Fisherwick: The Reconstruction of an Iron Age Landscape 9780860540472, 9781407323046

Table of contents :
Front Cover
Copyright
Table of Contents
LIST OF FIGURES, PLATES AND TABLES
EDITORIAL PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
PART I: THE EXCAVATIONS
THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK183098, 1973 TO 1974
THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK187082, 1974 and 1975
THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK187083, 1975
THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK187080, 1976
PART II: THE FINDS (INTRODUCTION)
IRON AGE POTTERY AND BRIQUETAGE
BAKED CLAY FRAGMENTS AND MUDWALLING
ROMANO-BRITISH POTTERY
MEDIAEVAL AND LATER POTTERY
METAL AND SLAG
STONE ARTIFACTS
WATERLOGGED WOOD REMAINS
THE ANIMAL BONE
SEEDS AND POLLEN FROM SITE SK187082
INSECT REMAINS
PART III: CHRONOLOGY AND DATING
PART IV: THE LANDSCAPE OF THE FISHERWICK AREA DURING THE IRON AGE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDIX 1: CONTRIBUTORS
APPENDIX 2: INDEX OF FEATURES
APPENDIX 3: INDEX OF FINDS
APPENDIX 4: REPORT OF THE CROP-MARK STUDY AT SITE SK187082 AND GLOSSARY OF PEDOLOGICAL TERMS
APPENDIX 5: THE TEST FOR MORAN'S COEFFICIENT OF ASSOCIATION

Citation preview

Fisherwick The Reconstruction of an Iron Age Landscape edited by Christopher Smith with contributionsfrom

P.J.Banks, D.Ebdon, J.R.A.Greig, C.Hayfield, D.A.Jenkins, R.J.A.Jones, E.L.Morris, P.J.Osborne, J.R.Samuels, C.Smith, J.Startin and P.Williams

BAR British Series 6 I 1 979

B.A.R.

B.A.R., 122 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7BP, England

GENERAL EDITORS A. R. Hands, B.Sc., M.A., D.Phil. D. R. Walker, 1\1. A.

B.A.R. 61, 1979, "Fisherwick" © The Indivictual Authors

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 9780860540472 paperback ISBN 9781407323046 e-book DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9780860540472 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library This book is available at www.barpublishing.com

CONTENTS

Page L ist o f f i gures a nd p la tes Ed i tor ia l p reface A cknow ledge men ts 1

I n troduct ion PART I—THE EXCAVATIONS S i te 5K 183098 1 973-4

5

S i te SK 187082 1 974-5 ( i )

I n troduc t ion

( i i )

9

S o ils a nd c rop- marks

1 1

( i i i )

S urveys

1 4

( i v )

Excava t ion o ft he e nclosure d i tch a nd e n trance

1 9

Excava t ions i nt he i n ter ior

2 7

( v )

S i te SK 187083

1 975

3 5

S i te SK 187080

1 976

3 9 PART I—THE F INDS

( i ) ( i i )

I n troduc t ion

4 5

I ron Age Po t tery a nd B r iquetage

4 5

( i i i )

Baked c lay f rag men ts a nd mudwa l l ing

5 9

( i v )

Ro mano-Br it ish p o t tery

6 2

( v ) ( v i ) ( v i i ) ( v i i i ) ( i x ) ( x ) ( x i )

Med iaeva l a nd l a ter p o t tery

6 3

Meta l a nd s lag

6 4

S tone a r t ifac ts

6 5

Wa ter logged wood

7 1

An i ma l b one

7 9

S eeds a nd p o l len

8 1

I nsec t r e ma ins

8 5

PART I H—C HRONOLOGY AND DATING

8 9

PART I V —THE LANDSCAPE OF THE F ISHER W IC K AREA DUR ING THE I RON AGE

9 3

B ibl iography

1 05

Append ix 1—Na mes a nd a ddresses o f c on tr ibu tors

1 11

Page Append ix 2—Index o f f ea tures ( i )

S i te SK 183098

13

( i i )

S i te SK 187082

1 15

( i i i )

S ite SK 187083

1 51

( i v )

S ite SK 187080

1 52

Append ix 3—Index o f f inds ( i ) ( i i ) ( i i i ) ( i v ) ( v ) ( v i ) ( v i i ) ( v i i i ) ( i x ) ( x ) ( x i )

I ron Age p o t tery

1 57

B r iquetage

1 64

Baked c lay f rag men ts a nd mudwa l l ing

1 65

Ro mano-Br it ish p ot tery

1 66

Med iaeva l p o t tery

1 67

S lag

1 69

S tone a r t ifacts

1 71

Wa terlogged wood

1 73

An i ma l b ones

1 81

S eeds a nd p o l len

1 85

I n sec t r e ma ins

1 89

Append ix 4—Repor t o n t he c rop- mark s tudy a nd g lossary o f p edo log ica l t er ms Append ix 5—The t est f or Moran 's c oef f ic ien t o f a ssoc ia t ion

1 95 2 09

UST OF F IGURES , PLATES AND TABLES

F igure

Page

1

F isherw ick a nd i t s r eg ion

2

2

Excava t ions i n t he F isherw ick a rea

4

3

Crop- marks -5K 183098

6

4

Crop- marks -5 K 187082

1 0

5

S urveys a t 5K 187082

1 3

6

Phospha te c a l ibra t ion c urve

1 6

7 P lan o f t he e n trance t o SK 187082

2 0

8

2 3

Excava t ions o ft he e nclosure d itch a t 5 1( 187082

9 The e nclosure i n ter ior a t SK 187082

2 8

1 0

Areas e xcava ted a t SK 187080

4 0

1 1

I ron Age Pot tery

4 6

1 2

I ron Age Po t tery

4 8

1 3

I ron Age Pot tery

5 0

1 4

Br ique tage

5 3

1 5

Baked c lay a nd mudwa l l ing

6 1

1 6

Ro mano-Br it ish a nd med iaeva l p o ttery

6 1

1 7

Querns

6 6

1 8

Rubbers

6 9

1 9

F l in t

6 9

2 0

S p l it p lank s

7 4

2 1

Wooden a rt ifacts

7 5

2 2

S ect ions a t 5K 183098

1 14

2 3

S ect ions a t 5K 187082 ( t he e nclosure d itch )

1 17

2 4

S ect ions a t 51 ( 187082 ( t he e nclosure d itch )

1 21

2 5

S ect ions a t SK 187082 ( t he e nclosure d itch )

1 27

2 6

S ect ions a t SK 187082 ( f ea tures 2 , 5 , 2 21)

1 31

2 7

S ect ions a t S1 ( 187082 ( p its a nd g u l l ies)

1 33

2 8

S ect ions a t SK 187082 ( p its a nd g u l l ies )

1 35

2 9

S ect ions a t SK 187082 ( f ea ture 6 6)

1 37

3 0

S ect ions a t S 1( 187082 ( post h o les )

1 41

3 1

S ect ions a t 5 1( 187082 ( post h o les )

1 43

3 2

S ect ion s a t SK 187082 ( post a nd s take h oles )

1 45

3 3

S ect ions a t SK 187083

1 50

3 4

S ect ions a t SK 187080

1 53

3 5

S ect ions a t 5K 187080

1 55

3 6

K ey t o Betu laceae

1 75

3 7

S ize c lasses o f s o i l s tructure

2 05

3 8

Part ic le s ize c lasses

2 05

PLATE

Page

I Aer ia l p ho tograph o f c rop- marks a t SK 187082, 1 960 I I I I V

S ec t ion t hrough t he e nclosure d itch a t SK 187082

2 13 2 14

The r ound h ouse w i th in t he e nclosure a t SK I8 7082, l ook ing s ou theast t owards t he R iver Tame

2 15

Wooden a r t ifac ts a nd c u tt ing t echn iques

2 16

Table I

Co mpara t ive d ep ths o f t he e nclosure d i tch a t SK 187082, b y s tages

I

F requency d istr ibu t ion o f wa ter logged w ood s pec i mens, w ith c o mpara t ive p o l len d a ta

I I I V V V I V I I

2 1

Rad io-carbon d a tes

7 2 9 1

The n a tura l s o il p rof ile

1 29

S o i l a na lyses

1 30

Chrono logy o f c rop- mark d evelop men t a t F isherw ick

1 99

Observa t ions o f t he e nclosure d i tch a t SK 187082 i n r ela t ion t o a va i lable wa ter ( Av ) a nd c rop a d justed p o ten t ia l s o il mo isture d ef ic i t ( CPS MD )

2 03

ED ITOR IAL PREFACE

T h is r epor t i s c omposed o f t he c on tr ibut ions o f t we lve i nd iv idua ls. T he r o le o f e d itor a s Ih ave e nv isaged i th as c onsisted , c h ief ly , i n t he o rgani sa t ion o f t he p repara t ion o f t he r epor t a nd i n e nsur ing c on t inu ity b etween i t s v ar ious s ect ions .

One o f t he a dvan tages o f av o lu me o f t h is k ind l i es i n t he

d ivers i ty o f s ty les a nd methods o f a pproach t ha t i t may c on ta in , a nd n o a t temp t h as b een made t o i mpose a n a rb itrary u n iform ity i n t hese r espects. T he ma in p ar t o f t he r epor t was b rough t t ogether d ur ing t he w in ter o f 1 977 a nd t he s pr ing a nd s u mmer o f 1 978 . The d esign o f t he r epor t r ef lects t he i n f luence o f Pr inc ip les o f P ub l ica t ion i n Rescue Archaeo logy p ub l ished b y t he Depar t men t o f t he E nv ironmen t i n O ctober 1 975 .

With in t he t erms o f

t ha t d ocu men t t h is r epor t r epresents p ub l ica t ion a t L eve ls I I a nd I V ( D o f E 1 975 .3 ) . The ma in b ody o ft he r epor t , PARTS I IV , i s s een a s t he t ype o f L eve l I V p ub l ica t ion r ecommended . Append ices 2 a nd 3p resen t t he L eve l I I d a ta , wh ich i s o f s uf f ic ien t ly l im ited p ropor t ions f or p ub l ica t ion— much o f i ti n t abu lar f orm—to b e t hough t v iab le . F o l low ing a n I n troduct ion PART Id escr ibes t he a rchaeo log ica l e xcav a t ions c arr ied o u t a t f our l oca l it ies w i th in t he F isherw ick a rea wh i le d e ta i ls o f i nd iv idua l f eatures a re g iven i n a ppend ix 2 . T he f i nds f ro m t he e xcava t ions a re d iscussed i n PART I a nd i nd iv idua l ly d escr ibed i n a ppend ix 3 .

I n PART

I I t he d a t ing e v idence, b oth r e la t ive a nd a bso lu te i s p resen ted a nd d iscussed , wh i le PART I V p rov ides a g enera l s yn thes is o f t he work a t F isherw ick . I nb r ing ing t h is v o lume t oge ther Ih ave worked o n t he a ssu mp t ion t ha t t he ma in o b ject ive o f a n e xcava t ion r epor t s hou ld b e t o g ive a n a ccoun t o f f i e ld work c arr ied o ut . A s ac oro l lary i t was n o t s een a s at ask o f t h is r ep or t t o p resen t ad eta i led r eappra isa l o f s uch ma t ters a s I ron Age s et t lemen t i n L ow land Br ita in , d itched s et t lemen t e nc losures o r r ound t imber h ouses . T hese ma t ters a re r egarded a s more p roper ly t he s ub ject o f r esearch p apers a nd , s o me a t l east , h ave a lready b een t rea ted e lsewhere ( Sm i th , C 1 977a ; 1 978 ) . Here t he emphas is h as b een t o r epor t f u l ly o n t he work c arr ied o ut b oth i n t erms o f t he t echn iques u sed a nd t he r esu lts o bta ined . C onsidera t ion o f r e la ted ma ter ia l i s c onf ined t o t he m in i mu m n ecessary f or a f u l l a pprec iat i on o f t hose t echn iques a nd r esu lts.

C hr istopher Sm ith J u ly 1 978 L lwyn Penddu U cha f , L lan l lech id .

