axon c eme te ry a t B a r r ing ton m igh t e x tend t o c onf l ic t w i th t h e p ropo sed l i ne o f t h e p i pe . T he n o rma l B r i t i sh G a sr e sponse t oa r chaeo log ica l r ema ins i st o' d ive r tt o a vo id i fp o s s ib le ' , b u t t h i s w a s n o t p r a c t ica l b ecau se o ft h e s ho r t t i me s c a le s . L im i ted a d jus tmen t s t ot h e p ipe l ine r ou te w e re m ade ,a l though r educed w o rk ing w id ths a nd e xcava t ion

S ITE 1 D uxford . T h i s s i te w a s i n i t ia l ly i d en t if ied f r om f i e ld -wa lk ing a nd s ub sequen t g eophy s ica l s u rvey . A cce s s f o r t h e c on s t ruc t ion o ft h e p i pe l ine p roved t ob e d i ff icu l t . I tw a s d i scove red l a te i n t h e p l ann ing p roce s s t h a t r a re S tone C u r lew s w e re d ue t o n e s t i n t h e i mmed ia te v i c in i ty . N ego t ia t ion s b e tween T he R oya l S oc ie ty f o rt h e P ro tec t ion o f B i rd s a nd B r i t i sh G a s c onsequen t ly l e d t o amuch r e duced p rog ramme f o r t h e c ons t ruc t ion i nt h i s s e c t ion a nd a v a r ied w o rk p a t tern t om in im i se t h e p o ten t ia l f o r d i s tu rbance o ft h e n e s t s i te . T h i s g r ea t ly r e duced t h e t i me a va i lab le f o r a r chaeo log ica l i n ve s t iga t ion o ft h i ss i te .

p r io r t o c on s t r uc t ion p roved t o b e t h e mo s t a pp rop r ia te r e sponse i nm o s tc a se s .

T he p i pe l ine r ou te w a s s l igh t ly a d ju s ted o ve r P eppe r ton H i l l , l a rge ly b ecau se o fe ng inee r ing r e a son s . H oweve r , t h e r e su l t s o f t h e g eophy s ica l s u rvey w e re c onsu l t ed t o r e duce t h e a r chaeo log ica l i mpac to ft h i s r e rou te . T op so i l ing w a s c a r r ied o u t i na dvance o ft h e m a in c ons t ruc t ion t e am , b y m echan ica l

S i tes w e re n umbe red a l ong t h e p i pe l ine f o l low ing t h e o rde r i nw h ich t h ey w e re f ound a nd t h e s e quence o f g eophy s ica l s u rveys c a r r ied o u t . T he m a jo rs i te sw e r e l a be l led a sT ab le 1

e xcava to r s w i th s moo th -f aced d i tch ing b ucke t , o ve rt h a t a r ea d ef ined a s h av ing a s i gn if ican t a r chaeo log ica l p o ten t ia l . A s l igh t ly r e duced w o rk ing w id th w a s a l so a dop ted f o r t h is

T he a r ea s o fp o ten t ia l a r chaeo log ica l c onf l ic t d ef ined i nt h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion s t udy a nd t h e r e spon ses m ade a r e s hown b e low .

a r ea . As amp le e xcava t ion o ft h e m a in a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu re s w a s c a r r ied o u tb e tween 3 0' A p r i l 1 994 a nd 3 rd May 1 994 . B r i t i sh G a s a nd Mu rphy P i pe l ine s p rov id ing s u rvey ing s e rv ice s i n o rde rt op l an t h ea r chaeo log ica l r ema ins . 1

b y p rob lem s w i th u nau tho r i sed a cce s s t o t h e p i pe l ine b y m e ta l d e tec to ru se r s .

S ITE 5F ox ton . T he ma jo rc oncen t ra t ion o fR omano -B r i t i sh ma te r ia l a l ong t h e p i pe l ine w a s l o ca ted i nt h is a r ea , l e ad ing t o magne t ic s c ann ing a nd amo r ed e ta i led g eophy s ica l s u rvey t o d ef ine t h e a r chaeo log ica l p o ten t ia l . U nf o r tuna te ly i tw a s n o t p o s s ib le t oa d ju s t t h e p i pe l ine a tt h i s p o in t , a lt hough t h e

S ITE 6 Wimpo le . F i e ld -wa lk ing d emon s t ra ted as i gn if ican t c oncen t ra t ion o fR omano -B r i t ish p o t te ry . T h i s w a s f o l lowed

w o rk ing w id th w a ss l igh t ly r educed a nd t h ep i pe l ine s c hedu le

b y magne t ic s c ann ing a nd a mo r e d e ta i led g eophy s ica l s u rvey t o d ef ine t h e a r chaeo log ica l p o t en t ia l . I t p roved

r ev i sed t og i ve t h e max imum t ime f o re xcava t ion .

i mpo s s ib le t o move t h e p i pe l ine a tt h i s p o in t a s i tw a s t h e E a r ly i n t h e t o p so i l ing o f t h e s i te i tb ecame a ppa ren t t h a t h uman r ema ins w e re p r e sen t o n t h e s i t e , l e ad ing t o a n

l o ca t ion f o r o ne o ft h e v a lve s i te s a l ong t h e p ipe r ou te . T he a r ea w a s t o p so i led i na dvance o fc on s t ruc t ion a nd as amp le

a d jus tmen t o f b o th t h e a r chaeo log ica l a nd

e xcava t ion w a s c a r r ied o u t b e tween 1 5' A p r i l 1 994 a nd 2 5'

c on s t ruc t ion

p rog ramme . E xcava t ion w a s i n i t ia l ly c oncen t ra ted i n t h e

May 1 994 .

a r ea s r e qu i red f o r a cce s s t ot h e c ons t ruc t ion w o rk n ece s sa ry f o r t h e r a i l c r o s s ing a nd t h e l i ne o f t h e p i pe t r ench . I tw a s

S ITE 8 L i t t le B arford , T emp sford

t h en p o s s ib le t oe xcava te t h e r ema inde ro ft h et op so i led a r ea , a f te rt h e p i pe h ad b een c on s t ruc ted a nd b u r ied . T h i s i n vo lved

a n a r ea w i th a s i gn if ican t ly i n c r ea sed d en s i ty o f R omano -B r i t i sh p o t te ry a nd f l in two rk . T h i s l e d t o b o th

B r i t i sh G a s r e -o rgan is ing t h e p r ef e r r ed w o rk ing m e thod t o

magne t ic s c ann ing a nd amo re d e ta i led g eophy s ica l s u rvey . T he r e su l t s o ft h i s s urvey w e re u sed t oa dv i se B r i t i sh G a sa nd d ef ine a s l igh t ly l e s s d amag ing r ou te . B r i t i sh G a s a d ju s ted

m in im ise t h ed amage t ot h ea r chaeo log ica lr e co rd .

F i e ld -wa lk ing d ef ined

t h e p ipe l ine a cco rd ing ly . T he e xpec ted w o rk ing p r ac t ice s o f t h e c on t rac to r s w e re a l so a mended t o r e duce t h e a r ea t o b e

A H ome O ff i ce l i cence t o l i f t b u r ia ls w a s s ough t . F or tuna te ly t h e m a jo r i ty o ft h e b u r ia l sw e re c oncen t ra ted i na c eme te ry , o nt h e w es te rn h a lf o ft h e w o rk ing w id th , a low ing

GEOLOGY OF THE P IPEL INE

S i te 1 0 ; S i te 5

A l luv ium T e r race G r ave l s B ou lde rC lay T ae le G rave l M idd le C ha lk L ow e rC ha lk G au l tC lay G reensand 5k m

Amp th i l l C lay A

MC :

E l swo r th R ock O xf o rd C lay

A f te rT ruer . Mo rgan 1 994

F igu re 1G eo logy o ft h e P ipe l ine

f o r t h e i re xcava t ion a t al e s s f r ene t ic p ace . D u r ing t h e c ou r se

t op so i led t h e r eby r e duc ing d amage t o t h e a r chaeo log ica l

o f t h e e xcava t ion o f t h e c eme te ry a l e ad l ined c off in w a s d i scove r ed . T he l i f t ing o ft h i s a r tef ac t w a s a ch ieved u s ing a

r e co rd . A cce s s w a s g a ined i n a dvance t o t h e e xpec ted

m echan ica l e xcava to r p rov ided b y B r i t i sh G a s . T he t im ing f o rt h ee xcava t ion o ft h e l e ad l ined c off in w a s p a r t ly d ef ined

Ma rch 1 994 a nd 1 4 `h A p r i l 1 994 .

s chedu le a nd a s amp le e xcava t ion c a r r ied o u t b e tween 1 4'

2

D u r ing t h e c ou r se o ft h e w a t ch ing -b r i ef t h e m a jo r i ty o ft h e a r cha eo logy e ncoun te r ed w a s r e co rd ed a sp a r t o f as t anda rd p rocedu r e , i n t e rf e r ing w i th t h ec on s t ru c t ion o ft h ep i pe l ine a s l i t t le a sp o s s ib le . A t S i t e 1 0 , h oweve r , t h i s p roved n o t t ob e p o s s ib le .

O rgan i sa t ion o fT he R epor t T h i s v o lume c on ta in s t h e a na ly s i s o ft h e e xcava ted c on tex t s a nd m a t e r ia l r e cove r ed f r om t h e s i t e s . T he f i r s t p a r t o ft h e v o lume d ea l s w i th t h e i n d iv idua l s i t e s a nd p r inc ipa l f e a tu r e s e xam ined . T he s e cond p a r t o f t h e v o lume c on ta in s t h e r e su l t s o ft h e v a r iou s s p ec ia l i s t s t ud ie s . Af u l l r e po r t a nd o t he r a r ch ive m a te r ia l h a s b een d epo s i ted w i th t h e C amb r idge sh i r e S i t e s a nd Monumen t s R eco rd . A r t ef a c t s

S ITE 1 0 S hepre th . I tw a s n o t p o s s ib le f o r B r i t i sh G a s t o o rgan i se a c ce s s t ot h i s f i e ld p r io r t ot h e c on s t ruc t ion o ft h e p i pe l in e ,t h u s i tw a sn o t i n c lud ed w i th in t h ep r e -con s t ruc t ion

TOPOGRAPHY OF THE P IPEL INE

L and a bove 2 0 m OD L and a bov e5 0 m OD L and a bove 7 0 m OD L and a bove 1 0 0 m OD

5k m

F i gu re 2T opog raphy o ft h eP i pe l ine s u r vey . A r cha eo log ica l f e a tu r e s w e r e l o ca t ed a f t e rt h e i n i t ia l t o p so i l ing o f a n a pp rox ima t e ly 1 0m w ide s t r ip a l ong t h e e a s ter n s i d e o ft h e w o rk ing w id th . When a pp ra i sed o ft h e s i tua t ion , B r i t i sh G a s i mmed ia t e ly r e -o rgan i sed t h e w o rk ing p a t te rn f o r t h i s a r ea . N o f u r the r t o p so i l ing t o ok p l a ce , t h e a l r eady s t r ipped a r ea w a s p l a ced o u t o fb ound s t o p i pe l ine v eh ic le s . A w ooden r o adway w a sc on s t ruc ted t op ro t ec tt h e u n s t r ipp ed p a r t o ft h e s i t e a nd as amp le e xcava t ion i n i t ia ted . B r i t i sh G a sa nd Mu rphy P i pe l ine sa l so p r ov id ed s u rveyo r st o p l an t h ea r cha eo log ica lr ema in s .

a nd o t he r m a te r ia l h a s b een p l a ced i n t h e C amb r idg e sh i re C oun ty A r chaeo log ica lS t o r e . G eo log ica lB ackground T he p i pe l ine r un s r ough ly n o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t l a rge ly a c ro s s s ou ther n C amb r idge sh i r e . T he u nde r ly ing g eo logy ( F igu r e 1 ) v a r ie s a l ong t h e p i pe l ine f r om J u ra s s ic O xf o rd C lay s i nt h e w e s t t o C r e ta ceou s M idd le C ha lk i nt h e e a s t . T he o u tc ropp ing g eo logy t e nd s t o b ecome y ounge r , i n s equence , t h e f u r the r e a s t o ne move s , w i th af ew o u t l ie r s o f y ounge r r o ck s o u t c ropp ing i n t h e c en t ra l s e c t ion o f t h e p i pe l ine . J u ra s s ic d epo s i t s i n c lude O xf o rd C lay , E l swor th R ock a nd Amp th i l l C lay . I ng ene ra lt h e se t e nd t ob e c l ayey i n n a tu re r e su l t ing i n h eavy , p oo r ly d r a ined s o i l s . T he C r e taceou s u n i t s c on s i s t o f G r een sand , G au l t C lay , L owe r C ha lk a nd M idd le C ha lk a nd t e nd t o g i ve l i gh te r , b e t te r

A t s i t e s 2C roydon , 3G r ea t G ran sden , 4F ox ton , 7C roydon , 9F ow lme r e , 1 T e two r th a nd 1 2 F ox ton , m ino r f e a tu re s w e r e l o ca t ed a nd r e co rd ed d u r ing p i pe l ine c on s t ruc t ion . D e ta i l so ft h e se a r et ob ef o und i nt h ea r ch ive .

3

T he r i ve rs y s tems w i th in t h e p i pe l ine c o r r ido ra r e s u rrounded b y a r ea s w i th a n e l eva t ion o fl e s st han 2 0 m OD . At r ibu ta ry

d r a ined l a nd . T he e xcep t ion t ot h i s p a t te rn i st h e G au l t C lay w h ich p roduced h eavy , c l ayey s o i l s .

o ft h e G rea t O u se g i ve s r i se t o al ow l y ing a r ea a d jacen t t o t h e S t . N eo t s g a s i n s ta l la t ion a nd S i te 8 e x tend ing t o t h e

T he s o l id g eo logy h a s a n o ve r p r in t o f g l ac ia l a nd p o s t -g la c ia l d epo s i t s . B ou lde r C lay d epo s i t s e x i s t s o ve r much

o f t h e

p ipe l ine ,

w h i l s t

m a jo r

d epo s i t s

s ou th f r om t h e s i te . T he m a in f l ood p l a in o ft h e G rea t O u se a l so l i e s i nt h e a r ea i mmed ia te ly t ot h e w e s t o ft h e p i pe l ine ,

b e tween

Wa re s ley ( TL 2 55547 ) a nd A r r ing ton ( TL 3 20502 ) f o rm a

r e su l t ing i nS i te 6 b e ing o n as p i t o fe l eva ted l a nd b e tween

c l ay p l a teau c ove r ing a pp rox ima te ly a t h i rd o ft h e p ipe l ine r ou te . F ur the r ma jo r d epo s i t s o f B ou lde r c l ay a l so e x i s t , p a r t ly f i l l ing a d ry v a l ley o n P epper ton H i l l , D uxf o rd

t h e se t wo l ow l y ing a r ea s .

( TL 4 68442 ) . T h in l a ye r s a nd p ocke t s o f t i l l a l so s u rv ive o ve r much o ft h e r ema in ing p ipe r ou te . T h i s i sp a r t icu la r ly

o r R hee a nd i t s t r ibu ta r ie s . T he l a nd h e r e i sb e tween 1 0 a nd

B o th S i te s 1 0 a nd 5a r e o n t h e f l ood p l a in o ft h e R ive r C am 2 0m OD w i th t h e l o ca l t opog raphy f o l low ing t h e l i ne o ft h e r i ve ra nd s t r eams o ft h ea r ea .

m a rked i n t h e s e c t ion f r om t h e S t . N eo t s A bove G round I n s ta l la t ion ( TL 1 77547 ) t o t h e v a l ley o ft h e R ive r C am o r R hee ( TL 3 84488 ) .

A cknow ledgemen t s T he a r chaeo log ica l p ro jec t w a s i n i t ia t ed a nd f unded b y B r i t i sh G a s p l c . We w i sh t o t h ank G . J a rv is , t h e P ro jec t

T he T ae le g rave ls o ccu r o n t h e c ha lk o u tc rop s a tt h e e a s te rn e nd o ft h ep ipe l ine . Wh i ls t t h e i rc ha rac te ri ss im i la rt ot h a t o f t h e r i ve rg rave ls o ft h e a r ea , t h ey o u tc rop a t ar e la t ive ly h i gh

Manage ro ft h e S tN eo t s P ro jec tO ff ice f o rh i s s uppor td u r ing t h e p ro jec t . D ay to -day s uppor t w a s p rov ided b y t h e S en io r P ro jec tE ng inee r , M . P ayne , a nd h i s P ro je c tE ng inee r sC .S i r s

l e ve l l e ad ing t o s ome d i scu s s ion a st ot h e i r o r ig ins . B o th a h i gh l e ve l , P l ie s tocene , p a laeo r ive r s y s tem a nd g l ac ia l o u twa sh h ave b een s ugge s t ed ( Cha tw in 1 96 1 , 7 3 )

a nd A . H o lme s . H e lp w i th s u rvey ing w a s p rov ided b y G . H emm ing s .

P o s t -g lac ia l d epo s i t s c on s i s t o fa luv ium a nd t e r race g rave l s a s soc ia ted w i th t h e moder n r i ve r s y s tems o f t h e a r ea . I nt h e a r ea a r ound t h e S t N eo t s A bove G round I n s ta l la t ion

P rac t ica l s uppo r t w a s p rov ided b y Mu rphy P ipe l ine s L td . p a r t icu la r ly t h e P ro jec t E ng inee r , C . E toe , S p read m anage r , E J e s t in a nd t h e f o remen K . McTaggar t a nd A . T heo . S urvey ing s e rv ice s f r om Mu rphy 's w e re p rov ided b y G .

( TL 1 77547 ) t h e G rea t O use h a s b o th a l luv ium a nd r i ve r g r ave l sw h ich e f f ec tt h e l i ne o ft h e p i pe l ine . Mo re e x ten s ive r i ve r ine d epo s i t s w e re e ncoun te red i nt h e f l ood p l a in o ft h e R ive r C am o r R hee a nd i t s t r ibu ta r ie s . T he a l luv ium w a s

H an ley . L oca l A rchaeo log ica l a dv ice w a s p rov ided b y t h e C oun ty A r chaeo log i s t , A . T ay lo r , a nd a n e me rgency c r ew s upp l ied b y t h e C amb r idge sh i re C oun ty C ounc i l A r chaeo log ica l F i e ld

c oncen t ra ted o n e i the r s i de o f t h e R ive r C amo r R hee , w he rea s t h e r i ve r g rave ls s p read b e tween t h e m a in r i ve r v a l ley a nd F ox ton ( TL 4 04479 ) . Wh i l s tt h e i mmed ia te f l ood p l a ins w ou ld h ave b een l i ab le t os e a sona l f l ood ing , r e su l t ing

U n i t

i nt h e a luv ium , g rave l d epo s i t s w ou ld p roduce l i gh t , w e l l d r a ined s o i ls s u i tab le f o re a r ly a g r icu l tu re .

T he w o rk c ou ld n o t , h oweve r h ave b een c omp le ted i fi tw e re n o t f o r t h e w o rk a nd d ed ica t ion o f t h e e xcava t ion t e am . T he se c on s i s ted o fJ .P r ice , I .B rook s , C .L inga rd , T .E l l is , L .

T he p i pe l ine c r o sse s a r e la t ive ly l ow l y ing a r ea o f B edf o rd sh i re a nd C amb r idge sh i re w i th t h e m a jo r i ty o f t h e p i pe l ine b e ing b e low 3 0m OD ( F igu re 2 ) . Two m a jo r a r ea s o fh ighe r l a nd r i se t oa bou t 8 0m OD . T he se a r e t h e B ou lde r C lay p l a teau b e tween Wa r es ley ( TL 2 55550 ) a nd A r r ing ton ( TL 3 23500 ) a nd t h e C ha lk D own s o f P epper ton H i l l ( TL 4 53437 -T L4 80447 ) . T he o u tc rop o f B ou lde r C lay a r ound Weave ley Wood ( IL 2 20545 ) h a s a l so r e su l ted i n

B onno r , C . T ay lo r , M . B a rd i l l , E . H a r r i son , M . W i l son , R . C lea ry , J .G oode , R . Moo re , J . McDona ld , J . Mu l l i s , J .R eed , P . E l l ison , C . B oy le , I .S t ewa r t , N . M acNab , S .G i lch r i s t , D . R ouse a nd D . Sm i th . P o s t -excava t ion a na ly s is w a s f u r the r a dvanced b y D . Mayna rd , N . B oo th royd a nd K . L aws . S pec ia l i s t w o rk w a s g ene ra l ly c a r r ied o u t i nh ou se , h oweve r w e w ish t o t h ank t h e f o l low ing p eop le f o r r e po r t s o n s pec ia l is t a spec t s o ft h e e xcava t ion s ; R . V an A r sde l l ( Ce l t ic C o in ) , G . L uca s ( Po t te ry ) , K . D om ing a nd J .H a rd ing ( Env i ronmen ta l )a nd P .C rew ( S lag ) .

l a nd r i s ing t oa bove 5 0m OD .

4

E xcava t ions A tL i t t le B arford ,B edfordsh ire J . L . G oode

I n troduc t ion

A rchaeo log ica l B ackground

T he a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu re s a tT L 1 67547 ( F igu re 3 ) , w e re

T he a r ea s u r round ing t h e s i te c on ta in s e v idence o fa c t iv i ty i n

d i scove r ed a s ar e su l t o ft h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion p ha se o ft h e S t N eo t s t o D uxf o rd G a s P ipe l ine 1 994 . T he f i nd s r e cove red f r om f i e ld w a lk ing p romp ted s c ann ing a nd a d e ta i led

t h e r eg ion d u r ing t h e R omano -B r i t i sh p e r iod . I mmed ia te ly t o t h e s ou th o n t h e o t he rs i de o ft h e s t ream t h e c ons t ruc t ion o fa s ewage w o rk s r e vea led " a p i t w i th R oman p o t te ry , a nd p o s t -ho le s o fe a r ly R oman d a te" ( Tebbu t t , u nda ted i nS imco 1 984 , 18 ) ( TL 1 67545 ) . A e r ia l p ho tog raphs o ft h e se w o rk s s how a s e r ie s o f c r opma rk s ( Bedf o rdsh i re SMR 1 67 1) s p read ing s ou th t oT emp sf o rd v i l lage ( TL 1 653) .

g eophy s ica l s u rvey . T he s i te w a s e xcava ted d u r ing Ma rch a nd A p r i l 1 994 p r io rt ot h ec on s t ruc t ion o ft h ep i pe l ine . G eo logy T he u nde r ly ing s o l id g eo logy o f t h e s i te i sO xf o rd C lay w h ich i so ve r la in b y Q ua t e rna ry r i ve r t e r race g r ave l s o n t h e w e s t o ft h e s i te a nd g l a c ia l t i l l o n t h e e a s t ( T rave r s Mo rgan 1 994 , 6 ) . T ot h e i mmed ia te n o r th o ft h es i t e w a s al ow h i l l o f b ou lde rc l ay .

F u r the r c r opma rk s o f u nknown d a te s , c an b e s e en t o t h e s ou th -ea s t a nd e a s t o ft h e s i te ( Bedf o rd sh i re SMR 6 27 a nd 6 28 ) . T ot h ew e s t , a tT L 1 654 ( Bedf o rd sh i r e SMR 1 832 )a nd t o t h e n o r th , a t T L 1 655 ( Bedf o rd sh i r e SMR 2 664 ) , mo re c r opma rk s a r ee v iden to nt h ea e r ia l p ho tog raphs .

T he s i te w a s l o ca ted o nt h ee dge o f ar i ve rf l ood p l a in . I tw a s s i tua ted o n t h e n o r th b ank o f as ma l l s t r eam , w h ich c urve s a r ound s ot h a t t h e s i te m ay o nce h ave b een b o rde red o n t wo s i des b y w a te r . T he s i te w a sb e tween 1 7m a nd 1 8m OD a nd w a s a tt h e b a se o f as ma l l h i l l t ot h e n o r th , w h ich r i se s t oa h e igh to f2 6m OD .

O the r e v idence w a s d i scove red o nt h e t op o ft h e h i l l s ou th o f t h e v i l lage o fT emp sf o rd ( TL 1 652 ) , w he re d eep p lough ing h ad r e vea led a l a rge v a r ie ty o fo b jec t s . As ma l l e xcava t ion f ound e v idence w h ich s ugge s ted t h a t t h is h ad o nce b een t h e i n du s t r ia la r ea o f aR oman v i l la ( Rudd 1 964 , 7 8 ) .

F igu re 3L i t t le B a rf o rd L oca t ion P l an

5

D e scr ip t ion o fA rchaeo log ica l R e su l t s P hase I .M id F ir s tt oS econd C en tury AD Much o ft h e s u rv iv ing e v idence f o ra c t iv i ty i nt h i s p ha se w a s c oncen t ra ted o n t h e w e s te rn s i de o f t h e s i t e . T he r e w e re n ume rou s d i t che s , a l l o fw h ich w e re s ma l l a nd n a r row w hen c ompa red t o o t he r s e l sewhe re o n t h e s i t e . T he ma in f e a tu re w a s ad i tch [ 4 9 ] w h ich r a n e a s t -we s t a c ro s s t h e s i te . T h is w a s c u t b y t h e l a te r d i tches [ 8 2 ] , [ 94 ] a nd [ 8 4 ] w h ich a l r a n p a ra l le l t o i t . I t i s p o s s ib le t h a t t h e se d i tche s m a rked b ounda r ie s o re nc lo su re s . D i tch [ 4 9 ] r a n f o r a pp rox ima te ly 4 0m i n ar ough ly e a s t -we s t d i rec t ion a l ong t h e l e ng th o f t h e e xcava ted a r ea . A t i t s e a s te rn66 e nd i tt ur ned w i th ag en t le c u rve t ot h e s ou th . A n umbe r o f s e c t ion s c u t t h rough t h e d i t ch s howed t h a t t h e w id th v a r ied f r om 0 . 53m t o1 . 08 m a nd t h e d ep th v a r ied f r om 0 . 26m t o 0 . 5m .

I n p rof i le i tw a s " U" s haped , w i th v e r t ica l

s i de s a nd af l a t b a se , t h e f i l l s m a in ly c on s is t ed o fs andy s i l t s . A tt h ew e s ter ne nd t h e r e w a sa n u nexcava ted a r ea o fi regu la r s hape [ 1 00 ] w h ich a ppea red t ob e o n as im i la r a l ignmen t t o [ 49 ] a nd m ay h ave b een c onnec ted w i th i t ,p r io r t oi t sb e ing c u t b y d i tch [ 9 4 ] . As e cond u nexcava ted a r ea [ 102 ] w a s " L" s haped i np l an a nd a l so p o s s ib ly c u t b y [ 9 4 ] . T he s u rf ace l a ye r s o f[ 1 00 ] a nd [ 1 02 ] a nd f i l l ( 63) [ 4 9 ] w e re v e ry s im i la r , i n d ica t ing t h a t [ 100 ] a nd [ 1 02 ] may b e p a r t o f , o r a s soc ia ted w i th d i tch [ 4 9 ] . T he d i tch w a sc u tb y an umbe ro ff e a tu re s o f v a ry ing s i ze sa nd p rof i le s . T he s e c t ion o fd i tch [ 4 9 ] k nown a s c u t [ 6 8 ] , c on ta ined t h ree f i l l s . T he u ppe rmo s t o f t h e se ( 53) c on s i s ted o f s a nd s tone s l ab s ( up t o 0 . 25m i nd i ame te r ) , w h ich h ad b een l a id i n a d a rk g r ey -b rown s a ndy s i l t ( 66 ) , w h ich a l so c on ta ined c ha r coa l a nd s ma l l s t one s . T he se s l ab s may r e p re sen t a p o r t ion o fc o l lap sed w a l l o rw a l l f ounda t ion s . T h i s d i tch w a s v i s ib le o n t h e g eophy s ica l s u rvey , w he re i t a ppea r s t o r un p a ra l le l t o as im i la r ly s haped f e a t u re t o t h e n or th o ft h e e xcava ted a r ea . T he i n te r sec t ion w i th d i t ch [ 8 2 ] c an a l so b e s e en i n t h e g eophy s ic s r e su l t s . A e r ia l p ho tog raph s s how t wo s ma l l e a s t -we s t a l igned l i nea r f e a tu re s , w h ich i n te r sec t w i th al a rge n o r th sou th f e a tu re . I t i sp o s s ib le t h a t t h e n o r ther nmo s t o ft h e se s ma l le r d i tche s i s d i tch [ 49 ] . F ea tu r e [ 9 4 ] w a s al a rge d i tch , o r ien t ed i n a n a pp rox ima te n or th -we s t s ou th -ea s t d i rec t ion .

T he s ou thern e nd o f t h i s

d i tch m ay b e h ave b een d ug a s[ 82 ] . I ns e c t ion i tw a s 1 . 65m w ide w i th am ax imum d ep th o f0 . 70m . T he d i tch s i de s h ad a f a i r ly r e gu la r s l ope , a l though s l igh t ly s t eepe r o n t h e s ou thern e dge , a nd e nded i n af l a t t ish b a se , w h ich h ad as l igh t e r o s ion c hanne l i nt h e b o t tom . B ounda ry o rd r a inage d i t ch [ 8 2 ] w a s 4 . 60m w ide a nd 1 . 30m d eep a nd h ad s t eep s i de s , e spec ia l ly o n t h e w e s ter n e dge . A t t h e b a se o ft h is w a s c u t [ 2 40 ] . T h i s f o rmed aw ide f l a tb a sed s l o t , w h ich m ay b e e i the r ar e -cu t o f[ 8 2 ] o rt h e c u t f o r ap i t . D i tch [ 8 2 ] m ay b e p a r t o f [ 9 4 ] .

F igu re 4L i t t le B a rf o rd G ene ra l p l an 6

T h i s d i tch c an b e s e en o n

T h i sp i t w a s c ove r ed b y as e r ie so fl a ye r s . T he p rec ise l im i t s

a e r ia lp ho tog raph sa nd o nt h eg eophy s ica ls u rvey i n te r sec t ing w i th o t he rl a rge l i nea rf e a ture s , p o s s ib ly t of o rm e nc lo su r e s .

o ft h ese l a ye r s w a sn o td e te rm ined , b u tt h ey c on ta ined aw ide v a r ie ty o f f i nd s , e spec ia l ly p o t te ry , a n ima l b one a nd i r on o b jec t s .

D i tch [ 9 6 ] w a s 8 . 90m l o ng , 0 . 45m d eep a nd h ad am ax imum w id th o f 1 . 16m . I tr a n i n a n a pp rox ima te n o r th -we s t t o

Two f u r the r p i t s , [ 2 62 ] a nd [ 2 7 1] , w e re c u t i n to

t h e se l a ye r s , b u tn e i the rp i t w a s f u l ly e xcava ted . L aye r s ( 78 ) a nd ( 2 58 ) a ppea red t ob e l a ye r s o fr edepos i ted n a tu ra l , b u t t h eo t he rl a ye r sw e re m ix tu re so fs and sa nd s i l t s . L aye r( 24 1)

s ou th -ea s t d i r ec t ion , u nde r t h e b au lk t o t h e n o r th a nd e nded i na n u nce r ta in r e la t ion sh ip w i th d i tch [ 47 ] t ot h e s ou th ( w i th

c on ta ined an umbe r o fd i f f e ren t a r tef a c t s , i n c lud ing ac oppe r

w h ich i ti sp o s s ib ly e qu iva len t ) . D i t ch [ 4 7 ] h ad aV s haped p rof i le a nd w a s a pp rox ima te ly 2 3m l o ng , 0 . 50m w ide a nd

a l loy c o in o fT e t r icu s I ,2 71-274 AD .

0 . 44 m d eep .

[ 86 ] a nd [ 5 9 ] , s ugge s t t h a t t h ey m ay b e p a r t s o ft h e s ame f e a tu re . B o th a r e a l igned n o r th -ea s t s ou th -we s t , c on ta in a

S ea l ing an umbe r o ft h e se l a ye r s a nd ap i t [ 120 ] , w a s l a ye r ( 138 ) . T h is c ons i s ted o f am ixed m id b rown s andy s i l t , w h ich w a s s p read o ve r al a rge a r ea . T he f i nd s i n c luded q ue rn f r agmen t s a nd p o t te ry f r om t h e e nd o f t h e s e cond

b rown ish s a ndy s i l ta nd o fv ery s im i la rd ep th .

c en tury t ot h ee a r ly t h i rd c en tu ry AD .

F ea tu r e [ 4 0 ] w a s as ha l low g rave , w h ich m ea su red 1 . 94m i n

O n t h e n or th e a s t s i de o ft h e s i t e as e r ie s o fd i tche s w e re c u t , w h ich i n c lude [ 5 ] , [ 1 2 ] , [ 1 6 ] , [ 2 47 ] a nd [ 2 48 ] . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t a l l t h e se d i tche s r ep re sen t f i e ld b ounda r ie s o r d ra inage

T he a l ignmen t a nd s im i la r i ty i np ro f i le s a nd f i l l s o f g u l l ie s

l e ng th , 0 . 6 1m i nw id th a nd 0 . 11 m i nd ep th a nd w a s a l igned n or th sou th . I tc on ta ined a n i n comp le te a r t icu la ted a du l t s ke le ton ( 2 39 ) t h a t w a s p o ss ib ly m a le . T he b u r ia l c on ta ined n o g rave g ood s , b u t t h e re w e r e m any i r on n a i l s w i th in t h e

c hanne l s . D i tch [ 5 ] w a s 1 . 26m w ide , 0 . 56m d eep a nd c . 12 m l o ng . I t h ad i regu la r s i de s , w i th a r ounded b r eak o f s l ope a t t h e b o t tom a nd a n u ndu la t ing b a se . I tc u tt h e e a r l ie rd i tch [ 2 16 ] , o fw h ich [ 5 ] m ay b e ar e -cu t a nd c on ta ined f i ve f i l ls . O n ly t h e s ou thern e dge o f d i t ch [ 2 16 ] r ema ined a nd t h is h ad a n i regu la r s l ope , w h ich t a pe red t o as l igh t ly r ounded V s hape . T he r ema ins o f t h is c u t m ea su r ed 0 . 39m w ide a nd 0 . 26m d eep .

f i l l , w h ich m ay s ugge s t aw ooden c off in . T he o n ly a c t iv i ty i nt h e c en t ra l a r ea o ft h e s i te w a s ar ough ly r e c tangu la r s i ng le p i t [ 1 24 ] , o f l e ng th 1 . 70 m , w id th 1 . 40m a nd d ep th 0 . 26m . T h is w a s a pa r t f r om t h e m a in a r ea o fp i t s a nd s t ra t ig raph ica l ly i s o la ted . T he f i nd s i n c luded ap i ece o f v es se l g l a s so f af i r s tt of our th c en t u ry AD d a te , b u rn tc l ay , a w he t s tone a nd a n ima l b one . T he p o t t ery f r om t h i s f e a tu r e w a s o f ad a te r a nge o f 1 20 t o 1 50 AD , b u t i ti sp o s s ib le t h a t t h is i sr e s idua l .

A m ach ine d ug b ox s e c t ion w a s p u t t h rough d i tch [ 1 2 ] , w h ich w a sa l igned i na n e a s t -we s td i rec t ion a c ro s st h e s i te . I t w a s 1 . 10m d eep , Vs haped , a nd h ad as l igh t ly r ounded b a se . T h i s w a s c u t b y f e a tu re [ 2 20 ] w h ich a ppea red t or un p a ra l le l t oi t .

D i tch [ 4 / 10 ] w h ich c ro s sed t h e w id th o ft h e e xcava t ion a r ea o n a n a pp rox ima te e a s t -we s t a l ignmen t , o n t h e e a s te rn p o r t ion o ft h es i t e . T he c u tw a s 1 . 10m w ide ,0 . 30m d eep a nd c on ta ined as i ng le f i l l( 207 ) .

D i tch [ 1 6 ] c ro s sed t h e e xcava ted a r ea i n a n e a s t w e s t d i rec t ion . I th ad g radua l ly s l op ing s i de s , ar ounded b a se a nd m ea su red 1 . 33m w ide a nd 0 . 30m d eep . T he d i tch w a s o ve r la in b y f u r row s ( 15 ) a nd ( 18 ) .

P hase I E ar ly T h ird t oM id T h ird C en tury AD T he a c t iv i ty i nt h e w e s te rn a r ea o ft h e s i te w a s l i m i ted t oa s e r ie s o fs c oop sa nd h o l lows , w h ich w e r e p o s s ib ly a s soc ia ted w i th g rave l e x t ra c t ion . T he m a jo r i ty o f t h e se h o l lows h ad s l op ing s i de s a nd r ounded b a se s , a nd c on ta ined as i ng le f i l l . T he l a rg e s t f e a tu re w a s ap i t [ 1 54 ] w h ich c on ta ined t wo f i l ls .

C u t [ 248 ] w a s as ma l l d i tch o r g u l ly , w h ich a ppea red t o e me rge f r om c u t [ 2 47 ] a nd t h en c on t inued t owa rd s t h e

T h i s h ad am ax imum d ep th o f0 . 99m a nd am ax imum w id th o f 1 . 74m . T he l owe r f i l l h ad a s ub s tan t ia l a moun t o f f i r s t c en tu ry AD p o t te ry a nd al i t t le o f ae a r ly t h i rd c en tu ry d a te .

s ou ther n e dge o f t h e e xcava t ion a r ea , o n a s ou thea s t -nor thwe s t a l ignmen t . T he p r ec ise n a tu re o f t h e r e la t ion sh ip o ft h is c u t a nd [ 2 47 ] w a s n o t d ef ined . C u t [ 2 48 ] w a s f a i r ly s ymme t r ica l , w i th s t eep s i de s ( t he s ou th -we s te rn

I n t h e m idd le o f t h e s i te t h e r e w e r e af ew s ma l l n a r row

s i de w a s s l igh t ly s t eepe r ) a nd af l a t tened b a se . I tw a s 1 . 40m l o ng , 0 . 47m w ide a nd h ad a m ax imum d ep th o f 0 . 35m .

d i tche s s im i la r i ns i ze t o t ho se i nt h e w es t , n one o f w h ich c on ta ined m uch p o t tery . F ou rp i t s w e r e a l so d ug ,b u t mo s to f

D i tch [ 2 47 ] w a s ar ough ly V s haped , f a i r ly s ymme t r ica l c u t , w i th s t eep ly s l op ing s i de s a nd a s l igh t ly f l a t tened b a se . I t m ea su red 0 . 90m w ide ( max imum ) , 6 m l o ng a nd 0 . 47m d eep

t h e a c t iv i ty w a s i n t h e l a y ing d own o f l a ye r s o f d ome s t ic d eb r i s . T h i sw a sp robab ly f r om t h ev i l la n ea rt h e s i t e .

a nd w a s a l igned a pp rox ima te ly e a s t w e s t . I tw a s l a te r r e -cu t b y d i tch [ 2 50 ] .

T he e a r l ie s t p i t i nt h is a r ea w a s [ 2 93 ] , w h ich w a s c u t i n to l a ye r( 29 1) . T he p i t mea su red c .3 m i nd i ame te ra nd 0 . 4m i n d ep th . I tc on ta ined t h i rd c en tury AD p o t te ry , a s w e l l a s a b one n eed le a nd af r agmen to fv e s se l g l a s s . 7

F igu re 5L i t t le B a rf o rd E xcava ted f e a tu r es

8

G u l ly [ 2 54 ] w a sa l igned r ough ly s ou th -ea s tt on or th -we s t , c u t p i t [ 2 55 ] a nd l a ye r s ( 2 58 ) a nd ( 242 ) . T he s o i l ma t r ix ( 253) w a s am id t o d a rk b rown g r ey s andy s i l t , w i th p a tches o fa

P hase I I L a te T h ird t oE ar ly F our th C en tury AD T he d ump ing o f d ome s t ic d eb r i s o n t h e c en t ra l a r ea o ft h e s i te c on t inued d u r ing t h i s p ha se o fo ccupa t ion . T he m e thod

r e d b ur n t c l ay s e t w i th in a n u nbum t g reen i sh g rey c l ay . I n t h e w e s ter n p a r t o ft h e f i l l t h e re w a s b u rn t t i l e a dhe red t o

o f d epo s i t ion o f m a te r ia l c hanged d u r ing t h i s p e r iod , f r om t h e s p r ead o fl a ye r st ot h e i n f i l l ing o fp i t s . L aye r s ( 138 ) a nd

b ur n tr e dc l ay , w i th af r agmen t o fs l ag o n t op o ft h e r e d c l ay .

( 103 / 108 ) a ppea r t o m a rk t h e c hange i n s t y le o f t h i s d epo s i t ion . T he w ide d a te r a nge o ft h e se d epo s i t s i n d ica te s

T h i sw a sp o s s ib ly t h er ema in so f , o rt h e d ump , f r om ah ea r th .

t h a t s ome o f t h e m a te r ia l h ad b een p r ev iou s ly d umped e l sewhe r ea nd h ad b een s pec if ica l ly m oved t ot h is a r ea o ft h e s i te . T h i s m ov ing o fm a te r ia l s ugge s t s t h a t o t he r a r ea s w e re b e ing c l ea red o fd eb r i sa nd t h a tt h i s a r ea h ad b een d e s igna ted

T o t h e w e s t o f t h e se p i t s a nd l a ye r s w a s as e r ie s o f i n te r cu t t ing s ma l l d i tche s a nd g u l l ie s , a nd t wo l a rge d i tche s [ 7 2 /257 ] a nd [ 1 75 ] . D i tch [ 7 2 /257 ] w a s o n a pp rox ima te ly t h e s ame a l ignmen t a s d i tch [ 1 83 ] a nd f e a tu re c omp lex ( 1 ) . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t t h e l a rge r d i tches w e r e p a r t o f af i e ld b ounda ry o rd ra inage s y s tem .

a s ar ubb i sh d ump . Many o f t h e se p i t s c on ta ined a s i ng le s a ndy s i l t f i l l , w i th i n c lu s ion s o f p ebb le s , f l in t s , c ha rcoa l , c ha lk a nd mo r ta r . T he se p i t s c on ta ined a w ide v a r ie ty o f m a te r ia l , much o f w h ich w a s s im i la r t o t h a t d epo s i t ed a s l a ye r s a nd i n c luded a n ima l b one , s h e l l , p o t te ry , m e ta lwo rk a nd a l so s ome i t ems o fp e r sona la do rnmen t .

D i tch [ 1 75 ] w a s a l igned n o r th s ou th a c ros s t h e s i te . T o t h e s ou th i td i sappea r ed u nde r t h e e dge o fe xcava t ion , w h i ls t t o t h e n o r th i tw a s m a sked b y o ve r ly ing m a te r ia l , w h ich g ave i t av i s ib le l e ng th o fa bou t 4m . I tw a s 3 . 10m w ide a nd 0 . 35m d eep , w i th s ha l low s l op ing s i de s a nd ar ounded b a se , w h ich c on ta ined ad ep re s s ion .

P i t [ 2 32 ] w a s2 . 1m l o ng , 1 . 3m w ide a nd 0 . 34 m d eep . I tw a s p a r t icu la r ly r i ch i n f i nd s a nd c on ta ined a w ide v a r ie ty o f a r tef ac t s , i n c lud ing a n ima l b one , t i l e , a nd p o t te ry f r om 2 70 t o 30 AD . T he re w e re t wo p i e ce s o f v e s se l g l a s s , a n i n comp le te j e tb r ace le t , ab one h a ir p in ,a n i n comp le te c oppe r a loy e ag le d eco ra t ion o rp l aque a nd av a r ie ty o fi r on o b jec t s w h ich i n c luded s t ud s ,n a i l s , ac l ea ta nd ab a rf r agmen t .

D i tch [ 7 2 /257 ] r a n i na n e a s t w e s t d i rec t ion a c ro s s t h e s i te , w he re i td i sappea r ed u nde r t h e w e s te rn l i m i t o fe xcava t ion . I tw a s a tl e a s t 7 . 40m l o ng a nd w a s 1 . 72 m w ide , w i th s t eep ly s l op ing e dge s a nd ar ounded b a se . T he d i t ch t e rm ina tes i n t h e m idd le o ft h e e xcava ted a r ea . I ft h is i st h e s ame d i tch a s t h a t v i s ib le o n t h e g eophy s ic s s u rvey t h en i te x tend s t o t h e n o r th o ft h e s p r ead , w he re i ta ppea r s t o i n te r sec t w i th o the r l a rge l i nea rf e a tu re s .

P i t [ 145 ] m ea su r ed c . 1 m i nd i ame te r , 0 . 65 m d eep , w h ich c u t l a ye r ( 1 38 ) a nd p i t [ 1 20 ] . T he f i l l ( 38 ) c on ta ined a q uan t i ty o ff i nd s , o fw h ich t h e i r on w o rk i n c luded f ou r n a i ls , al a tch l i f te r , ak ey , af r agmen t o f l o op -headed r od , a h i ppo sanda lf r agmen ta nd ar i ng .

C lo se t ot h e s ou ther n l i m i t o fe xcava t ion w a s a no the r g roup o f s ma l l i n te r cu t t ing g u l l ie s . T he se w e re n a r row a nd s ha l low , a nd c on ta ined s i ng le f i l ls .

P i t [ 1 28 ] w a s as ha l low f e a tu re l o ca ted a bove p i t s [ 1 26 ] a nd [ 1 27 ] . l tm ea su r ed 0 . 26m d eep , 7 . 5 ml o ng a nd 3 . 7m w ide . T he f i nd s c on s i s ted o fa n ima l b one , p o t t ery ( f rom 2 70 t o3 30 AD ) , af r agmen t o ft i l e a nd ap i ece o fw indow g l a s s . T he re w e re an umbe r o fi r on f i nd s , w h ich i n c luded ar od h and le , a l o op h eaded s p ike , aj o ine r ' sd og a nd ab l ade f r agmen t .

T he m a jo r i ty o ft h e d i tche s o n t h e n or th e a s ter n p a r t o ft h e s i te d a te t o t h i s p ha se a nd t h ey s e em w ide r t h an t h e o t he r l i nea r f e a tu re s w h ich c r o s sed t h e s i te . T he se d i tche s a ppea red t ob e e i the r p a ra l le l o rp erpend icu la r t oe ach o t he r , a nd t of o rm r e c t i l inea rs haped f i e ld s o re nc lo su re s . D i t ch [ 1 90 ] w a s a l igned r ough ly n o r th s ou th a c ro s s t h e s i te . I tw a s c .2 4m l o ng , c . 2 .90m w ide a nd c . 1 md eep . T he s i des s l oped d own t oa n u ndu la t ing b a se , w h ich w a s d eepe r t ot h e w e s t s i de o ft h e c u t . T he d i tch w a s o ve r la in b y f u r row s ( 9 )

P i t [ 1 44 ] c on ta ined t wo f i l ls ( 30 ) a nd ( 1 11) a nd w a s c u t b y [ 1 43 ] . T he f e a t u r e w a s c . 1 .50m l o ng , 0 . 24 m t o0 . 40m w ide a nd u p t o0 . 15m d eep . F i l l ( 1 11) h ad am ode ra te q uan t i ty o f m o r ta r f l eck s a nd p a tche s o f c ha r coa l a nd o t he r c a rbon ised

a nd ( 2 37 ) a nd h ad a n u nc lea r r e la t ionsh ip w i th d i tch [ 4 / 10 ] . Mo s t o ft h e p o t te ry r e cove red w a s d a ted t ot h e m id t h i rd t o e a r ly f ou r th c en tu ry AD , b u t t h e re w a s as i ng le s he rd o f r e s idua l m id I r on A ge p o t te ry .

m a te r ia l . T h i s f i l l w a s p o s s ib ly c on tempo ra ry w i th t h e s t one s c a t te r ( 3 1) , w h ich w a s a bove b o th f i l l ( I ll) a nd f i l l ( 70 ) [ 1 43 ] . T he s c a t te rc ons is ted o fl a rg ish p ebb le sa nd s t one s , i n am ed ium t od a rk b rown s i l ty s and . T he s i l ty s a nd c on ta ined f r equen t f r agmen t so fl i me s tone , s a nd s tone a nd f l in t c obb le s . T he re w a s am ode ra te q uan t i ty o fl i me m o r ta ra nd o cca s iona l

C u t [ 1 83 ] w a s a" L" s haped f e a tu re , a l igned r ough ly e a s t w e s t , b u t w h ich t u rned b y a lmo s t 9 0° t o t h e w e s t a t i t s

f r agmen t s o fd aub , c ha lk a nd s ma l l f l i n t p ebb le s . Many o f t h e l a rge p ebb le sa nd s t one s w e re b ur n t o rh ea t -c racked . T he p o t te ry f r om p i t [ 1 44 ] w a s o f am id -f i r s t t o s e cond c en tu ry AD d a te , b u t t h e s i ze , s hape a nd l o ca t ion o f t h is p i t i n

w e s te rn t i p .

I tw a s c .4 . 50m l o ng , 2 . 40m w ide a nd 0 . 28 t o

0 . 55m d eep . D i tche s [ 1 79 ] a nd [ 1 87 ] w e re o n as im i la r n o r th s ou th a l ignmen t a nd b o th c .1 2m l o ng , b u t w e re s epa ra ted b y ag ap

r e la t ion t o t h e o t he r s i n t h e c omp lex , s ugge s t s t h a t t h i s p o t te ry i sr e s idua l . 9

s t ruc tu re o n t h e e xcava ted s i te w a s t h ep o s s ib le w a l l ( 5 3 ) , b u t t he f i nds r e cove r ed s ugge s t t h a t t h e re w a s s ome s or t o f s e t t lemen t c l o se b y . T h i s s e t t lemen t w a s p r obab ly av i l la , a s

o fc . 2 .50m . T he n o r ther nt i p o f[ 1 87 ] c u t" L" s haped f e a tu r e [ 1 83 ] . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t t h e g ap b e tween t h e se d i tche s w a s t h ee n t rance t oa ne nc lo su re .

t h e r e a r e f i nd s w h ich i n d ica te b o th d ome s t ic a nd w o rk ing a c t iv i t ie s . T he e v idence o fd ome s t ic a c t iv i ty i n c lude s q ue rn s t ones , b race le t s , p o t te ry , f i ne g l a s s w a re , at o i le t s poon a nd

Al a rge l i nea r f e a tu re ( Fea tu re C omp lex 1 )t h a tr a n e a s t w e s t a c ro s s t h e s i te w a s s e c t ioned u s ing am ach ine a nd c on s i s ted o f an umbe r o f d i tch r e -cu t s . T he s u rv iv ing w id th o f t h e

b one p i ns , w h i l s t t h e l a rge n umbe r o f p o s s ib le t oo l s a nd

T h i s

s t ruc tu ra l f i t t ing s s ugge s t t h e g ene ra l w o rk ing a c t iv i t ie s t h a t

w a s t r unca ted o n t h e n o r thern s i de a nd t h e i n i t ia l f i l l w a s c u t i n to b ys eve ra li n te r cu t t ing d i tche s .

wou ld b e a s soc ia ted w i th av i l la . T he s ma l l h i l l t ot h e n or th

i n i t ia l c u t [ 1 88 ] w a s c .3 . 2m a nd i tw a s 1 . 25 m d eep .

o ft h e s i te i sw he re t h e s e t t lemen tw a s mo s tp robab ly l o ca ted . T he a e r ia l p ho tog raph o f t h i s a r ea p o s s ib ly s how s ad a rk r e c tangu la r c r opma rk o n t h i sh i l l . U nf or t una te ly , t h i sm a rk i s o n t h e e dge o ft h e p ho tog raph a nd n o te nough c an b e s e en t o

C u t [ 1 7 ] w a s ar ough ly e a s t -we s t a l igned d i t ch , t h a t w a s o ve r la in b y f u r row s . T he d i tch h ad f a i r ly s t eep s i de s , w i th a

d e te rm ine t h ep o s s ib i l i ty o ft h i sb e ing t h es i t eo ft h e v i l la .

f l a t b a se c .0 . 30m w ide , b u t a tt h e t op t h e d i t ch w a s 2 . 30m w ide . T he g eophy s ica l s u rvey s hows a l a rge l i nea r f e a tu r e r unn ing e a s tw e s ta c ro s st h e s i te ,w h ich i sp o s s ib ly d i tch [ 1 7 ] .

L a te N eo l i th ic a nd e a r ly B ronze A ge f l i n t s w e re r e cove r ed d u r ing t h e p r e -cons t r uc t ion s u rvey , b u t n o o t he r e v idence o f p reh i s to r ic a c t iv i ty w a s f o und d u r ing t h e e xcava t ion . T he e a r l ie s tp o t te ry w a s f r om t h em id f i r s tc en t u ry AD a nd t h is i s p robab ly a s soc ia ted w i th t h e e s tab l i shmen t o ft h e s e t t lemen t . T he p o t tery a s semb lage c on ta ined m any i mpo r ted f o rms f r om e l sewhe re i nt h e c oun t ry a nd t h e c on t inen t , w h ich d o

P hase I V F our th C en tury AD T he c en t ra l s e c t ion o ft h e s i te c on ta ined t h e o n ly e v idence o f a c t iv i ty i nt h e f our th c en tu ry AD . L aye r ( 2 1/22 / 180 ) , c ove red a pp rox ima te ly 1 50 m s qua re a nd h ad am ax imum d ep th o f0 . 40m . I tw a s s p r ead i n an a tu ra l

n o t s t a r t t o a ppea r u n t i l c . 140 -190 /200 AD . T h is may i n d ica te a n i n c r ea se i na c t iv i ty o r w ea l th d u r ing t h a t p e r iod .

h o l low i nt h e s ub so i l a nd w a s a mode ra te ly c ompac t d a rk g r ey s a ndy s i l t . A l a rge q uan t i ty o f f i nd s w e r e r e cove red ,

Mo s t o f t h e c e ram ic a c t iv i ty w a s i nt h e l a te t h i rd a nd e a r ly f our th c en tu r ie s AD a nd m ay r ef lec t t h e h e igh t o ft h e v i l la s o ccupa t ion a nd p ro spe r i ty . T he l a ck o fp o t tery f o rms d a t ing

w h ich i n c luded p e r sona l i t ems s uch a sh a i rp in sa nd s t ruc tu ra l ma te r ia l s uch a s t i l e , p a in ted l i me p l a s te r , l i me r e nde r ,

b eyond t h e e a r ly f ou r th c en tu ry AD w a s s ugge s ted b y L uca s t oi n d ica te t h e e nd o ft h e u se o ft h e s i t e a nd t h e d ec l ine o ft h e s e t t lemen t . T he re i sh oweve r , as i ng le f e a tu re o n t h e e a s ter n

mo r ta r . T he p o t te ry s panned a w ide r a nge , f r om t h e l a te A n ton ine p e r iod ( 140 t o 1 90 AD ) t ot h e f o ur th c en tu ry AD a nd t h e re w a s ap i ece o fw indow g l a s s d a t ing f r om b e tween t h e f i r s t t o s e cond c en tu ry AD . T h is s t ruc tu ra l ma te r ia l s ugge s t s t h e c l ean ing , c l ea r ing o rr e bu i ld ing o f ap a r t o ft h e v i l la a nd t h e u se o f t h i s h o l low a s ad ump f o r d ome s t ic d eb r i s .

p a r t o ft h e s i t e w h ich c on ta ins f i f th c en tury p o t te ry , b u t t h is may n o t b e r e la ted t ot h e m a in o ccupa t ion p e r iod o ft h e v i l la . T he t wo p e r iod s o f i n c rea sed a c t iv i ty s ugge s ted b y t h e p o t te ry , a r e f u r the r s uppo r ted b yt h e d a t ing o ft h e m a jo r i ty o f t h e s ma l l f i nd s i n to t h e s ame t wo p ha se s .

P i t [ 1 56 ] w a s o va l s haped , c . 1 . 90m l o ng a nd 0 . 80 m w ide a nd c on ta ined a n a lmo s tc omp le te a r t icu la ted c a lf b u r ia l , t h a t a ppea red t oh ave b een l a id o u to n i t ' s s i de .

T he s i te a s semb lage c on ta ined f ew i t ems w h ich c ou ld i n d ica te w ea l th . T he g l a s s r e cove r ed w a s o n ly s ugge s t ive o f a mode s t f a rms tead o r v i l la , b u t d i d i n c lude a v e ry h igh q ua l i ty v e s se l . T he i mpo r ta t ion o fp o t te ry w a sn o tu nusua l i n t h e R omano -B r i t ish p e r iod , e ven o n s ma l l , r u ra l s i te s . T he ma in e v idence f o r t h e w ea l th o ft h e s i t e c ame f r om ac oppe r a l loy e ag le d eco ra t ion o rp l aque , w h ich w a s t h ough t t ob e a v o t ive o b jec t . A s e cond i t em i n d ica t ive o f w ea l th w a s t h e

P hase V F i f th C en tury AD As i ng le n on l i nea r f e a t u re [ 6 ] i nt h e e a s te rn p a r t o ft h e s i te c on ta ined t h e o n ly p o t te ry d a t ing t o t h e f i f th c en tu ry AD . T h i s w a s as ha l low d ep r e s s ion , w i th s ha l low s l op ing s i de s , w h ich m ea su red 1 . 08m i n l e ng th , 0 . 42m i n w id th a nd a m ax imum o f0 . 08m i nd ep th .

t r iden t f r agmen t , p o s s ib ly f r om as t a tue . T h is p l aque w ou ld n o t h ave b een o u t o fp l ace i n aw ea l thy v i l la o rs h r ine , a nd i t i sp o s s ib le t h a t as t a tue m ay h ave b een a s soc ia ted w i th t h i s s h r ine .

P ha se V I Med ieva la nd L a ter As e r ie so fs ha l low c u l t iva t ion f e a tu re s c r o s sed t h e s i te i na

T he c omp lex o fp i t s u ncove red i nt h e c en t re o ft h e s i te d a ted

n or th sou th d i rec t ion .

d es t roy ing s ome o f t h e s t ra t ig raph ic r e la t ion sh ip s i n t h e i r

f r om e a r ly t h i rd t oe a r ly f o ur th c en tu r ie s AD . F rom t h e e a r ly t om id t h i rd c en tury AD m o s t o ft h e d epo s i t s a r e i nt h e f o rm

c ou r se .

o f l a ye r s o f m a te r ia l , b u t i n t h e l a t e r p e r iod , m a te r ia l w a s

T he se c u t a l o ft h e R oman f e a tu r es ,

mo re f r equen t ly d umped i n to p i t s c u t t h rough s ome o f t h e e a r l ie r l a ye r s . T he p rac t ice o f d ump ing r ubb i sh i np i t s h a s

D iscus s ion

b een n o t ed a to t he r v i l la s i te s , e . g . a t S pa r sho l t ( J ohns ton

T he a r chaeo log ica l e v idence f r om t h e s i te c on s i s ted o f f i e ld s y s tem s a nd a r ea s o f d ump ing . T he o n ly e v idence f o r a

1 994 ) . 1 0

T he r e i sn o e v idence i na ny o ft h e l a ye r s o r p i t s t o

s ugg e s t a ny m a jo r r e bu i ld ing o ft h e v i l la , b u t t h e f ew p i ece s o f t i l e , t h e p l a s te r , t h e w indow g l a s s a nd t h e o t he r m o r e g ene ra ld eb r i sw ou ld s ugge s ts ome s o r to fc l ea r ing o rt i dy ing o ft h e s t r uc tu r e . T h i s m ay h ave b een b ecau se o fr e de s ign ing o rr e deco ra t ion , t oc l ea r a r ea s f o r r e -u se , o rr ef l ec t ac hange i no wne r sh ip .

T he l a ck o f p o t te ry e v idence l a te r t h an t h e s e cond c en tu ry AD , f r om t h e d i t che s a nd g u l l ie s o ft h e w e s ter n p a r t o ft h e s i t e s ugge s t s t h a t t h ey h ad p e rhap s b ecome i nf i l led . T h i s m ay r ef l ec t ac hange i n l a nd u s e o r f a rm ing t e chn ique . E v idence f r om t h e e dge o ft h ee xcava ted a r ea , s how st h a tt h e d i gg ing o f h o l low s a nd s c oop s , p o s s ib ly f o r g r ave l e x t ra c t ion ,t o ok p l a ce i nt h et h i rd c en tu ry AD .

A n i n huma t ion ( 2 39 )w a sf o und i n as h a l low g r ave [ 4 0 ] . T he i n d iv idua l w a s a n i n comp le t e , a r t i cu la ted a du l t , p o s s ib ly m a le , o f a n u nce r ta in a ge . T he se w e r e t h e o n ly h uman r ema in sf o und o nt h es i t e .

C onc lu s ion T he a r cha eo log ica l s i t ea tT L 1 67547 c on s i s ted o ft h ed i t che s a nd g u l l ie so ff i e ld s y s tem sa nd r u bb i sh p i t sa s soc ia t ed w i th a s e t t lemen t . T h i s w a s p r obab ly a v i l la , b u t h a s y e t t o b e f o und . T he r ubb i sh p i t s c on ta ined i t ems w h ich s ugge s ted b o th w o rk ing a nd d ome s t ic a c t iv i t ie so n o rn ea rt h es i t e . T he f i r s t e v idence o fo ccupa t ion d a te s t ot h e m id -f i r s t t os e cond c en tu r ie s AD , b u t i ti st h e t h i rd a nd f o u r th c en tu r ie s AD w h ich s how t h e m o s t a c t iv i ty o n t h e s i te . I tw ou ld a ppea r t h a tt h e o ccupa t ion o ft h es e t t lemen tc e a sed d u r ing t h e f o u r th c en tu ry AD .