ACKNO WLEDGE MENTS

The c on tr ibutors would l i ke t o e xpress t he ir t hanks t o t he f o l low ing : B lue C irc le Aggregates a nd F .T .H idder ley f or p erm ission t o e xcava te ; t he Depar t men t o f t he Env iron men t , t he Depar tmen t o f C lass ica l a nd Archaeo log ica l S tud ies, U n ivers ity o f N ot t ingha m a nd S ta f fordsh ire C oun ty C ounc i l f or p rov id ing f unds ;

Mr . a nd Mrs . A .G . Ward , S usan Sm ith a nd t he Pr inc ipa l o f

T a mwor th C o l lege o f F ur ther Educa t ion f or mak ing t he e xcava t ions a p ract ic a l p ossib i l ity ; t he w ork .

a nd t o t he many f r iends a nd c o l leagues who p ar t ic ipa ted I n

T hanks a re a lso d ue t o J . P icker ing a nd Prof . J .K .S . S t .Joseph

f or a er ia l s urve il lance a nd t o t he C a mbr idge C om m it tee f or Aer ia l Photog raphy f or p erm iss ion t o r eproduce PLATE I . F igure 1 4 was d rawn b y J ane T i mby a nd f igure 3 6c was c o mp i led f ro m d a ta c o l lected b y Ray Window . The e d i tor w ishes t o t hank h is c on tr ibutors f or t he ir p a t ience a nd f orb earance ; J u l ie Wi lson f or i nva luab le a ss istance d ur ing t he f ina l s tages o f p repar ing t he r epor t ; a nd Prof . B . C un l if fe a nd J ef frey May who b o th r ead t he r epor t i n d raf t a nd made h e lpfu l c o mmen ts . ( The f inds a nd e xcava t ion r ecords h ave b een d epos i ted a t Tamwor th C ast le Museu m) .

ABBREVIATIONS D . o f E . NGR

- Depar tmen t o f t he Env ironmen t

- Na t iona l Gr id Reference

PPS - Proceed ings o f t he Preh istor ic S oc ie ty TVARC - Tren t Va l ley Archaeo log ica l Research C omm it tee .

I NTRODUCTION Chr istopher Sm ith

Th is v o lu me r epor ts o n r escue e xcava t ions c arr ied o ut a t f our s i tes t hrea tened w ith d estruct ion b y g rave l q uarry ing .

I n e ach c ase q uarry ing

f o l lowed q u ick ly u pon t he c o mp le t ion o f t he e xcava t ions a nd t he s i tes a re n ow e n t ire ly d estroyed .

With t he e xcept ion o f t he work a t SK183098 , wh ich was

f unded b y t he D epar t men t o f C lass ica l a nd Archaeo log ica l S tud ies o f t he Un iv ers ity o f N o t t ingha m , t he e xcava t ions r epor ted u pon were c arr ied o u t a s p ar t o f t he p rogramme o f r escue a rchaeo logy o f t he Tren t Va l ley Archaeo log ica l R esearch C omm it tee , ( TVARC) a nd f unded b y t he Depar t men t o f t he Env iron men t . The s i tes a l l l ay w i th in t he c iv i l p ar ish o f F isherw ick i n s outheast S taf fordsh ire , o n t he l owes t g rave l t errace o f t he r iver Ta me .

The Tame i s

o ne o f t he ma jor t r ibutar ies o f t he r iver Tren t a nd t oday d ra ins much o f t he b u i lt-up a rea a round B irm ingha m ( F igures 1 & 2 ) . Ih av e r ecen t ly s u m mar ised e lsewhere t he g eo log ica l a nd g eo morphol og ica l h istor ies o f t he l ower ( Low ) a nd u pper ( Ha ms Ha l l) t erraces o f t he r iver Ta me ( Sm i th , C 1 975a , 2 -5 ) . Un l ike t he Hams Ha l l Terrace t he L ow Terrace was r e la t ive ly u naf fected b y p er ig lac ia l a ct iv ity d ur ing t he f ina l p hases o f t he l ast , Devens ian , g lac ia t ion .

The o n ly f eatures n oted d ur ing t he e xcava t ions

were a s er ies o f s ubso i l h o l lows, a lthough t hese d id g ive r ise t o c ons iderab le c on fus ion u n t i l t he ir t rue c haracter was r ecogn ised af ter r eference t o Evans ( 1971, 3 5-9) .

A lthough t he s i tes a l l o ccup ied t he l eve l a nd h o mogeneous s ur-

f ace o f t he L ow T errace i ti s i mpor tan t t o r ecord t hat a dvan tage was t aken o f v ery m inor f l uctua t ions o f r e l ief , o f ten o f l ess t han h a lf a me tre . SK187082 , where a c ontour s urvey was p ossib le

A t s i te

( f igure 5 ) ,the s et t le men t was

f ound t o o ccupy a s l igh t g rave l ! mo l l wh ich a lt hough r ising l ess t han ä me tre f ro m t he s ur face o f t he t errace may h ave b een s uf f ic ien t t o k eep t he s i te a bove a l l b ut t he most s evere f l oods . I ti s p ossib le t o d a te t he b eg inn ings o f o rgan ised a rchaeo log ica l r esearch I n t he F isherw ick a rea t o t he 2 8 th o f J une 1 960 when Professor S t . J oseph t ook t he f irst a er ia l p ho tographs o f o ne o f t he s i tes c onsidered i n t h is r epor t ( Cambr idge U n iversity Aer ia l Photographs ABN91 a nd 9 2) ( P la te 1 ) .

Regu lar

a er ia l s urve i l lance was ma in ta ined , most ly b y J ames P icker ing , u n t i l t he f i na l d estruct ion o f t he s i tes i n 1 976, a nd a c onsidera t ion o f t he c rop- marks r evea led b y t hese a er ia l p ho tographs f orms a n i mpor tan t p ar t o f a ppend ix 4 . F ie ld a rchaeo logy a t F isherw ick b egan i n 1 968 w i th t he e xcava t ion o f a Ro mano-Br it ish f ar mstead a nd N eo l ith ic s et t le men t (M i les, 1 969) .

A t a bout

t he s a me t ime t he r ecen t ly e stab l ished Tren t Va l ley Archaeo log ica l Research C o mm i t tee b egan r ecord ing i n forma t ion o n s i tes i n t he Ta me Va l ley i n i t s S ites a nd Monu men ts Record .

F ur ther e xcava t ions were c arr ied o ut i n 1 971

C i f 4 .0

-on -Trent •S to e

Nott inghe • Derby

Burton

•

F isher w ick

L ich fi eI d

• Ta m worth -

L e i cester •

• B ir m ingha m v on

0 0 4 0 , . t

2 MA P 1 400

00 0

F ig . 1

F isherw ick a nd i t s r eg ion

2

a t t he s i te o f t he d eser ted Med iaeva l s e t t le men t o f Tymore ( SK187087 ) b y M Harman b ut t hese r e ma in u npubl ished . I n 1 972 F isherw ick was i nc luded , w ith o ther a reas i n t he Ta me Va l ley , i n ad e ta i led s tudy o f t he d eve lopmen t o f t he l andscape f ro m p reh istor ic t imes. The r esu l ts o f t ha t s tudy w ere p resen ted a s ad octora l t hesis i n t he Depar tmen t o f C lass ica l a nd Archaeo log ica l S tud ies a t t he U n iversi ty o f N ot t ingha m i n 1 977 ( Sm i th , C 1 977 1 3) a nd a re t o b e s u m mar ised i n af or thco m ing a r t ic le i n t he Transact ions o f t he S outh S ta f fordsh ire Archaeo log ica l a nd H istor ica l S oc ie ty ( Sm ith , f orthco m ing ) .

A l l s ubsequen t f i e ld work a t F isherw ick h as g rown

p ar t ly o ut o f t ha t p ro ject . A r epor t o n e xcava t ions i n 1 973 a t aM idd le Bronze Age s et t le men t h as a lready a ppeared ( Sm ith , C 1 975a ) a nd r epor ts o n t he o ther e xcava t ions f orm t he s ub ject o f t h is v o lu me . Much o f t he emphas is o f t he work a t F isherwtck h as b een o n a t te mp t ing t o r econstruct t he l andscape d ur ing t he I ron Age . PART I V b e low r epresen ts t he most u p-to-da te s ta te men t o n t ha t t he me t hough s evera l p re l i minary a ssess men ts h ave a lready b een p ub l ished ( Sm ith , C 1 977a ;

1 978) .

The w ide

r ange a nd t he q ua l ity o f much o f t he e v idence r ecovered a t F isherw ick , b acked u p b y a n e x tens ive p rogra m me o f e xcava t ions, f i e ld work a nd t opog raph ic r esearch h as made i tp oss ib le t o g o al ong way t owards f u lf i l l ing t hat o b ject ive . On ly r are ly i s t h is s or t o f p ro ject l i ke ly t o b e p ossib le a nd more o f ten t han n ot i tw i l l c on t inue t o b e n ecessary t o a ssess t he e co logy a nd n a tura l h istory o f p reh istor ic s et t le men ts i n t erms o f t heore t ica l mode ls . F isherw ick , a nd s i tes l i ke i t , s hou ld h e lp t o make t hose mode ls more a ccura te .

3

• S K183147 (TVARC ,unpub l . )

1km

( t )

• S K1851 02 ( M i les ‚ 1969) • SK183 098

SK18708 7 ( TVAR C , u npub l .) • S K 1 87083 S K179082 • • •SK187082 ( Sm ith ,C 1 975) • S K187080

c as F ig. 2

Excava t ions i n t he F isherw ick a rea

PART I-THE EXCAVATIONS THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK183098, 1973 TO 1974 Christopher Smith The site at SK183098 was first revealed in aerial photographs taken between 1962 and 1970 by J K St Joseph and J. Pickering (figure 3). The re­ mains lay approximately O. 5 km south-south-west of the site excavated by Miles (1969). The main elements consisted in a group of three partly over­ lapping, subrectangular enclosures and a pentagonal enclosure lying 50 metres to the northwest. With the enclosures, and partly linking them, were a series of linear features, some of which, being nearly parallel, appear to have de­ limited trackways. This nteresting complex of featu es had been noted by the TVARC as being under long term threat of destruction by gravel quarrying. However, an unexpected change in the quarrying programme, of which the TVARC was given no warning, led to the almost complete destruction of the site by Christ­ mas 1973. When I became aware of the situation in the autumn of that year it was not possible to do any more than record those sections throu h features that could be identified in the quarry face. The sediments recorded in each of the sections examined were essen­ tially similar, consisting of alternating zones of grey, humic sand and coarser yellow /orange sand. The former would appear to represent the formation of a soil horizon within the features in question between phases of Prosion and collapse represented by the latter. Detailed descriptions are given in appen­ dix 2. The most easterly feature was an enclosure of about 45 by 30 metres. The ditch which delimited this area was examined near its northwest comer, and on its southern and eastern sides. All three sections were similar an.d only that on the eastern side feature 1, is recorded here (figures 3 and 22). Although it ls impossible to be certain, the sediments in this ditch and its profile appear to suggest that it is of two periods, the earlier of which ls deeper and narrower than the later. A number of finds were recovered, all from what would be the second period. Two pieces of slag and a rim sherd of black sandy pottery (figure 11) were found in the southern section, while the eastern section included two sherds of Briquetage or Very Coarse Pottery (VCP), a wo-rked flint (figure 19) and some fire cracked stones. The presence of these finds in the ditch suggests occupation within the immediate vicinity. The relationship of this enclosure with those of the south and west was not established but as their plans partly overlap all are unlikely to have been con­ temporary. This enclosure was not integrated into the rest of the system of crop-marks as the others appear to have been and should probably be seen in isolation. 5

a t S K 1 8 3 0 9 8

The enclosure immediately to the west was about 35 by 30 metres and delimited by a ditch. This feature, number 10, could only be examined near the southwestern corner of the enclosure (figures 3 and 22). Only one period appeared to be represented in the section recorded. The uppermost levels surviving included a rich concentration of charcoal and brown silt. In with this were found considerable quantities of burnt clay and a complete pedestal base of an Iron Age vessel (figure 11). It appears that when the ditch had nearly completely silted up domestic refuse collected in the remaining hollow. Although two sherds of Iron Age pottery were found lower down in feature 10 this concentration in the upper levels could indicate a shift of occupation to this part of the site. Neither of these two enclosures appear, on the crop-mark evidence, to have had an entrance, whereas that to the south did. Unfortunately it was not possible to examine any part of this third enclosure. The pentagonal enclosure lay 50 metres to the northwest and was about 40 metres across (figure 3). Two sections of its enclosing ditch were record­ ed, on the northeastern and northern sides; features 12 & 14 respectively, (figures 3 & 22). Neither section showed evidence of more than one period though the aerial photographs did suggest that the northwestern and south­ western sides had been re-cut at least once. The only find associated with the enclosure ditch was a small (2 cm) blade in yellow translucent flint, found in feature 12 (figure 19). A little way north of the section recorded feature 12 came to an abrupt end. This may indicate the position of the entrance to the enclosure, but its other side could not be established. A further feature, number 13, was located inside the enclosure (figure 22). It had not been noted on the aerial photographs and was probably a pit. It was 1. 25 metres in diameter and about a metre deep with a rounded profile. Only the bottom 0.45 metre could be recorded. Pits are very rare indeed on Iron Age sites on the Trent Gravels owing to the usually high watertable. Nothing was found in this feature to suggest tt.s function, its filling being essentially the same as the enclosure ditches. It is suggested that it may have been dug as a water hole and that the grey lenses mark the accumulation of humic material between phases of erosion. DISCUSSION Where the ditches delimiting the subrectangular enclosures on the eastern part of the site could be examined finds were recovered indicating occupation in the immediate vicinity. The contrary was the case with the pentagonal enclosure. If the former enclosures mark the site of the settle­ ment the latter may have had a differe:nt function. Pentagonal enclosures are an uncommon but recurring type of site on the Trent Gravels. No other has been excavated but intensive field walking at several (Smith, 1977b appendix 4) has failed to produce any evidence of settlement. They may have been corralls used in the periodic rounding-up of livestock. The pentagonal shape would have been suitable for this and the association of this site with a system of intersecting trackways supports the suggestion.

7

The ma in t rackway i s t ha t h ead ing n or th t owards a f ord a cross t he R iver Ta me .

Be tween SK183098 a nd t he f ord l ay t he Ro mano-Br i t ish f ar m-

s tead e xcava ted b y M i les ( 1969) .

Th is s i te , w h ich was b u i lt o n to t he t rack-

way , was i n terpre ted b y t he e xcavator a s h av ing a p r i mar i ly s tock r ear ing f unct ion .

The o ther t rack-way h eads west t owards a f ur ther g roup o f e nc losures,

i nc lud ing o ne w i th f ive s ides . The d a t ing e v idence f or t he s i te i s p rov ided b y t he s tra t if ied p ot tery wh ich i s d iscussed b y B anks i n PART I a nd t he a ssoc ia t ion o f s o me o f t he f ea tures w ith t he Ro mano-Br it ish f arm t o t he n or th .

I ta ppears t ha t t he

o ccupa t ion o n t he s i te p robab ly o ccurred d ur ing t he 3 rd , 2 nd o r i st c entur ies BC, b u t s ome o f t he f ea tures, n o tab ly t he t rackways, r e ma ined i n u se f or s evera l c en tur ies a f ter t h is.

8

THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK187082 , 1 974 a nd 1 975 P . J . Banks , R . J . A . J ones a nd Chr is topher Sm i th

I NTRODUCTION B e fore 1 974 a rchaeo log ica l e xcava t ions o n t he L ow Terrace a t F isherwick h ad b een u nder taken o n ly a f ter t he t opso i l h ad b een r e moved b y h eavy p lan t f ro m t he q uarry ;

v iz 1 83098 ( above ) , 1 87087 ( TVARC i ndex n u mber 0 037) ,

a nd 1 85102 ( Mi les , 1 969 ) .

The q uarry mach ines u sua l ly r e moved t he t op

0 .5 - 0 .7 me tres a nd e xper ience a t t hose s i tes s ugges ts t ha t c ons iderab le a rchaeolog ica l i n for ma t ion may h ave b een l os t i n t he p rocess .

I n r ecen t y ears

a t ten t ion h as b een d rawn . t o t he s uper f icia l n a ture o f many p o ten t ia l ly i mportan t a rchaeo log ica l f ea tures ( Gu i lber t , 1 975 2 14-20 ). I n v iew o f t h is i t was d ec ided t o make t he mos t o f t he o ppor tun i ty p resen ted b y t he e ar ly warn ing o f t he d es truc t ion o f s i te 8 1 (187082 a nd t o b o th e xcava te t he s i te b y h and f ro m t he p resen t g round s ur face a nd t o p recede . a l l e xcava t ion b y ad e ta i led s er ies o f s urveys .

The s ta t is t ica l i n for ma t ion g iven i n a ppendix

2s hows t ha t a bou t 9 7% o f t he p i ts , p os t h o les a nd s take h o les l ay i n t he t op 0 .7 m a nd may h ave b een r e moved h ad t he s i te b een mechan ica l ly s tr ipped i n t he u sua l way b y t he q uarry o wners .

I n t he e ven t i t was f ound t ha t t he t op

0 .30 metres h ad b een t horough ly d is turbed b y modern p lough ing a nd d ur ing t he s econd s eason , i n 1 975 , t h is was r e moved f ro m t he a reas t o b e e xcava ted b y a JCB h ired b y t he TVARC .

9

0 25 h a

S K1 87083

t errac4 s carp F

S K187082

R iver T a me

S K187080

t errace c res t

C rop- marks o f I ron Age f eatures , a nd t he a reas

t errace b ack s lope

i nvest igated

f l ood p la in a l luv iu m

F ig. 4 1 0

SO ILS AND CROP- MAR K S R . J . A . J ones

S O ILS T he s oi ls , e xcep t t hose d irec t ly a ssoc ia ted w i th t he a rchaeo logica l f ea tures a t F isherw ick , a re d eveloped i n g lac io f luv ia l o u twash a nd r iver t errace d epos i ts .

G enera l ly t he u pper h or izons ( or l ayers ) c o mpr ise s l igh t ly s tony ( abou t

1 0% b y v o lume ) s andy bar ns , s ton iness i ncreas ing w i th d ep th t o 2 0% b y v o lu me i nt he s ubsoi l where t he t ex ture i s l oa my s and o r s and ( Hodgson 1 974 , 2 3 ). The c hange i n p ar t ic le s ize c lass o ccurs a t b e tween 4 5 cm a nd 6 0 cm d ep th . F a in t mo t t l ing , wh ich i s a pparen t i n t he s ubsur face h or izons , s ugges ts o n ly modera te ly f ree r a ther t han f ree p ro f i le d ra inage a nd t he s o i ls a re c lass i f ied a s g ley ic b rown e ar ths o f t he Arrow s er ies ( Jones , 1 975 ) , a ccord ing t o t he c lass i f ica t ion o f t he S o i l S urvey o f Eng land a nd Wa les ( Avery , 1 973 ). A rrow s o i ls a re we l l s u i ted t o p resen t d ay a rab le f ar m ing , b eing c oarse e nough t o b e c u l t iva ted a t mos t t imes o f t he y ear y e t n o t s i ted f ar a bove t he r iver l eve l t hus a l low ing c rop r oo ts a ccess t o r eserves o f g round wa ter .

They

a re t here fore l ess d rough ty t han f ree ly d rained t hough o therwise s im i lar s o i ls o n t he h igher t erraces . Th is may e xp lain p ar t ly why t he s i te was c hosen f or s et t le men t i n t he I ron A ge . The main l im i ta t ions t o p resen t d ay c u l t iva t ion a nd t he g rowth o f c rops a re t he h igh p ropor t ion o f s tones wh ich a re o f ten p resen t b e low t he s ur face h or izon a nd t he i rregu lar o ccurrence o f l arge masses o f i ron- manganese c e men ted p an , s o met i mes c a l led i mo thers tone f . These f ea tures r es tr ict r oo t p enetra t ion , d i lu te t he s o i l v o lume a nd c ause a bove a verage wear t o machinery.

They must

h ave p resen ted s o me p rob le ms f or t he I ron Age f ar mers a nd t he ir s ucceeding g enera t ions b u t , t o p u t t he s i te i n modern-day p erspec t ive , t he t errace h ere a t F isherwick i s g raded a s C lass 2 s o n t he c urren t s ys te m o f Land C apab i l i ty C lass i f ica t ion ( B ibby a nd Mackney , 1 969 ) . Ab r ief d escr ipt ion o f t he n a tura l s o i l p rof i le i s g iven i n a ppend ix 2 f or c o mpar ison w i th t he d escr ip t ions o f t he e nc losure d i tch s ec t ions . Ag lossary o f p edo log ica l t erms u sed i n s oi l d esc r ip t ion i s g iven i n a ppend ix 4 . CROP -MARKS F or a n umber o f y ears d ur ing t he p er iod 1 960-75 e x tens ive c rop- marks i n NGR 1 km s quare SK1808 i n F isherw ick P ar ish h ave b een p ho tographed f ro m t he a ir b y J . P icker ing , J . K . S . S t . J oseph a nd C . Sm i th .

The marks a sso-

c ia ted w i th t he I ron Age f armstead a t SX187082 were p ar t icu lar ly we l l d eve lo ped i n 1 960 , 1 962 , 1 970, 1 974, a nd 1 975 ( f igure 4 a nd P la te I ) .

Fro m 1 973 u n t i l

t he s i te was l os t f or s and a nd g rave l e x trac t ion i n 1 976, d e ta i led o bserva t ions o f t hese c rop- marks were made f ro m t he g round a s we l l a s f ro m t he a ir , i n c on junc t ion w i th t he a rchaeo log ica l e xcava t ions .

1 1

The o b jec t o f t h is work was

t o i nves t iga te t he f ac tors i n f luencing t he f orma t ion o f c rop- marks a t s i tes s uch a s t h is a nd a r epor t o f t he work i s p resen ted h ere a s p ar t o f a ppend ix 4 . I t s f ind ings h ave a lready b een d iscussed b y J ones ( 1978 ) a nd E vans & J ones ( 1977) .

1 2

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3

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1

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areas

4

3

5

6

7

8

( c )

excavated

iM

1

9

2

5

6

7

Surface f inds; M. med iaeval pottery , I . I ron Age pottery

1 52 .5 2 .5

1 .5

2

2

2

2 .5 2

15 1 .5

2

15

15

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15

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15 1 .5

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2. 5

2525 2

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geophys ical

m OD , a nd

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t he

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5

6

7

va lues , o n

t he

Sch warz(1967 60 )

S urveys a t SK 1 87082

1 .5

25

( d) Phosphate

s urvey ( shaded)

F ig . 5

2

2

252 52

15

12.52.51. 2

2

1 . 52 .5 2 15 15

2

( b ) Contours

2

32 .5 2 2 25 2

s ca le

THE S URVEYS AT 5 1087082 R . J . A . J ones & Chr is topher Sm i th

I n t he S pring o f 1 974 a n a rea o f 8 5 b y 3 5 me tres t hrough t he c en tre o f t he s i te was marked o u t o n t he g round w i th a 5b y 5 me tre g r id ( f igure 5 ) .

The

f u l l e x ten t o f t he s i te c ou ld n o t b e c overed b y t he g r id owing t o a gr icu l tura l o pera t ions i n t he a d jo in ing a reas .

Th is g r id p rov ided t he f ra mework w i thin

wh ich t he f ie ld , s o i l a nd g eophys ica l s urveys w ere c arr ied o u t i n 1 974 .

I n

1 975 t he a rea o f t he g r id was e x tended t wo metres t o t he e as t a nd f our metres t o t he wes t a nd t h is e n larged a rea was c overed b y t he c on tour s urvey .

T he

g r id was p rov ided w i th a s ys te m o f c ar tes ian c o-ord ina tes wh ich f or med a f ra mework f or a l l r ecord ing o n t he s i te .

( CS ).

The c on tour s urvey ( f igure 5 .b ) The c on toured p lan o f t he s i te was p roduced b y t ak ing s pot h eigh ts a t i n ters ec t ions o n t he g r id a nd t hen i n terpo la t ing f ro m t hese c on tours a t 5 cm i n terva ls . The sma l lness o f t he c on tour i n terva l was n ecess ita ted b y t he a l most f l a t n ature o f t he s i te , t he a l t i tud ina l v ar ia t ion w i th in t he e nc losure b eing n o t more t han 2 0 cm a nd t he t ota l f or t he a rea c overed 3 5 cm .

N everthe less , s evera l p oin ts

emerge f ro m a c ons idera t ion o f t he micro-re l ie f o f t he s i te .

F irs t ly , i tc an

b e s een t ha t t he e nc losure was b u i l t a round a sma l l , i rregu lar g rave l k no ll f ro m wh ich t he g round f a l ls a way i n a l l d irec t ions .