T he f e a t u r e s i nt h e w e s t i n c lude t h e e a r l ie s t o n s i t e a nd w e r e p r edom inan t ly d i tche s a nd g u l l ie s a s soc ia t ed w i th f i e ld s y s tem s . T hey a ppea rt ob es ma l le rt h an t h o se i nt h ee a s ta nd o f a n e a r l ie r d a te ( m id -f i r s t t o s e cond c en tu ry AD ) . T he e a s te r n d i tche s w e re l a rge r a nd m o s t ly o f al a t e r d a te ( l a t e t h i rd t oe a r ly f o u r th c en tu r ie s AD ) . T h i s i n c r ea se i ns i ze m ay r ef l ec t ac hange o f p r ac t ice o ve r t i me , o r a n a l te r a t ion i n f u nc t ion , e . g . an eed f o r m o r e d r a inage c hanne l s o r b e t te r b ounda r ie s . D i t ch [ 1 88 ] a nd r e -cu t [ 1 93 ] s ugge s t t h a t s ome o ft h e s ed i t che sw e re c l eaned a nd m a in ta ined .

1

E xcava t ion O fAL a te I ron A ge A nd E ar ly R oman S e t t lemen tN ear N ew W impo le , C ambr idge sh ire , 1 994 C .M . T ay lo r ,I . P . B rook sa nd J .P r ice

a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu r e s a nd as amp le e xcava t ion w a s c a r r ied o u tb e tween t h e 1 9' a nd 2 5 th A p r i l 1 994 .

I n troduc t ion S i te 6 w a s s i tua ted i nt h e s ou the rn p a r t o f W impo le p a r i sh , l e s s t h an 1k m s ou th -we s t o f t h e v i l lag e o fN ew W impo le

D u r ing t h e e x cava t ion , t wo d i s t inc t g eo log ica l d epo s i t s w e re e ncoun te r ed : m uch o ft h e n o r th a nd e a s tp a r t s o ft h e s i t e h ad af a i r ly s t if f o r ange -b rown s a ndy o r s i l ty c l ay c on ta in ing a s c a t t e r o f s t one s a nd p ebb le s i n m a in ly f l i n t , c ha lk a nd q ua r tz i te . I nc on t ra s t , mo s t o ft h e s o u th a nd w e s t p a r t s w e re c ove r ed b y a s t if f e r , b l ue g r ey c l ay c on ta in ing v e ry o cca s iona l s t one s o rp ebb le s . T he f o rme r w a s i n t e rp r e t ed a s g l ac ia l B ou lde r C lay , w h i l s t t h e l a t t e r w a s p r obab ly t h e u nde r ly ing G au l t C lay . T he p l ough so i l w a s af a i r ly h eavy ,

( TL 3 43495 ) ( F ig 6 ) . I t w a s i d en t if ied d u r ing t h e p r e -con s t r uc t ion f i e ld s u r vey o f s p r ing 1 994 w hen a c oncen t ra t ion o f R omano -B r i t i sh p o t te ry , i n c lud ing a n a pp r ec iab le q uan t i ty o f S am ian a nd o t he r C o lou r C oa t ed w a re s , w a s n o ted . A m agne tome te r s u rvey s ugge s ted t h a t p r eh is to r ic f e a tu r e sw e r ea l so p r e sen to nt h es i t e . L a te ri nt h e s p r ing , B r i t i sh G a s p l ca g r eed t om a ch ine s t r ip t h ep l ough so i l i no rde rt h a ta ny a r cha eo log ica l r ema in s b e i n ve s t iga t ed p r io r t op i pe l ine c on s t ruc t ion . T he t o p so i l ing e xpo sed an umbe ro f

F i gu r e 6W impo le L oca t ion

1 2

s i te , o ne o fw h ich , [ 5 31] , c u t t h e o t he r , [ 5 33 ] ( F ig 8 ) . A l m l e ng th o f [ 5 31] w a s e xcava ted , r e vea l ing a v e ry g en t ly

d a rk i sh b r own c l ay l o am , d e sc r ibed a s a' s u rf ace w a te rg l ey ' b yt h e S o i l S urvey o fE ng land a nd Wa le s .

s l op ing , b road V -shaped p rof i le m ea su r ing 0 . 10m i n d ep th a nd f i l led w i th a g r ey -b rown s a ndy s i l t . T he o n ly a r tef ac t

T he s i te l a y w i th in t h e b a s in o ft h e R ive r G r ea t O u se , i nt h e v a l ley o ft h e R ive r C am o rR hee . A t amo r e l o ca l l e ve l , i ti s

r e cove red , as ma l l f r agmen t o f a b raded p o t te ry i na n E a r ly R oman f a b r ic , c ame f r om [ 5 31 ] a nd i s a s sumed t o b e

o n t h e C am 's n or the rn t e r race , 2 00 -250m n or th -ea s to fo ne o f i t s s ma l le r t r ibu ta ry s t reams . T he s u r round ing l a nd i sf a i r ly

i n trus ive .

l e ve l a nd l ow l y ing ( c .25 m OD ) ; 2k m t ot h e n o r th t h e re i s a n e a s t -we s t r unn ing c ha lk r i dge w h ich r i se s t oa r ound 7 0 m

T he g u l l ie s a ppea rt oh ave b een c on t empo ra ry , a nd m ay e ven

OD , w h i l s tt ot h e s ou th t h e l ow l y ing l a nd o ft h e C am f l ood p l a in a nd t e r race e x tend s f o r 6k m b ef o r e as im i la r c ha lk

h ave r ep re sen ted t h e s ame c on t ex t . D e sp i te t h e l a ck o f d a tab le a r tef ac t s , t h e L a te I r on A ge d a te a t t r ibu ted t o

r i dge i se ncoun te red .

S t ruc tu re 1w h ich c u t s t h e g u l l ie s , d oe s i n d ica te t h a t t h ey c anno t h ave b een d ug a ny l a te r t h an i n t h i s p e r iod . T he u n if o rm n a tu re o ft h e f i l l s i mp l ie s t h a t t h ey e x i s ted a s o pen

A t p r e sen t ,t h e C am v a l ley s ou th o fC amb r idge h a sr e la t ive ly l i t t le e v idence f o r I r on A ge s e t t lemen t , p a r t icu la r ly o n t h e G au l t a nd B ou lde r C lay s ub so i l s . Mo s t o ft h e s i te s t h a t a r e k nown a r e c onf ined t ot h e g rave l s , t h et wo mo s t w e l l -known

g u l l ies r a the r t h an a s s t ruc tu ra l c omponen t s , a nd t h a t t h ey s i l ted -up n a tu ra l ly d u r ing a nd /o ra f t e ru se .

b e ing t h e L a te I r on A ge a nd E a r ly R oman s e t t lemen t s o f G rea t S he lf o rd ( Tay lo r , 1 977 , 3 5 -7 ) a nd H a r s ton ( Ma l im , 1 993 , 1 -54 ) w h ich l i e 1 0 k m a nd 7 k m e a s t o f S i te 6

P hase 2 S truc ture s 1t o 3a nd A s soc ia ted F ea ture s( La te

r e spec t ive ly . T he o n ly o t he rI r on A ge s e t t lemen tr e co rded i n t h is p a r t o ft h e v a l ley t h a t d oe s l i e o n c l ay i sa tA r r ing ton B r idge ( SMR 3 157 ) .

T h is p ha se r e p re sen t s t h e f i r s t m a jo r a c t iv i ty a tS i te 6 , a nd r e la tes p r ima r i ly t oS t ruc tu re s 1 3 ( F ig 8 ) .

I ron A ge )

S t ruc ture 1 A n umbe r o f R omano -B r i t i sh s e t t lemen t s i t e s a r e k nown f a i r ly c l o se t o S i te 6 , s ome r e vea l ing f i r s t c en tury AD o ccupa t ion ( S MR C amb s ) . T he c l o se s t e v idence c on s is t s o f as e r ie s o fs i te s a l ong E rm ine S t r ee t , n o r th a nd s ou th o f i t s j unc t ion w i th R oman R oad 2 3a ( Ma rga ry , 1 955 , Map 7 ) a pp rox ima t e ly 1km t o t h e s ou th -we s t o f S i te 6 . T ha t a t A r r ing ton B r idge h a s b een i n te rp r e ted a s a' p o s t ing s t a t ion ' , w h i ls t a no the r ,j u s tt ot h e n or th o fR oad 2 3a , i sr e ga rded a sa p robab le ' s erv ice s e t t lemen t ' ( Cam s . SMR 8 384 ) . R oman R oad 2 3a , w h ich r uns n or th -ea s t t o C amb r idge f r om W impo le L odge , l i es r i gh t b e s ide S i te 6 u nde rnea th t h e

T h is l a y i nt h e n o r th c or ne r o f t h e s i te a nd c on s i s ted o f a s i ng le , c on t inuou s g u l ly e nc lo s ing a n a lmo s t p e rf ec t ly c i rcu la r a r ea c . 13m i nd i ame te r ( c .135 m2) ,a nd b roken o n ly b y a n e n t rance a ti t s e a s ter n s i de ( F ig 7 ) . I tr a nged i nw id th b e tween 0 . 20m a nd 0 . 70m , a ve rag ing a ta bou t 0 . 40m . T h is l a rge v a r ia t ion a ppea r s t o r ef lec t d i f f e ren t ia l s u rv iva l r a the r t h an a ny g r ea t d i f f e rence i nc on s t ruc t ion . I ndeed , t h e g u l ly w a s n a r rowe s t w he re r e vea led u nder nea th m ed ieva l f u r row s . T he e n t rance w a s ma rked b y a2 . 4m b r eak . H e re , b o th s i de s o ft h e g u l ly t u rned s ha rp ly i nwa rd s b ef o r e e nd ing i nr ounded t er m ina l s .

moder nA 603 .

F ou r c u t t ing s r e vea led f i ve s e c t ions w i th t wo d i f f e r ing t y pe s o f p rof i le . I n t wo c a se s i t w a s q u i te n a r row w i th a s t eep -s ided U shaped p rof i le a nd ag en t ly r ounded o rn a r row f l a t t ish b a se ( [ 411] . T he o t he rt h ree w e r e s l igh t ly w ide r w i th b roade rV -shaped p rof i le s ( [ 4 11] , [ 4 24 ] , [ 5 02 ] . T he d ep th o f t h e g u l ly w a s f a i r ly c on s is ten t , a t 0 . 30 -0 .35 m , e xcep t f o r [ 4 11] b( 0 .15m d eep )w h ich h ad b een mo re h eav i ly t r unca ted

T he E xcava t ion T he m a ch ine s t r ipp ing r e vea led a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu re s e x tend ing f o r 1 46m s ou th -ea s t o f t h e A 603 . T h is 1 46m l e ng th v a r ied i nw id th b e tween c . 27m a nd 4 0m , g i v ing at o ta l i n ves t iga ted a r ea o fj u s t u nde r h a lf a h ec ta r e . D u r ing t h e w o rk , t h e m a in r e s t r ic t ing f a c to r s w e re l i m i ted t ime t o e xcava te t h e s i t e a nd p rob lem s r e la t ing t og round c ond i t ions .

b y m ed ieva l p l ough ing .

T he f e a tu r e w a s f i l led w i th a f i rm ,

I n t o ta l , b e tween 4% a nd 2 0% o f e a ch m a jo r f e a tu re w a s e xcava ted , w h i l s t f o rm ino r o ne st h e f i gu r e r a nged f r om 1 0%

f a i r ly h omogeneou s d a rk b rown i sh -g rey s i l ty c l ay . 19 s he rds o fL a te I r on A ge p o t tery w e re r e cove red , l a rge ly f r om

t o5 0% . Af ew c on tex t sw e re c omp le te ly e xcava ted .

t h e s e c t ion o f[ 4 11] a c ro s st h e n o r th e n t rance t e rm ina l .

At o ta l o f n i ne p ha se s o f a c t iv i ty w a s i d en t if ied , s t re tch ing

S t ruc ture 2

f r om t h e L a te I r on A ge t ot h e p r e sen t . T ho se d epo s i t s t h a t c ou ld n o t b e p ha sed a r e n o ted b r ief ly a f te r t h e f o l low ing

T h is w a s l o ca ted i n t h e c en t r e -no r th p a r t o f t h e s i t e a nd

p ha se d esc r ip t ion s . P hase 1 P re -S truc ture 1Gu l l ie s( La te I r on A ge )

c omp r ised f ou r s t re tche s o fc urv ing g u l ly ( F ig 8 ) . T h ree o f t h ese ( [ 4 13 ] , [ 4 40 ] a nd [ 5 27 ] ) c ou ld b e j o ined t o f o rm a c i rc le w i th ad i ame te r o f 1 .9 12 .2m , a nd t oe nc lo se a n a r ea

T he e a r l ie s t r e co rded a c t iv i ty a tS i te 6 i sr e p r e sen ted b y t wo s hor t s t re tche s o fg u l ly f o und i nt h e n o r th -ea s t c or ne r o ft h e

o f c . 110 m 2 . T he f ou r th ( [ 486 ] ) w a s s i t ua ted w i th in t h e c i rcu la r a r ea c r ea ted b y t h e o t he r t h ree . T hey a ve raged c . 0 .35 m i nw id th , m ak ing t h em s l igh t ly n a r rowe r t h an t h e 1 3

F igu re 7W impo le G ene ra l P l an

1 4

g u l ly o f S t ruc tu re a ve rag ing c . 0 .25 m .

1 .

I n terpre ta t ion -S truc ture s 1 3

G u l ly [ 4 86 ] w a s n a r rowe r s t i l l ,

T he g u l l ie s o f S t ruc tu r e s 1a nd 2 a ppea r t o r ep r e sen t t h e T he t e rm ina l s a te i the r e nd o fo u te r g u l ly [ 4 40 ] s ugge s t t h e p o s s ib i l i ty o f b o th e a s t -f ac ing a nd w e s t -f ac ing e n t rances .

p o s i t ion s o f c i r cu la r b u i ld ing s , a nd p o s s ib ly a l so t h a t o f S t ruc tu re 3 . I ti sn o t i mmed ia te ly c l ea r , h oweve r , w he the r t h ey r e p re sen t t h e f ounda t ion t r enche s f o r t h e w a l ls o f

T he w e s te rn p o r t ion o f[ 4 40 ] b roadened o u t , b e ing r e co rded a tt h i s w ide r e nd a s [ 5 41] . W i th in t h e a r ea c ove red b y t h e l a t te rw e re t wo s ho r ts t r e tche s o fg u l ly , [ 5 37 ] a nd [ 5 39 ] , b o th

b u i ld ing s , o r t h e o u te r d r a inage g u l l ie s .

o fw h ich a l so t e rm ina ted a tt h e w e s t , b u t w h ich d i d s o s ho r t o ft h et e rm ina lo f[ 5 41 ] .

c i rcu la rs t ruc tu re s .

T he p r ef e r red

i n te rp re ta t ion i st h a t t h ey f o rmed a s d r ip f e a tu re s a round

N o e v idence w a s p roduced f o r p o s t -vo id s o r p o s t p ack ing ma te r ia l . T h i s a b sence w ou ld s uppo r t ad r a inage f unc t ion

T he c u t t ing a c ro s s o u te rg u l ly [ 4 13 ] r e vea led a0 . 30 m d eep , f a i r ly s t eep s ided a nd U shaped p rof i le w i th ag en t ly r ounded b o t tom . I n c on t ra s t , g u l ly [ 440 ] w a s mo re s t eep ly s ided , w a s0 . 14 m d eep a nd h ad af l a tb a se . T he f i l l so fa l lt h eo u te r

o ve r t h e f ounda t ion t r ench o p t ion . P e rhap s a mo re s i gn if ican t p o in t c oncer n s t h e r e la t ive l o ca t ion s o ft h e L a te I r on A ge p o t te ry s he rd s . N ea r ly a l l o ft h ose f r om S t ruc tu re 1 c ame f r om t h e s e c t ion e xcava ted c l o se s t t o t h e e n t rance .

g u l l ie s w e re f i rm , h omogeneou s , d a rk g r ey s i l ty c l ay s . T he s e c t ion a c ro s s i n ne rmo s tg u l ly [ 4 86 ] p roduced a0 . 07m d eep , U -shaped p rof i le , f i l led w i th ap a le , b rown i sh -g rey s i l ty c l ay . T h is f i l l w a s n o t iceab ly d i f f e ren t f r om t h a t o ft h e t h ree o u te r g u l l ie s , b u ta lmo s t i d en t ica l t ot h a t o f[ 5 37 ] , t h e i n ne rmo s t o f t h e t wo s t r e tche s o fg u l ly r e co rded w i th in [ 5 4 1] . T h is s ho r t l e ng th , l i ke [ 4 86 ] , w a s a l so n a r rowe r i n p l an t h an t h e o u te rmo s t g u l l ie s , s o i tm ay b e t h a t t h e se t wo s ho r te r s t re t che sw e re r e la ted .

T h i sw ou ld b e c on s i s ten tw i th b roken v e s se l sb e ing d i sca rded n ea r t o ar egu la r ly -u sed r ou te a tt h e e n t rance t o ab u i ld ing . S im i la r ly , t h e r e cove ry o fs he rd s b e long ing t o as i ng le v e s se l f r om t h e v e ry b o t tom o fg u l ly [ 4 86 ] o fS t ruc tu re 2 ,s ugge s t s t h a tt h i st oo w a sa n o pen f e a tu re . P ub l i shed e xamp les o f c i r cu la r g u l l ie s t h a t t ur n i n b ef o re t e rm ina t ing , a s S t ruc tu re 1d oe s , a r e u sua l ly l o ca ted o n t h e o u t s ide o f b u i ld ing s , a nd a r e b e s t i n te rp re ted a s d ra inage f e a tu r e s ( Cun l if f e , 1 984 , F ig . 4 . 17 ) . Q u i te a n umbe r o f c omp le te ly c i rcu la r d r a inage d i tche s a r e k nown t h roughou t

F ive f r agmen t so fL a te I r on A ge p o t te ry w e r er e cove red f r om S t ruc tu r e 2f r om t h e f i l l o fg u l ly [ 4 40 ] , a nd 4 9 s he rd s f r om t h e b a se o fi n ne rg u l ly [ 4 86 ] , a l l o ft h e l a t te r f r om a n i ns i tu L a te I r on A ge v e s se l .

much o f s ou ther n B r i ta in , a nd a r e p a r t icu la r ly n o tab le o n s i te sw i th i mpe rmeab le s o i l s , s uch a sa tD raugh ton , N o r than t s ( Cun l if f e , 1 99 1 , 2 45 ) . I n c on t ra s t , c i ted e xamp les o f f ounda t ion t r enche s d o n o t t ur n i ns ha rp ly a tt h e i r e n t rance s , t h ey s imp ly e nd w i th ap a i ro f( doo r ) p o s t -ho le s e i the rs i de o f t h e e n t rance ( e .g . C un l if f e , 1 987 , I l6 3 ; J obey , 1 976 , F ig . 4 ) . P re sumab ly , t h e i n tur n w a s d e s igned t o e nhance d ra inage e i the rs i de o fa n e n t rance p o r ch .

Two f e a tu r e s c ou ld b e a s soc ia ted w i th S t ruc tu re 2 . N ea r t o i t s c en t r e w a s ( 47 1) , ac oncen t ra t ion o f b ur n t o r p a r t ia l ly b ur ned s t one s , t h e i r p o s i t ion a nd c ha rac te r s ugge s t ing t h a t t h ey d e r ived f r om ah ea r th a s soc ia ted w i th S t ruc tu re 2 ( F ig 8 ) . T he o t he r f e a tu re w a s [ 4 75 ] , as t eep s ided , o va l shaped p o s tho le s i tua ted i mmed ia te ly o ppo s i te t h e t e rm ina l o fg u l ly [ 5 41 ] . I t s p o s i t ion s ugge s t s ac onnec t ion w i th t h e n ea rby g u l ly o f S t ruc tu r e 2 , t h e mo s t o bv iou s b e ing t h a t i t r e p re sen ted o ne o ft h ep o s t s f r om ap o s s ib le p o rch .

H av ing a ccep ted t h a t t h e g u l l ie s w e re f o r d r a inage , a nd t h a t t h ey c on ta ined c i r cu la rb u i ld ing s , i ts e em s s a f e t oa s sume t h a t t h e se w ou ld h ave b een mo re o r l e s s c en t ra l ly -po s i t ioned w i th in t h e a r ea e nc lo sed b y t h e g u l l ies , a nd t h a t t h e s i ze s o f t h e se a r ea s r e f lec ted t h e d imens ions o f t h e h ou se s w i th in . F o r S t ruc tu r e s 1a nd 3 , t h i s w ou ld i n d ica te b u i ld ing s o f b e tween 6 a nd 1 0m i n d i ame te r , t yp ica l d imen s ion s f o r c i rcu la rs t ruc tu re s o ft h i sp e r iod ( Cun l if f e , 1 99 1 , 2 42 -5 ) . T he l a you t o f t h e g u l l ie s o f S t ruc tu re 2 s ugge s t s t h a t i t s c en t ra l d we l l ing m ay h ave b een r e -bu i l t a ts ome s t age i n as l igh t ly d i f f e r en tp o s i t ion : t h et h r ee o u te rg u l l ie s p e rhaps r e p r e sen t ing o ne h ouse p l an , i n ne r g u l ly [ 4 86 ] a no the r . I n a dd i t ion , t h e s ha rpe rc urve o ft h e l a t te ri mp l ie st h a t i tw ou ld h ave e nc lo sed

S t ruc ture 3 T h i s s ho r t s t re tch o fc urv ing g u l ly ( [ 495 ] ) w a s l o ca ted i nt h e c en t ra l , n o r th a r ea o ft h e s i te ( F ig 8 ) . I ts u rv ived i nw id th f r om b e tween 0 . 25m a nd 0 . 65m , a nd c on ta ined ad a rk g r ey s i l t f i l l . A te i the re nd i tw a s m a sked b y m ed ieva l p l ough so i l , w h i le a ti t ss ou th -we s te nd i tw a sa l so c u tb y al a te rp i t [ 493 ] . I ti st h ough t t or e p r e sen t t h e p o s i t ion o f ac i r cu la r b u i ld ing , a s i t s w id th a nd f i l l a r e c l o se ly c ompa rab le t o t h o se o f t h e o t he r t wo s t ruc tu re s , a nd i t s c u rve , i fp ro jec ted , p roduce s a c i r c le o f a pp rox ima te ly 1 2 .5m i n d i ame te r . A r tef ac t s

as ma l le r a r ea t h an t h e t h ree o u te r g u l l ie s .

T h i s w ou ld

p robab ly h ave m ean t ah ou se w i th a to ne t ime ad i ame te r o f 6 10m , a nd a ta no the r , o f5 7m , t hough w h ich o ft h e se c ame

r e cove red f r om t h e u ppe r p a r t o f t h e g u l ly i n c luded n i ne s h e rd s o f p o t te ry ( s even L a te I r on A ge , t wo E a r ly R oman ) ,

f i r s t i su nknown .

a nd as ome f r agmen t so fh uman c r an ia l b one . T he e n t rance f o r S t ruc tu re 1a ppea r st oh ave f a ced e a s t . T h is a g ree s w i th t h e g ene ra l t e ndency o fr oundhou se e n t rances t o b e

o r ien ted

t owa rd s

t h e

n or th -ea s t ,

e a s t

o r s ou th -ea s t

( Bew ley , 1 994 , 1 07 ) , a nd p e rhap s r ef lec t s ad e s i r e t o k eep 1 5

Phase

1

Phase

2

Phase

3

N .

Phases 1 a nd

rf f l i % • % . Phase

6

Phases 7 t o

9

i i 0

F i gu re 8W impo le P ha se P l an

1 6

o u t t h e c o ld n o r the r ly a nd p r eva i l ing s ou th -we s te r ly w ind s a nd t o r e ce ive t h e e a r ly mo rn ing s un l igh t . S t ruc tu re 2 h ad t wo p o s s ib le e n t rance s , a n e a s te r ly a nd a s ou th -we s t e r ly .

c . I m a nd 2m , a nd t wo r ounded t e rm ina l s c r ea ted a 4 . 7m w ide , w e s t -f ac ing e n t rance .

A s sum ing t h e re w ou ld o n ly e ve rh ave b een as i ng le e n t rance , t h en a n e a s t -f a c ing o ne i s mo re l i ke ly .

T he f ou r e xcava ted c u t t ing s r e vea led q u i te d i f f e r ing p rof i le s .

A l though a l l t h ree S t ruc tu re s f i t l o g ica l ly i n to P ha se 2 ,i ti s n o t p o s s ib le f r om t h e s t ra t ig raph ic n o r t h e p o t te ry e v idence ,

b roade rV shaped p rof i le a nd w a ss ha l lowe ra t0 . 42 m . [ 46 1] h ad a s ha l low , f a i r ly s t eep s ided , f l a t -bo t tomed p rof i le a nd

t o s t a te w he the r t h e r oundhou se s r e p re sen t ed b y t h em w e r e d ef in i t e ly i nu se a tt h es ame t ime .

s u rv ived t o ad ep th o f0 . 17m ; a s ar e su l t o fi t s p rox im i ty t o o ne o f t h e d i tch t e rm ina l s . T he f ou r th s e c t ion , t h a t a c ro s s

P hase 3 E nc lo sure D i tche s( La te I ron A ge )

[ 4 33 ] , r e vea led a 0 . 50m d eep , f a i r ly s t eep s ided U -shaped p rof i le . A t t h i s p o in t i th ad b een r e -cu t o n t wo o cca s ion s ,

T ha t o f [ 406 ] w a s s t eep s ided , V shaped w i th a n a r row f l a t b a se , a nd m ea su red 0 . 75m i n d ep th . [ 428 ] h ad a much

b o th r e -cu t s h av ing b road U shaped p rof i le s w i th c oncave b a se s . T he f i l l s i n a l l s e c t ions w e re g ene ra l ly f i rm , h omogeneou s , b rown ish g r ey o r b rown c l ayey s i l t s o r s i l ty

T h is p ha se i s r ep re sen ted b o th b y a r e c t i l inea r e nc lo su r e -d i t ch c u t t ing t h rough t h e g u l ly o fS t ruc tu re 1 ,a nd b y ap ennanu la re nc lo su re -d i tch c l ipp ing p a r to f aS t ruc tu r e 2 g u l ly . I n a dd i t ion , a s t r e tch o f c urv ing d i tch ( [ 403 ] / [459 ] / (462 ] ) w a s r e co rded r unn ing t h rough t h e w e s t p a r t o f S t ruc tu re 2 , n a r row ly m i s s ing t h r ee o f t h e l a t te r 's g u l l ie s( F ig 8 ) .

c l ay s , a nd s e emed t o i n d ica te n a tu ra l i n f i l l ing . A r tef ac t s r e cove r ed i n c luded 6 3 f r agmen t s o f L a te I r on A ge p o t te ry a nd e i gh t E a r ly R oman s he rd s . T he l a t te r w e re a l f ound t oge the r i n t h e t op o f t h e r e -cu t s , a nd b e long t o as i ng le f l agon . O the r n o tab le f i nd s w e re a f ew p i ece s o f h uman c r an ium

R ec t i l inear e nc lo sure d i tch C ur v ing D i tch ( 1 462 1 / 1403 1 / 1459 1 ) L y ing i n t h e n o r th -we s t q ua r te r o f S i te 6 , t h i s f e a tu re c ons i s ted o f af ou r -s ided e a r thwo rk , m ea su r ing c . 1117m w ide i n ter na l ly , c . 17 -23m w ide e x te rna l ly , a nd e nc lo s ing a n a r ea o f a pp rox ima te ly 2 50 i n2 ( F ig 8 ) . T he d i tch v a r ied b e tween I m a nd 2m i nw id th . N o e v idence f o r a n e n t rance w a s n o ted , h oweve r t h e n or th c or ne r o f t h e e nc lo su r e w a s h i dden u nder nea th t h e A 603 t h u s ac au seway m ay h ave e x i s ted t h e r e .

T h r ee c on tex t s a ppea r t oge the r t o h ave f o rmed a s i ng le c urv ing d i tch , v a ry ing i nw id th b e tween c . 0 .50 m a nd 1 . 25m ( F ig 8 ) . A t e i the r e nd t h e f e a tu re b ecame o b scu red b y m ed ieva l p loughso i l . T he e xcava ted s e c t ion s a c ro s s [ 403 ] a nd [ 4 59 ] r e vea led b road V shaped p rof i le s w i th f l a t t ish b a se s ( 0 .39m a nd 0 . 49m d eep r e spec t ive ly ) , w h i l s t t h a t o f [ 462 ] r e vea led a n a r rowe r a nd mo r e U shaped d i tch w i th s t eep s ide s a nd af l a t b a se ( 0 .23m d eep ) . T he v a r iab i l i ty i n d ep th b e tween t h e s e c t ions a ppea r s l a rge ly t o r ef lec t l a te r p lough t r unca t ion , w h i ls t t h e a dd i t iona l V shaped c u t o n t h e w e s t s i de o f [ 4 59 ] w a s p robab ly a d i f f e ren t f e a tu re

F ou r o f t h e f i ve e xcava ted s e c t ion s r e vea led v e ry s im i la r p rof i le s . I ng ene ra l , t h e d i tch h ad s t eep o rf a i r ly s t eep s i de s w i th aw ide , f l a t b o t tom .I na dd i t ion , t h r ee o ft h e se p rof i le s ( [ 404 ] , [ 4 08 ] a nd [ 444 ] ) s howed t h e re t o b e d eepe r , b road U shaped s l o t i nt h e b a se o f t h e d i tch , w h ich m igh t r ef lec t r e -cu t t ing . T he a t yp ica l d i tch s e c t ion [ 4 35 ] h ad al e s s s t eep , b road U shaped p rof i le w i th n o s i gn o fr e -cu t t ing . E v idence f o r a n o r ig ina l w ea the red d i tch e dge w a s n o ted o n t h e o u te r , n o r th s i de o f [ 4 08 ] , b u t i ng ene ra l t h e e a r thwo rk a ppea r s t o h ave b een t r unca ted t o ac on s ide rab le e x ten tb ym ed ieva l a nd l a te rp l ough ing . D ep th sv a r ied b e tween 0 . 37m a nd 0 . 47m f o r t h e f l a tb o t tom , a nd b e tween 0 . 44m a nd 0 . 63m f o rt h e d eepe r s l o t . F i l l ing t h e d i tch w a s af i rm , h omogeneou s , g r ey -b rown s i l ty c l ay , s ugge s t ive o fn a tu ra l s i l t ing . O ft h e 6 5 s h e rd s o f p o t te ry r e cove red , t h e m a jo r i ty ( 56 ) a r e L a te I r on A ge a nd t h eo t he rn i ne E a r ly R oman .

a l toge the r . I n g ene ra l , t h e d i tch a ppea r s t o h ave s i l ted u p n a tu ra l ly w i th f i rm , h omogeneou s , g r ey s i l ty c l ay s . S ix teen p o t te ry s he rd s w e re r e cove red : 1 4 o ft h e L a te I r on A ge a nd t wo E a r ly R oman . I n terpre ta t ion -E nc lo sure -d i tche s a nd C urv ing d i tch C on tempo rane i ty b e tween a l l t h ree e a r thwo rk s i ss ugge s ted b y t wo a spec t s o ft h e p o t te ry e v idence . F i r s t ly , v i r tua l ly a l l o f t h e 1 52 f r agmen t s r e cove r ed a r e o f L a te I r on A ge t ype ; s e cond ly , mo s tw e re f ound i nt h e l owe ro rc en t ra l p a r t so ft h e d i tche s , w h i ls t t h e much s ma l le r q uan t i ty o f E a r ly R oman p o t tery o n ly c ame f r om t h e t o p o ft h e f i l l s . T h is s ugge s t s t h e d i tche so fa l l t h r ee e a r thwo rk sw e re d ug i nt h e L a te I r on A ge ,

P ennanu lar e nc losure d i tch

a nd w e re n o mo re t h an s l igh t h o l low s b y t h e t ime t h e E a r ly R oman a c t iv i ty b egan .