Mos t o f t he i n ter ior was

a bove 5 5 .75 m OD a nd i n t wo p laces a bove 5 5 .90 m OD .

S econd ly , t he c on tours

s ugges t t ha t as l igh t t race o f a n e ar then b ank may h ave s urv ived i ns ide t he l ine o f t he d i tch .

Th is was p ar t icu lar ly n ot iceable o n t he wes tern s ide o f t he e nc lo-

s ure , where t he g round d ipped q u i te s teep ly , a nd a lso a t t he n or theas t c orner a nd j us t n or th o f t he e n trance .

N o t race o f s uch a n e ar thwork was f ound d ur ing

t he c ourse o f e xcava t ions b u t t h is d oes n ot e xc lude t he p oss ibi l i ty t ha t i ts urv ived o n ly a s a n a ccu mu la t ion o f t opso i l much s pread b y p lough ing .

T h irdly ,

i t was n ot iceab le h ow t he c o mp lex o f b u i ld ings e xcava ted o ccupied o ne o f t he h ighes t p o in ts o f t he s i te . The f requen t f loods o f t he Ta me make e leva t ions o f o n ly a f ew c en t i metres p oten t ia l ly v a luab le .

( CS ).

The f i e ld s urvey ( f igure 5 .c ) Ap rogra m me o f f ie ld wa lk ing was c arr ied o u t o n t he p ar t o f t he s i te t ha t was a va i lab le i n 1 974 ( f igure 5 ) .

I n a l l 2 975 m 2 were c lose ly e xa m ined , u sing

t he 5b y 5 me tres g r id a s af ra mework f or r ecord ing .

The work was u nder-

t aken b e tween t he 2 1s t o f A pr i l a nd t he 5 th o f J une , a nd t he g round s ur face was c lear o f a l l v ege ta t ion , h av ing b een c he m ica l ly s prayed . I n t he f irs t p lace a l l a r t i fac ts were k ep t b u t modern b r ick , t i le a nd g lass were s ubsequen t ly d iscarded . • The r e ma inder c ons is ted o f f i f ty-two s herds o f p o t tery , t wo worked f l in ts a nd a n i ron n a i l .

1 4

T hese f inds a re d iscussed i nt he a ppropr ia te s ec t ions o f PART I a nd l i s ted i n a ppendix 3 .

T he p ot tery was d iv ided i n to t hree c a tegor ies , p os t- Med iaeva l ,

Med iaeva l a nd I ron Age .

T he q uan t i t ies r ecovered i n e ach c a tegory were

t wen ty-four , f i f teen a nd t h ir teen s herds r espec t ive ly a nd a re f e l t t o b e t oo sma l l f or w or thwh i le s ta t is t ica l a na lys is .

The ir d is tr ibu t ions a re p lo t ted i n f igure

5a nd i ts ee ms r easonab le t o r egard t he m a s r ando m . I ft he s i te h ad r e ma ined u nexcava ted t he t h ir teen I ron Age s herds a nd t he a bsence o f R o mano-Br i t ish ma ter ia l wou ld h ave b een s uf f icien t t o d a te t he c rop- marks a t S I( 187082 t o t he l a te i s t mi l lenn ium B .C.

( CS ).

T he s o i l s urveys ( f igure 5 .d ) Two s o i l s a mp les were t aken f ro m t he c en tre o f e ach g r id s quare , a pprox ima te ly 1 25 cm a par t , a nd mixed .

The s amp les were t aken f ro m 2 5 cm d epth ,

u s ing a s crew a uger , t hus a vo id ing r ecen t c oncen tra t ions o f p hospha te ( f ert i l is ers e tc .) . E ach s a mp le was t es ted u s ing t he method o f S chwarz ( 1967 ) , b ased o n t he d eve lop men t o f t he mo lybdophosphor ic b lue c o lour b y r educt ion , w i th a scorbic a c id , o f t he p hospho mo lybda te f or med when a c id am mon ium mo lybda te r eac ts w i th p hospha te . F or s amp les a cross t he r ange o f S chwarz 's s ca le , t he f i e ld t echn ique was c a l ibra ted a ga ins t as tandard l abora tory p rocedure i n wh ich t he p hospha te i s e x tracted w i th a s od iu m b icarbona te s o lu t ion ( MAFF , 1 973 ) . The c a libra t ion c urve g iven i n f igure 6 s hows t he methods t o b e i n g ood a gree men t . T he p hospha te c on ten t o f as amp le i s o f ten a u se fu l d iagnos t ic c r i ter ion i n a rchaeo log y ( Cook & H e izer , 1 965 ) a nd t here a re a n i ncreas ing n umber o f e xamp les o f i t s u se i n a rchaeo log ica l c on tex ts ( Clydesda le , 1 975 ;

Ma t t ing ley

&W i l l ia ms , 1 962 ; P rovan , 1 971 ). T he i on i s v ery s table a nd b eco mes a bsorbed t o f ine s o i l p ar t ic les . I ti s t herefore n o t e as i ly l eached i n to t he s ubs o i l a nd h ence h igh p hospha te c oncen tra t ions b elow t he s urface l ayer i n s o i ls a re u sua l ly c aused b y deposition , n a tura l o r o therw ise , o r i n s i tu wea ther ing a nd n o t b y l each ing o r o ther d yna m ic p edo log ica l p rocesses . T he s ta t ist ica l a na lys is o f t he p hospha te c oncen tra t ions s hown i n f igure 5 u s ing Moran 's c on t igui ty c oe f f ic ien t ( append ix 5 ) s hows t ha t t he d is tr ibu t ion o ver t he s i te i s n o t r ando m ( P 0 .0005 ) a nd t here fore l i ke ly t o b e t he r esu l t o f f ormer h uman o ccupa t ion . P hospha te v a lues were g enera l ly h igher w i thin t he e nc losure t han i n t he n a tura l s o i l a nd a d jacen t a reas a nd t he g rea tes t c oncent ra t ion o ccurred i n t he v ic in i ty o f wha t was s hown b y e xcava t ion t o b e t he p r inc ipa l h abi ta t ion . T he pH v a lue o f e ach s ample was a lso measured u s ing a s o i l i nd ica tor c ons is t ing o f b ro mo thy mo l b lue a nd methy l r ed .

The v a lues r ecorded f or t he

a rea o ccupied b y t he e nc losure r anged f ro m s l igh t ly t o modera te ly a c id ( 6 .5 t o 5 .5 ) , b u t more a c id c ond i t ions ( pH 4 .5 ) e x is ted o u ts ide t he e nc losure t o t he n or th .

The d is tr ibu t ion o f pH v a lues d id n o t c orro la te i n a ny way w i th t he

b ur ied f ea tures .

A s ab ody o f d a ta h owever , t hey d o e xp lain t he a bsence o f

b one o n t he s i te , e xcept i nt he wa ter logged d epos i ts .

( RJAJ a nd C S )

The g eophysica l s urvey Ap ro tonrnagne to me ter s urvey was c arr ied o u t o np ar t o f t he s i te i n J une 1 5

1 6

1 974 b y Dr . P . S trange o f t he Un ivers i ty o f N o t t ingha m .

The a rea c overed

r epresen ted a bou t h a l f t he i n ter ior o f t he e nc losure ( f igure 5 b ) . a noma l ies were r ecorded .

N o s ign i f ican t

( CS )

S UM MARY I ti s i mpor tan t t ha t s urveys s uch a s t hose d escr ibed a bove s hou ld b e c arr ied o u t a t a l l s i tes wherever p oss ible , a s ap re l im inary t o e xcava t ion . f ore w or thwh i le r ecording t he ir p rec ise v a lue t o t h is p ro jec t .

I ti s t here-

The c on tour

s urvey p rov ided i n forma t ion a bou t t he s i te c hosen f or t h is s e t t le men t a nd s ugges ted t he f ormer p resence o f a n e ar then b ank o f wh ich n o t race was d isc overed b y e xcava t ion .

T he f inds c o l lec ted d ur ing f i e ld wa lk ing c on f irmed

t he d a te a scr ibed t o t he s i te o n t ypo log ica l g rounds . T he p hospha te s urvey was c arr ied o u t p ar t ly t o t est t he me thod a nd p ar t ly t o a id e xcava t ion s tra tegy. I ti s f e l t t ha t t he e xper i men t was s uccess fu l a nd d e mons tra ted t he s u i tabi l i ty o f t he t echn ique f or s tud ies o f t h is k ind . E ven w i thou t t he e v idence f ro m a er ia l p ho tographs , t he p hospha te d a ta s ugges t t ha t as oi l s urvey o f t he g rave l t errace w ou ld h ave l ed t o t he d iscovery o f t he s i te a nd t he i den t i f ica t ion o f t he c en tres o f o ccupa t ion w i thin i t .

The pH t es ts a nd t he g eophys ica l s urvey c on tr ibu ted

l i t t le e x tra t o t he p ro jec tb u t i ti s f e l t t ha t t hey s hou ld b e t r ied a s a ma t ter o f r ou t ine .

1 7

THE ENCLOSURE D ITCH AND ENTRANCE AREA Chr is topher Sm i th

THE ENCLOSURE D ITCH The I ron Age f arms tead SK187082 o ccup ied a s ubrec tangu lar a rea o f a bou t 5 2 m b y 4 8 m. T h is a rea was e nc losed b y ad i tch 1 92 m l ong , 3m w ide a nd u p t o 1 .75 m d eep . I t s e as tern , a nd p ar ts o f i t s n or thern a nd s ou thern s ides c an b e c lear ly s een i n t he o r ig ina l a er ia l p ho tograph o f t he s i te ( P la te I ) .

A

g ap i nt he d i tch , 3 .5 m w ide , o n t he e as tern s ide p rov ided t he o n ly e n trance t o t he e nc losure . On e i ther s ide o f t h is e n trance t he d i tch t ermina ls e xpanded t o aw id th o f a bou t 4 .5 m ( f igure 7 ) . At o ta l o f 1 9 m o f t h is d i tch was e xcavated b y h and i nf ive s ec t ions , n umbered 1 , 8 4 , 3 01 , 3 05 a nd 3 38 . A s ix th s ect ion , n umber 3 02 was c u t a cross t he d i tch mechan ica l ly . A l l s ix s ec t ions a re i l lus tra ted i n f igures 2 3 t o 2 5 , a nd d e ta i ls o f e ach a re g iven i n a ppendix 2 . C ons iderable t hough t w as g iven t o t he i l lus tra t ion a nd d escr ipt ion o f t hese s ec t ions . I n e ssence t he mater ia l f i l l ing t he d i tch was v ery l i t t le d i f feren t f ro m t ha t i n to wh ich t he d i tch h ad b een c u t , v arying mos t ly i n c o lour , c oarsen ess a nd , i n l ower l eve ls , mo is ture a nd o rgan ic c on ten t .

N ever the less i t

c ou ld a l l b e d escr ibed i n g enera l t erms a s s and a nd g rave l . Boundar ies b e tween l ayers were o n ly r are ly d is t inc t a nd n ever h ad t he s harpness t ha t o ccurs b e tween l ayers o f marked ly c on tras t ing ma ter ia ls .

For t h is r eason

t he d i tch s ect ions h ave b een d rawn w i thou t t he u se o f ar ange o f s tandard c onv en t ions , a nd t he i l lus tra t ions a t te mpt t o g ive a n i mpress ion o f wha t t he s ect i ons a c tua l ly l ooked l ike . One , n umber 8 4 , i s a lso i l lus tra ted b y ap ho tograph ( P la te I ). Wood f ragmen ts a nd b ig s tones h ave b een d rawn n a tura l is t ica l ly a nd v arying d ens i t ies o f s t ippl ing a nd p ebb les a re u sed t o g ive a n impress ion o f t ex ture a nd c o lour . E ach d rawing i s p rov ided w i th a n i n terpre t ive k ey wh ich r e fers t o t he d e ta i led d escr ipt ions i n a ppend ix 2 . E ach s ec t ion i s d escr ibed a rchaeo log ica l ly a nd t hree , n umbers 1 , 8 4 a nd 3 02 , a re d escr ibed i np edo log ica l t erms b y R . J . A . J ones . Ag lossary o f p edo log ica l t erms i s p rov ided i n a ppend ix 4 . S ec t ions 1 a nd 8 4 were e xcava ted i n 1 974 , a nd s ec tions 3 01 , 3 05 a nd 3 38 i n 1 975 . The mach ine c u t s ec t ion n umber 3 02 a lso d a tes f ro m 1 975 , a nd s ec t ion 8 4 was e x tended t hree me tres t o t he wes t d ur ing t ha t s eason . E ach o f t he d i tch s ec t ions s howed e v idence o f i t s d epos i ts h aving a ccumu la ted i n as uccess ion o f s tages , e ach s tage mark ing a s uccess ively s ha l lower c u t t ing o f t he d i tch . The s tages n o ted i n e ach s ec t ion a re n o t n ecessar i ly s ynchronous t hroughou t t he l eng th o f t he d i tch b u t t he f a ir ly c lose c orrespondence i n t he ir a bsolu te d epths makes t h is l i ke ly . I n t he e ar l ies t s tage o f i t s h is tory t he e nc losure d i tch a ppears t o h ave b een c u t t o a n a verage d ep th o f 1 .64 m , o r 5 4 .01 m OD ( Tab le I ) . The v a lues i n t he t able a re c lose e nough t o s ugges t t ha t as tandard measure was u sed , 1 9

i F 355

36 3 15

3 1 60

3 10

• •

306

i ä 3 5 0 9 1. 4

i 12

349

I •

1

3 17

4 ' T T • > ,

3 19

N

1 321 305

• 3 22

•

3 23

0 324

l e

332

326

374 3 27

4325 330

93 78

4 373

381 0

M

342

0

340

348

1I 1 •3 77

i m2 0

S K 1 87082 F ig. 7

me tres

4

F ISHER W ICK P lan o f e n trance t o SK 1 87082

J C W

1 975

TABLE I C o mparat ive d ep ths o f t he e nc losure d i tch a t SK187082, b y s tages S ec t ion

1 8 4 3 01

S tage

D ep th

H eigh t OD

D epth

H e igh t OD

D epth

H e igh t OD

1 .62

5 4.19

1 .42

5 4 .3 9

0 .95

5 4 .8 7

1 .58

5 4 .18

1 .36

5 4 .3 9

1 .01

5 4.75

*

5 4.14

*

5 4 .8 2

*

-

3 02

1 .72

5 4 .0 0

1 .52

5 4 .2 0

0 .70

5 5 .05

3 05

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

3 38 A verage

*

5 3.87

1 .64

5 4 .0 7

* 1 .43

5 4 .3 7 5 4.43

* 0 .88

5 4 .7 0 5 4 .8 4

A l l d epths a nd h e igh ts a re g iven i n me tres . * Measure men t n ot p oss ible b ecause o f p r ior t opso i l r emova l *

E xcava t ion n o t c o mp le ted b ecause o f wa ter t able .

p erhaps t he h e igh t o f a man , o r t he l eve l o f t he wa ter t able a t t he t ime. A c harac ter is t ic o f a l l s ec t ions e xa m ined was t he wa ter-logged n a ture o f t hese e ar ly d epos i ts .

I fs u m mer a nd w in ter wa ter t ab le l eve ls were c o mparab le t o

t hose o f t oday t h is i n i t ia l e nc losure d i tch c ou ld o n ly h ave b een d ug i n t he l a te s um mer a nd i t s b o t to m wou ld h ave r e ma ined u nder wa ter f or mos t o f t he y ear . T he l apping o f t h is wa ter a nd t he f luc tua t ions i n i t s l eve l t hroughou t t he y ear w ou ld h ave g rea t ly a cce lera ted t he e ros ion o f t he d i tch s ides , a nd t he a ccu mu lat i on o f t he e roded ma ter ia l i n i t s b o t to m . T h is s tage i n t he h is tory o f t he e nc losure d i tch may n o t h ave b een o f v ery l ong d ura t ion . Rad io-carbon d a tes

h ave b een o bta ined f or t h is s tage f ro m t hree c on tex ts ; 1 , 3 011 a nd 3 05 f f u l l d e ta i ls o f wh ich a re g iven i n PART I I . They s ugges t t ha t t he e nc losure d i tch was f irs t d ug i n t he p er iod s pann ing 4 th t o t he 2 nd c en tur ies B .C. L ayers w i th in t h is s tage

j ,

3 01 j ) w ere s a mp led f or b o th s eeds a nd i nsec ts , a nd f inds

i nc luded wa terlogged wood , a n i ma l b one a nd I ron Age p o t tery .

Fro m t h is •

e v idence i tc an b e a ssumed t ha t t he a rea w i th in t he e nc losure was o ccupied a t t he t ime. The s econd s tage i n t he h is tory o f t he e nc losure d i tch b egan w i th i tb eing r ecut t o ad ep th o f a bout 1 .43 m o r 5 4 .43 m OD . Wi th t he e xcep t ion o f s ect i on 3 01 t he l eve l o f t h is r ecu t i s c ons is ten t t hroughou t t he l eng th o f t he d i tch a nd a nd s ugges ts t ha t as peci f ic d ep th was a i med a t . E xper ience wou ld h ave s hown t ha t t he a l mos t p ermanen t ly we t n a ture o f t he e ar l ier d i tch l ed t o t he r apid e rosion o f t he s ides . Ad i tch wh ich s topped j us t s hor t o f t he wa ter t ab le wou ld h ave h ad more s table s ides , a nd t he d ep th o f t h is r ecu t s ugges ts t ha t t he w ork was c arr ied o u t i n t he s pr ing . A l though s tand ing wa ter wou ld h ave l a in i n t he d i tch f or o n ly t he w in ter mon ths i t s b o t to m wou ld h ave b een muddy a nd d amp f or mos t o f t he y ear . T h is , a nd a c o mpara t ive ly s low r a te o f e ros ion a l lowed 2 1

t he a ccumu la t ion o f s ubs tan tia l q uan t i t ies o f o rgan ic ma ter ia l , e spec ia l ly p lan t r e ma ins . Ar ad io-carbon d a te o f 2 070 + 8 0 b p was o bta ined f or t h is s tage f ro m c on tex t 3 05d , ( c l PART I I ) . Depos i ts f ro m t h is s tage ( 3021 ) were s amp led f or b o th p o l len a nd i nsec ts , a nd f inds i nc luded wa terlogged wood , a n i ma l b one a nd I ron Age p o t tery , i nd ica t ing c on t inued o ccupa t ion w ith in t he e nc losure . T h is s econd e nc losure d i tch a ppears t o h ave s i l ted u p a l mos t c o mp le te ly b efore t he t h ird s tage b egan w i th a f ur ther r ecu t . E v idence f or t h is s tage was miss ing f ro m s ec t ions 3 01 a nd 3 05 a nd i t may b e t ha t t he e nc losure d i tch was n o t r ecu t o n t he n or theas t s ide o f t he s i te . E lsewhere i t was r ecu t t o a n a verage d epth o f 0 .88 m o r 5 5 .09 m OD . T h is d i tch was s ha l low , w ide a nd d ry . O f i t se l f i tc ou ld h ave p resen ted a n o bs tac le t o n e i ther man n or b eas t . b y t h is t ime i th ad b eco me n o more t han a f i e ld b oundary .

P erhaps

The a l mos t t o ta l

a bsence o f f inds f ro m t hese l ayers i nd ica tes t ha t t he e nc losure was n o l onger o ccupied . The o n ly f ind was t he b ase o f aR o mano-Br i t ish v esse l f ro m 3 38a . The r ich g row th o f weeds o n t he s i te o f t he a bandoned I ron Age f arm may h ave a t tracted t he i nhabi tan ts o f an earby R o mano-Br i t ish f arms tead t o c u l t iva te t he a rea . O f t he s even R o mano-Br i t ish s herds f ound o n t he s i te f ive c ame f ro m t he t opsoi l a nd a re s u f f ic ien t t o i nd ica te manur ing a nd b y i mpl ica t ion c u l t iva t ion . A s econd R o mano-Br i t ish p er iod a t t he s i te i s r epresen ted b y as ha l low d i tch wh ich f o l lowed t he s ou th s ide o f t he e nc losure a nd c on tinued o n t he s ame a l ignmen t f or a bou t 8 0 m t o t he wes t ( s ec t ions 1 09 a nd 3 04 ; f igures 8 , 2 3 a nd 2 4 ) , a nd was c lear ly d iscernab le a s ac rop- mark . Th is f ea ture was a f i e ld o r p roper ty b oundary , a nd p erhaps b o th . Ab ase s herd o f a mor tar ium o f i st -2 nd c en tury A .D. d a te was f ound i n t he b o t tom o f 1 09 . A lthough , i ta ppears t o c u t t hrough t he u pper mos t d epos i ts o f t he e nc losure d i tch i t s a l ignmen t s ugges ts t ha t s o me v es t ige o f t ha t f ea ture s t i l l s urv ived . There i s n o e v idence f or t he d a te o f f ea tures 4 a nd 3 43 ( f igures 2 3 a nd 2 4 ) , o ther t han t ha t t hey p os t-da te t he f ina l s i l t ing o f t he e nc losure d i tch . T hey c ou ld b e p ar t o f t he R o mano-Br i t ish a c t iv i ty o n t he s i te , o r b elong t o t he s a me p er iod a s t he med iaeva l s unken h u t ( d iscussed b e low ). BANKS , FENCES AND HEDGES There was n o c lear e v idence a nywhere o n t he s i te f or t he p resence o f a b ank e i ther i ns ide o r o u ts ide t he e nc losure d i tch .

The d igg ing o f t he d i tch

wou ld c er ta in ly h ave p roduced a c ons iderable amoun t o f u pcast a nd t he c on tour s urvey ( page 1 3) r evea led wha t c ou ld h ave b een t he v es t iges o f a n i n terna l b ank a t s evera l p o in ts w i th in t he e nc losure .

L enses o f n ear ly c lean s and a nd

g rave l a re a c haracter is t ic o f a l l t he d i tch s ect ions , b u t i n t wo i ns tances ( 3 01c a nd 8 4d ) t he q uan t i t ies o f ma ter ia l t ha t s l id i n to t he d i tch were r a ther more t han wou ld b e e xpected f ro m e ros ion o f t he s ides .

I n b o th c ases t he ma ter ia l

c ame f ro m t he i ns ide o f t he e nc losure . H owever , a n i n terna l b ank wou ld h ave u sed u p ac ons iderable amoun t o f s pace w i th in t he e nc losure a nd i ti s more l i ke ly t ha t t he u pcas t f ro m t he d i tch was d umped b oth i ns ide a nd o u ts ide t he e nc losure . There was a lso n o c lear e v idence f or f ences a round t he e nc losure .

S take

a nd p os t h o les were n o ted i n s evera l p laces , s e t b ack a l i t t le way f ro m t he i ns ide o f t he d i tch - f ea tures 1 28 , 1 29 a nd 1 30 o n t he n or th s ide , 3 55 , 3 06 , 3 17(2 ) , 3 19 , 3 74 , 3 52 a nd 3 46 o n t he e as t s ide a nd 3 03 o n t he s ou th . 2 2

On ly t hose

f l 4

T

i

84

1M 2

0

4

F ISHERW IC K 1 97 4 /5

SK 1 87082

F ig. 8

metres

Excava t ions o ft he e nclosure d itch a t SK 1 87082

2 3

o n t he n or th s ide were c lose e nough t oge ther t o c onv incing ly s ugges t af ence ( f igures 7 a nd 8 ) .

The s ubso i l o n t he e astern s ide o f t he e nc losure was c on-

f used b y an umber o f n a tura l f ea tures , b u t i f ac lose s e t l i ne o f s take h o les was p resen t s o me p ar t o f i t wou ld h ave b een d e tec ted . The n e ighbour ing s i te t o t he s ou th , SK 187080 d id h ave a c on t inuous p a l isade t rench r unn ing a long t he i nner s ide o f i t s e nc losure d itch ( f eature 1 9 , c f . p ages 1 54-155) .

I ft here

was a b ank o f u pcast ma ter ia l a t s i te SKI 8 7082 a f ence c ou ld h ave b een s upport ed w ith in t h is w ith o n ly a f ew p osts p ene tra t ing t o t he s ubso i l b e low . A s a n a l te r an t ive t o af ence t he e nc losure may h ave b een s urrounded b y a t horn h edge .