T h is e a r thwo rk w a s s i tua ted i nt h e c en t re -ea s t p a r t o ft h e s i te a nd c omp r i sed t h ree s epa ra te l e ng ths o fd i tch w h ich t o ge the r

P a ra l le l s f r om o t he r I r on A ge s i te s i n s ou ther n B r i ta in

a r e i n terp r e ted a s h av ing f o rmed t h e w e s te rn h a lf o f a p ennanu la r e nc lo su re . Mea su r ing b e tween 11 m a nd 1 5m

s ugge s t s

t h a t

t h e

e a r thwo rk s

p robab ly

f o rmed

s ma l l

s t ock -enc lo su re s . T he r e c t i l inea re a r thwo rk w a s v e ry s im i la r i n p l an t o o ne o f t ho se e xcava ted a t B r ia r H i l l , N or than t s ( Bamf o rd , 1 985 , 5 1) . E nc lo su re s s im i la r t o t h e p ennanu la r

w ide i n te rna l ly , t h e e nc lo su r e w ou ld h ave p rov ided a n a r ea o fa pp rox ima te ly 1 30 m2.T he d i tch v a r ied i nw id th b e tween

e a r thwo rk , b u t o n t h is o cca s ion , h o r se shoe -shaped i n p l an , 1 7

h ave b een r e co rded a tT o l la rd R oya l , D o r se t ( Cun l if f e , 1 991 , 2 25 ) . F o r t h e c urv i l inea r f e a tu r e , t h e manne r i nw h ich i t s

o ft h e L a te I r on A ge . O the r a r tef ac t s i n c luded o y s te r s he l l , f r agmen t so ft i l e , a nd af ew s ma l l i r on o b jec t s .

c urve a ppea red t o r e spec t t h a t o f t h e p ennanu la r e nc lo su r e -d i tch w ou ld t emp t o ne t o s e e i ta s a n o u te r

I n terpre ta t ion Enc lo sure D i tch

e nc lo s ing d i tch w i th t h e p ennanu la r e nc lo su re a ti t s c en t re . A s s uch , t h e t wo c ou ld b e i n te rp r e ted a s ad oub le -d i tched

I ti sf a i r ly c l ea rt h a t t h e l a rge d i tch o nce a c ted a s ab ounda ry

s t ock -enc lo su re .

T he

p robab le

f unc t ion s

o f a l l

t h ree

o fs ome s i gn if icance . I t s p l an s ugge s t s t h a t i tf o rmed p a r t o f a n e nc lo su r e , w i th t h e i n te r io r s i tua ted t o t h e s ou th -we s t o f

e a r thwo rk s s ugge s t t h a t t h e r e h ad b een ac hange i nl a nd -u se i n t h i s p a r t o f S i te 6 , w he reby a n a r ea o nce a l loca ted s pec if ica l ly f o r h uman o ccupa t ion w a s g i ven o ve r t o s t ock

S i te 6 . I fs o , t h e re m ay e x is t t h e r ema in s o f as e t t lemen t

c on t ro l .

s ou th -we s t o f t h e s i te . A e r ia l p ho tog raphs f o r t h i s a r ea ( CUCAP ; Me r id ian 1 969 ; BKS 1 962 ) r e vea l n o s i gn if ican t

P hase s 4a nd 5E nc lo sure D i tch ( La te I ron A ge t oE ar ly

c ropma rk s a to r i nt h e v i c in i ty o fS i te 6 . T he n a tu r e o ft h e u nde r ly ing g eo logy p rec lud ing t h e f o rma t ion o f c ropma rk s . T he e a r thwo rk i ss ugge s t ive o f af u r the r c hange a tS i te 6 ,t h e e nc lo su re f o rmed b y i tp e rhap s b ecom ing af o cu s o fa c t iv i ty a f t e rt h et wo s ma l le rs t ock -enc lo su re sw e r e a bandoned .

R oman ) T hese m a rk t h e l a s t t wo p ha se s o fm a jo r a c t iv i ty o n t h e s i te . P ha se 4 r e p r e sen t s t h e c ons t ruc t ion a nd m a in tenance o f a

T he r e cove ry o f e xc lu s ive ly L a te I r on A ge p o t te ry f r om l owe rmo s t f i l l ( 5 11) s ugge s t s t h a t t h e f e a tu re w a s o r ig ina l ly d ug a t s ome p o in t b e tween c . I00 BC a nd AD 4 3 . Mo r e s pec if i ca l ly , t h e p re sence , i ne qu iva len t f i l l ( 509 ) , o f as he rd o fH om ing sea G reywa re , i n d ica te s t h a t t h e f e a tu re w a s o pen b e tween a bou t 6 0 a nd 8 0 AD a nd p robab ly t h e ref o re , d ug i n t h e v e ry l a te s t y ea r s o ft h e L a te P re -Roman I r on A ge o r i n t h e i mmed ia te p o s t -conque s t p e r iod . B y a r ound 8 0 AD , t h e f e a tu re w a s a lmo s t c omp le te ly f i l led u p , a sw i tne s sed b y t h e f i r s t c en tu ry AD p o t te ry i nt h e t op . A s w e l l a s i n d ica t ing s ho r t l ived E a r ly R oman o ccupa t ion i n t h e v i c in i ty , t h i s s t rong ly s ugge s t s t h a t t h e d i tch w a s b ackf i l led d e l ibe ra te ly a t s ome t i me p r io r t o c . 80 AD , a n a r gumen t s uppo r ted b y t h e e v idence o f t h e d i tch f i l l s : t h e i n c lus ion s w i th in ( 509 ) a nd ( 5 11) ( s ee e a r l ie r ) , a sw e l l a st h e s l igh t ly i regu la r u ppe ra nd l owe r l i m i t s t o l a te r f i l l s ( 522 ) a nd ( 482 ) , b o th a r gue a ga in s t n a tu ra l s i l t ing . T he d i tch c ou ld , t h e r ef o re , h ave b een o r ig ina l ly d ug s ome t ime i n t h e m idd le o f t h e f i r s t c en tu ry AD , a nd b ackf i l led a t s ome p o in t b e tween a r ound 6 0 a nd 8 0 AD ( Pha se s 5 ) .

l a rge e nc lo su re d i tch . B o th t h e p l an a nd s e c t ion e xcava ted a c ros st h i s f e a tu re w ou ld s ugge s tt h a t i tr ep re sen t s amu l t ip ly r e -cu t e nc lo su re d i t ch . T he d i tch w a s t h e l a rge s t s i ng le f e a tu re r e co rded a tS i te 6 . I tr a n f o rm uch o fi t sc ou r se a l ong t h e c en t ra l a nd s ou th p a r t s o ft h e s i te , t u rn ing s ha rp ly a tt h e n o r th -ea s t t o f o rm a n ea r r i gh t -ang le ( F ig 8 ) . I n w id th i t v a r ied b e tween 3 . 5m a nd 8m . Two s e c t ions w e re e xcava ted a c ros st h i sf e a tu re , o ne b yh and a nd o ne b y mach ine . T he p rof i le o ft h e h and e xcava ted s e c t ion s ugge s ted a tl e a s t s i x p ha se s o fr e -cu t t ing o ft h e d i tch . T he d i f f e ren t ia t ion o f t h e se r e -cu t s i sb a sed p a r t ly o n t h e p rof i le o f t h e d i tch a s e xcava ted a nd p a r t ly o n t h e r e cogn ised f i l l s . T he s im i la r i ty o f s ome o ft h e f i l ls m ake s t h e e xac t s equence o f r e -cu t t ing i mpo s s ib le t od e te rm ine . T he e a r l ie s t r e cogn ised f e a tu re w a s p robab ly ad i tch a pp rox ima te ly 1 m d eep ( c u t 5 10 , f i l l 5 09 ) . F rom t h i s p o in t t h e r e -cu t s w ou ld a ppea r t o b e g ene ra l ly b ecom ing s ha l lowe r w i th t h e l a s t r e -cu t ( 508 ) b e ing 0 . 43 m d eep . T he n eed f o r t h i s c on s tan t r e -cu t t ing w a s p robab ly d emon s t ra ted b y t h e e nv i ronmen ta l s amp le t a ken f r om t h e mach ine c u t s e c t ion . T h i s s ugge s ted t h e s ed imen t s w e re d epo s i ted i n p e rmanen t f r e shwa te r , w i th o x ic b o t tom c ond i t ion s . T he s equence i n t h e m ach ine c u t s e c t ion w a s d i ff icu l t t o r e la te t o t h a t f r om t h e h and c u t s e c t ion a l so d emon s t ra t ing t h e c omp lex i ty i n vo lved i nt h e m a in tenance o f t h is f e a tu r e .

PHASE 6 D ra inage Gu l ly ( Ear ly R oman t o Med ieva l ) C u t i n to t h e t op o ft h e n o r th -ea s t s i de o f t h e p ha se 4 d i tch w a s [ 5 08 ] , ab road V shaped g u l ly m ea su r ing 1 . 9m w ide a nd 0 . 43m d eep , a nd f i l led w i th a f i rm , g r ey -b rown s andy s i l t ( F ig 8 ) . I tm ay r e p re sen t al a te r d ra inage g u l ly , d ug a ts ome p o in t b e tween t h e E a r ly R oman p e r iod a nd t h e m ed ieva l c u l t iva t ion o ft h e l a nd .

P ha se 5r ef l ec t st h e f i l l ing a nd a bandonmen to ft h ee nc lo su re . Po t te ry f r om t h e h i ghe s t l a ye r ( 5 17 ) o ft h e e nc lo su re d i tch w ou ld s ugge s t ad a te o f b e tween 6 0 a nd 8 0 AD f o r t h e d i su se o ft h i sf e a tu re

PHASES 7 9

T h ir ty th r ee s he rd s o f p o t te ry w e re r e cove r ed f r om t h e l owe rmo s t f i l l s o f t h e d i tch s e c t ion , 3 2 f r om ( 5 11) o f L a te

Med ieva lt o Modern

L aye r ( 4 46 ) ( Pha se 7 ) s e a led a l l f e a tu r e s e xcep t t h e p o s t -med ieva l l a nd -d ra in s , a nd t h e modem p l oughso i l a nd w a te r -p ipe t r ench ( F ig 8 ) . I tc ons is t ed o f a n o range - t o

I r on A ge d a t e ,a nd o ne E a r ly R oman s he rd f r om ( 509 )( Pha se 5 a ) . I n a dd i t ion , p o t te ry w a s s y s tema t ica l ly c o l lec ted f r om

g r ey -b rown s i l ty c l ay l o am a nd s urv ived u p t o0 . 35m d eep .

t h e u ppe rmo s t f i l l ( 482 ) a l ong t h e w ho le l e ng th o ft h e d i tch

Mo s t w a s r emoved b y m ach ine , t hough s ome r ema ined a sa

( Pha se 5 b ) .

T h is t o ta l led o ve r ah und red s he rd s , t h ree

s e r ies o f 1 m t o7 m w ide ( a ve rage c .3 m ) f u r row s . T he b road ,

q ua r te r s f r om l a te f i r s tc en tu ry AD R oman v e s se l s , t h e o t he r s

r e la t ive ly s ha l low n a tu re o ft h ese , a sw e l l a st h e i r f a i r ly w ide s pac ing a nd s l igh t i regu la r i ty , a l l s ugge s t am ed ieva l d a te . 1 8

R idge -and -f u r row c ropma rk s e x is t i nt h e f i e ld o ccup ied b y S i te 6( CUCAP : R C8 J O 1 89 ) .

t h e e x i s tence o fp robab le s t ock -enc lo su r e s . T he r e cove ry o f h uman c r an ium f r agmen t s f r om f ou r f e a tu r e s ( [ 406 ] , [ 4 30 ] , [ 4 43 ] a nd [ 493 ] ) i sp e rhap s i n d ica t ive o f aq u i te d i f f e r en t

U npha sed F ea ture s

k i nd o fa c t iv i ty o nt h e s i te . T he d i scove ry o fh uman r ema ins i sb y n o mean s u nu sua l ; t h ey h ave b een f o und o n many L a te

A n umbe r o f f e a tu res s e a led b y m ed ieva l p l ough so i l c ou ld

I r on A ge s e t t lemen t s i te s i n B r i ta in , u sua l ly m ixed w i th d ome s t ic d eb r i s ( Cun l if f e , 1 995 , 1 09 ) . T he p rec i se

n o t b e a s s igned a s pec if i c p ha se , t hough i tw a s p o ss ib le t o p l a ce t h em s omewhe re b e tween P ha se s 1a nd 6 . T hey f a l l

c i rcums tance s o fd epo s i t ion a r e a lmo s t a lway s u nknown , b u t

i n to t wo b road g roup s : t ho se w h ich w e r e p a r t ia l ly o r f u l ly e xcava ted , a nd a s e r ie s o f i l -def ined , l a rge ly u nexcava ted

i ts e ems l i ke ly t h a t t h e re w a s s ome r i tua l f a c to r i n vo lved . T he p rac t ice o f e xca rna t ion , f r equen t ly c i ted a s t h e u sua l d i spo sa l r i t e o f s ou ther n B r i ta in i nt h e I r on A ge ( i b id .) , i s t hough t t o h ave b een f o l lowed b y t h e b r ing ing b a ck o ft h e b one s o ft h e d ead t ot h e s e t t lemen t s i te t ob e u sed i ns ome

d epo s i t s . T he f o rme r c omp r i sed t wo s t r e tche s o f d i tch ( [ 40 1] / [421] a nd [ 4 17 ] ) , t wo g u l l ie s ( [ 430 ] a nd [ 464 ] ) , ap a i r o fp o s tho le s ( [ 466 ] a nd 4 68 ] ) , ap o s tho le o r p i t ( [ 423 ] ) a nd t h r ee s ha l low p i t s ( [ 474 ] , [ 4 93 ] a nd [ 504 ] ) ( F ig s 3 -4 ) . W i th t h e e xcep t ion o f [ 401] / [42 1] , t h e d i tche s a nd g u l l ie s a l l

o t he r s a c red a c t iv i ty . S een i nt h i s l i gh t , t h e t r epanned s ku l l f r agmen t a nd i t s e x t ra c ted r ounde l c ou ld h ave b o th b een t h e i d ea lr e l ig iou st a l i sman o rp rop i t ia to ry o f f e r ing .

p roduced s ma l l a moun t s o f L a te I r on A ge p o t te ry . D i tch [ 4 17 ] a l so y i e lded t wo M idd le I r on A ge s h e rd s . I na dd i t ion , f r om g u l ly [ 4 30 ] w a s r e cove red a f r agmen t o f h uman c r an ium w i th af a i r ly p r ec i se , p robab ly p o s t -mo r tem , d r i l led h o le ( sma l l f i nd 7 12 , s e e r e po r t b y S . E n so r ) . A l l o f t h e se l i nea r f e a tu r e s a r e p r e sumed t o h ave h ad b ounda ry o r d r a inage f unc t ion s .

T he p o t te ry a s semb lage s ugge s t s t h a t a c t iv i ty m ay h ave

P o s t -ho le s [ 4 66 ] a nd [ 468 ] , b o th v e ry s im i la r i nf o rm a nd f i l l , a ppea red t ob e ap a i r . T hey m igh t w e l l r e p re sen t at wo p o s t s t ruc tu r e , af r equen t f e a tu r e o f I r on A ge s i te s t h roughou t B r i ta in . T rad i t iona l ly t h ese a r e i n te rp r e ted a s r a ck s f o r d ry ing h ay ( Cun l if f e , 1 99 1 , 2 46 ) , t h ough p o s s ib i l i t ie s s uch a s e n t rance -po s t s f o r h ou se s , b a se s f o r u p r igh t l o oms , o r h i de p r epa ra t ion f r ame s , h ave a l so b een c i ted ( i b id .) . P i t s [ 4 74 ] a nd [ 4 93 ] w e r e s ha l low f e a tu re s c on ta in ing b ur n t s t one s , p robab ly r e p r e sen t ing d i s tu rbed h ea r th s . A r tef ac t s r e cove red f r om [ 4 93 ] i n c luded s even p i ece s o fp o t te ry , f ou r L a te I r on A ge ,t h ree E a r ly R oman .

o ccupa t ion w i th in ap o s s ib le e nc lo su r e s i tua ted t ot h e s ou th . T he s he rd o ff i r s t c en tu ry AD p o t tery f ound i nt h e l owe r p a r t

b egun i nt h e l a t te r p a r t o ft h e M idd le I r on A ge ( c .150 100 BC ) , e ven t hough n o f e a tu r e s c ou ld b e c onf iden t ly a s c r ibed t ot h i s p e r iod . I nt h e L a te I r on A ge , mo r e d i r ec t e v idence o f o ccupa t ion i ss e en w i th t h e t h r ee r oundhou se s a nd t h e l a te r e nc lo su re -d i tche s . T h i s i nt u rn m ay h ave b een f o l lowed b y

o f t h i s d i tch ' s f i l l s ugge s t s t h a t t h e e nc lo su r e p o s t -da te s 4 3 AD . T he E a r ly R oman p o t te ry i n i t s u ppe rmo s t f i l l p robab ly i n d ica te s af i na l c e s sa t ion o f a c t iv i ty s ome t ime a round 8 0 AD . T he s e t t lemen t p a t ter n i n B r i ta in a tt h e e nd o f t h e M idd le I r on A ge p l ace s S i te 6w i th in az one o f' u ndef ended v i l lages a nd o pen s e t t lemen t s ' w h ich c ove r ed m uch o f c en t ra l a nd e a s te rn E ng land ( Cun l if f e , 1 995 , 1 1 .3 ) .

T he m a jo r i ty o f t h e u nexcava ted d epo s i t s l a y i n t h e s ou th p a r t o ft h e s i te , o n ly s ome o fw h ich c ou ld b e i n terp re ted a s p robab le d i tche s , p i t s o ro ccupa t ion l a ye r s . Mo s t w e re f i l led w i th g r ey i sh s i l t s o r c l ay s , t h e o n ly f ou r o fn o te b e ing ( 5 12 ) , ( 5 15 ) , ( 5 17 ) a nd ( 5 18 ) . A r tef ac t s f r om ( 5 12 ) , ap o ten t ia l d i tch , i n c luded 3 5 L a te I r on A ge s he rd s , t h ree E a r ly R oman p i ece s , a nd aw he t s tone ( sma l l f i nd 2 13 ) . As e cond p o ten t ia l d i t ch , ( 5 15 ) , y i e lded f i ve s he rd s o f p o t te ry , f our L a te I r on A ge , o ne E a r ly R oman . L aye r s ( 5 17 ) a nd ( 5 18 ) a r e

I n t h e e a r ly p o s t -conque s t p e r iod , e v idence f o r c on t inued o ccupa t ion i ss e en i nt h e s he rd s o fl o ca l ly -made ` r oman ised ' p o t tery r e cove red ( s ee p o t te ry r e po r t ) . T he se w e re m ade i n t h e L a te P re -Roman I r on A ge t r ad i t ion , b u t t h e i r s pec ia l i sed p roduc t ion p robab ly b egan i nt h e f i r s t d e cade a f te r 4 3 AD . T he i r c l ea r a s soc ia t ion w i th t h e L a t e I r on A ge p o t te ry s ugges t s t h ey w e re i nu se s oon a f t e r 4 3 AD a nd p r io r t ot h e i n t roduc t ion o ft h e E a r ly R oman ( c .60 -80 AD )v e s se ls .

d i scu s sed u nde rP ha se 5 .

T he ma te r ia l r e cove red f r om t h e t op o ft h e m a jo r e nc lo su re d i tch i mp l ie s as ho r t l ived p e r iod o f a c t iv i ty n ea rby . I t p r e sumab ly r e p re sen t s t h e d e l ibe ra te d i spo sa l o f d ome s t ic

D i scu s s ion

r e p re s en t p a r t o f ar u ra l f a rms tead , i nu se b e tween t h e L a te I r on A g e a nd E a r ly R oman p e r iod s . A l though t h e o r ig ina l

w a s te , w h ich i n c luded n o t o n ly p o t te ry ( 7 6 s he rd s o ft ho se r e cove red b e long ing t o as i ng le f i r s tc en tu ry AD v e s se l ) b u t a l so o the rc u l tu ra l d eb r is s u ch a so y s te rs h e l l a nd r oof ing t i l e , t h e se p a r t icu la r ly a t te s t ing t ot h e r oman i sed c ha rac te r o ft h e

e x ten t o f t h e s e t t lemen t i s u nce r ta in , t h e f i e ldwo rk d i d p roduce s uff ic ien t e v idence f o r ap a r t ia l p i c tu re o ft h e s i te ' s

a s semb lage . T he a bandonmen t o f t h i s o ccupa t ion s i te m ay r e f lec tt h ec ons ide rab le p o l i t ica l a nd e conom ic c hange so ft h e

c ha ra c te ra nd d eve lopmen tt ob er e con s t r uc ted .

p e r iod , w he reby l e s s d e s i rab le l o ca t ion s , p e rhap s s u ch a sS i te

T he o ccupan t so ft h es e t t lemen tw e re p r e sumab ly p rac t i s ing a

6 ,w e r e d e se r ted i nf a vou r o f mo re e conom ica l ly v i ab le s i te s l i ke t ho se r e co rded a tt h e j unc t ion o f R oman R oad 2 3a a nd E rm ine S t ree t .

T he a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu re s r e co rded a t S i te 6 a ppea r t o

m ixed f a rm ing e conomy , a s s ugge s ted b y t h e s pec ie s o f a n ima l b one s r e cove red ( c ow , s h eep , p i g a nd f ow l ) , a nd b y 1 9

a nd B ou lde r C lay s ub so i l s ( s ee i n t roduc t ion ) . Wh i l s t i tm ay b e o p t im i s t ic t o a s sume t h a t t h e r e a l d en s i ty o f I r on A ge s e t t lemen ts i t e s i ne x i s tence o nt h ec l ay i se qua lt ot h a to nt h e r i ve r g r ave l s a nd o n t h e c ha lk , t h e r e m u s t s u r e ly b e a c on s ide rab le n umbe ro fs u ch s i te sa wa i t ing d e t ec t ion .

T he e xcava t ion c a r r ied o u t a tS i te 6 s uppo r t s t h e i n c r ea s ing r e a l i sa t ion t h a t L a t e I r on A ge c ommun i t ie s w e r e a b le t ol i ve o nt h eh eav ie rc l ay l a nd sa nd w e r en o ta lway sc onf ined t ot h e l i gh t e r s o i l s , n o tab ly t h o se o n t h e t e r ra ce g r ave l s . N eve r the le s s , i n s o u the rn C amb r idge sh i re a tp r e sen t , t h e r e a r e s t i l l v e ry f ew I r on A ge s e t t lemen t s k nown o n t h e G au l t

2 0

E xcava t ions a tF ox ton ,C ambr idge sh ire 1 994 D .J . Mayna rd ,R .C lea ry ,R . Moo r e ,I . P . B rook sa nd J .P r ice

C amb r idge -K ing s C ro s s r a i lway l i ne , w h ich f o rmed t h e n o r the rn l i m i to ft h es i t e .

I n troduc t ion T he l a rge s to ft h e s i te s e xcava ted o n t h e S tN eo t st oD uxf o rd p i pe l ine w a s l o ca ted a tF ox ton , C amb r idg e sh i r e , T L 4 0 1480 ( F igu r e 9 ) . T he s i t e w a s f o und d u r ing t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion s u rvey o ft h e p i pe l ine a s am a rk ed c oncen t ra t ion o fR oman m a t e r ia l d u r ing f i e ldwa lk ing . A g eophy s ica l s u rvey c onf i rmed t h e p r e sence o f a r cha eo log ica l f e a tu r e s . U nf o r tuna te ly i tw a s t e chn ica l ly n o t p o s s ib le t or e rou te t h e p i pe l ine a t t h i s p o in t , a nd t h u s as a lvage e xcava t ion i n a dvance o ft h e c ons t r uc t ion o ft h e p i pe l ine w a s a g r eed w i th B r i t i sh G a sp l c .

N o r th o ft h er a i lway , t h eb r oad v a l ley f l oo ro ft h e R ive rC am o rR hee f o rm s as t r ip o fl ow ly ing l a nd , a r ound 1k m w ide . S t i l lt e nd ing t ob ew e t , t h i sa r ea w ou ld h ave b een v e ry b oggy a nd p rone t o f l ood ing i nt h e p a s t . I n a dd i t ion t ot h e m a in r i ve r c hanne l , t h e re i s am u l t ip l ic i ty o f d r a inage d yke s a nd d i tche s . F i e ld -name s , s u ch a s H amf i e ld , p r e sumab ly OE ' Wa te rm eadow ' , a nd O s l ick f r om OE ' Mud lake ' a l so p r ov ide ap i c tu r eo f al a nd scape o fm a r sh a nd m ud . C hange si nw a te r l e ve l n o tw i th s tand ing , t h eg en t le s l ope u pt ot h e s ou th , w h ich t h e s i te s pan s , w ou ld h ave b een t h e f i r s t r e l iab ly d r y l a nd o n t h e s ou th s i de o f t h e v a l ley t h roughou t t h e p e r iod o f i t s o ccupa t ion .

T he s i t e l a y b e s ide t h e A 10 C amb r idge -London t r unk r o ad , a pp rox ima t e ly 9 k m n o r th o f R oy s ton a nd 1 2k m s ou th o f C amb r idge . I tw a s r ough ly m id -way b e tween t h e v i l lage s o f S hep r e th a nd F ox ton , f a l l ing j u s tw i th in t h ep a r i sh o fF ox ton . T he p i p e l ine r u n s n o r th -we s t f r om t h e r o ad , w he r e i tt u rned t o am o re n o r the r ly a l ignmen t , r o ugh ly p e rpend icu la r t ot h e

T o t h e w e s t o ft h e s i t e as ma l l b rook f o rm s t h e b ounda ry o f F ox ton a nd S hep re th p a r i she s . Whe r e i tw a s c r o s sed b y t h e r o ad i tw a s a bou t 9 0m a way f r om t h e p i pe l ine , b u t ap a i r o f

F i gu r e 9F ox ton l o ca t ion 2 1

F igu re 1 0 F ox ton A l l F ea tures , P reh is to r ic , 1 "C en tury AD

2 2

m eande r s t or i gh t a nd l ef t , a s i tf l owed n o r th , b rough t i tt o

o f c ha r coa l f r om t h e p i t y i e lded a c a l ib ra ted d a te o f BC 2 350 -2175 ( Be ta 8 504 1) .

w i th in 2 0m o ft h e e a semen t . T o t h e s ou th -ea s t o ft h e s i te , b eyond t h e A 1 0 , t h e g round c on t inue s t or i se t o as e r ie s o f l ow , r ounded h i l l s , i n c lud ing C ha lk H i l l a nd We s tH i l l , t ot h e s ou th o fF ox ton v i l lage

P i t 3 118 w a s al a rge c i rcu la rp i t2 . 0m i nd i ame te r a nd 0 . 48m d eep f i l led w i th a s i ng le f i l l . F ind s c on s i s ted o f much

Af t e rt op so i l ing ,t h e l o ca lg eo logy o ft h e s ou th e nd o ft h e s i te

A l i m i ted a moun t o f p o t te ry c ame f r om t h e p i t t h a t w a s

f l in two rk o fN eo l i th ic t ype i n c lud ing s eve ra l r ef i t t ing f l ake s . i d en t if ied a sI r on A ge b u tc ou ld p o s s ib ly b eN eo l i th ic . AC ' '

c on s i s ted o f c ha lk o r c ha lky m a r l . T h i s h ad s ome g r ave l -f i l led s o lu t ion f e a tu re s a nd s l ippage c r ack s , b u t w a s

d e te rm ina t ion o f 1 80±60 B P ( Be ta 8 5040 ) a ppea r s t o b e c on tam ina ted w i th modem m a te r ia l .

g ene ra l ly f a i r ly u n if o rm a nd c l ean , w i th t h e c ons is tency o f v e ry s t if fc l ay . T ot h en o r th ,t h e c ha lk t e nded t ot h in , a nd t h e s ub so i l b ecame s a ndy , o ve r la in i np l ace s b yt h ick d epos i t s o f

P i t 3 120 T h i s p i tw a s p o s s ib ly p a r t o f al a rge re n t i ty t h a th ad

c l ean , r i ve r -wa shed g rave l . I np l ace s , as p read o fr e dd i sh s i l t p robab ly i n co rpo ra t ing w ind b l own s i l t w a s p re sen t b enea th

b een t r unca ted b y l a te r d i tches . T he s u rv iv ing d imen s ions w e r e 1 . 7 b y 1 . 5m a nd 0 . 15m d eep . T he f e a tu re c on ta ined f l in two rk i n c lud ing a n a r rowhead . P o t te ry f r om t h e f e a tu re c on s is ted o ft wo v e s se ls o fI r on A ge f a b r ic a nd ar im s he rd

t h et o p so i l

f r om ar i l led j a r o fr oman iz ing I r on A ge t ype . T he se c ou ld b e i n t ru s ive o b jec t sd ue t ot h e l a te rh eavy a c t iv i ty i nt h ea r ea .

P reh i s tor ic D .J . Mayna rd

O the r a s soc ia ted f e a tu re s i n t h e a r ea t h a t m ay b e c on tempo ra ry w i th t h eN eo l i th ic a c t iv i ty a r e ag roup o fs ma l l f e a tu re s c l o se t op i t 3 120 a nd p o s s ib ly a l l o r ig ina l ly p a r t o f t h e s ame f e a tu re , a l though t h ey h ave b een t r unca ted b y t wo l a te r d i tche s . T he se a r e f e a tu res 3 111 , 3 109 a nd 3 116 . A l l t h e s u rv iv ing p o r t ion s a r e s im i la r i ns hape a nd d imen s ion t o 3 120 . U nf o r tuna te ly , n o a r tef a c t s w e re r e cove red , s o d a t ing c anno t b e c onf i rmed . T he p rox im i ty t ot h e o t he r N eo l i th ic f e a tu re s wou ld s ugge s tt h a tt h ey a r e c on tempo ra ry .