The e v idence f or t h is c ons is ts o f f i nds o f wa ter-logged h aw thorn

( Cra taegus monogyna ) a nd b lack thorn ( Prunus s p inosa ) t wigs i n t he e nc losure d i tch d epos i ts .

T hese d epos i ts a lso i ncluded wa ter-logged s pec i mens o f e lder

( Sambucus n igra ) , w i l low ( Sa l ix s p .) , o ak ( Quercus s p .) a nd a lder ( A lnus g lu t inosa ) a l l o f wh ich a re f requen t ly f ound a s s hrubs o r sma l l t rees i n t he h edges o f t he F isherw ick a rea t oday.

Fur thermore , s o me s pec i mens o f a lder

g lu t inosa ) , b lack thorn ( g . s pinosa ) a nd w i l low ( Sa l ix s p.) h ad c lear ly b een d e l ibera te ly c u t a nd were p robab ly h edge t r imm ings . The s eed a sse mb lage f ro m t he e nc losure d i tch a lso i nc luded a n umber o f t yp ica l h edgerow

s pecies

s uch a s b ra mb le ( Rubus f ru t icosus ) a nd woody n igh tshade ( Solo man d u lca mara ) , a nd t he ir p resence c an b es t b e e xp la ined b y a ssu m ing t ha t t he p lan ts i n q ues t ion were g rowing a longs ide t he d i tch .

The e v idence f or f orma l ly l a id h edges h as

b een d iscussed e lsewhere ( Sm i th , 1 978 , 9 8-9 ) a nd i s c ons idered f ur ther i n PART I V .

Al a id t horn h edge wou ld h ave p rov ided a v ery s u i table p er i meter

t o t he e nc losure ,

a nd t he s take h o les r e ferred t o a bove c ou ld mark t he p osi t ions

o f p os ts u sed i n t he e ar ly t rain ing o f t he h edge o r l a ter r epa irs . THE ENCLOSURE ENTRANCE AND ADJC IN ING AREA E xcava t ion o f t he e nc losure e n trance t ook p lace b e tween t he 2 9 th o f March a nd t he 2 0 th A pr i l 1 975 .

An a rea o f 1 92 m 2 was i nves t iga ted , i nc luding b o th

t he e n trance i t se l f a nd a reas o f g round i ns ide a nd o u ts ide t he e nc losure d i tch . Work b egan w i th t he r e mova l o f t he p lough s o i l t o ad ep th o f 3 0 cm b y mach ine . The r es t o f t he e xcava t ion o f t h is a rea was c arr ied o u t b y h and , ( F igure 7 ) . I n a dd i t ion t o t he l eng ths o f e nc losure d i tch o n e i ther s ide o f t he e n trance c auseway t h ir ty-e igh t f ea tures were i den t i f ied a nd r ecorded .

I n i t ia l ly t he t ota l

was h igher t han t h is b u t an u mber o f s upposed f ea tures were r e in terpre ted a s n a tura l h o l lows , p robab ly o f p er ig lac ia l o r ig in .

De ta i ls o f e ach a rchaeo lo-

g ica l f ea ture a re g iven i n a ppendix 2 . The ma in f ea ture i n t h is a rea was t he e nc losure d i tch , a nd t h is was d esc r ibed i n t he e ar l ier p ar t o f t h is s ec t ion . On ly t wo f ea tures a ppear t o b e u ne qu ivoca l ly e ar l ier t han t he d i tch , al arge o va l p i t ( 3 13 ) a nd a s hor t l eng th o f g u l ly ( 380 ) .

L i t t le c an b e s a id a bou t e i ther .

T he f or mer c ou ld we l l h ave b een

at ree p i t a nd t he l a t ter p erhaps a f ie ld b äundary , mos t o f wh ich was o b l i tera ted b y t he e nc losure d i tch . Ano ther g roup o f f ea tures , a l though n o t s tra t igraph ica l ly r e la ted t o t he e nc losure d i tch , a re t hough t t o a n te-da te i t . T he f ea tures i n q ues t ion ( 3 10 , 3 14 , 3 15 a nd 3 16 ) l ay a t t he n or thwes t c orner o f t he a rea a nd c ou ld n o t b e f u l ly i nves t iga ted . Numbers 3 10 a nd 3 14 were b oth c urv ing l eng ths o f g u l ly wh ich i nc luded i n t he ir f i l ls a pparen t t races o f p os t h o les . A ccording ly , b o th a re 2 4

i n terpreted a s p oss ib ly t he wa l l t renches o f r ound b u i ld ings o f r ing-groove t ype , t he a rc o f c urva ture s ugges t ing a d iame ter o f a bou t 5 .5 m i n t he c ase o f 3 10 . N u mber 3 14 was a l i t t le sma l ler a nd a ppeared t o b e s tra t igraph ica l ly l a ter . Bo th t er m ina ted a t wha t may h ave b een a n e n trance , a l though i t s o ther s ide was n o t l oca ted , u n less f ea ture 3 16 c o mp le men ted n u mber 3 14 . F ea ture 3 15 was e ar l ier a nd p robab ly h ad n o th ing t o d o w i th t he s truc tures p roposed . I f o ne o r more r ound b u i ld ings a re r epresen ted b y t hese f ea tures t hey a ppear t oo c lose t o t he e nc losure d i tch t o b e c on te mporary w i th i t , a nd i ft here was a n i n terna l u pcas t b ank t hey wou ld h ave l a in u ndernea th i t .

These p u ta t ive

b u i ld ings , b e ing o f r ing-groove c ons truc t ion , a re s im i lar t o t he e ar l ies t r ound h ouse i den t i f ied i n t he c en tra l a rea o f t he e nc losure .

I ti s t here fore s ugges ted

t ha t t he e ar l ies t p hase o f o ccupa t ion r epresen ted a t t he s i te c ons is ted o f a g roup o f r ing-groove h ouses wh ich were n o t s urrounded b y as ubs tan t ia l e n c losure d i tch . Mos t o f t he o ther f ea tures i n t he a rea a ppear t o r e la te t o t he e nc losure d i tch o r e n trance . The e v idence f or a n i n terna l b ank , f ence o r h edge was c ons idered a bove , a nd t he o n ly r e ma in ing f ea ture n o t a pparen t ly a ssoc ia ted w i th t he e n trance i s t he g u l ly n u mber 3 48 . e nc losure d i tch w i thou t a c tua l ly j o in ing i t .

Th is a pproached c lose t o t he I t was s im i lar i n f or m a nd f i l l t o

s evera l g u l l ies n o ted w i th in t he e nc losure ( c f f ea tures 2 a nd 1 32 ) , a nd , l i ke t he m , p robably s erved t o s ubd iv ide t he i n ter ior i n to a n umber o f c o mpar t men ts u sed f or d i f feren t a ct iv i t ies . The e nc losure e n trance a ppears t o h ave b een a c o mpl ica ted s truc ture a nd c anno t b e c o mp le te ly e luc ida ted f ro m t he e xcava ted r e ma ins .

I n t he f ol low ing

c ons idera t ion f ea tures 3 30 , 3 31, 3 32 , 3 33 , 3 42 , 3 45 , 3 53 , 3 79 , a nd 3 81 a re a l l a ssumed t o h ave b een p ar t o f t he e n trance ; o f t hese n u mbers 3 30 , 3 32 , 3 42 a nd 3 45 a ppear t o h ave b een s ubs tan t ia l p os t h o les , wh i le n u mbers 3 33 , 3 53 , 3 79 a nd 3 81 a re b e t ter d escr ibed a s s take h o les a nd n umber 3 31 a s as ha l low h o l low.

P os t h o les 3 30 a nd 3 42 a ppear t o h ave marked t he o u ter e nd o f a n

e n trance p assage 4 .5 m l ong a nd v arying i n w id th f ro m 1 .75 m t o 1 .50 m . The i nner e nd was marked b y f ea tures 3 33 a nd 3 53 wh i le n u mbers 3 79 a nd 3 81 s tood o n e i ther s ide i n t he m idd le . F ea tures 3 32 a nd 3 45 were a lso s ubs tan t ia l p os t h o les b u t t hey d o n o t s ee m t o h ave b een p ar t o f t he e n trance p assage . There i s n o o bv ious p rac t ica l f unc t ion f or t he m a nd i ti s s ugges ted t ha t t hey f or med e i ther s ide o f a n i n ten t iona l ly i mpos ing e n try , t he 3 .5 m b e tween b eing , p erhaps , s panned b y at imber l i n te l .

The s ize o f 3 30 , a nd t he wear e v iden t

f ro m t he r ep lace men t o f t he p os t a t l eas t t w ice i s t aken t o i nd ica te t ha t i t s upp or ted a h inged g a te .

Af ur ther g a te may h ave e x is ted a t t he i nner e nd o f t he

p assage h inged o n ap os t i n f ea ture 3 53 , wh ich was a lso r ep laced t w ice . F ina l ly , s o me e xp lana t ion s hou ld b e o f fered f or f ea ture 3 31. A s ha l low h o l low , i ta ppeared t o b e mos t ly t he r esu l t o f wear , p robably b y a n i ma ls .

T h is i s

l ike ly i n a n e n trance p assage b u t wou ld b e e xpec ted t o e x tend i t s f u l l l eng th . P erhaps t he p assage c ou ld b e c losed a lso a t t he mid p o in t b y h urd les b e tween f ea tures 3 79 a nd 3 81.

Th is c ou ld h ave p rov ided a u sefu l d ev ice f or r egu la t ing

t he e n tr y o f a n i ma ls t o t he e nc losure , e nab l ing c oun t ing , s or t ing a nd mark ing . S im i lar a rrange men ts were f ound a t t he R o mano-Br i t ish f ar ms tead 2 .0 km t o t he n or th ( SK185102 ) ( M i les , 1 969 , 7 -13 ) , a nd a ppear t o h ave b een u sed i n t he e nc losures i ns ide t he h i ll for t a t Wink lebury ( Sm i th , K 1 977 , 5 2) .

2 5

The r e ma in ing f ea tures a l l l ay o u ts ide t he e nc losure .

Nu mber 3 27 may

h ave b een p ar t o f t he g a te s truc ture a nd n u mbers 3 24 , 3 77 a nd 3 21 c ou ld b e e v idence f or a n e x terna l f ence , a t l eas t i n t he v ic in i ty o f t he e n trance.

No

f unc t ions c an b e s ugges ted f or t he o thers , b u t s evera l may h ave b een f ur ther r am i f ica t ions o f t he e n trance .

2 6

THE EXCAVATIONS WITHIN THE I NTERIOR OF THE ENCLOSURE AT SK187082 Ph i l ip Banks

The o r ig ina l a er ia l p ho tograph o f t he s i te , t aken b y Prof . S t J oseph i n 1 960 ( P la te I ) , r evea led a d ist inct ive c urv i l inear f ea ture t owards t he c en tre o ft he e nc losure . Work ing f ro m t he k now ledge o f p ara l le l e xa mp les w ide ly f ound t hroughou t t he I ron Age i n Eng land t h is was p rov isiona l ly i n terpre ted a s t he l oca t ion o f ar ound h ouse a nd i t was a ccord ing ly d ec ided t o d evote a s ubstan t ia l p ar t o f t he f irst s eason , i n 1 974, t o t he e xcava t ion o f t h is a rea . T he c urv i l inear f ea ture p roved e asy t o l oca te o n t he g round b y i t s r e la t ions h ip t o o ther f ea tures s uch a s t he e nc losure d i tch a nd t he f i e ld b oundary r ecorded o n t he a er ia l p hotograph i n 1 960 a nd s urv iv ing a s ac rop- mark i n 1 974 . I n a l l a n a rea o f a bou t 2 25 m 2 was e xcava ted a nd r evea led t he r e ma ins o f wha t were c lear ly a s equence o f r ound t imber b u i ld ings e ach w ith a n e n trance t o t he s outheast ( f igure 9 ) .

A l l t he e xcava t ion w i th in t h is a rea was d one b y

h and . O f t he t opso i l, wh ich was o n a verage a bou t 0 .4 m d eep , t he t op 0 .3 m h ad b een t horough ly d isturbed b y p lough ing . T h is z one o f p lough d isturbance was r ecorded a s l eve l H , l eve l Ib e ing t he g round s ur face , a nd p roduced a n umber o f f inds o f w ide ly r ang ing d a tes ( append ix 3 ) .

Be low t h is t he r e ma in ing

0 .1 m o f t opso i l, l eve l I I , h ad b een much l ess d isturbed . Traces o f p lough marks, r unn ing i n an or theast-southwest d irect ion , were r ecorded i n t h is a nd c er ta in o f t he f eatures l a ter a ssoc ia ted w i th t he I ron Age s tructures o n t he s i te were f irst n ot iced i n t h is l eve l .

H owever , t he f u l l d ef in it ion o f most s uch

f ea tures c ou ld o n ly b e a ch ieved o nce t he l eve l o f t he g rave l s ubso i l h ad b een r eached .

Recogn it ion o f f eatures was made p ar t icu lar ly d if f icu lt b y t he h ot ,

d ry s u m mer o f 1 974 .a nd b y t he p resence i n many p ar ts o f t he s i te o f n atura l s ubs o i l h o l lows . T hese were o f ten a t f irst t aken t o b e f eatures . Af ur ther a rea o f 9 0 m2 w ith in t he e nc losure i n ter ior was e xcava ted i n 1 975 . Th is a d jo ined t he 1 974 a rea o n t he s ou theast a nd was s e lected b ecause i t was t hough t t o l ay i mmed iate ly o uts ide t he e n trance o f t he b u i ld ing (s) l oca ted i n 1 974 . U s ing t he e xper ience g a ined i n t he p rev ious y ear i t was d ec ided t ha t s ince i th ad p roved i mposs ib le t o d ef ine f eatures i n l ayer l ilt wou ld b e more p rac t ica l t o r e move t h is t o n ear i t s b ase b y mechan ica l means .

T h is work was c arr ied o u t b y a

J CB h ired b y t he TVARC . A f ter t h is p rocess t he s i te was c leaned a nd f ea tures p lanned a nd e xcava ted a s i nt he p rev ious y ear . The g enera l ly d a mper s pr ing c ond it ions a nd t he g reater c lar ity o f t he f ea tures c u t i n to a ma in ly s andy s ubs o i l made work c onsiderab ly more s tra igh t forward . A lthough c ompara t ive ly f ew s tra t igraph ica l r e la t ionsh ips s urv ived t here was s uf f ic ien t e v idence t o s uggest t hat t he f eatures r ecorded w ith in t he a rea e xam ined b e longed t o t hree ma in p er iods o f a ct iv ity . Two o f t hese o ccurred i n t he I ron Age wh i le t he t h ird i s d a ted t o t he med iaeva l p er iod . Wh i le many o f t he sma l ler f ea tures c an n o t c lear ly b e a ss igned t o a ny o f t hese p er iods i t i s l i ke ly t ha t most b e long t o t he I ron Age . 2 7

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F ig. 9

2 8

T he s tra t igraph ica l ly e ar l iest f ea tures r ecorded ( 92 a nd 2 14 ; f igures 9 , 2 6 a nd 2 7 ) a ppear t o b e t he r e ma ins o f ar ound t imber b u i ld ing o f r ing-groove t ype a t l east 9 .5 m a nd p oss ib ly u p t o 1 1 m i n d ia meter .

The t wo f ea tures i n

q ues t ion , b e ing s ha l low g rooves w ith t races o f s take s e t t ings i n t he ir b o t to ms h ave b een i n terpre ted a s p ar t o f t he wa l l t rench o f t h is s tructure .

On ly t he

s ou thern a nd western s ides s urv ived, t he r est h av ing b een d estroyed b y t he r ing-d itches o f t he l a ter s tructures o n t he s i te . However , f ea ture 9 2 d id a pp ear t o e nd o n t he e ast i n as l igh t ly e xpanded t erm ina l a nd i ti s p ossib le t ha t t h is marked o ne s ide o f t he e n trance .

T h is b e ing s o f ea ture 1 19 may mark t he

p os i t ion o f t he o ther s ide , l eav ing a g ap o f 2 .5 m, r a ther w ide f or a s tructure o f t h is t ype b u t c omparab le t o o ther I ron Age h ouses a t L it t le Woodbury a nd P imperne Down .

No o ther f eatures w ith in t he a rea e xcava ted c an w ith c erta in ty

b e a ss igned t o t he s a me p er iod a s t h is s tructure , b u t s evera l p oss ib le c and ida tes e x ist .

F irst ly , t wo h ear ths were l oca ted w i th in t he i n ter ior a nd o ne may h ave

g one w ith t he s tructure u nder c ons idera t ion ( f eatures 6 5 o r 9 3 ; f i gure 9 ) . A lso s evera l s ubstan t ia l p ostho les, p ar t icu lar ly n u mbers 1 20 a nd 1 95 were r ecu t o n a an umber o f o ccas ions .

T he t wo men t ioned l ay o n e i ther s ide o f t he p uta t ive

e n trance a nd wh i le i ti s d if f icu lt t o s ee wha t s t ructura l f unct ion t hey may h ave p er formed t he p oss ib i l ity o f a n e ar ly a ssoc ia t ion w ith t he r ing-groove b u i ld ing c annot b e r u led o u t . L ast ly , t he r ing-d itch ( f eature 5 ) o f t he s ubsequen t p er iod was f ound i n s evera l p laces t o h ave r ep laced a n e ar l ier f eature o f s o mewha t d if feren t p rof i le a nd c harac ter ( f eature 2 21 ;

f igures 9 a nd 2 6) .

Where i ts ur-

v ived t he b ot to m o f t h is e ar l ier r ing-d itch p reserved t he t races o f p ost s et t ings a t 0 .3 m i n terva ls . T hese a re more l i ke ly t o mark t he p osi t ion o f ap a l isade o r f ence t han t he wa l l o f ab u i ld ing . N o s tra t igraph ica l r e la t ionsh ip s urv ived b e tween t he r ing-groove , f ea tures 9 2 a nd 2 14 , a nd t h is e ar ly r ing-d itch , f eat ure 2 21. However , o n t he s outhern a nd western s ides o f t he a rea e xcavated t hese t wo f ea tures r an c oncen tr ica l ly p ara l le l t o e ach o ther a nd i ti s p ossib le t ha t 2 21 marks t he p os it ion o f af ence o r p a l isade e nc los ing t he e ar ly r ing-groove b u i ld ing . Par t o f ar ing-groove b u i ld ing o r b u i ld ings were a lso n o ted e lsewhere o n t he s i te ( f _ . p age 2 5) a nd t he p os it ion o f t hese r e ma ins i n r e la t ion t o t he e n c losure d i tch s uggested t ha t t hey p robab ly a n teda ted i t s o r ig ina l e xcava t ion . From t h is i ti s a rgued t ha t t he r ing-groove b u i ld ings, wh ich were a rch itect ura l ly q u ite d if feren t f ro m t he s tructures t ha t r ep laced t he m , r epresen t ad ist inc t p er iod o f a c t iv ity o n t he s i te a nd o ne wh ich d a tes f ro m b efore t he ma in e nc losure d itch was d ug . T he r ad io-carbon d a tes d iscussed i n PART I I s ugg est t ha t t h is h appened b e tween 4 th a nd 2 nd c entur ies B . C . T he wa l l t rench r epresen ted b y f eatures 9 2 a nd 2 14 was c lear ly c ut b y t he r ing-d itch f eature 5 . Th is r ing-d itch a nd t he o ther f eatures a ssoc ia ted w ith i t a re a ccord ing ly i n terpre ted a s b e long ing t o as econd p er iod o f a ct iv ity , wh ich o ccurred a f ter t he r ing-groove b u i ld ing h ad b een d e mo l ished . T here i s a lso t he p oss ib i l ity t ha t f eature 2 21 marks a n i n terven ing p er iod b ut t races o f t h is were t oo s l ight f or more t o b e s a id . F ea ture 5 d ef ined a n a rea a pprox i ma te ly 1 m i n d ia me ter w i th a g ap o f 5 .5 m t o t he s ou theast , p resu mab ly mark ing t he e n trance .

T he r ing-d itch was

d iv ided i n to t wo p ar ts, t ha t o n t he n or th a nd e ast b e ing much w ider a nd d eeper t han t ha t o n t he west a nd s outh . T he d epos its b etween t he t wo p arts were c ont inuous a nd t here a ppears t o h ave b een n o c hrono log ica l d ist inct ion b e tween 2 9

t he m .

Ra ther i ti s more l i ke ly t ha t t he n or thern a nd e astern s ect ions h ad t o

b e d eeper a s t he d ra inage p rob le m was p robab ly g rea ter o n t h is p ar t o f t he s i te .

T here were i nd ica t ions ( sect ions 5 Ah a nd A j;

f igure 2 6) t ha t t he s ha l lower

western p or t ion o f t he r ing-d itch h ad b een r ecut o n a t l east o ne o ccas ion , b ut t h is n eed h ave b een n o more t han a c lean ing o u t . The b u i ld ing d ef ined b y t h is r ing-d itch must h ave b een s o mewha t sma l ler t han t he p reced ing r ing-groove h ouse . I ts eems r easonab le t o a ssu me t ha t t he p os it ion o f i t s e n trance was marked b y t he p os tho les 1 20 a nd 1 95 a nd t he ir r el a t ionh ip t o t he r ing-d i tch s uggest a b u i ld ing o f a bout 9 m i n d ia me ter o vera l l . T he e n trance p osts a nd p resu mab ly o ne o f t he h ear ths ( f eatures 6 5 a nd 9 3) a re t he o n ly e le men ts o f t h is b u i ld ing t ha t c lear ly s urv ived i np lan .

O ther s truc-

t ura l e le men ts may b e r epresen ted b y s o me o f t he many p ost a nd s take h o les r ecorded w ith in t he a rea d ef ined b y t he r ing-d i tch , b ut i ti s i mpossib le t o s ugg est wh ich .

Th is l ack o f c lar ity i n p lan i s n ot a l together s urpr ising i n v iew o f

t he s uggest ion made b y S amue ls ( PART I , p ages 5 9-60 ) t ha t t he s truc ture a ssoc ia ted w i th t he r ing-d itch may h ave b een mud wa l led . A mass s tructure , s uch a s a mud wa l l a s d ist inct f ro m t he f ra med a rrange men t f ound i n wa t t le a nd d aub s tructures, w ou ld b e q u ite c apab le o f s uppor t ing t he we igh t a nd t hrust o f t he r oof w ithout a ny a dd it iona l s uppor t .

S amue ls ' s uggest ion i s b ased o n

t he f i nds o f 2 .5 k g o f mud wa l l ing w ith in t he d eposits o f t he r ing-d i tch , a nd i f i ti s c orrect n one o f t he f eatures n o ted , a par t f ro m t he e n trance p ost h o les a nd h ear th , n eed h ave b een p ar t o f t he b u i ld ing i n q uest ion .

However , wha t-

e ver t he n ature o f t he s tructure i t se lf , i ti s l i ke ly t ha t t here were s o me i nt erna l p ar t i t ions a nd v ar ious f i x tures o r f i t t ings, a nd many o f t he sma l ler f eat ures r ecorded c an b e a ccoun ted f or i n t h is way . Many o f t he p ost h o les a ppeared t o h ave b een r enewed o n o ne o r more o ccasions a nd s o me o f t he s take h o les may r epresen t s im i lar r enewa ls. I ft he b u i ld ing h ad b een mud w a l led t he w a l ls t he mse lves wou ld o n ly h ave h ad a s hor t l i fe a nd wou ld h ave n eeded f req uen t p a tch ing a nd r enew ing . I t wou ld h ave b een e ssen t ia l t o k eep t hem a s d ry a s p oss ib le a nd i t was p resu mab ly t o f u lf i l t h is f unc t ion t ha t t he r ingd i tch was d ug . There i s l i t t le more t ha t c an b e s a id a bou t e i ther t he r ing-groove o r r ingd i tch b u i ld ings i den t if ied a t t he s i te .

F if teen f ea tures p reserved s o me i nd ica-

t i ons o f t he ir o r ig ina l p osts a nd f ro m t h is i ti s p ossib le t o s uggest t en ta t ive ly t ha t t hree s izes o f t imber were u sed ; v iz : s takes o f a bou t 7 cm d ia me ter , p o les o f a bou t 1 3 cm d ia me ter a nd p osts o f o ver 2 0 cm .