N eo l i th ic O ccupa t ion E v idence o fN eo l i th ic u se o ft h e s i te i sl i m i ted t ot h ree p i t s c on ta in ing d i agno s t ic f l in two rk w i th p o s s ib le l a te N eo l i th ic p o t te ry . S eve ra l o t he r f e a tu re s a r e c l o se ly g rouped t o t h i s c oncen t ra t ion o f p i t s a nd may b e c on s ide red a s c on tempo ra ry . F igu re 1 0 . P i t3 379 i ss ub -c i r cu la r i np l an , 0 . 9m i nd i ame te ra nd 0 . 45m d eep , t r unca ted b y al a te r d i tch . T he f i l l c on ta ined a ngu la r f l i n t s a nd b u rn t s t one . F i nd s i n c luded f l i n two rk o fN eo l i th ic t y pe a nd p o s s ib ly l a te N eo l i th ic p o t te ry . AC ' ' d e term ina t ion

O the r e v idence o fN eo l i th ic u se o ft h e a r ea c ome s f r om t h e s u rf ace c o l lec t ion o f a r tef ac t s f r om t h e t o p so i l p r io r t o c ons t ruc t ion . T h is s how s a n i n c rea sed d ens i ty o ff l i n t f r om

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t h es ou the rn p a r to ft h e f i e ld . T he c o l lec ted ma te r ia l i n c lude s f l in t f r om a l p e r iod s , b u t s ome h a s c ha rac te r i s t ics o f t h e N eo l i th ic .

I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t o t he r P reh is to r ic f e a tu re s l a y c oncea led i n t h e m a s s o f l a te r a c t iv i ty a l ong t h e n or th e a s t s i de o f t h e e xcava ted a r ea . T he re i s r e a son t o s uppo se t h a t t h e re i s

P i t3 154 T h i s p i t l a y s ome d i s tance t ot h e n or th o ft h e o t he r s

p r eh is to r ic a c t iv i ty i n t h is a r ea d ue t h e p r e sence o f o t he r f e a t u re st h a ta r e o fP reh i s to r ic f o r , a l though t h ey a r e u nda ted ,

( 1 30m ) . T he p i t w a s o va l i ns hape 1 . 6 b y 1 . 4m a nd 0 . 5m d eep . T he s i de s w e re g en t ly s l op ing , a l though s ome

t h e se a r et h e v a r iou sc i rcu la rs t r uc tu r e s i d en t if ied i nt h i sa r ea .

s l ump ing a ppea red t oh ave t a ken p l a ce . T he p i t c on ta ined a

S truc ture 4 i s ap o s t r i ng s t ruc tu r e c ompo sed o f f i ve p o s t

s i ng le f i l l o f ad a rk g r ey i sh l o am . O n t h e f l oo r o ft h e p i t a t t h e c en t re , w a s ab a se o f af l a t b o t tomed v e s se l o ft h e s ame

h o le s a nd t wo s ma l l g u l l ie s .

T he p o s t h o le s [ 2 992 , 3 198 ,

3 204 , 2 996 a nd 3 196 ] a r e a l l a pp rox ima te ly 0 . 6m i nd i ame te r a nd 0 . 4m d eep . T hey c r ea te ar ough c i r c le w i th ad i ame te ro f

f a b r ic a s t h e p o t te ry f r om t h e p i t s o f N eo l i th ic d a te t o t h e

a bou t 6 . 0m T he g u l l ie s [ 3 227 a nd 2 998 ] a r e 1 . 6m a nd 1 . 4m

s ou th . U nf or t una te ly , n o r im s he rd s o r o t he r d i agno s t ic m a te r ia l s u rv ived , s o i ti sn o t p o s s ib le t o i n d ica te w h ich p a r t

r e spec t ive ly a nd c ou ld h ave f o rmed ap o rch t y pe e n t rance t o t h e n o r th 2 . 4m w ide g iv ing t h e s t ruc tu re ap o s s ib le o u t s ide

o ft h ep r eh i s to r ic t ime t h ep i to r ig ina ted .

d i ame te ro fa bou t8 . 0m . D i scus s ion S truc ture 2 w a s ap ennanu la r g u l ly w i th a d i ame te r o f a pp rox ima te ly 6 . 0m f o rmed o f as ha l low d i tch [ 3 333 ] 0 . 15m d eep a nd 0 . 3 -0 .4m w ide , a0 . 5m e n t rance o pen s t ot h e w e s t .

T aken t oge the r , t h e e v idence s ugge s t s t h a t t h e e xcava ted p i t s r e p re sen t t h e s u rv iv ing r emnan t s o f aN eo l i th ic s e t t lemen t , t h e f u l l e x ten t o f w h ich c anno t b e e s tab l i shed a t p r e sen t . A c t iv i t ie s o ccu r r ing o n s i te a r e l i m i ted b y p re sen t e v idence , t ot h ep r epa ra t ion o ff l i n two rk .

T he g u l ly w a s f i l led w i th ad a rk b rown s andy s i l t w i th f i ne g rave l [ 3 334 ] . T he g u l ly c u t as ma l l l i nea r f e a tu re [ 3 344 ] p robab ly an a tu ra l f e a tu re . S truc ture 7 T h i s w a s av e ry r ough c i rcu la r o r p ennanu la r

L a te M idd le t oL a te I r on A ge

p o s t s t ruc tu re , f o rmed o fp o s t h o le s [ 2 385 ] , [ 2 560 ] , [ 2 550 ] , [ 2 547 ] , [ 2 534 ] , [ 2 576 ] , [ 2 465 ] a nd t h e p o s s ib le p e n-g lac ia l f e a tu r e [ 2 382 ] . O the r s ma l l p o s t h o le s m ay b e a s soc ia ted w i th t h is s t ruc tu re f o r e xamp le , [ 2 394 ] , [ 2 392 ] , [ 2 558 ] , [ 2 556 ] . T he s t ruc tu r ew ou ld h ave h ad a n i n ter na l d i ame te ro f c . 5m . T he c i r c le i si n comp le te w i th p e rhap s aq ua r te r o ft h e c i rc le m i s s ing . P o s s ib ly t h e s t ruc tu re w a s o pen s i ded t ot h e w e s t , o r [ 2 630 ] w h ich i s ad oub le p o s t h o le , m ay h ave f o rmed o ne s i de o f ap o rch e n t rance s im i la r t o t h a t o f S t ruc tu re 4 . H oweve r , t h e e n t i re s t ruc tu re i su nequa l u s ing d i f f e ren t p o s t p i t s i z es a nd mu s t b e r e ga rded a s ad ub ious i n te rp re ta t ion .

F ea t ur es d a ted t o t h i s p e r iod a r e l i m i ted t o t wo p i t s t h a t c on ta in p o t te ry a nd t o t h e o ccur rence o f p o t te ry i n o t he r d epo s i t s w he re t h e o ccu r rence s e ems t o b e i n t r us ive o r d e r ived . Af u l l p i c tu r e o ft h e I r on A ge u se o ft h e a r ea c ou ld n o t b e a ch ieved d ue t ot h e l a te r h eavy u se o ft h e s i te d u r ing t h eR oman p e r iod . P i t 2 808 T h i s w a s ac i r cu la r p i t h av ing p a r t ia l ly u nde rcu t s i de s t o g i ve a ' b eeh ive ' s haped p i t . T he p i t w a s r e vea led f o l low ing t h ee xcava t ion o ft h e f i r s tc en tury S t ruc tu re 6 . P a r t o f t h e u ppe r l a ye r s o f t h e p i t h ad b een r emoved b y t h e d i gg ing o f al e ve l f l oo rf o rt h es t ruc tu re . T he p i t w a s 1 . 1m i n d i ame te r a nd s u rv ived t o am ax imum d ep th o f 0 . 75m . P o t tery f r om t h e t wo f i l l s o f t h e p i t w a s o f m id I r on A ge t y pe .

S truc ture 8T he m a jo r i ty o ft h i s s t ruc tu r e i sa s s igned t oe i gh t u nexcava ted p o s tho le s s hown o n ly o n p l an . T he f i ve e xcava ted p o s t h o les a l l h ave s im i la r s i zed p i t s c l o se t ot h e m ean o f0 . 55m d i ame te ra nd 0 . 35m d eep . T he p o s t s t ruc tu re i ss l igh t ly o va l , w i th a l e ng th o f 6 . 0m a nd w id th o f 5 . 5m . O ne o ft h ep o s th o les i sc u t b yd i tch [ 2 065 ] .

P i t 3 538 T h i s w a s as ha l low f e a tu r e 0 . 6m i n d i ame te r a nd 0 . 15m d eep ,e dged w i th l a rge p i ece so fc ha lk , g i v ing i ta' c i s t ' l i ke a ppea rance . T he f e a tu re c on ta ined d a rk b urn t m a te r ia l , p o s s ib ly c r ema ted b one a l ong w i th s and s tone a nd l a rge p o r t ion so ft wo I r on A ge v e s se l s .

O f t h e r ema in ing p o s t h o le s , l i t t le p a t tern ing c an b e r e cogn i sed . S ma l l r e c tangu la r s t ruc tu re s w e re l o oked f o r b u t n oc onv inc ing e xamp le sw e re r e cogn i sed .

O the rd epo s i t s c on ta in ing L a te I r on A ge p o t tery a l a ppea rt o b e t ho se w he re t h e r e i s s t rong e v idence t o g i ve a f i r s t

T he f o l low ing f e a tu r e s a r e t hough t t o b e o f v e ry L a te

c en tury , R oman d a te t of e a tu re s , p e rhap s i n d ica t ing t h e h i gh d eg ree o f l a te r a c t iv i ty i nt h e a r ea c r ea t ing m ixed d epo s i t s .

P r e -Roman d a te a nd a r e c ons ide red w i th t h e P r eh i s to r ic s t r uc tu re s i nt h is a r ea .

T he se a r e i np a r t icu la r t h e t wo d i tche s 2 115 a nd 3 451 . O ne o t he r s im i la rd epo s i t i s ap i t o nt h e n o r th e a s t s i de o ft h e s i te , 3 t 43 w h ich c on ta ins ac e l t ic c o in d a ted t o 1 0 -20 AD a l ong

S truc ture 3 w a s ar e c tangu la r e nc lo su re f o rmed o f as t eep s i ded g u l ly [ 2 939 ] o ft r apezo ida l p l an w i th s i de s v a ry ing i n l e ng th f r om 5 . 8m t o7 . 0m . T he g u l ly w a s f i l led w i th ad a rk

w i th f i r s t AD R oman m a te r ia l , b u t n o s i gn o fL a te I r on A ge p o t tery t oa ccompany t h ec o in .

b rown s andy s i l t ( 2940 , 2 980 ) . T he g u l ly l i e s a bove a n umbe r o fs ma l l p i t s 3 200 , 3 202 , 3 24 1 a nd 2 970 , w i th in t h e e a s t ern s i de o ft h eg u l ly a r e an umbe ro fs ma l l p i t st h a tw h ich 2 4

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F igu re 2 F ox ton S t ruc tu res 3 , 4 ,7 ,8 2 5

S truc ture 6

c ou ld i mp ly s ome f o rm o f p o s t s e t t ing s t h a t m ay b e a s soc ia t ed w i th t h e g u l ly . A tt h e c en t re o ft h e e nc lo su r ei sa l a rge p o s th o le 0 . 5m d i ame te ra nd 0 . 75 m d eep . O nt h en o r th e a s t a nd s ou th e a s tc o rne r s o ft h e e nc lo su r e p o s th o le s [ 2 970 a nd 3 238 ] c ou ld b e i n te rp r e ted a s p a r t o f as upe r s t ruc tu r e a r ound t h e e nc lo su r e ,p o s s ib ly u s ing p o s th o le [ 3 198 ] f o rt h e s ou th w e s t c o rne r ( t h i s i sh oweve r u s ed a sp a r t o fS t ruc tu r e 4 ) . T he r e i sa l so a n a b sence o f as u i tab le p o s tho le f o r t h e n o r th w e s tc o rne r .

R ob C lea ry O ne o ft h em a jo rf e a tu re s r e co rded f r om t h e s ou ther ne nd o f t h e s i t e w a s as t ruc tu r e ( S truc tu r e 6 ) c ompo sed o f c ha lk w a l l s , f l oo r s a nd af l ue s y s tem d a t ed 4 5 t o 140 AD ( F igu r e 1 3 ) . T he s t ruc tu re s a t a t t h e w e s t e rn e nd o f al a rge s ub r ec tangu la r h o l low ( 5 .0 x 1 0 .40m a nd 0 . 35m d eep [ 2 106 ] ) w h ich h ad ar ammed c ha lk s u r f ace ( 2 835 ) l a id i n to t h eb a se .

D i tch [ 2 252 ] w a s as t ra igh t l e ng th o fd i t ch a l igned n o r th t o s ou t h w i th v e r t ica l ly c u t s i de s a nd af l a t b o t tom 2 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 95m d e ep . T h i s c an b e f o l lowed f o r al e ng th o f4 3m a nd l i e st ot h ee a s to ft h ep r ev iou s ly d e sc r ibed f e a tu r e sa nd i s f i l led w i th a s im i la r s o i l t o [ 2 939 a nd 333 ] , i ti sa l so s t ra t ig raph i ca l ly e a r ly b e ing c u t b y R oman d i tche s [ 2 260 , 2 295 a nd 2 312 ] .

T he s upe r s t ruc tu r e c on s i s ted o f ar e c t i l inea r s t ruc tu r e o f c ha lk b l ock w a l l s ( 2 820 , 2 450 , 3 937 , 2 100 ) f o rm ing as ma l l b u i ld ing 3 . 2 x3 . 5m i ns i z e . T he w a l l s c on s i s ted o fd r e s sed c ha lk b l o ck s ( 1 50 mm b y 5 0 mm b y 1 20 mm ) i n ac l ay ma t r ix . I nt h e s ou th -we s t c or n e rt h e m a son ry b ecame w ide r s ugge s t ing a b u t t re s s , w h i l s t i n t h e n o r th w e s t c or n e r t h e c ha lk b l o ck s w e r e r e ddened i n a ppea ran ce w he r e t h e w a l l c o inc ided w i th t h e e nd o ft h e f l ue . T he s t oke h o le f o r t h e f l ue w a s m a rked b y t h e c ha lk b l ock s b e ing l a id a tw i th t h e i r l o ng a x i s a t r i gh t a ng le s t o t h e l i ne o f t h e w a l l . T he r e c tangu la r d r e s sed c ha lk b l ock s w e r e l a rge r t h an t h o se o f [ 2 820 ]b e ing o na ve rage 2 50 mm x 5 0 mm x 1 00 mm .

D i scu s s ion A na ly s i s o f t h e p o s tho le s a ppea r s t o s how a t l e a s t f ou r c i r cu la r s t ruc tu r e s w h ich c ou ld r e a sonab ly b e i n t e rp r e t ed a s r ound h ou se s . T he r e i sn o a r tef a c tua l m a t e r ia l f r om t h e s t ruc tu r e s t os how i nw h ich p e r iod t h ey w e re c on s t ruc t ed o r w he the r t h ey w e r e c on tempo ra ry . T he b e s t e s t ima t e i st h a t t h ey a r e o fp r eh i s to r ic d a t e , p o s s ib ly o fB ronz e A ge d a t e ; i f t h ey h ad b een o f I r on A ge o r l a t e r p e r iod s i ti sl i ke ly t h a t mo re e v idence o f a ny s u r round ing s e t t lemen t w ou ld h ave b een e ncoun t e r ed . T he r e i s ,h oweve r , n o c l ea r i n d ica t ion o f B ronz e A g e a c t iv i ty o n t h e s i t e a nd t h e r e i s ap o s s ib le a l ignmen t o fS t ru c tu r e 2w i th t h e s i de s o fS t ruc tu r e 3w h ich m ay i n d ica t e al a te rP r eR oman p e r iod o fa c t iv i ty i nt h ea r ea .

T he m a son ry o n t h e e a s ter n s i d e o f t h e b u i ld ing w a s r e p r e sen t ed b y c on t ex t s [ 3 937 ] a nd [ 2 100 ] , w h ich w e r e e s sen t ia l ly l a rge s qua r i sh s e c t ion s o f w a l l , w ho se f u nc t ion mu s t h ave b een t op rov ide s uppor t f o rt h e m a in l o ad o ft h e s upe r s t ruc tu r e . B e tween t h e t e rm inu s o ft h e s ou ther n w a l l [ 2 450 ] a nd t h e b eg inn ing s o f [ 3 937 ] t h e r e w a s ad i s t inc t b r eak i nt h e m a son ry . T h i s b r eak c o inc id ed w i th t h e r e g ion w he re t h e c ove red s t oke -ho le /f i re b ox w a s s i tua t ed . I np l an t h e s e c t ion o f w a l l [ 3 937 ] w a s Ls h aped a nd a s w e l l a s p rov id ing t h e c en t ra ls uppo r tt ot h e l a rge s t r uc tu r e , m ay h ave s e rved a s e conda ry f unc t ion o f d e l inea t ing t h e s ou th -ea s t c o rne r t o as ma l l i n t er na l r oom . T h i s p l in th o f m a son ry m ea su r ed c .0 . 52m e a s t -we s tb y0 . 50m n o r th sou th .

T he r e c t i l inea r f e a tu re ( S t ruc tu r e 3 ) f a l l s w i th in t h e s i z e r a nge o f s im i la r f e a tu r e s r e co rded a t D anebu ry ( Cun l if f e 1 984 , 8 1 -87 ) . T he se h ave b een c ompa r ed , i np l an , t ot h e ' t emp le ' f o und a tH ea th row a nd t o o t he r s im i la r s t ruc tu r e s w h ich h ave b een a s sumed t oh ave ar e l ig iou s f u nc t ion . T he l a ck o f r e cove r ed s p ec ia l d epo s i t s r e cove r ed w i th t h e i mmed ia t e a r ea o f S t ruc tu r e 3 i s a l so r e f lec ted i n t h e D anebu ry s t ruc tu r e s . T he r e i sa l so a p o s s ib le r e la t ion sh ip b e tween S t r uc tu r e 3a nd d i t ch [ 2 252 ] . B o th h ave s im i la r f i l l s , w i th ah i gh ly c ompa c t , m a t e r ia l ly c l ean f i l l a nd a r e c u t t h rough l o o se g r ave l s r e qu i r ing t h e f e a tu r e s t o h ave b een i mmed ia t e ly b a ckf i l led i n o rde r t o m a in ta in t h e p r of i le s r e co rded . S t ruc tu r e 3w ou ld a l so a ppea rt or e p la ce S t ruc tu r e 4( po s tb u i l tr o und h ou se ) , s ugge s t ing s ome c on t inu i ty o fu s e o nt h es i t e .

B e tween t h e l a rge L s haped p l in th [ 3 937 ] a nd t h e b u t te nd o f t h e w a l l [ 2 100 ] ao ne m e t r e w ide b r eak i nt h e ma son ry w a s e v iden t , p r e sumab ly p rov id ing a cce s s . T he n a r row b r eak ( 400 mm ) i nc on s t ruc t ion b e tween t h e e nd o ft h ew a l l [ 2 100 ] a nd t h e b eg inn ing o f t h e w a l l [ 2 820 ] , m ay p o s s ib ly h ave s e rved a s an a r row a c ce s st ot h es t ruc tu re . W i th in t h eb u i ld ing a n Ls hap ed f l ue s y s t em w a sd ug t h rough t h e c ha lk f l oo r . T h i s f e a tu r e h ad p a ra l le l e dge s , s t eep s i de s a nd af l a t b o t tom , a nd m ea su r ed 0 . 75m w ide b y 0 . 50m d eep [ 2 830 ] . T he f l ue r a n p a ra l le l t o t h e s ou ther n a nd w e s t er n w a l l s o ft h es t ruc tu r ew i th t h ea s sumed s t oke -ho le o rf i r eb ox b e ing o u t s id e t h e b u i ld ing i nt h e s ou th e a s t c o rne r . I tw a s l i ned w i th a g r een c l ay o n b o th e dge s ( 2 831 a nd 2 832 ) , h oweve ro n ly a tt h ea s sumed s t oke h o le d i dt h i s l i n ing a ppea r t o h ave f o rmed a n a r ched c ove r ing t o t h e f l ue . T he c l ay l i n ing a nd c o l lap sed r oof w e r e b aked o n ly i nt h e v i c in i ty o f t h es t oke h o le .

F ir s tC en tury F ea ture s Ar a nge o ff e a tu r e sc ou ld b ea s s igned t ot h ef i r s tc en tu ry AD . T he se i n c lud ed a b u i ld ing w i th a f l ue s y s t em , al a rge ( p o s s ib ly m i l i ta ry d i t ch )a nd af i e ld s y s t em . ( F igu r e 1 0 ) .

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F igu re 1 3 F ox ton S t ruc tu re 6

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F igu re 1 4 F ox ton 1 C en tu ry D i tches 2 8

A n i n t er na l d i v i s ion w i th in t h e b u i ld ing w a s d ef ined b y t wo p o s t -ho le s [ 2 826 ] a nd [ 3 936 ] , a nd au n if o rm b and o fb aked d aub r unn ing w e s t -ea s t b e tween t h em . I ti sl i k e ly t h a t t h e se f e a tu r e s a r e r e la t ed t o t h e t h in b and o f p i nk d aub [ 2 82 1 ] w h ich r a n o n an o r th sou th a x i s p a ra l le l t ot h e w e s ter n w a l l [ 2 820 ] . T he s ef e a tu re sd e f ine a ni n t e rna la r ea o f2 . 50 x2 . 0m . I tw ou ld a ppea r t h a t t h e f l ue w a s s e pa r a t ed f r om t h e m a in f l oo ra r ea b y ,a tl e a s t , al ow d aub b a r r ie ra nd m ay h ave b een c ove r ed b y aw ooden s t ruc tu r ea l ong t h es ou ther ns i de o ft h e b u i ld ing

i n c lu s ion s o fa s h a nd c ha r coa l( 2938 )w h ich m ay b em a t e r ia l d e r ived f r om o ne o rb o th o ft h ef l ue s y s tem s .

Wea r t o t h e f l oo r s u r f a ce i mmed ia t e ly o u t s ide t h e e a s ter n e n t rance i ss u gge s ted b y as em i -c i r cu la rd epo s i t o fm id g r ey s i l ty -c lay f i l l ing as l igh th o l low .

O ther F ir s tC en tury F ea ture s

O u t s ide t h e b u i ld ing a s e cond f l ue s y s t em o ft wo i d en t ica l p a ra l le lc l ay w a l l s [ 2 191 /2 192 ] w i th as uppo r t ing c l ay d omed r o of [ 2 187 ] w a s c on s t ruc t ed o n t h e r ammed c ha lk f l oo r . T he se w a l l s w e re o n t h e s ame e a s t -w e s t a l ignmen t a s t h e s u b te r ranean f l ue s y s t em a n a ppea rt oe x tend t h e l i ne o ft h a t s y s tem . T h e f l ue w a s c . 2m l o ng a nd 0 . 50m w ide a nd s u r v ived t o ah e igh t o f 1 50 mm . T h e f l ue h ad r e cu rved t e rm ina l s a ti t sw e s ter ne nd w h ich a ppea rt ob e r e la ted t oa n e x t e r io r s t r uc tu r e o fb aked c l ay [ 2 189 / 2 190 ] . T he r e w a s n o e v id ence t h a t t h e f l ue w i th in t h e b u i ld ing a nd t h i s s t r uc tu r e w e r e p a r t o f as i ng le f l ue s y s tem , h ow eve r n o s t ra t ig raph ic s e pa ra t ion w a s p o s s ib le . T he s ub t e r ran ean f l ue w ou ld h ave d r awn a i r f r om t h e e a s t a nd c hanne l l ing i tw e s t , w h i l s t w i th t h e a bove g r ound f l ue w ou ld h ave a i r d r awn f r om t h e w e s t a nd c hann e l led e a s t .

D i tch C omp lex 2 1 w a s a n e a s tt ow e s td i t ch w i t h a n o ve r a l l w id th o fu pt o2 . 95m a nd ad ep th o f1 . 5m . I np a r t st h e d i t ch h ad p ronounced s he lv ing o n t h e n o r th s i de w he r e t h e s i de s l oped d own s t eep ly t o ad ep th o f a r ound 0 . 45m b ef o r e f l a t t en ing o u t f o r 0 . 75m b ef o r e c on t inu ing d own a t as t eep a ng le .A st h ed i t ch s i de sa pp roa ched t h eb a se ,b o th w e r en ea r v e r t ica l a bove al e ve l f l oo r 0 . 2 -0 .35m w ide . T h i s b a sa l s l o t w a ss e en t h roughou tt h e3 0m l e ng th o fd i tch e xcava ted .

T he r e su l tan th o l low w a s d e l ibe ra t e ly f i l l ed , t h eu ppe rl a ye r s o fw h ich c on ta ined p o t te ry d a t ed t ob e tween 1 00 a nd 1 40 AD s ugge s t ing at e rm ina l s a n t e q uem f o r t h e s t ruc tu r e . P o t t ery f r om l owe r l a ye r s w ou ld a l so s ugge s t at e rm inu s p o s t q uem o f4 5 AD ,g i v ing ar e la t ive ly s ho r tl i f es pan f o rt h i sb u i ld ing .

D .J . Mayna rd

T he p r ima ry f i l lo ft h e d i t ch w a s ag r ey c l ay w i th s i l t . A bove w e r e s i l ty h eavy c l ay f i l l s w i th i n c r ea s ing p ropo r t ion s o f c ha lk l ump s a tt h e t o p . T he se u ppe r f i l l s w e r e a l l f a i r ly r i ch i np o t te ry ,a l d a ted t ot h em id la te f i r s tc en tu ry AD . D i tch C omp lex 2 2 w a s c l o se ly p a ra l le lt oD i t ch c omp lex 2 1 a nd w a s s e pa ra ted b y ag ap o f0 . 85m . T he d i tch w a s ]. 0 5m a c ro s sa nd u pt o0 . 47m d eep w i th ar e gu la rU shaped p rof i le . T he f i l l s t e nd ed t ob e c l ean a nd h omogenou s , t h e u ppe r f i l l b e ing d a rke r a nd w i th ah i ghe r c l ay c on t en t t h an t h e l owe r p a le r e dd i sh o r y e l low i sh s i l ty s a nd f i l l . As i ng le s h e rd o f p o t t e ry , w h ich c ou ld h ave b een f r om t h e L a t e I r on A ge o r E a r ly R oman p e r iod w a sr e co rded .

S t ruc tu r a l a l t e ra t ion s t o ok p l a ce d u r ing t h e l i f e o f t h e b u i ld ing w i th t h e i n s e r t ion o f aw a l l [ 3 935 ] , p a r t ia l ly b l ock ing t h e l a rge v o id b e tween t h e b u t t r e s se s [ 2 100 ] a nd [ 3 937 ] , t h e p a r t ia l r ebu i ld ing t ot h e b u t t r e s s [ 2 100 ] , a nd t h e l a y ing o f an ew r ammed c ha lk f l oo r ( 2 807 ) a s ap a t ch i nt h e d oo rway t ot h e b u i ld ing . T he a dd i t ion o f an ew w a l l [ 2 818 ] f o rmed a p o r ch l i ke s t ruc tu r e o n t h e e a s t er n e nd o f t h e b u i ld ing w i th [ 3 937 ] .

A round t h et wo d i tche sw e r e an umbe ro fs ma l lp i t s .

T he re i sl i m i t ed e v idence t h a t t h e s t ruc tu r e s u f f e r ed f i r e d amag e a ts ome t ime d u r ing i t s l i f e . T he w h i te c ha lk f l oo r ( 2 10 1) d i sp layed e v id ence o f f i r e d amage mo s t n o t iceab ly a l ong t h e l i ne o f t h e i n ter na l p o s t -ho le s [ 2 826 a nd 3 936 ] t o g e th e rw i th s ome r e dden ing a l ong t h e n o r ther n s i de o ft h e f l ue . B la ck a s hy d epo s i t s w i th in t h e f l ue c on ta ined c ha r r ed g r a in . T h e se a ppea r ed t ob ep roce s sed w hea tg r a in sw i th l i t t le e v idence f o r o t he r w eed s o f c u l t iva t ion a nd a r e , t h e r ef o r e , p r obab ly r e la t ed t ot h e l a s tu se o ft h es t ruc tu r e . T he e x ter na l f l ue s t ru c tu r e a l so c on ta ined ac ha r coa l r i ch d epo s i tw h ich i s a s sumed t ob er e la ted t ot h el a s tu s eo ft h i ss t ruc tu r e .

P i t s 2 843 a nd 3 460 a ppea r ed t o b e i n teg ra l p a r t s o fD i t ch C omp lex 2 1 . P i t 3 392 w a s c i r cu la r 1 . 15m w ide a nd 0 . 15m d eep w i th a n u nce r ta in r e la t ion sh ip t oD i t ch c omp lex 2 2 . P i t3 087 w a s as ma l l o va l s haped p i tu p t o 1 . 3m i nd i ame t e r a nd 0 . 40m d eep w i th n ea r v e r t ica l s i de s . T he s i l ty c l ay f i l l w a s r e la t ive ly r i ch i n f i nd s w h ich s e em t o i n d ica te av e ry e a r ly R oman d a te . D i tch 3 107 w a s an o r th t o s ou th a l igned d i tch w h ich c o inc ided w i th a l a rge P i t 3 480 a t i t s s ou ther n e nd . T he r e la t ion sh ip w i th d i t ch a nd p i tw a s n o t c omp le te ly c l ea r , b u t i ti sp o s s ib le t h a tt h e d i t ch w a s s l igh t ly l a t e rt h an t h ep i t . T he p i t w a s a n i regu la r o va l i n s hape u p t o 2 . 5m a c ro s s a nd 1 . 15m d eep . W i th in t h e b a se o f t h e p i t w e r e s e ve r a l u ndu la t ing f e a tu r e s , a l though i tw a s n o t c l ea r i ft h e se w e r e

T he b u i ld ing w ou ld a ppea rt oh ave b een a lowed t oc o l lap se o n a bandonmen t . As i ng le s ub r e c tangu la r p i t [ 2 815 ] b e ing d ug a tt h e e a s t er ne nd o ft h e p l a tf o rm . I th ad s t eep ly s l op ing s i de sa nd af l a tb o t tom , a nd w a s2 . 15m w ide ,0 . 94m l o ng a nd 0 . 40 m d e ep . I tc on ta ined ad a rk g r ey -b rown c l ay loam w i th 2 9

t h eb o t tom so fe a r l ie rt r unca ted p i t so rc on tempo ra ry w i th t h e ma in p i t .

e l onga t ed o va l p i t 1 . 8m l ong a nd s u rv ived t o aw id th o f 0 . 85m . L i ned w i th l o o se ly p acked c ha lk b l ock s i t sm a in f i l l w a s ad a rk g r ey m ix o fa sh a nd c ha r coa l .

T he d i t ch 3 104 r a n n o r th t os ou th , a ti t s n or ther n e nd i tw a s c u t b y D i t ch C omp lex 2 4 . T he d i t ch w a s n a r rowe r a nd s ha l lowe r i nt h e n o r th , w he r e i tw a s 1 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 4m d eep , b ecom ing 2 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 6m d eep i nt h e s ou th . A v a r ie ty o fp o t t e ry t y pe s w a s r e cove r ed f r om t h e f i l l s o fb o th d i t ch a nd p i tc on s i s t en tw i th l a te f i r s to re a r ly s e cond c en tu ry AD d a te s .

R unn ing u nde r t h e w e s t er n e dge o f t h e s i te w a s as im i la r f e a tu r e 3 676 . T h i s w a s l i nea r 0 . 4m w ide w i th s t ra igh t s i de s a nd af l a tb a se , i th ad f i l l s o fa sh a nd b u rn t c l ay w i th b l ock s o f s a nd s tone a l ong p a r t o f i t s w e s t er n e dge . S eve r e t r unca t ion a nd d i s tu rbance made i n te rp r e ta t ion o f t h e s t ruc tu r e d if i cu l t . B o th t h e s t ruc tu r e s r ep r e sen t f i r e s i te s o f s ome k i nd : - h ea r th s , o ven s o rf u rna ce s . T he r e i sa n a b sence o f w a s t e r e s idue s f r om t h e f i l l s w h ich p o in t t o a mo re d ome s t i c a c t iv i ty s u ch a sb r ead m ak ing . D a t ing e v idence i s s pa r se ,b u tp o s s ib ly i n d ica te s al a te f i r s tc en tu ry AD d a t e .

D i tch C omp lex 2 4 w a s aw ide d i t ch r unn ing e a s t we s t , t h e d i t ch w a s o ve r 2 m w ide a nd c l o se t o 1 m d eep , w i th f a i r ly e ven ly s l op ing s i d e s t o an a r row b a se g iv ing a " V ' shaped p rof i le . A long i t s l e ng th w e r e l o ca l i sed d eepe r r e g ion s , s o t h a tt h eb a se w a s i nt h ef o rm o f as e r ie s o fc o l inea rs l o t sa nd p i t s . T he p r ima ry f i l l o ft h i s d i tch , e spec ia l ly i nt h e b a se o f t h e p i t s , w a s as t i cky c ompac t g r ey o r b lue c l ay d epo s i t , p o s s ib ly s ugge s t ing w a t e r logged c ond i t ion s i nt h eb a se o ft h e d i t ch . T he u ppe rf i l l s c on ta ined n ume rou sp o t te ry f r agmen t s w i th as p r ead o ft y pe sh av ing ar a nge o fd a te s f r om t h e L a t e I r on A g et ot h ef i f th c en tu ry AD .

No r th o ft h e se f i r es i t e sa r e an umb e ro ff r agmen ta ry r ema in s o f d i t che s t r unca ted b y l a te r R oman a c t iv i ty a nd m oder n d i gg ing . D i tch C omp lex 8 s u rv ive s a s t h r ee s egmen t s o f ad i t ch w h ich a pp ea rt of o rm as t ra igh t d i t ch 7 . 5m l o ng , 1 . 1m w ide a nd 0 . 3m d e ep . T he d i t ch c u tt wo s ma l l i n t e r cu t t ing l e ng th s o fd i t che s3 693 a nd 3 694 . L i t t le c an b es a id o ft h i sg r oup o f f e a tu r e so t he rt h an t h a tt h ey a l l h ave e a r ly p o t te ry o ft h em id t o l a t e f i r s t c en tu ry , D i tch C omp lex 8 h av ing C laud ian p o t te ry .

D i tch C omp lex 2 3 l a y 3 . 5m t ot h e n or th o fD i t ch C omp lex 2 4 f o l low ing ap a ra l le l c ou r se e a s t t ow e s t . T he d i t ch w a s 1 mw ide a nd 0 . 3 -0 .4m d eep w i th s moo th ly s l op ing s i de sa nd l e ve l b a se g i v ing a d i s to r ted ' U ' shaped p rof i le . T he o n ly f i nd s w e r e t wo s h e rd s o f p o t te ry p robab ly o f t h e E a r ly R oman p e r iod .

D i tch C omp lex 1 9w a s a ne a s tt ow e s td i t ch r unn ing m o s to f t h e l e ng th o ft h e e xcava t ion . T h i sw a s2 . 2m w ide a nd 0 . 4m d eep . P o t t e ry f r om t h e d i t ch i nd i ca t e s al a te f i r s t c en tu ry d a te . T he d i t ch t e rm ina te s i na n a r ea o fo t he r f i r s t c en tu ry p i t so nt h ee a s to ft h ee xcava t ion .

P i t 3 355 w a s f ound a ga in s t t h e w e s te rn e dge o f t h e e xcava t ion a nd r e semb led t h e b u t t e nd o f as ma l l g u l ly . S t eep s i d ed a nd w i th af l a tb a se , i tw a s0 . 75m w id ea nd 0 . 2m d eep . P i t 36 1 w a s a l so o n ly p a r t ly e xpo sed . T h i s w a s s qua r e i ns h ape w i th r ounded c o rne r s . B o th t h e se f e a tu r e s h ad m id t ol a t ef i r s tc en tu ry p o t t e ry .

Gu l ly 3 086 w a s t h e e a r l ie s t o f t h e se f e a tu re s , i tw a s 0 . 8m w ide a nd 0 . 35m d eep a nd w a s t r a ced f o r al e ng th o f 1 0m n o r th t os o u th . I tw a s f i l led w i th ad a rk g r ey b r own s i l ty s a nd w i th m uch c ha r coa l . O the rp i t s i nt h ea r ea ,2 78 1 ,2 921 , 2 919 a nd 303 , w e r e a l h eav i ly d amag ed b y l a te r a c t iv i ty . N o t much c a n b e s a id a bou t t h em e x cep t t h a t t h ey c on ta in l a te f i r s tc en tu ry p o t te ry .

D i tch C omp lex 2 9 w a s a n e a s t t o w e s t d i tch 1 . 8 t o 2 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 8m d eep h av ing a ' U ' shaped p rof i le . T he p r ima ry f i l l s w e r e s a ndy g r ave l o r s i l t w i th u ppe r f i l l s o f s andy s i l t i n t e r leaved w i th p a le s a nd o r g r ave l d epo s i t s . I n o ne s e c t ion , t wo c u t s o ft h e d i t ch w e r e t e n ta t ive ly i d en t if i ed . T he d i t ch a ppea r st oh ave n a tu ra l ly f i l led w i th s i l t s , a l though t h e r e a r e p l a ce s w he r e t h e v a r ia t ion i nt h e f i l l s c an b e s t b e e xp la ined b y d e l ibe ra t e d ump ing . I no ne a r ea , t h e f i l l ing o f t h ed i t ch w a sa l t e r ed b yt h ed i gg ing o fP i t3 607 . T h i sf e a tu r e a ppea r st oh ave b een d ug i n to t h e h a lf f i l led d i t ch a sa n o va l p i t 3 . 0m l o ng a nd 1 . 2m d eep w i th s l op ing s i de s a nd a n u neven b a se . T he f i l l s w e r e v e ry v a r iab le a nd i n d i ca te d ump ing w i th a l t er n a t ing l a ye r s o fb l ack c ha r coa l r ich b ur n t s o i l a nd s a ndy l a ye r s . T he p i t c on ta ined al a rge q uan t i ty o f

P i t 3 143 l a yt ot h e e a s t o ft h e se p i t s , a nd t h ough i tw a s o n ly p a r t ia l ly e xcava t ed , i tw a so ve r 5m l o ng a nd a tl e a s t4 mw ide a nd w a s 0 . 45m d eep , f i l led w i th av a r ie ty o fl a ye r s . P o t t e ry f r om t h ep i tw a so f ar a nge o fL a te I r on A ge ,E a r ly R oman a s w e l l a s s l igh t ly l a t e r f o rm s . A l owe r l a ye r f r om t h e p i t p roduced a c o in o f C unobe l in iu s ( 1 0 -2 0 AD ) w h i le a n u ppe r l a ye r p r oduced a b rooch o f f o u r th c en t u ry t y pe . P r e sumab ly t h e r e h ad b een l a te r d i s tu rbanc e t ot h e f i l l s n o t r e co rded i nt h ee xcava t ion .

f me q ua l i ty p r e F l av ian f i r s tc en tu ry p o t te ry . Mo s t o ft h i s i s b rok en a si fi th ad c ome f r om ap r ev iou sr ubb i sh d epo s i t .

D i tch C omp lex 1 4 w a s a n e a s t t o w e s t r unn ing d i t ch o f w h ich at o ta l l e ng th o f 1I mw a s r e co rded . T h i s d i t ch w a s I . 4m w ide a nd 0 . 38m d eep f i l led w i th al i gh tb rown s a ndy s i l t . P o t te ry f r om t h e d i t ch w a s o ff i r s t c en tu ry t y pe . T he d i t ch w a s c u tb yt wo f e a tu re s o fe a r ly d a t e : as h o r t l e ng th o fd i t ch 2 429 w i th m id f i r s t c en tu ry p o t te ry a nd a p i t 2 38 1 o f i regu la rs h ap e2 . 12m l o ng a nd 0 . 8m w ide .

O n t h e e dg e o f az one o fh eavy d i s tu rbance b y l a te r d i t che s a nd moder n d i gg ing w e r e t wo p robab ly r e la ted h ea r th a r ea s . T he e a s t er nmo s t , 3 620 w a s t h e b e s t p r e se rved b e ing l a rg e ly i n tac t o n i t s n o r ther n a nd e a s te rn s i de s . I t f o rmed a n 3 0

Gu l ly 2 360 w a s r e co rded f o r al e ng th o f5 m . I tw a s 0 . 9m w ide a nd 0 . 3m d eep , h av ing v e r t ica l , s l igh t ly u nde r cu ts i d e s . S eve ra ls ma l lp o s th o le s l a yw i th in t h el i m i t so ft h eg u l ly a nd a l though h av ing s im i la r f i l l sw e r e i mpo s s ib le t of u l ly d ef ine . I n t h e a r ea t o t h e n o r th o f t h i s f e a tu r e w a s al a rge c oncen t ra t ion o f s ma l l p i t s a nd p o s tho le s . S ome o f t h e se f e a tu re s a r e o fl a t e r d a te , b u t s ome mu s t h ave b een c r ea t ed d u r ing t h i sp e r iod .

o r s em i indu s tr ia l . None o f t h e d i t che s s how e v iden ce o f s u s ta ined u s e , b y s i gn s o f r e -d igg ing o r c l ean ing a nd i ti s p o s s ib le t h a tt h es y s tem h ad f a l len i n to d i su se a f t e ra bou t 1 20 AD . S t ruc tu r e 6w ou ld a ppea rt oc on s i s to f as ma l lb u i ld ing w i th a l a rge f l ue s y s tem o n ap r epa red p l a tf o rm o fr ammed c ha lk . P o s s ib ly c on t empo ra ry w i th t h i s b u i ld ing a s e conda ry f l ue w a s c on s t ruc ted o u t s ide o f t h e b u i ld ing . T he l a ck c ha lk r ubb le i nt h e u ppe r f i l l s o ft h e s t ruc tu r e w ou ld s ugge s t t h a t , u n le s s s i gn if i can t r obb ing t o ok p l a ce a f t e rt h e a bandonmen t , t h e s t ruc tu r e w a s p robab ly o fw ood s i t ing o n l ow s t ub w a l l s o fc ha lk b l o ck s .

D i tch C omp lexe s 7a nd 1 2 T he se d i d n o t a ppea r t o b e d i r ec t ly r e la t ed t o e ach o t he r . T hey r a n p a ra l le l i n a n e a s t e r ly d i r ec t ion 2 . 7m a pa r t . T h i s d imen s ion v a r ied b y n o mo r e t h an 0 . 3m o ve r t h e 2 5m t h ey w e r e e xpo sed . D i t ch C omp lex 7w a s 1 . 3m w ide a nd 0 . 3m d eep f i l led w i th al i gh t b rown g r ey s a ndy s i l t . T he r ew a s a2 mw ide g ap i nt h ed i t ch o n i t se a s ter ns i de , p o s s ib ly a ne n t ranceway . D i t ch C omp lex 1 2 w a s 2 . 0mw ide a nd 0 . 3 -0 .57m d eep w i th al i gh t b r own s a ndy s i l t f i l l . N e i the r d i tch h ad s i gn s o fr e cu t t ing s o t h e p e r iod o fu s e m u s t h ave b een r e la t ive ly s ho r t l i ved . P o t t e ry w a so fm id t ol a te f i r s tc en tu ry AD d a t e .

T he f u nc t ion o f t h e s t ru c tu re i su nknown a tp r e sen t . T he s t ru c tu r e d oe s b ea r s ome r e semb lance t o ac or nd rye r , b u t i t i sc anno t b e d i rec t ly p a ra l le led a nd d oe s n o t s e em t ob e a f u l ly f u nc t iona l b u i ld ing . T he d a te o ft h e s t ruc tu r e i sa l so e a r l ie r t h an mo s t R omano B r i t i sh c or n d r ye r s . S ome o t he r u se o ft h e b u i ld ing s u ch a s ac ook h ou se o rs auna m igh t b e mo r ep e r t inen t .

D i tch 2 065 w a s a n e a s t t ow e s t r unn ing s ha l low d i t ch 0 . 1m d eep a nd 0 . 7m w ide f i l led w i th ad a rk b r own s i l t . T h i sc ou ld b e s e en f o rt h e f u l l 2 6m w id th o ft h e e a semen t . As e gmen t o fd i t ch l a ya tr i gh ta ng le st ot h i s f o r al e ng th o fo ve r 1 5m t o t h e n o r th . D a t ing e v idence w a s l i m i ted t o af ew s c rap s o f R omano -B r i t i sh p o t te ry ; t h e f e a tu r e i s s t ra t ig raph ica l ly e a r l ie r a nd r u n s p a ra l le l t ot h e l a te f i r s t c en tu ry d i tche s , s oa s im i la rd a t ei sa s sumed h e r e .

T he m a jo r f e a tu r e l o ca t ed w i th in t h e s ame v i c in i ty o f S t ruc tu re 6 w a s al a rge e a s t -we s t d i t ch , D i t ch C omp lex 2 1 a nd w a s l o ca t ed c . 4m t ot h e n o r th . T he d i t ch h ad ap rof i le w h ich i ss im i la r t o t h a t o f m i l i ta ry d i t che s . F rom t h e i r r e la t ive a l ignmen t s S t ruc tu re 6 s e em s t o h ave b een c on s t ruc t ed r e spec t ing t h el i ne o ft h ee a s t -we s td i t ch .

D i tch 2 683 w a s as ho r t l e ng th o f d i t ch u ncove r ed i nt h e e x t r eme n o r th w e s tc or ne ro ft h e e xcava t ion . N o t mu ch w a s e xpo sed , s a ve t h a t i th ad a n o r th t o s ou th o r ien ta t ion a nd c on ta ined L a t ef i r s tc en tu ry p o t t e ry . D i scu s s ion T he b r oad f o rm o ff e a tu r e s o ft h i sp e r iod s ugge s t st h a t i nt h e m id t ol a t e f i r s t c en tu ry AD , ar e gu la r p a t ter n o ff i e ld s w a s e s tab l i shed o ve r t h e s i t e . T h i s w a s b r oad ly a l igned e a s t t o w e s t , o r ar i gh t a ng le s t o t h e s t r eam . S ome s i gn s o f s ub d i v i s ion o ft h i s s y s tem i ss ugge s t ed b y al i m i t ed n umbe r o f i n te r -connec t ing n or th t o s ou th d i t che s f o r e xamp le 3 107 , p a r t o f 2 065 a nd 2 683 . T he m a in t r an sve r se b ounda r ie s w ou ld h ave b een f o rmed b yt h e s t r eam t ot h e We s ta nd o t he r d i tche s t ot h e e a s t o u t s ide t h e e xcava t ed a r ea . T h i s w ou ld h ave g i v en as e r ie so fl o ng r e c tangu la re nc lo su r e s . T he r ei sa p o s s ib i l i ty t h a t s ome o ft h e b ounda r ie sw e re m a rked b y f i e ld b ank s o rh edg e s b e tween t h e p a i red d i t ch c omp lexe s 7a nd 1 2 ,2 3 a nd 2 4 ,2 2a nd 2 1 . T he r e a r e h i n t s t h a t a c t iv i ty o f am o r e t h an p a s to ra l n a tu r e t o ok p l a ce o ve r p a r t s o ft h e s i te . S t ruct u re 6 w a s p o s s ib ly d evo t ed t ot h e p roce s s ing o fa g r icu l tu ra l c r op s . T he h ea r th s 3 620 a nd 3 676 , w i th t h e i r a t t endan t p i t s p o in t t o a c oncen t r a t ion o fa c t iv i ty i nt h i s z one . B ecau se o ft h e h eavy d i s tu rba nce i nt h i sa r ea i tw a sn o tp o s s ib le t od e t e rm ine m o r e o ft h e n a tu r e o ft h i s a c t iv i ty , w h ich m ay h ave b een d ome s t ic 3 1

A n a r ea t o t a l ly d evo id o fa r chaeo log ica l f e a tu r e s 4m w ide r unn ing e a s t -we s t f r om t h e w e s t er n s e c t ion l i m i t t o t h e e a s t er n s e c t ion l i m i t m ay s ugge s t t h e p o s i t ion o f ar ampa r t w h ich h a s l e f t n o o t he r e v idence . T h i s a r ea w a s a l so r e spec t ed b y t h e l a t e rt h i rd c en tu ry c eme t e ry d i t che s a nd t h e g r ave s . Ma t e r ia l e v idence r e cove r ed f r om t h e S t ruc tu r e 6 a nd D i t ch C omp lex 2 1 , i n d ica t e s t h a t t h e t wo f e a tu r e s w e r e c on tempo ra ry . F rom af u nc t iona lv i ewpo in t i tw a se xped ien t a nd c ommon p r ac t ice t op l a ce s u ch s t ruc tu r e sj u s t i n s ide t h e r ampa r t o f af o r t o r s e t t lemen t b ecau se t h ey w e r e af i r e h aza rd . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t as ma l l m i l i ta ry e s tab l i shmen t m igh t b e s e en h e r e , a l be i t , o n r a the r s l ende r e v id ence . T he d a t ing o f t h e se f e a tu r e s w ou ld f i ti nw i th t h e m i l i ta ry p ha se o fR oman c onque s t a nd p a c if i ca t ion o ft h e a r ea . H oweve r , t h e re i sn o d i r ec te v idence o fs u ch a n i n te rp r e ta t ion . S econd a nd T h ird C en tur ie s T he re i so n ly av e ry l i m i t ed a moun t o fe v idence f o r s e cond c en tu ry AD a c t iv i ty a nd o n ly s l igh t ly m o re f o r t h e t h i rd c en tu ry . S econd c en tu ry e v idence i sl i m i ted t o o ne d i t ch , D i tch C omp lex 1 ( F igu r e 1 5 ) . D i tch C omp lex 1 w a s an o r th t os ou th a l igned d i t ch f o und a l ong t h e We s ter n e dge o f t h e e xcava t ed a r ea . I tw a s f o l lowed f o r u p t o3 0m b ef o r e e i the r t u rn ing t ot h e w e s t o r b e ing l o s t b enea th l a te r d i tche s . T he d i t ch w a s 2 . 1m w ide

a nd 0 . 85m d eep , f i l led w i th d a rk g r ey s i l t . P o t te ry f r om t h e d i t ch i sd e s c r ibed a sT r a jan ic o ft h ep e r iod 1 00 130 AD .

b u r ia l s o ft h i s p e r iod c on s i s ted o fe i gh t e a s tt ow e s t o r ien ted g r ave sd a t ing t ot h et h i rd c en tu ry AD . T he b u r ia l si n c luded a p o s s ib le f am i ly m au so leum a nd a g r ave c on ta in ing a l e ad l i ned c off in .

D i tch C omp lex 1 6w a s af u r the rn o r th t os ou th a l igned d i tch r unn ing r o ugh ly i nt h e s ame l i ne a sD i t ch C omp lex 1 . T he d i t ch w a st r a ced f o ro ve r8 6m , a nd w a sa pp rox ima te ly 2 . 0m w ide a nd 1 . 3m d eep h av ing ad a rk g r ey s a ndy s i l tf i l l . F i nd s w e r eb road ly o ft h i rd c en tu ry d a te .

D i tch 3 501 t h e b ounda ry d i t ch , w a s 1 . 2m w ide a nd 0 . 45m d eep a nd r a n n o r th t os ou th . T he r e w a s ag ap o fa bou t o ne m e t re i nt h e d i t ch w h ich m igh t h ave a c t ed a sa n e n t rance t o t h e c eme t e ry . T he n o r the rn s i de o ft h e c eme t e ry e nc lo su r e w a sp robab ly f o rmed b yt h e l a rge D i t ch C omp lex 2 1 o ff i r s t c en tu ry d a t e w h ich b y t h i s p e r iod m ay h ave s u rv ived a s a n o t iceab l eh o l low .

D i tch 3 795 l a y2 m t ot h e w e s to fD i t ch C omp lex 1 6 . S ome 2 8m o ft h e d i t ch c ou ld b e f o l lowed b ef o r e i tw a s l o s t u nde r t h e e dg e o ft h e e xcava t ion , o r u nde r l a te r d i t che s . O n ly a s ma l l p o r t ion o ft h e d i t ch w a s d ug b u t i tc ou ld b e s e en t ob e 2 . 1m w ide a nd 0 . 85m d eep , f i l led w i th s andy s i l t s a nd c on ta ined t h i rd c en tu ry p o t t e ry .

P i t3 423 w a s al a rge r e c t angu la rp i t2 . 9m b y2 . 75m w ide a nd 1 . 16m d e ep w i th v er t ica ls i de sa nd al e ve lf l oo r ,t h ef i l lo ft h e p i t c on ta ined at o ta l o ft h r ee b u r ia l s . W i th in t h e b a se o ft h e p i t w a s af u r the r r e c tangu la r c u t . T h i s c on ta ined a t i t s s ou ther ne dge , a n a r t icu la ted s up ine i n f an t i n huma t ion 3 521 . T ot h en o r th o ft h ei n f an tw a s al a rge c of in b u r ia lc on ta in ing af ema le 1 7 t o2 5 y ea r s o fa ge 3 5 14 , w i th h e r h ead t ot h e e a s t . P a r a l le l t o t h i s g r ave w a s b u r ia l 3 524 a m a le a ged 2 5 -45 w i th h i s h ead t ot h e w e s t . T he s ku l l h ad r e ce ived a t r auma t ic i n ju ry w h ich r emoved p a r t o f t h e b one c o r tex a bove t h e l e f t s up rao rb i ta l r i dge . T h i s i s ac l ean a nd r e la t ive ly f l a t c u t m ade w i th as ha rp i n s t rumen t , p o s s ib ly a s wo rd o r a xe . B o th l e f t a nd r i gh t t empo ra l s h ad b een f r a c tu r ed w i th n o v i s ib le s i gn s o fh ea l ing . T he c onc lu s ion i s t h a tt h e se i n ju r ie sw e r et h ec au se o fd ea th .

D i scu s s ion D i tch c omp lex 1 a ppea r s t o m a rk a c hange i n d i tch a l ignmen t s w h ich w a s f o l lowed f o r 1 50 -200 y ea r s , f o rm ing a n e nc lo su r e b e twe en t h e s t r eam a nd t h e e xcava ted a r ea . T h i sm ay h ave b een o fs ub r ounded s h ape w i th s t ra igh ts i de s a nd r ounded c o rne r s . T he f i r s t d i t ch w a s f o l lowed b y d i tch c omp lex 1 6 a nd d i t ch 3 795 , p o s s ib ly c on s t ruc ted b road ly a t t h es ame t i me . B o th c on t inued t h el i ne o fa ne nc lo su r et ot h e w e s t . T he r ema ind e ro ft h e s i t e a ppa r en t ly s aw n o a c t iv i ty o ve rt h e t wo c en tu r i e s , w i th e xc ep t ion o ft h e c eme te ry w he re t h e f i r s t p ha se o fb u r ia l sw e r e l a id i n s ide a n e nc lo s ing d i tch a f t e r2 50 AD .

I ti st h ough t p o s s ib le t h a t t h e l a rge p i t a nd b u r ia l s w i th in i t m ay r e p r e sen t af am i ly m au so leum w i th f ema le a nd c h i ld i n t e r red f i r s tf o l lowed l a t e rb yt h em a le .

T he C eme tery

B ur ia l 3 557 w a s a n e a s t t ow e s t g r ave w h ich d i r ec t ly f a ced g r ave 3 525 ,b u tw a ss t ra t ig raph ica l ly l a t e ri nd a te . T he g r ave c on ta ined a l e ad l i n ing f o r aw ooden c off in . W i th in t h e c off in w a s a n e x tended m a le i n huma t ion a ged 2 5 -45 l y ing i n as em i f lexed p o s i t ion i ns i de t h e c off i n f a c ing We s t . T he b ody a ppea r ed t ob e r a the rl a rge f o rt h e l e ng th o ft h e c of f in , i mp ly ing t h a tt h e c off in w a sn o tp u rpo se m ade . T he re w a s a s ma l l r e c tangu la r c oppe r a loy b e l t b uck le t ot h e l ef t o ft h e a bdom ina l a r ea o f t h e b ody . A v i r tua l ly c omp le te N ene V a l ley c o lou r c oa ted v e s se l l a y j u s t o u t s id e t h e c off in n ea r t h e f e e t . O n t o p o f t h e l i d o f t h e c of in l i n ing w e r e t h e f r agmen t ed r ema in s o f t wo B la ck B ur n i shed b ow l s c on ta in ing t h es c a t t e r ed r ema in o ft wo g e e se a nd ac h icken .

RC lea ry T he c eme t e ry c on t a ined a g r oup o f 2 4 b u r ia l s l a id i n a r e s t r ic ted a r ea t ot h e s ou th o ft h e e xcava ted a r ea ( F igu r e 1 6 ) . I ta ppea r s p r obab le t h a t t h e r e a r e f u r the r b u r ia l s t ot h e w e s t w h ich w e r e n o t u ncove r ed . W i th in t h e r e s t r ic ted a r ea e xcava t ed t h e r e a ppea rt ob et h r ee d i f f e r en t p ha se s o fu se o f t h e c eme t e ry . T he se p ha se s w e r e i d en t if i ed o n t h e b a s i s o f s t ra t ig raph ic r e la t ion sh ip o f t h e g r ave c u t s a nd d i f f e r ing b u r ia l p r a c t i se . T he m a in p e r iod o fu s e o ft h is a spec t o ft h e s i te w a sf r om a r ound 2 50 t o4 00 AD . D i spo sa l o f h uman r ema in s i nt h e e x cava t ed a r ea w a s n o t r e s t r ic t ed t o t h e d ef ined c eme t e ry . O the r h uman r ema in s w e re f ound i n d i t che s a nd p i t s t h roughou t t h e s i t e , b o th c omp le t eb u r ia l sa nd p a r t s . N o ta l o ft h e se w e r eo ft h e s ame p e r iod o fu s e a st h e c eme t e ry , s ome w e re c on tempo ra ry , b u t mo s tw e r e l a t e r ,p robab ly o ft h ee a r ly f i f th c en tu ry AD .

D i scu s s ion T he re w e r e n i ne b u r ia l s r e co rded f r om t h i s p ha se o f t h e c eme t e ry c omp r i s ing f ou r m a le s , t h r ee f ema le s , o ne n eona te a nd o ne u n iden t if i ed ( s ku l l f r agmen t ) . An o tab le f e a tu r e o f a l l g r ave s o f t h i s p e r iod w a s t h a t t h ey w e re a l l r e la t ive ly l a rge , w i th t h e m a jo r i ty p o s se s s ing c off i n s t a in s a nd n a i l s s ugge s t ing t h a ta lt h eb u r ia l sw e r ep l a ced i n ac of in .

P ha se O ne C eme tery T he a r ea o fb u r ia l s w a s d ema r ca ted b y ad i t ch t h a t a ppea r ed t oa l ign w i th t h e f i r s t c en t u ry D i t ch C omp lex 2 1 t of o rm t h e E a s ter n a nd n o r ther n b ounda r ie s o f t h e c eme t e ry . T he

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h ead st owa rd st h ew e s ta nd a l lf ema le sw i th t h e i rh ead st ot h e e a s t .

b u r ia li nt h es e quence ,3 572 , i st h ough tt ob e long t ot h et h i rd p ha se o fb u r ia l o n t h e s i te . Mo s t o f t h i s b u r ia l h ad b een d amaged d i s tu rbance , t h e r ema in s c on s i s ted o f as ku l l , t o r so a nd l ef ta rm o f as up ine a du l t ma l ew i th h ead t ot h es ou th .

T he b u r ia l c on ta ined i nt h e l e ad l i ned c off in i s ar e la t ive ly u nu sua l o ccu r r ence . T he re a r e f o u r o t he r l e ad c off in s r e co rded f r om C amb r idge sh i r e ,t h r ee o ft h e se b e ing l i n ing st o s t one c off in s , t wo w e r e f o und i n am au so leum a tA rbu ry a nd t h eo t he ra tU p ton n ea rP e t e rbo rough . T he f ou r th l e ad c off in w a st h el i n ing f o r aw ood en c of in r e cove r ed f r om A r r ing ton .

P ha se T hree C eme tery

T he m a jo r i ty o f l e ad l i ned c off in s a r e f ound n ea r w a l led u rban c en t r e s , m o s t ly Y o rk , C o lche s t e r a nd L ondon . Many o t he r s a r e f o und n ea r v i l la , t emp le s o r f o r t s . T he re i sa s t rong c o r r e la t ion b e tween l e ad c of in sa nd w ea l th o fa na r ea , a nd a l so i t s d eg r ee o f r oman i sa t ion , t h ough n o t w i th p opu la t ion d en s i ty ( Tay lo r 1 993 ) .

T h i s e p i sod e o fu se o ft h e c eme t e ry c on s i s t ed o ff i ve g r ave s 3 572 , 3 569 , 3 490 , 3 554 a nd 3 432 T he b u r ia l s o ft h e p e r iod w e r e i d en t if i ed b y t h e i r s t ra t ig r aph ic p o s i t ion , g ene ra l ly s ha l low g r ave s a nd p o s i t ion o ft h e b ody . A l l t h e b od ie s l a y w i th t h e i r h ead s t ot h e n o r th f a c ing s ou th . T he o n ly g ood s d epo s i t ed w i th t h e b ody w e r e an umbe r o f c h i cken b one s p l a ced w i th t h ec h i ld b u r ia l3 554 . F our th C en tury ( F igure 1 5 , 1 9 ) D i tch C omp lex 3 0 w a s ab road ly ' V ' s haped d i t ch 3 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 68m d eep r unn ing s t ra igh t f o r t h e w id th o ft h e e xcava ted a r ea . P o t te ry w a so ft h i rd t of o u r th t y pe s .

P ha se Two C eme tery T he s e cond p e r iod o f b u r ia l s c on s i s ted o f at o ta l o f t e n i n huma t ion s ,a l ll y ing w i th t h e i rh ead st ot h es ou th .

D i tch C omp lex 1 7 w a s a n e a s t t ow e s t d i t ch 3 m w ide a nd 1 m d eep . T h i s d i tch w a s f i l led w i th d a rk g r ey s i l t s . T he d i tch h ad b een r e cu t o n t h e s ame a l ignmen t , t h e r e cu t b e ing f i l led w i th ad a rk b rown l o am . T he d i t ch c on ta ined p o t t e ry o ft h el a t e rt h i rd t of ou r th c en tu ry t y p e .

B ur ia l3 444 c on ta in ed t h er ema in so fa n a r t icu la t ed h ead le s s s up ine f ema le a ged o ve r4 5 y ea r s . T he l ef ta rm a ppea r ed t o h ave b een s e ve r ed a st h e p r ox ima l e nd o ft h e l ef t h ume ru s w a s l y ing o n t h e f i r s t l umba r v er t eb ra , w h i le t h e d i s ta l e nd w a s s t i l l a r t icu la t ed t o t h e u l na a nd r a d iu s . T he r e w a s n o d i s tu rbance t o t h e g r ave t o a c coun t f o r t h e a b sence o f t h e s ku l la nd d amage t ot h eh ume ru s .

D i tch C omp lex 1 8 w a s af u r the re a s tt ow e s t d i t ch o fw h ich o n ly 1 2m s u rv ived . T he d i t ch w a s2 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 9m d eep w i th a' V ' s e c t ion f i l led w i th g r ey b r own s i l t . I na tl e a s t o ne p a r to ft h e d i t ch , at o ta l o ft h ree r e cu t s w a sr e co rded . F ou r th c en tu ry p o t t e ry c ame f r om t h ed i t ch .

W i th in t h eg r ave w a s ab r onze b r a ce le ta nd b one c omb . B ur ia l 3 468 w a s af u r the r f ema le b u r ia l w i thou t as ku l l . A ga in t h e a r t icu la t ed b ody l a y i n as up ine p o s i t ion a nd w a s o fm idd le t oo l d a g e ( 2 5 -45+ ) . W i th in t h e g rave f i l l w a s a c o l lec t ion o f h uman m a t e r ia l . T h i s i n c luded t wo h uman s ku l l sa nd a na r t icu la t ed l e f tl e g . I ti sd oub tf u l i fe i the ro ft h e s ku l l s w i th in t h e g r ave o r ig ina te f r om t h e b od ie s o f3 444 o r 3 468 , a sb o th h ave s t rong m a le c ha ra c t e r i s t ic s , o ne b e ing o fa y oung a du l t 1 5 -2 1 y ea r s o l d . I ti sa l so u n l ike ly t h a t t h e m a te r ia lc ame f r om a ny o ft h eo t he re xcava ted g rave s . T he re w a s o ne s e quence o fb u r ia l s w h ich w e re l a id i n to t h e s ame g r ave , p o s s ib ly a s af am i ly g roup . T he se w e r e b u r ia l s 3 550 , 3 472 , 3 394 a nd 3 572 . T he e a r l ie s t w a s 3 550 w h ich w a s a n e x t ended s up ine m a le a ged 3 5 -45 y ea r s l a id i n to a l a rge g r ave a nd b u r ied i n ac off in a ss hown b yt h en umbe ro f i r on n a i l s . T he r ew e r et h eb one so f ac omp le te c h icken i nt h e f i l lo ft h eg r ave . T h i sg r ave t h en a ppea red t ob et h ef o cu sf o r t h es ub sequ en tt h r ee b u r ia l s .

D i tch C omp lex 2 0 w a s a1 . 2m w id e a nd 0 . 5m d eep d i t ch w i t h ay e l low g r ey s a ndy s i l t . T he r ei sp o s s ib le e v idence o fa r e cu t o f t h i s d i tch . T he f u l l e x t en t o f t h e d i t ch c ou ld u nf o r tuna t e ly n o t b e d e te rm ined d ue t o mode rn d i s tu rbance , b u t i ta ppea r ed t or un 1 4m t ot h e e a s t b ef o r e t u rn ing n o r th a nd j o in ing t h e l i ne o fD i t ch 2 378 . P o t t e ry o ff ou r th c en tu ry d a te c ame f r om t h ed i t ch . D i tch 2 378 /2670 f o l lowed as ou th e a s t t o n or th w e s t a x i s . T he d i tch a ppea r ed t o b e al i ne o f i n t e r cu t t ing l i nea r p i t s w h ich m ay r e f lec t t h e w ay i nw h ich t h e d i t ch w a s d ug , o r a s e r ie s o fp a r t ia l r e cu t s . T he f e a tu re w a s f o l lowed f o r u p t o 2 6m b ef o r eb e ing l o s tu nde r mod er nd i s t u rbance i nt h en o r th a nd p o s s ib ly i nt h es ou th . L a t et h i rd t of o u r th c en tu ry p o t t e ry c ame f r om t h ef e a tu r e .

c on ta ined t h e r ema in s o f a n i n f an t , b e ing t we lve r i b f r agmen t st o ge the rw i th f emu ra nd t i b ia , d epo s i ted i n an o r th t os ou th o r ien ta t ion . B ur ia l 3 394 w a s a l so t r unca t ed b y t h e

D i tch 3 803 w a s c urv ing l e ng th o f d i t ch s e en a ga in s t t h e E a s ter nb ounda ry o ft h e e xcava t ion . At o ta l o f 1 4mo ft h i s w a s e xpo sed , h av ing a w id th o f 0 . 76m a nd d ep th o f0 . 2m w i th ap rof i le o f' U ' s hape . P ar t o ft h e f e a tu re s e em st oh ave b een r e cu t a t s ome s t age . F ou r th c en t u ry p o t t e ry w a s r e cove r ed f r om t h ed i t ch .

l a te r b u r ia l . T he r ema in s o f t h i s i n d iv idua l c on s i s ted o f a p a r t ia l ly a r t icu la ted l e g a nd p e lv i s w i th d i s ar t icu la ted a rm o f a n a du l t m a le i n huma t ion w i th h ead t ot h e n o r th . T he f i na l

D i tch C omp lex 1 0 w a s am o r e s ub s tan t ia l c u rved d i t ch w i th a n i n t er na l d i ame t e r o f a tl e a s t 2 2m . T h e d i t ch w a s 1 . 8m

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w ide a nd 0 . 6m f i l led w i th t wo l a ye r s , ad a rk g r ey g r i t ty s i l t a nd ad a rk b rown s andy s i l t . T he s ou the rn a r c o ft h e d i t ch h ad b een s ub jec t ed t o ar e cu t w h ich r e a ched am ax imum o f 2 . 9m a nd 1 . 1 md eep . F ou r th c en tu ry p o t te ry c ome sf r om t h e d i tch . T he l o ng a r c o f t h e c u rved d i tch a l ign s w i th t h e f r agmen t so fD i t ch C omp lex 2 0a nd D i tch 3 803 .

t h e f ou r th c en tu ry a sw e l l a ss ome o ft h e l a te f ou r th t oe a r ly f i f th c en tu ry . D i tch C omp lex 1 w a s ad i t ch o f t h e s ame s t ra t ig raph ic e p i sode a sD i t ch C omp lex 5 . T h i sd i t ch t o ok a ne a s tt o We s t a l ignmen t a nd w a s 0 . 8m w ide w i th ad ep th o f 0 . 3m . T he d i t ch l a y 1 6m n o r th o fS t ruc tu re 1 ,a ne qua ld imen s ion t ot h a t o ft h ew id th o ft h eD i t ch c omp lex 5e nc lo su re . Ar i ch h oa rd o fi r on o b jec t s l a y w i th in t h e d i t ch a ti t s e a s te rn e xcava ted e x ten t .

T o t h e n o r th o f t h e e xcava t ed a r ea , ap a t t er n o f s ma l l r e c tangu la r e nc lo su r e s a c company ing ar e c tangu la r s t ruc tu r e c ou ld b e i d en t if i ed . T he d i t ched e nc lo su r e s e xh ib i t s e ve ra l p e r iod s o f d i gg ing a nd c l ean ing , t o ge the r w i th c hange s i n a l ignmen t .

I ti sp o s s ib le t o make s ome e s t ima t e o ft h e a r ea o ccup ied b y i n d iv idua l e nc lo su r e s a t t h i s p e r iod . T he s pa c ing o f t h e d i t che s f r om e a ch o t he r mu l t ip l ied b y t h e d i s tance t o t h e s t ream ( a pp rox ima te ly 4 0m )c ou ld g i v ea n i d ea o ft h ea r ea o f t h ef i e ld so nt h ew e s to fe xcava ted a r ea .

S truc tur e 1w a s ar e c tangu la rp o s tb u i l tb u i ld ing a tl e a s t 7m l o ng b y 4 . 5m w ide . Two s i de s o f t h e b u i ld ing c an b e c onf id en t ly r e con s t ruc t ed , b u t t h e r e i sa n e l emen t o fd oub t o ve r t h e p o s t h o le s o n t h e s ou th s i de o ft h e b u i ld ing ; o ne i n t e rp r e ta t ion m igh t g i ve a b u i ld ing w i th u npa ra l le l l o ng s i de s , w h i le t h e o t he r w ou ld g i ve ap a ra l le l s i d ed b u i ld ing w i th u nequa l s pa ced p o s t s . O ne p o s th o le 2 541 i nt h e s ou th w e s t c or n e r o f t h e b u i ld ing w a s r e cogn i sed a s h av ing f i l l s s im i la r t ot h o se o fp e n-g lac ia l f e a tu r e s i nt h e a r ea a nd m ay t h u sh ave n o tb een am an m ade f e a tu r e . T he p o s tho l e so ft h e s t ruc tu r e a r e a l l r e la t ive ly s ma l l c ompa red w i th t h e o t he r s t r uc tu ra l p o s tho le s , h av ing a m ean d i ame t e r o f 0 . 4m a nd d ep th o f0 . 25m .

D i scu s s ion T he f o u r th c en tu ry r e p r e sen ted t h e m o s t a c t ive p e r iod o f R oman u s e o ft h e s i t e . T he n o r the rn h a lf o ft h e e xcava t ed a r ea h ad a s y s tem o f r e c tangu la r f i e ld s l a id o ve r i t ,w h ich s e em t oh ave d eve loped i nt wo d i f f e r en t f o rm s . O ne s e t o f s ma l l e nc lo su r e s e vo lved a r ound t h e r e c tangu la r S t ruc tu r e 1 . T he se w e r e p robab ly d e s igned a s s ma l l g a rden p l o t s o r p o s s ib ly a sc o r ra l s a nd p addock s f o rs t ock c on t ro l . S ome o f t h e u na s s igned p o s tho le sN o r th a nd We s t o fS t ruc tu r e 1m ay h ave b een c r ea ted f o rt h ep u rpo se o fs t o ck c on t ro l .

D i t che s e nc lo s ing t h e s t ru c tu r e w e r e 2 081 , 2 220 a nd d i tch c omp lex 6 . T he d i tche s f o rm ing t h e p a ra l le l s i de s o f t h e e nc lo su r ew e r eD i tch C omp lex 6a nd d i tch 220 ,t h e se w e r e 1 . 6m w ide a nd 0 . 4m d eep a nd 1 . 1m w ide a nd 0 . 22m d eep r e spec t ive ly . T he d i t che s r a n f u r the r t h an t h e e x t en t o ft h e e xcava t ion g i v ing a n e nc lo su r e 1 7m w ide b y a tl e a s t 2 6m l o ng . A n i n ter na l d i v id i ng d i t ch o r g u l ly 2 08 1 r a n f r om D i t ch C omp lex 6 t owa rd s S t ruc tu r e 1f a l l ing s ho r t o f t h e s t ruc tu r e b y 2 . 7m g i v ing a n e n t rance w ay p o s s ib ly w i th a g a t epo s th e ld i np o s th o le 2 349 . P o t t e ry f r om t h e se d i t che si s l a te t h i rd t of ou r th c en tu ry d a t e .

T he o t he r s e t o fe nc lo su r e s s e em s t or e p r e sen t t h e l i ne s o f r e c t angu la r f i e ld s a l igned a tr i gh t a ng l e s t ot h e s t r eam w i th t h e i r e a s t e rn b ounda ry a ga in s tt h e l i ne o fD i tch C omp lex 1 0 a nd d i t ch 2 670 /2378 . T he se f i e ld s o n ly e x i s t i nf r agmen ta ry f o rm d ue t ot h e l i m i t s o fe xcava t ion a nd d amage b y moder n e x t rac t ion . Much o ft h e a c t iv i ty i nt h i s a r ea mu s tb e a s soc ia ted w i th t h e R oman b u i ld ing s l o ca ted t o t h e w e s t o f t h e s t r eam . T he i n ten s i ty o fu se o ft h e s i t e i sh eav ie s tc l o se s tt ot h eb u i ld ing s , af a c tt h a ti sc onf i rmed b yt h ea i rp ho tog r aph ic e v id ence .

T he e nc lo su re w a s r e a l igned w i th t h e d i gg ing o f D i tch C omp lex 3 ,D i tch C omp lex 4a nd d i tch 2 00 1 . T h i sc r ea ted a n e nc lo su r e a t r i gh t a ng le s t o t h e o r ig ina l o ne w i th d imen s ion so f2 2m b ya tl e a s t5 4m .

T he c eme t e ry c on t inued t ob eu sed , p e rhap sw i th t h eh eav ie s t p e r iod o fi n t e rmen t

T he d i tche s o ft h i s e nc lo su r ew e re t h en r e -dug a l ong b r oad ly t h e s ame l i ne s . D i tch C omp lex 2r e p la ced D i t ch C omp lex 3 t h roughou t i t sl e ng th , w h i le D i t ch 2 00 1 a ppea r st oh ave b een p a r t ia l ly r e cu t i nv a r iou s p l a ce s , e s pec ia l ly t owa rd st h e s ou th w he re i tw a s r e p laced c omp le te ly a sD i tch 2 049 . T h i s l a t te r d i tch r e spec t ed S t ruc tu r e 1 ,b u t f o l lowed a d i f f e r en t r ou t e t h an t h e o ne t h a t c an b e i n f e r r ed d i t ch 2 00 1 o u t s id e t h e e xcava t ed a r ea . P o t te ry f r om t h e v a r iou s d i t che s o f t h i s e nc lo su r ew a sb road ly o ft h ef ou r th c en t u ry .

F i f th C en tury F ea tu r e s t h a t a r e i d en t if i ed a sb e ing o ff i f th c en tu ry d a te a r e a l l i m i t ed t ot h eN o r the rn p a r to ft h es i t e . ( F igu re 1 5 ) D i tch 2 005 w a s al a rge c u r v ing d i t ch 2 . 8m w ide a nd 0 . 8m d eep w i th s t eep s i de s a nd al e ve l f l oo r . T he ' C ' s hape o ft h e d i t ch w a sf o l lowed f o r 1 8m a nd t r unca t ed a l o t he rd i t che s i n t h e a r ea . T he s hape a nd b l un t e nd s o ft h e d i t ch p rov id ed n o c l ue t ot h e u se o ft h e f e a tu r e . T he f i l l s w e re ad a rk b rown s a ndy s i l t a nd b rown s a nd s . T he d i t ch c on ta ined p o t te ry f r om av a r ie ty o fp e r iod s f r om t h e f i r s t t of ou r th c en tu r ie s , b u t p r inc ipa l ly f r om t h e f o u r th . T h i s d i t ch w a s s ub jec t t oa r e cu t b y D i tch 3 045 , t h i s w a s 1 . 0m w id e a nd u p t o 0 . 3m

T he f i na l e l emen t w a s t h e d i gg ing o fD i tch C omp lex 5 ,t h e d i tch w a s 1 . 0m w ide a nd 0 . 2m d eep . I tf o rmed a no pen s i ded r e c tangu la r e nc lo su re t o t h e s ou th o f S t ru c tu r e Iw i th d imen s ion so f1 9m b y 1 6m . T h i s d i t ch c on ta ined p o t t e ry o f 3 6

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F i gu r e 1 7F ox ton 4± C en tu ry D i t ch s e c t ion s d eep , b e com ing s ha l lowe r i n p l a ce s . T he d i t ch b road ly f o l low ed t h er ou te o fD i t ch 2 005 , b u tb u lged o u twa rd s i nt h e n o r th w e s ts e gmen t o ft h e d i t ch . T he r e cu tw a s f i l led w i th a g r ey b r own s i l ty s and . T h r ee c omp le te m in ia t u re p o t te ry v e s se l s i d en t if i ed a sb e ing o ff i f th c en t u ry d a t ew e r e f o und i n t h e r e cu t . O the r p o t t e ry f i nd s w e r e g ene ra l ly o ft h e t h i rd t o f ou r th c e n t u ry d a te .

P i t3 080 w a so va li ns h ape 1 . 4t o1 . 2m w ide a nd 0 . 17m d eep . I tw a sf l a tb o t tomed w i th g en t ly s l op ing s i d e s .

P i t 3 023 t h i s p i t w a s af l a t t ened o va l i ns hape w i th s t eep ly s l op ing s i d e s a nd a l e ve l f l oo r 2 . 9m i nd i ame te r a nd 0 . 18m d eep . T he r ew a s as ma l lp o s th o le i nt h en or th e a s te nd o ft h e p i t . P o t t e ry f r om t h ep i tw a sf i f th c en t u ry ,p o s tR oman .

J u s tt ot h ew e s to ft h e se p i t sw a s as ma l l d i t ch 3 09 1 a nd ap i t 3 285 , b o th o f w h ich w e r e o n ly p a r t ia l ly e xcava ted . T hey c on ta ined p a r t so ft wo h uman i n huma t ion s .

P i t3 082 w a s a no the rs h a l low o va l p i t , 2 . 1 t o 1 . 9m w ide a nd 0 . 13m d eep . T h i s a l so h ad af l a t b o t tom w i th g en t ly s l op ing s i de s . B o th p i t s 3 080 a nd 3 082 c u t t h e l a te f ou r th c en tu ry D i t ch C omp lex Ia nd c on ta in l a te f ou r th c en tu ry AD p o t te ry .

P i t2 496 w a sa n i regu la r ly s haped p i tu pt o0 . 74m w ide a nd 0 . 2m d eep , w h ich r o ugh ly f o l lowed t h e l i ne o fp a r t o fD i t ch 3 7

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m a te r ia l . T he p rob lem o f d a t ing t h e se f e a tu r e s i s c ompounded b yt h e l i m i t ed r a nge o ft h e t y pe s o ff e a tu r e s o f t h i sp e r iod .

P i t2 292 w a s as em i -ova lp i tw i th g en t ly s l op ing s i de s4 . 3 t o 2 . 75m w ide a nd 0 . 16m d eep . T he p i tw a sa mong t h e l a te s ti n an umbe ro fs ma l l f e a tu r e sa nd p o s tho le st h a tm ay h ave b een a s soc ia ted w i th i t . P o t t e ry f r om t h e p i t i so ff ou r th c en tu ry AD d a te .

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F igu r e2 0F ox ton 5 th C en tu ry D i t ch S ec t ion s D i scus s ion

t h ey w e r e d ug . T he r e a r e a l so f o u rp i t s o ft h i s p e r iod w h ich a r e f a i r ly l a rge a nd s h a l low w i th l e ve l f l oo r s . T he r e i sa l so a h i gh o ccu r r ence o fp o s th o le sa r ound t h em . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t t h e se r e p r e sen t s unken f l oo r ed s t r uc tu r e s , a l though t h ey a r e r a the rs ma l lf o rg r ubenhau sen .

T he n umb e r o f f e a tu r e s s e cu r e ly d a t ed t ot h e f i f th c en tu ry AD i sv e ry l i m i ted , o n ly as ma l lq uan t i ty o ff i f th c en tu ry AD w a s f ound o n t h e s i t e . Mo s t o ft h e l a te f e a tu r e s c on ta ined much f o u r t h c en tu ry p o t t e ry , w h ich p r e sumab ly w a s d e r ived

3 9

S ITE 1PEPPERTON H ILL DUXFORD R .C lea ry

I n troduc t ion

T he E xcava ted E v idence f r om t he P ipe t r ench

A r chaeo log ica l f e a tu r e s w e r e l o ca t ed o n P eppe r ton H i l l , D uxf o rd T L 4 71442 j u s t t o t h e w e s t o f t h e M 1 1a nd s ou th -ea s t o f t h e A 505 ( F igu re 2 1 ) a s ar e su l t o f t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion p ha se o f t h e S t . N eo t s t o D uxf o rd G a s P i pe l ine . T he s i te w a s s c anned a nd a d e ta i led g eophy s ica l s u r vey c a r r ied o u t a nd a s a lvage e xcava t ion c a r r ied o u t d u r ing May 1 994 .

T he f o l low ing d e sc r ip t ion s r e la te t o a r chaeo log ica l f e a tu re s r e co rd ed s o le ly f r om t h es e c t ion o ft h ep i pe t rench . D ue t oa t o ta l a b sence o f c u l tu r a l ma t e r ia l r e cove red f r om t h e se f e a tu r e s i tw a s i mpo s s ib le t o a s c r ibe ad a te a nd h ence a p ha se t oa ny o ft h em . I tw a s t h e ref o r e e x t reme ly d i ff icu l t i n c e r ta in c a se s t o u nde r s t and t h e p hy s ica l , c on t ex tua l a nd f unc t iona ln a tu r e o ft h e se f e a tu r e s a nd r e la te t h em t ot h e r e s t o ft h ea r cha eo logy e ncoun t e red d u r ing e x cava t ion .

T he u nde r ly ing s o l id g eo logy t h a t p r edom ina t e s i nt h e a r ea o f D uxf o rd i s t h e M idd le C ha lk o f t h e C r e t a ceou s S ucce s s ion . D r if tg eo logy i nt h e a r ea i sg l a c ia lt i l l ( T rave r s Mo rgan , 1 994 ) .

A t t h e e x t r eme w e s te rn l i m i t o fe xcava t ion t wo p a ra l le l " V" s haped d i t che sr unn ing n o r th -we s tt os o u th -ea s tw e r e l o ca t ed ( F igu r e2 3 ) . C on tex t [ 1 151 ] mea su r ed 1 . 80m w ide b y 1 . 08m d eep , w h i l s t [ 1 024 ] m ea su r ed 1 . 60m w id e b y 0 . 90m d eep . T he se d i t che s w e r e t r unca ted b y a much l a rge r n o r th -we s t / sou th -ea s t a l igned d i tch [ 1 020 ] , m ea su r ing 3 . 4m w ide b y 0 . 98m d eep . I np l an i tt r unca t ed t h e e a s ter ne dge o f [ 1 151 ] , a nd t h ew e s te rn e dge o f[ 1 024 ] . T h i s f e a tu r e [ 1 020 ] i si na l lp robab i l i ty t h e s ame a s [ 5 046 ] a nd t h e s ou th -we s t er n a rm o f t h e c ha ra c te r i s t ica l ly ' p lay ing c a rd ' s haped f e a tu r e d e t ec t ed i nt h eg eophy s ica ls u rvey w i th w h ich t h e r e i sac l ea r c o r r e la t ion .

A rchaeo log ica lB ackground P r ev iou s a r chaeo log ica l i n ve s t iga t ion s i na nd a r ound t h ea r ea o f D uxf o rd h ave g ene ra t ed a g r ea t d ea l o f i n f o rma t ion r e ga rd ing s e t t lemen t a c t iv i ty . T he r e i ss t rong e v idence f o r c on t inuou s s e t t lemen t f r om N eo l i th ic t ime s t h rough t o t h e p r e sen t d ay . I ndeed , o ne w ou ld e xpec t c on s ide rab le p r eh i s to r ic a nd R oman a c t iv i ty i nt h i s a r ea a st h e r i dgeway ( A505 ) l y ing t ot h e n o r th i so ne o ft h er ou te s o ft h e I c kn ie ld Way , am a jo r e a s t -we s tt r a ckway i na n t iqu i ty ( Evan s 1 990 ) . P r eh i s to r ic monumen t s , R oman r ema in s a nd Med ieva l f i e ld s y s tem s a r e s c a t t e r ed t h roughou tt h e l a nd scape a nd t e s t if yt o o rgan i sed a nd s t ruc tu r ed s e t t lemen td u r ing t h e se p e r iod s .

A pp rox ima t e ly 11 me a s to ft h i s d i tch w a sa no the rn o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t a l igned d i t ch [ 1 026 ] . I th ad a " U " s h aped p rof i le , m ea su r ing 1 . 23m w ide b y 0 . 65m d eep . I tw a s n o t h owev e r , v i s ib le a c ro s s t h e e n t i r e w id th o ft h e e xcava t ion , a nd m ay t h e r ef o re r e la t e t o ap i t , o rb e t h et e rm ina l e nd o fa d i t ch .

A rchaeo log ica lR e su l t s S t ra t igraph ic a nd S truc tura lA na ly s i s

P a ra l le lt ot h i sf e a tu re w a sa no the re pheme r a lt e rm ina le nd o f ad i t ch /p i tw i th aU s haped p rof i le ,m ea su r ing 1 . 23m w id eb y 0 . 57m d eep [ 1 028 ] .

T he a r chaeo log ica l d e sc r ip t ion s o f t h e f e a tu r e s w i l l b e d i scu s sed i nt h e s e quence i nw h ich t h ey w e r e e ncoun t e r ed ( we s tt oe a s t o n t h e p l an , F i gu r e s 2 3 a nd 2 4 ) , a nd w i th in t h e c h rono log ica lp ha se si nw h ich t h ey o ccu r r ed .

L oca ted n ea r t oT L 4 705044400 w a s an o r th sou th a l igned c u r v i l inea rd i tch w i th s l op ing s i de sa nd af l a tb a se ,m ea su r ing 2 . 12m w ide b y0 . 56m d eep [ 1 030 ] .

T he s t ra t ig raphy e ncoun t e r ed a lowed t h e a c t iv i ty o n t h e s i t e t o b e d i v ided i n to t wo s e pa ra te p ha se s . T he se a r e d a t ed p r ima r i ly b y t h e s t ra t ig raph ic r e la t ion sh ip s , s upp lemen ted t o al i m i t ed e x t en t b y d a t e s d e r ived f r om t h e a na ly s i s o ft h e f i nd s . T he d epo s i t s a nd f e a tu r e s r e vea led b y t h e e xcava t ion o f t h i s a r ea i n c luded P r eh i s to r ic f i e ld b ounda r ie s , s t o rage p i t s , ap o s s ib le h ea r th a nd t wo c oncen t r a t ion s o fp o s t -ho le s t h a t m ay b e i n te rp re ted a ss t ruc tu ra l c omponen t s r e la t ing t o s e t t lemen t . O the r f e a tu re s e ncoun t e r ed i n c luded a l i nea r d i t ch [ 5 046 ] , al a rge p i t [ 5 044 ] , a nd ah ea r th [ 5 07 1 ] , a l o f w h ich c ou ld b ep l a ced w i th in af i r s tc en tu ry AD c on tex t .

I nt h i s r e g ion w a s l o ca ted as ha l low U s h aped g u l ly a l ig ned n o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t , m ea su r ing 1 . 84m w ide b y 0 . 38m d eep [ 1 034 ] . F rom t h e k nown a r chaeo logy a tt h i s p o in t i ti s r e a sonab le t oa s sume t h a tt h i sc on tex ti se qu iva len tt o[ 5 084 ] , p a r to fa ne n c lo su r ed i t ch w h ich c on t inu e su nde rt h en o r ther n e xcava t ion l i m i t . L oca t ed c .1 5m e a s to ft h i se nc lo su re d i t ch w a s a no the rl a rge " U" s haped d i t ch a l igned n o r th -ea s t / sou th -we s t , m ea su r ing 3 . 10m w ide b y0 . 80m d eep [ 1 036 ] . T h i sf e a t u re i n te r se c ted a s e cond l i nea r d i t ch r unn ing n or th -we s t t os ou th -ea s t [ 5 064 ] , h owev e rt h e i rr e la t ion sh ip w a so b scu re .

4 0

F i gu r e2 1 D uxf o rd L oca t ion S i tua t ed c l o se t oT L4 727544450 w a s a n Ls haped e nc lo su re d i t ch [ 1 038 ] . T h i s f e a tu r e h ad aV s haped p rof i le a nd w a s a l igned s ou th -we s t t o n o r th -ea s t , m ea su r ing 1 8m l o ng b y 1 . 53m w ide b y 0 . 72m d eep w i th a r e tu rn r unn ing c . 1 5m s ou th -ea s t b ef o r e b e ing o b scu r ed c . 2 . 5m n o r th o f t h e s ou the rn e xcava t ion l i m i t . T he m a in a rm o f t h i s f e a tu r e a ppea r ed t o h ave a l i nea r e x ten s ion r unn ing f r om i ta nd p e rpend i cu la rt ot h e m a in d i t ch a nd e x t end ing 2 m i nl e ng th b ef o r e d i sappe a r ing u nde r t h e s ou the rn s e c t ion . T he r e la t ion sh ip o ft h i st ot h em a in f e a tu r ew a so b scu r e .

P ha se I T he e a r l ie s td a teab le p ha se o fh uman a c t iv i ty e ncoun t e r ed o n t h e s i t e c on s i s t ed o f n ume rou s p o s t -ho le s , g u l l ie s , d i t che s , a nd p i t s a l o fw h ich b a sed o n a r tef a c tua l e v idence c ou ld b e p l aced f i rm ly w i th in aM idd le I r on A ge c on t ex t( i . e . 6 00 -300 BC ) . T he e v idence s ugge s t st h a t d u r ing t h i sp ha se t h e r e w a s ah i gh c oncen t ra t ion o fs e t t lemen ta c t iv i ty , d i s cer n ed t h rough e nc lo su re d i t che s , d ome s t ic o r a g r icu l tu ra l r e la t ed s t ruc tu r e s a nd f i e ld s y s t em s . L oca t ed c l o se t oT L4 705044400 t wo a lmo s tp a r a l le l g u l l ie s [ 5 068 ] , a nd [ 5 070 ] , w e re i d en t if i ed ( F i gu r e 2 3 ) . T he se c onve rg ing l i nea r g u l l ie s r a n n o r th -ea s t t o s ou th -we s t f r om t h e n o r ther n e xcava t ion l i m i t f o r c . 1 5m u n t i l t h ey w e r e t r unca t ed b y t h e s t ra t ig raph ica l ly l a t e r l a rge c i r cu la r p i t [ 5 044 ] . G u l ly [ 5 070 ] m ea su r ed 0 . 50m w ide b y 0 . 16m d eep ,

T he l a s tf e a tu r er e co rded f r om t h ep i pe t rench w a s al i nea rU s h ap ed d i t ch w h ich w a s a l igned n o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t m ea su r ing 1 . 46m w ide b y0 . 69m d eep [ 1 043 ] . A l l o ft h e a bove f e a tu r e s w i th t h e e xcep t ion o ft h e p o s s ib le e nc lo su r ea nd [ 1 020 ]m ay r e la te t oa nc ien tf i e ld s y s t em s . 4 1

h av ing ad i s t inc t ly c oncave p rof i le , w h i l s t [ 5 068 ] m ea su r ed 0 . 45m w ide b y 0 . 12m d eep , h av ing i regu la r s i d e s a nd a c oncave b o t tom . L oca t ed b e tween T L 4 705044400 a nd T L4 707544400 w a s a n a r ea w i th an umbe r o fp o s t h o le s , ( F igu r e2 3 ) . T he f i r s t o ft h e se a ppea red t ob ei s o la t ed a nd w a sc i r cu la ri np l an ,w i th s l op ing s i de s a nd a r o unded b a se , m ea su r ing 0 . 38m i n d i ame te rb y0 . 12m d eep [ 5 031 ] .

L oca ted c .8 m e a s t o ft h i s h o r se sho e s haped f e a tu r e w a s a l a rge p i tw i th ad i ame te ro fl m a nd ad ep th o f0 . 50m [ 5 103 ] . T h i s p i t h ad s t eep ly s l op ing s i d e s c u lm ina t ing i n ag en t le c oncave b o t tom . I ta ppea r s t o h ave a c commoda ted a l a rge t imbe r u p r igh t , w h ich a t s ome s t age s e ems t o h ave b een r e p laced o r r e se t , i d en t if i ed b y t h e p a r t ia l r e -cu t t ing o ft h e f e a tu r eu t i l i s ing t h e s ame s ou the rn e dge ; p r e sumab ly i no rde r t oa c commoda te an ew p o s t[ 5 107 ] . A l so r e co rded w i th in t h i s g ene ra l l o ca l i ty w a s a n e pheme ra l l i nea r g u l ly a l igned n o r th -we s t / sou th -ea s t [ 5 064 ] . Whe r e v i s ib le i tm ea su red 0 . 75m w ide b y 0 . 10m d eep , a nd h ad s l op ing s i de sa nd af l a tb a se .

O ft h e m a in c oncen t ra t ion o f s i x p o s t -ho le s l o ca t ed i nt h i s a r ea , i t i s n o t iceab le t h a t b a sed o n s i z e t h ey c an b e s ubd iv id ed i n to t wo d i s t inc t g roup s . P o s t -ho le s [ 5 033 ] , [ 5 00 1 ] , a nd [ 5 028 ] , w e r e o f a ve rage d i ame t e r 0 . 73m b y 0 . 20m d eep , w h i l s t [ 5 022 ] , [ 5 024 ] a nd [ 5 026 ] , w e r e o f a ve rage d i ame t e r 0 . 32m b y 0 . 15m d eep . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t b o th g r oup s o fp o s t -ho le s f o rmed p a r t o f as t r uc tu r e b u t t h e l a ck o f ac ohe r en t p a t t e rn a nd a s so c ia t ed s t ruc tu r a l e v idence n ega t e si n t e rp r e ta t ion .

S i tua ted d i r ec t ly 8 m d ue s ou th o ft h ei n t e r se c t ion p o in to ft h e t wo l i nea r f e a tu re s [ 5 064 ] a nd [ 1 036 ] , a n i regu la r s haped s ha l low p i t w a s i d en t if ied [ 5 004 ] . T h i s p i t w a s o va l i np l an m ea su r ing c .2 . 10 m b y 1 . 10m b y 0 . 15 t o0 . 20m i nd ep th , w i th g en t ly s l op ing s i d e s c u lm ina t ing i n a n u neven b a se . C u l tu r a l m a t e r ia l r e cove r ed f r om t h i s p i t m ay s ugge s t t h a t i t w a sr e -u sed a s ar ubb i sh d ump .

T he f i na l p o s t -ho le a ga i n a ppea r s t o b e i s o la t ed , a nd w a s c i r cu la ri np l an w i th s t eep s i de s a nd af l a tb o t tom , m ea su r ing 0 . 30m i nd i ame te rb y0 . 11m d eep [ 5 04 1 ] .

C lo se t o t h e s ou ther n s e c t ion l i m i t al a rg e p i t w a s l o ca ted [ 5 040 ] . T he ma in c ha ra c t e r i s t ic s o ft h i s p i t w e r e ac on ica l mou th , w i th s i de s t a pe r ing i n a ta n a ng le o f c .4 5 ° , f o r a d i s tance o f0 . 15m t of o rm an eck , c . 1m i nd i ame te r . F rom t h i sp o in tt h ew a l l so ft h ep i tw e r es l igh t ly u nde r cu tt o am id p o in t o f0 . 75m d eep , w he r e u pon t h e w a l l s t h en b owed i n a ga in t o m ee t af l a t b a se g i v ing t h e d i s t inc t ly B ee -h ive p rof i le ,a l be i tp a r t ia l ly c o l lap sed . I th ad ad i ame t e ro f1 . 50 m a nd ad ep th o f1 . 20 m .

T he n ex t g roup o f f e a tu r e s i d en t i f ied w e r e l o ca ted a tt h e e x t reme s ou t he rn e xcava t ion e dge b e tween T L ,4 707544400 a nd T L 4 7 12044425 , a nd i n c lude s ag r oup o fs i x p o s t -ho le s a nd as ma l l l i nea r g u l ly . T he s i x c i r cu la r p o s t -ho le s [ 5 020 ] , [ 5 0 14 ] , [ 5 0 10 ] , [ 5 012 ] , [ 5 088 ] , a nd [ 5 022 ] , h ad a n a ve rage d i ame t e ro f0 . 36m a nd a na ve rage d ep th o f0 . 12m . T he l i nea r g u l ly w a s a l igned n o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t , a nd w a s 0 . 44m w ide b y 0 . 12m d eep , w i th s l op ing s i d e s a nd ar o unded b a se [ 5 006 ] .

T he n ex tg roup o ff e a tu r e se ncoun te r ed w i th in t h i s a r ea w e re as e r ie s o f i n te r -cu t t ing p i t s , w h ich m ay r e p re sen t e i the r q ua r r ie s o r ac ommuna l a r ea d e s igna ted f o r t h e p u rpo se o f d ump ing r ubb i sh .

A l l o f t h e a bove p o s t -ho le s a l though s t r uc tu ra l i n m o rpho logy a ppea rt ob ea rn o a ppa r en t s pa t ia l o rc on tex tua l r e la t ion sh ip t o e a ch o t he r . I ti sp o s s ib le t h a t s ome o ft h e p o s t -ho le sm ay r e p r e sen t at h r ee , f o u ro rf i ve p o s t s t r uc tu re , h owev e r t h e c on s t ra in t s o ft h e e xcava t ion m ean t h a t t h e se f e a tu r e s c an n o t b e f u l ly i n te rp r e t ed . T he l i nea r f e a tu r e r e co rded f r om t h i s a r ea p r obab ly r e p r e sen t s a n a nc ien t f i e ld b ounda ry .

S t ra t ig raph ica l ly t h e r e la t ion sh ip s a r e v e ry c omp l ica ted a nd t h e s e quence o f u sage c an o n ly b e d i s ce rned t h rough t wo s e pa ra t e c on tex t s ( [ 5052 ] a nd [ 5 062 ] ) . I n p l an t h e f i r s t r e cogn i sab le a r chaeo log ica l h o r izon i d en t if ied w a s as ma l l l i nea r g u l ly a l igned n o r th -ea s t [ 5 050 ] . T h i s f e a tu r e w a s c . 3m l o ng , w he r e v i s ib le , b u t w a s o b scu r ed b y t h e s ou ther n e xcava t ion l i m i t a nd b y t h e a r ea o f i n t e r -cu t t ing p i t s . T h i s g u l ly w he re v i s ib le w a s c .0 . 75m w id e b y 0 . 10m d eep , w i th s t eep s i de sa nd af l a tb o t tom .

T he a r cha eo log ica l f e a tu r e s d i scu s sed i n t h i s n ex t s e c t ion w e re a l l o ca t ed w i th in t h e v i c in i ty o f T L4 720044450 ( F igu r e2 3 ) . T he f i r s t a r cha eo log ica l f e a tu r e i d en t if ied w a s a l a rge h o r se shoe s h aped g u l ly t h a t a ppea r ed a t t h e n o r the rn e xcava t ion e dge a nd r a n i n an o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t d i r ec t ion f o r c . 1 2m , w he r e u pon i ta b rup t ly t u rned a ta n a ng le o f 1 35° t or un s ou th -we s t t on o r th -ea s t , f o r af u r the r 1 2m b a ck t ot h e n o r the rn l i m i t o fe xcava t ion [ 5 084 ] . T he d i s tance b e tween t h e t wo a rm s o f t h e g u l ly , u s ing t h e n o r the rn e xcava t ion l i m i t a st h e l o ng a x i s , w a s 1 7 .40m . T h i s f e a tu r e w a s 1 . 10m w ide b y 0 . 10m d eep , i th ad s l op ing s i de s a nd a f l a t t i sh i regu la r b o t tom a nd w a s i n t e rp r e t ed a s a n e nc lo su r ed i t ch .

D u r ing t h i s s ame p ha se o f a c t iv i ty b u t s t r a t ig raph ica l ly u n -a s soc ia ted w i th t h e g u l ly [ 5 050 ] a n o va l p i tw a s r e co rded [ 5 054 ] . T h i s f e a tu r e h ad g en t ly s l op ing s i de s c u lm ina t ing i n ac oncave b a se , w h ich m ea su r ed c . 1 . 5m i n d i ame t e r b y 0 . 45 m d eep . T h i s f e a tu r ew a st r unca ted b y as e cond l a t e rp i t a l so o va l i ns hape ,w i th ac oncave p rof i le [ 5 06 1 ] . I tm ea su r ed 1 . 3 mi nd i ame t e rb y0 . 60m d eep . I ti sa tt h is j un c tu re t h a t t h e g u l ly [ 5 050 ] a nd t h e t wo p i t s [ 5 054 ] a nd [ 5 06 1 ] c an b e s t ra t ig raph ica l ly r e la t ed v i ac on tex t [ 5 052 ] ap i t w h ich t r unca t ed b o th t h e g u l ly [ 5 050 ] , a nd t h e 4 2

F igu re 2 2 D uxf o rd A l l F ea tu re s 4 3

F igu re 2 3 D uxf o rd F i r s tP ha se F ea tu r e s 4 4

F igu re 2 4 D uxf o rd S econd P ha se F ea tu re s 4 5

F igu r e2 5 D uxf o rd P a r to fG eophy s i ca lS u rvey p i t [ 5 06 1 ] , t h e reby p l a c ing i ts t ra t ig raph ica l ly l a t e r i n t h e s equence o fe ven t s . [ 5 052 ] i s ac i r cu la r p i t c . 2m i nd i ame t e r b y 0 . 45 m d eep , w i th g en t le s i de sc u lm ina t ing i n af l a t t i sh b a se . C on t empo ra ry w i th t h i s s e cond p ha se o fa c t iv i ty ,t wo f u r the r p i t s , s t r a t ig raph ica l ly u n r e la ted t o t h o se a l r eady d i scu s sed , w e re r e cogn i sed . C i r cu la r p i t [ 5 065 ] m ea su r ed c . 1 . 2m i n d i ame t e r b y 0 . 10 t o0 . 40 m d eep . I tw a s s t eep s i ded o n i t s s ou the rn e dge , a nd l e s s s t eep o n t h e n o r the rn e dge , c u lm ina t ing i n af l a t t i sh b ase . T h i s p i t i s p a r t icu la r ly s i gn if i can ti nt h a tp l a ced i nt h ec en t r eo ft h eb o t tom o ft h ep i t w a s ah o r s e s ku l l c ove r ed o ve r w i th a l a rge s l ab o f c oa r se p o t te ry . I nc ompa r i son w i th o t he r s i t e s t h i s a ppea r s t ob e a r e pea ted p a t t e rn o fs p ec ia l ly p l a ced d epo s i t s o f t en w i th h o r se p a r t s i nt h e b o t tom o f p i t s ( Cun l if f e 1 984 ) . T h i s p i t w a s t r unca t ed b ya no the rp i tw i th v e ry s t eep s i de sa nd af l a tb a se , m ea su r ing c .1 . 6m i nd i ame t e rb y0 . 43m d eep [ 5 056 ] .

4 6

T he t h i rd a nd f i na l p ha se o f a c t iv i ty w i t h in t h i s p i t g r oup p rov ide s ac l ea r s t ra t ig raph ic s equence f r om w h ich t h e t wo s pa t ia l ly a nd c h rono log ica l ly d i s jo in t ed l i n e s o ff e a tu r e s c an b e b rough t t o ge the r a nd p l a ced w i th in ac l ea r t empo ra l a nd s pa t ia l f r amewo rk . T h i s w a s d i scer n ed t h rough ap i t w h ich c u t b o th t h e u ppe r f i l l s o fp i t s [ 5052 ] a nd [ 5 056 ] . T h i s l a te r f e a tu r e [ 5 062 ] m ea su r ed c .1 . 5m i nd i ame t e r a nd h ad s t eep s i de sa nd af l a t t i sh b a se. S i tua t ed c .1 0me a s to ft h e se p i t s w a sa ni s o la ted p o s t -ho le [ 5 049 ] w i th s t eep s i de sa nd ac oncave b a se ,m ea su r ing 0 . 85m i nd i ame t e rb y0 . 24m d eep . A bou t 6 . 5m n o r th -ea s t o f t h i s p o s t -ho l e w a s as t o rage p i t [ 5 082 ] , w i th v e ry s t eep s i de s , s l igh t ly o v e rhang ing o n t h e w e s t er ne dg e , a nd af l a tb a se . I tw a sc .1 . 20m i nd i ame te rb y 0 . 70m d eep . A n u ndeco ra ted b one w eav ing c omb w a s r e cove r ed f r om t h i s p i t . S im i la r e xamp le s f r om D an ebu ry a r e l i m i ted t oc on tex t so fc . 50 -400 BC . Whe the rt h ey w e r e a c tua l ly u sed i nw eav ing i su nce r ta in ; i th a s b een s ugge s t ed

t h a t t h ey m ay h ave b een u s ed i np l uck ing w oo l f r om s h eep ( Cun l if f e 1 99 1) .

d i t ch h ad s t eep ly s l op ing s l ide s , f o rm ing aV s haped p rof i le , c ha r ac t e r i s t ic o fm i l i ta ry d i t che s .

L oca t ed 1 2m e a s t o fp o s t -ho le [ 5 049 ] , c l o se t ot h e s ou the rn e xcava t ion l i m i t w a s a no the r l a rge c i r cu la r p i t [ 5 089 ] w i th s t eep s i de s a nd a f l a t b a se , m ea su r ing 1 m i n d i ame t e r b y 0 . 57m d eep . O nt h ee a s t er ne dge o ft h i sp i t as ma l lr e cu tw a s r e cogn i s ed , m ea su r ing 0 . 50m i nl e ng th b y 0 . 25m w ide a nd 0 . 05m d eep , w i th v e r t ica l s i de s a nd af l a t b a se . T h i s f e a tu r e w a s a l so i n te rp r e t ed a sa n h on A g e s t o r age p i t , r e -u sed a sa r ubb i sh p i t .

T he g eophy s ica l s u rvey c onduc ted o ve r t h i s a r ea a sp a r t o f t h e p r e -con s t ruc t ion s u rvey s ugge s t s t h a t t h i s d i t ch w a s p a r t o f amuch l a rge r e nc lo su r e . Magne t ic a noma l ie s r e vea led mo s t o f ac ha ra c t e r i s t ic " p lay ing c a rd" s haped f e a tu r e , w i th t h e a bove d i t ch f o rm ing t h e e a s ter n l i m i t t o i t . When t h e d imen s ion s o f t h e p i pe t r ench a nd t h e k nown a r cha eo logy c on ta ined w i th in i t ,w e re s upe r impo sed o ve rt h ep l an d e r ived f r om t h e g eophy s ica l d a ta i tw a s i mmed ia te ly c l ea r t h a t t h e w e s t er n l i m i t t o t h i s e nc lo su r e h ad b een r e co rded i n t h e p i pe tr ench a s at r unca ted l i nea rd i t ch [ 1 020 ] .

A c oncen t ra t ion o f p o s t -ho le s w a s c en t r ed a r ound 4 725444454 ( F igu r e 2 4 ) . T he se w e r e d ug u nd e r v e ry d i f f icu l t c ond i t ion s o ve rt wo d ay s w h i le v eh i c le s w e r e b e ing d r iven a c ro s s t h e s i t e . I tw ou ld b e s u rp r i s ing i f many mo r e p o s t -ho l e sw e r en o tm i s sed .

T h i s d i t ch w i th i t s d i s t inc t V s haped p rof i le , w ou ld h ave e nc lo sed a n a r ea o f mo r e t h an h a lf ah ec ta r e . A l though n o R oman c amp s a r e r e co rded f r om C amb r idge sh i r e t h e s i z e , s hape a nd t o pog raph ica l r e qu i r emen t s a nd c on s ide r a t ion s f o r t h e s i t ing o f s u ch a c amp w e r e f u lf i l led h e re a t D uxf o rd ( W e lf a r ea nd S wan , 1 995 ) .

Two p o s s ib le s t ruc tu re s a r e r e p r e sen t ed b y t h e se f e a tu r e s . T he f i r s t g roup f o rm a n i regu la r e n c lo su r e S t ruc tu r e A w h ich m ay r e p r e sen t s ome s o r t o f s t ak e b u i l t s t ruc t u r e f o r e nc lo s ing o r c on t ro l l ing l i ve s tock . I t m ea su re s a pp rox ima t e ly 7 . 2m b y4 . 8m .

T he l a s tf e a tu re [ 5 071 ] f r om t h i sp ha se w a s ac i r cu la rs h a l low d ep r e s s ion w i th ag en t le c oncave b a se , m ea su r ing 1 . 30m i n d i ame t e rb y0 . 15m d eep a nd l i ned w i th b ur n tc l ay . T h i sc l ay l i ned h ea r th w a s f i l led w i th ad a rk b rown -b lack s a ndy s i l t , w i th i n c lu s ion s o f b u rn t f l i n t f r agmen t s ( 5 072 ) . T he c l ay s u r round ing t h ee dge o ft h i sf e a tu r ew a sr e ddened /ox id i sed i n a ppea rance , a s ar e su l t o f b u rn ing . E igh teen f r agmen t s o f f i r eba r w e r e r e cove r ed f r om t h e f i l l c onf i rm ing t h e i n t e rp r e ta t ion o ft h i sf e a tu re a sb e ing ah ea r th .

T he s e cond g roup S t ruc tu r e Bm ay r e p r e sen tt h r ee q ua r t e r so f af o u rp o s t s t ruc tu r e w i th t h ep o s s ib le r e p la cemen t o ft wo o f t h ep o s t s . A l so l o ca ted w i th in t h i s a r ea w a s as ha l low p i t w i th v e r t ica l s i de s a nd a c oncave b o t tom [ 5 137 ] i tm ea su r ed 0 . 900m i n d i ame t e rb y0 . 70 t o1 . 30m i nd ep th a nd t owa rd st h ec en t r eo f t h e e xcava t ion , c l o se t o t h e e n c lo su r e d i t ch [ 1 038 ] , w a s a s ma l lp i tw i th u nde r cu ts i d e s , [ 5 146 ] .

D i scu s s ion

L o ca t ed c .8 m e a s t o ft h e e nc lo su r e d i t ch al a rge c i r cu la rp i t [ 5 073 ] w i th s l igh t ly u nd e r cu t s i d e s a nd a c l ay l i n ing w a s r e cogn i s ed . T h i s f e a tu r e m ea su r ed 2 m i nd i ame te rb y 0 . 50m d eep a nd c on ta ined t wo d i s t inc t f i l l s . T he p r ima ry f i l l w a s a r e d -b rown c l ay , w h ich w a s i n t e rp r e t ed a s al i n ing f o r t h e s t o r age p i t ( 5 074 ) , a nd t h e s e conda ry f i l l w a s a d a rk -b rown -b la ck s a ndy s i l t , w i th i n c lu s ion s o f c ha r coa l f l eck s( 5 075 ) . P ha se I Wa sc ha rac te r i sed b yt h r ee f e a tu r e sd a t ing t ot h ef i r s tc en tu ry AD ,n ame ly ad i t ch , av e ry l a rg ep i ta nd ap o s s ib le h ea r th . S t ra t ig raph ica l ly t h e e a r l ie s tf e a tu r er e co rded f r om t h i sp ha se w a s av ery l a rge h o l low /qua r ry s c oop [ 5 044 ] , F igu r e 2 4 . T h i s c i r cu la r f e a tu r e m ea su r ed 1 4m i nd i ame te r b y 0 . 56m d eep a nd h ad s l op ing s i de s c u lm ina t ing i n af l a t b a se . I tw a s t r unca ted o n i t sw e s t er ne dge b ya n Ls h aped d i t ch m ea su r ing 3 . 10m w id e b y I . 10m d eep [ 5 046 ] . T h i s f e a tu re w a s f i r s t r e co rded a t t h e n o r ther n e xcava t ion l i m i t r unn ing i n a n o r th -we s t t o s ou th -ea s t d i r e c t ion f o r c . 1 7m w he r e i tt h en t u rned t o r un i n an o r th -ea s t t o s o u th -we s t d i r ec t ion f o r c . 1 4m w he r e i tw a s o b scu r ed b y t h e s ou ther n s e c t ion . T h i s 4 7

T he e xcava t ion a tP eppe r ton H i l l , D uxf o rd w a s c a r r ied o u t u nd e r f a r f r om i d ea l c ond i t ion s w i th l i t t le t ime f o r d e ta i led a na ly s i so rr e so lu t ion o fr e la t ion sh ip s . H oweve r ,t h ep i pe l ine r ou t e h ad b y t h i s s t age b een s h if t ed s l igh t ly t o t h e n o r th t o a vo id t h e m a in c oncen tra t ion o f f e a tu r e s r e co rded i n t h e g eophy s ica ls u rvey . T hu st h o se f e a tu r e sr e co rded c an b es e en a s p e r iphe ra l t o t h e m a in s i t e a nd a r e p robab ly n o t t r u ly r e p r e sen ta t ive o ft h e f u l l r a nge o ff e a tu r e s a nd a c t iv i t ie s t h a t w ou ld b es e en o ve rt h ew ho le s i t e . T he e v idence r e cove r ed w i th f e a tu r e s r a ng ing f r om s t o rage p i t s , p o s t -ho le s a nd l i nea r d i t che s c oup led w i th t h e e nv i ronmen ta l e v idence s ugge s t s as e t t lemen t d u r ing t h e M idd le I r on A ge ( c6 00 -300 BC ) f ounded o n a g r icu l tu r e , p o s s ib ly w i th a ne mpha s i so np a s to ra la c t iv i t ie s . An umbe ro fp i t f o rm s w e r e r e co rded t h a tp robab ly r ef l ec t a r a nge o ff u nc t ion st h a t m ay i n c lude g r a in s t o rage t h ough n o g r a in w a sr e cove r ed f r om t h es i t e . T he p o s t -ho le s r e co rded c anno tw i th a ny c e r ta in ty b e r e la t ed t op a r t icu la rs t ruc tu r e s . T hey m ay r e la t et oe i the ra g r icu lt u ra l o rd ome s t ic s t r uc t u r e s .

T he s e cond p ha se o f a c t iv i ty r e p r e sen ted b y al a rge p i t [ 5 044 ] a nd a d i t ch [ 5 046 ] w h i ch , b a sed o n a r t ef a c tua l e v idence c an b e p l a ced f i rm ly i n aR omano -B r i t i sh c on t ex t .

T he i n f o rma t ion d e r ived f r om t h e g eophy s ica l s u rvey d a ta s ugge s t st h a tt h i sd i t ch w a sp a r to f al a rge re nc lo su re p o s s ib ly aR oman m a r ch ing c amp .

4 8

P reh i s tor ic , Roman And P os t -Roman P o t tery G av in L uca s

a lway s r e s ta r t t h e n umbe r ing ( e .g . t h e r e i s aM IA Q l a nd a L IA Q l , t h ough t h ey w i l l h ave a d i f f e ren t t y pe s e r ie s n umbe r ) . R oman iz ing a nd i m i ta t ion G a l lo -Be lg ic w a r e s a r e l a be l led w i th aR om f o l lowed b y an umbe r( e .g . R om3 )W i th R oman p o t t e ry , s t anda rd n ame sa r eu s ed w h ich u sua l ly r e f e r s t o t h e s ou r ce w h i le u n sou r ced f a b r ic s a r e p r ima r i ly n amed a f t e rt h e i rs u r f a ce a ppea rance , i . e . g r eywa r e s , w h i te s l ipwa r e , e t c .

S ec t ion I Me thodo logy I n t roduc t ion A l a rge a moun t o f R oman a nd s ome p o s t -Roman a nd p r eh i s to r ic p o t te ry w a s r e cove r ed f r om s e c t ion s a l ong t h e p i p e l ine ; g i ven t h e r e la t ive ly l o ca l i s ed s c a le o ft h e p i pe l ine a nd t h e p robab i l i ty t h a t ag r ea tp r opo r t ion o ft h e s ame w a r e s w ou ld r e cu r a td i f f e r en t s e c t ion s , i tw a s d ec ided t o k eep a r unn ing f a b r ic t y pe s e r ie s f o rt h ew ho le p i pe l ine a si fi tw e r e as i ng le ' s i t e ' . O bv iou s ly s ome f a b r ic s o n ly o ccu ra to ne s i t e , b u t t h e se a r e o u twe ighed i nt e rm s o f q uan t i ty a tl e a s t , b y t h o se t h a t o ccu r o n t wo o r mo r e o ft h e s i te s . E ven w i th t h e p r eh i s to r ic f a b r ic s w h ich o ne m igh t e xpec tt ob e mo r e l o ca l , t h e r e a r e r e cu r r ence s o f ap a r t icu la rt y pe w h ich a l though n o t n ece s sa r i ly f r om as i ng le s ou r ce , a r e i n d i s t ingu i shab le f r om e a ch o t he r b o th m a c ro scop i ca l ly a nd u nde r x 20 m agn if i ca t ion .

i ) C o lou r -t h e c o r e c o lou r i sd e sc r ibed f i r s t , a nd t h en ma rg in s ( i fa ny ) a nd t h e s u rf a ce s . D e sc r ip t ion s a r e b a sed o n s ub jec t ive c r i t e r ia . i ) H a rd ne s s -b a sed o n as t anda rd s c a le o f s of t , h a rd a nd v e ry h a rd ( e .g .s e eO r ton e ta l1 993 :233 ;P CRG 1 992 :12 ) . i v ) F rac tu re -a lway s b a sed o n af r e sh b r eak , a nd a ga in f o l low ing a s t anda rd o f s ub -concho ida l , s moo th , f i ne , i regu la r , h a ck ly a nd l am ina t ed ( O r ton e t a l . 1 993 :235 ; P CRG 1 992 : 1 3 ) .

T he p o t te ry w a sr e co rded b y c on t ex to np rof o rma s h ee t s ; f o r e a ch f a b r ic t y pe , v e s se l p a r t s , f o rm s , s h e rd c oun t , w e igh t , r a d iu s ( o fb a se s a nd r im s ) , e ve s ( b a sed o n t h e p e r cen tage o f r im p r e sen t ) a nd g ene ra l c ond i t ion w e r e n o ted w i th c ommen t si fa ny o nt h ea s semb lag ea s aw ho le ( e .g . d a t e ) .

v )I nc lu s ion s -t h e m o s tp rom inen t i n c lu s ion s t ot h e n aked e ye h ave b een g i v en f i r s t -t h e se m ay n o tn ece s sa r i ly b e t h e mo s t c ommon , b u t u sua l ly t h ey a r e . A ny o t h e r i n c lu s ion s f o l low . I d en t if i ca t ion o f i n c lu s ion s w a s a i d ed b y P ea cock ' s a l go r i thm ( r ep roduced i nO r ton e ta l . 1 993 :236 -237 ; P CRG 1 992 :28 -29 ) . D e sc r ip t ion o f i n c lu s ion s i n c lude s d en s i ty , s o r t ing ( i fi na pp r ec iab le q uan t i ty ) , s h ape a nd s i z e u s ing t h e v i sua l a i d c ha r t s o f We s sex A r cha eo logy r e p roduced i nt h e P CRG G u ide l in e s . A bb r ev ia t ion su s ed :

P o t tery F abr ic s F ab r ic t y pe s w e r e d ef ined a nd s o r t ed b o th b y e ye a nd w i th r e gu la r u s e o f x 20 m agn if ica t ion h and l e n s ; k ey c ha ra c te r i s t ic s n o ted w e r e h a rdne s s , c o lou r , f r ac tu r e , i n c lu s ion s a nd s u r f a ce t r ea tmen t , a nd t h ough t a k en t o ge the r t h ey d ef ine t h e p a r t icu la rf a br i c , i tw a s f ound i np r a c t ice t h a t f o r t h e l e s s o bv iou s o r d i agno s t ic w a r e s ( c h ief ly t h e s andy g r eywa r e s ) , t h e f r a c tu re a nd i n c lu s ion s g ave t h e m o s t i n f o rma t ive m ean s o fd i s t inc t ion . V a r iab i l i ty w i th in at y pe i s a lway s t o b e e xpec t ed , b u t t h e e x t en t t o w h ich t h i s i s t o le ra t ed d oe s v a ry w i th t h ea na ly s t ; my o wn c r i te r ia a lowed f o rm o s tv a r iab i l i ty w i th c o lou r( b e cau se o ff i r ing c ond i t ion s ) a nd s u r f a ce t r ea tmen t ( ma in ly b ecau se o fs h e rd a b ra s ion a nd v e s se lt y pe ) .D e sc r ip t ion so ft h ef a b r ic f o l low ac e r ta in o rd e r :

d en s i ty : r a r e =1 3% , s p a r se = 3 10% , mode ra t e =1 0 -20% , c ommon = 2 0 -30% , v e ry c ommon = 30 -40% ; a bundan t =4 0 -50% . s h ape : A =a ngu la r , S A = s ub -angu la r ,S R =s ub rounded , R =r ounded . s i ze : v e ry f i ne = < 0 . 1 mm , f i ne = 0 . 1-0 .25mm , m ed ium = 0 . 25 -0 .5mm , c oa r se = 0 . 5 1 .0mm , v e ry c oa r se = > 1 .0mm . v i ) Me thod o fm anuf a c tu re -h andmade , w h ee l -f in i shed o r w hee l th rown .

0N omenc la tu re -F ab r ic g roup s a r e r e f e r red t o b o th b y a n umbe ri nt h et y pe se r ie sa nd ac ommon n ame ; i nt h e c a se o f p r eh i s to r ic a nd p o s t -Roman f a b r ic s , t h e c ommon n ame i s b a sed o n t h e a l pha -nume r ic s y s t em r e commended b y t h e P r eh i s to r ic C e ram ic s R e sea r ch G roup ( PCRG 1 992 :27 ) w h e r e t h e l e t te r d eno te s t h e p r ima ry i n c lu s ion ( Q= q ua r tz /qua r tz i t e , S = s he l l , C = c ha lk / l ime s tone a nd G =g rog ) a nd t h e n umbe r ad i f f e r en t f a b r ic t y pe w i th in t h a t g r oup . F ab r ic s o fd i f f e ren t p e r iod s , i . e . M IA , L IA a nd p o s t -Roman , 4 9

v i i ) S u rf ace t r ea tmen t -v a r iou s , e . g . s moo thed , b u rn i shed , s l ipped ,c o lou r -coa t ,g l az ed . T he F abr ic T ype -Ser ie s ? Pre Iron A ge 1 .Q 1

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8 .C 2

b l ack ? i ron s tone ( SR 0 . 5 1 mm ) . H andmade w i th as moo thed s ur f a ce . P ink i sh -o range t o o range -b rown c o r e w i th p a le r b uf f /p ink o r d a rk e r M idd le I ron A ge

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