Both t he e n trance

p osts a ppear t o h ave b een o f t h is l a t ter d i mens ion a nd t he t races f ound i n 1 95 s uggested t ha t t he p ost h ad b een s quared-of f . S ix o ther f ea tures a ppeared t o h ave h e ld s haped t imbers a l l o f wh ich c ou ld b e d escr ibed a s p lanks . W i l l ia ms '

s tudy o f t he wa ter logged w ood f ro m t he e nc losure d i tch

( PART I ) h as s uggested t ha t most o f t he s tructura l t imbers u sed were o ak ( quercus s p . )o r a lder ( Alnus g lu t inosa ) . -A s t he o n ly e xamp les o f o ak f ound h ad a l l b een worked , t imber o f t h is k ind may n o t h ave b een g row ing i n t he I m med ia te v ic in ity o f t he s i te b ut h ave b een i mpor ted s pec if ica l ly f or u t i l izat ion . An i n terest ing s ide l igh t h as b een t hrown o n t he l i fe s pan o f s uch b u i ld ings b y O sborne ' si den t if ica t ion among t he i nsects f ound i n t he e nc losure d i tch o f e xa mp les o f Anobiu m p uncta tu m , c o m mon ly k nown a s t he f urn iture b ee t le , ( PART I ) . Th is i nsec t i s s a id t o t hr ive b est i n s easoned t imber t ha t h as b een u t i l ized b y man . 3 0

R ound t imber b u i ld ings o f b oth r ing-groove a nd r ing-d i tch t ype a re s uch c o mmon p heno mena i n t he I ron Age o f L ow land Br ita in t ha t i ti s s uper f luous t o l i st d e ta i led p ara l le ls f or e i ther .

C o mparable s tructures a re e x tens ive ly

i lustra ted i n C un l if fe ( 1974) a nd H ard ing ( 1974) , a nd f or t he Tren t Bas in e spec ia lly i n Cha l l is a nd Hard ing ( 1975) . made f ro m t he F isherw ick e v idence .

Two p o in ts o f g enera l i n terest c an b e F irst ly , t he t imber f ra med r ing-groove

b u i ld ing s ee med t o b e u nequ ivoca l ly e ar l ier t han t he p uta t ive ly mud-wa l led r ing-d itch b u i ld ing . T he a rch itectura l c on trast b e tween t hese t wo b u i ld ings i s c ons iderab le a nd i ti s u n l ike ly t ha t o ne e vo lved f ro m t he o ther . I n f ac t i t a ppears t ha t t he r ing-groove b u i ld ing was d e mo l ished a nd t ha t a ssoc ia ted w ith t he r ing-d itch e rected o n i t s s i te .

A lthough t h is n eed b e n o more t han a t ech-

n o log ica l i nnova t ion i tc ou ld a l terna t ive ly r epresen t ad i f feren t v ernacu lar t rad it ion o fb u i ld ing , a nd i fs o c ou ld d ocu men t t he i n trusion o n to t he s i te o f ap eop le d if feren t f ro m t hose who h ad e rected t he r ing-groove h ouses. H owe ver , i t must b e s a id t ha t s uch a c hange d oes n o t a ppear t o b e r epresen ted i n t he f i nds f ro m t he s i te . S econd ly , t he e v idence f ro m F isherw ick i s o f g ene ra l i n terest f or r a is ing t he p oss ib i l i ty o f mud wa l l ing b e ing a f eature o f I ron Age d o mest ic a rch itecture .

Withou t a n e xhaust ive s tudy o f p ub l ished s i te r e-

p orts, e xcava t ion n ote b ooks a nd f i nds, f ar b eyond t he s cope o f t h is r epor t , i t i s i mposs ib le t o s ay h ow w idespread a p heno menon t h is may h ave b een . F isherw ick i s u n l ike ly t o h ave b een u n ique a nd t he p resence o f mud wa l l ing c ou ld b e e voked a s a n e xp lana t ion a t o ther s i tes where t he e xcava ted r ema ins f a i led t o p roduce a ny c lear s tructura l p lan . T he p ossib i l ity was d e tected a t F isherw ick o n ly b ecause s ubstan t ia l p ieces o f mud wa l l ing s urv ived i n ac o ll apsed s ta te w ith in t he f i l l o f t he r ing-d i tch .

Withou t s uch ma ter ia l t he e xp lana-

t i on p roposed wou ld p robab ly n ot h ave o ccurred t o t he wr i ters o f t h is r eport , a nd i ti s p oss ib le t ha t s uch ma ter ia l h as p rev ious ly b een m istaken f or d aub, wh ich a s S amue ls p o in ts o u t i s q u ite d if feren t , o r n ot i den t if ied a t a l l . The e xcava t ion o f t h is p ar t o f t he i n ter ior a lso r evea led a n u mber o f f eat ures wh ich were n ot d irec t ly p ar t o f t he b u i ld ings. The ma in f ea ture t o t he n or th was a d itch r unn ing o n as l igh t ly s inuous e ast t o west a l ign men t ( f eat ure 2 ; f igures 9 a nd 2 6) . T he p rof i le o f t h is f eature a nd t he i rregu lar n a ture o f i t s b ot to m s uggested t ha t i th ad b een a p a l isade t rench . I tc ou ld n o t b e a scerta ined wha t r e la t ionsh ip t h is f eature h ad t o t he b u ild ings t o t he s outh o r whe ther i tb e longed w i th t he f i rst , s econd o r b oth p er iods o f a ct iv ity i den t if ied . T he ma ter ia l o f i t s f i l l , wh ich i nc luded p ar t o f as add le q uern ( f igure 1 8 ) a nd s evera l s ubstan t ia l p ieces o f I ron Age p ot tery ( f igures 1 a nd 1 8 ) , i nd ica ted t ha t i th ad b een d e l ibera te ly b ack lf i l led d ur ing t he I ron Age o ccupa t ion o f t he s i te . Perhaps i t r epresen ts o ne s ide o f a n e nc losure b u i lt a round t he r ingg roove h ouse . I th as a lready b een s uggested t ha t t h is b u i ld ing a nd o thers l i ke i to n t he s i te may h ave a n teda ted t he d igg ing o f t he ma in e nc losure d i tch , a nd s o a sma l l, p a l isaded e nc losure may h ave b een a n ecessary f eature . I t wou ld f o l low f ro m t h is t ha t i t wou ld p oss ib ly h ave b eco me o bso lete o nce t he ma in d i tch h ad b een d ug , p erhaps a t t he s a me t ime a s t he r ing-d i tch h ouse was b u i lt . A l arge a rea was e xam ined t o t he s ou theast o f t he b u i ld ings o u ts ide wha t a ppears t o h ave b een t he e n trance t o b o th .

Th is a rea was d e marca ted o n t he

n or th a nd e ast b y s ha l low g u l l ies 1 32 a nd 3 58 .

B o th were c on t iguous w ith t he

t erm ina ls o f t he r ing-d itch , f ea ture 5 , a nd t he ir f i l ls a ppeared t o b e c on t inuous,

3 1

t hough 5 c ou ld b e d ist ingu ished b y i t s g rea ter d ep th . t he s a me p er iod a s f ea ture 5 .

These f eatures b e long t o

T hey may h ave b een d ra inage c hanne ls d esigned

t o c arry wa ter away f ro m t he r ing-d itch o nce i th ad r eached a c er ta in l eve l o r t hey may h ave b een t renches f or a f ence o r p a l isade . T he a rea o u tside t he b u i ld ings s ee ms t o h ave b een u sed f or v ar ious d o mest ic o r a gr icu ltura l a ct iv it i es a nd i t may h ave b een n ecessary t o p reven t l i vestock , p enned e lsewhere i n t he e nc losure , f ro m wander ing i n to i t . Much o f t h is o uter a rea was o ccup ied b y as ha l low h o l low ( 367 ) wh ich h ad p robab ly b een c aused b y wear , p erhaps b y h u mans o r p ou ltry .

O ther f ea tures i nc luded a f ur ther h ear th ( 383 ) a nd a t l east

o ne t wo-post s tructure ( 372 a nd 3 66) .

C lusters o f s take a nd p ost h o les may

h ave f ormed s creens . T he ma jor ity o f t he a r t ifacts r ecovered d ur ing t he e xcava t ion o f t h is p ar t o f t he s i te were f ound i n t he t erm ina ls o f t he r ing-d itch .

They a ppeared t o

c ons ist most ly o f r efuse c leared o u t o f t he h ouse o r f ro m t he o pen y ard i n f ron t . The ma ter ia l r ef lects t he a ct iv it ies o n t h is p ar t o f t he s i te a nd c an b e d iv ided i n to d o mest ic p ot tery a nd i ndustr ia l d ebr is . The p ot tery i s d iscussed b y Banks a nd Morr is i n PART I a nd a ppend ix 3 . N one o f t h is ma ter ia l c an b e p rec ise ly d a ted b y a na logy w i th o ther s i tes b ut o n g enera l s im i lar it ies a d a te I n t he 3 rd o r 2 nd c en tur ies B .C . may b e s uggested , a nd t h is a ccords we l l w ith t he r ad io-carbon d a tes o bta ined f ro m e lsewhere o n t he s i te .

The i ndustr ia l

d ebr is i nc ludes o ver 3 .5 k g o f Br iquetage o r V ery C oarse Pot tery ( VCP ) , t hough t t o r epresen t s tages i n t he manufacture , s torage , t ranspor t o r marke t ing o f s a lt .

T here were a lso n ear ly 5 00 g ra m mes o fb aked c lay f ragmen ts, s o me o f

wh ich a ppear t o h ave c o me f ro m o vens a nd o thers t ha t were p ieces o f n ozz les. Me ta l lurg ica l p rocesses were s uggested b y s lag a nd a b roken c ruc ib le . The p ieces o f mud wa l l ing , a lso f ound i n t h is c on tex t , h ave b een d iscussed a bove . Most o f t h is ma ter ia l p robab ly d a tes f ro m t he p er iod o f t he r ing-d i tch b u i ld ing t hough a p roport ion c ou ld b e r es idua l f ro m t he e ar l ier p er iod . T he t h ird p er iod o f a ct iv ity o n t h is p ar t o f t he s i te i s s epara ted f ro m t he s econd b y a n i n terva l o f t we lve c en tur ies o r more , a nd i s r epresen ted b y t he r ema ins o f wha t h as b een i n terpre ted a s a med iaeva l s unken h ut . A s s oon a s t he p lough s o i l h ad b een r e moved a s ub-rectangu lar a rea o f g rey s o i l w ith c harcoa l a nd p ebb les, e x tend ing a pprox i ma te ly 3 .5 m n or th-south b y 3m e astwest , was c lear ly n o t iceab le ( f igure 2 9) .

On e xcava t ion t h is f ea ture , 6 6 , p roved

t o b e as o mewha t i rregu lar h o l low w i th a l terna te l enses o f g rey a nd b rown s o i l c lose ly r ese mb l ing d ecayed t urves. A lso a n u mber o f sma l ler f eatures were d e tected , s o me p r ior t o e xcava t ion s how ing t hrough t he g rey a nd b rown f i l l o f 6 6 ( i .e . 6 7 , 2 52 a nd 2 54) , a nd o thers o n ly a f ter t h is f i l l h ad b een r emoved ( i .e . 2 32, 2 19, 2 56 a nd 2 57 ) . F ea ture 6 6 c ut t he f i l l o f 1 95, o ne o f t he e n trance p osts o f t he I ron Age h ouse, a nd a ppeared t o p ost-da te t he d is man t ling o r c oll apse o f t ha t s tructure . F inds w i th in 6 6 c ons isted o f as herd o f I ron Age p ott ery , 1g o f VCP , af l in t f l ake a nd p ar t o f t he r im o f av esse l i n b uf f f abr ic d a teab le i n t he l oca l s equence t o t he e ar ly 1 3 th c entury A .D . ( f igure 1 6 ; 1 977b 1 74-81) . Two o ther s im i lar p ieces, much l ess a braded t han t he

Sm ith ,

Med iaeva l p o t tery f ro m e lsewhere o n t he s i te , w ere f ound i n t he t opso i l i m med ia te ly a bove t h is f eature , a nd t h is ma ter ia l i s t aken a s p rov id ing t he d a te f or t he f ea ture , t he I ron Age s herds a nd f l in t f l ake b e ing r egarded a s r es idua l . T hese f eatures a re a ccord ing ly i n terpre ted a s t he r e ma ins o f as unken h u t b u i lt p ar t ly o f t ur f a round a t imber f rame . 3 2

The s ta te o f t he r e ma ins a s

e xcava ted wou ld b e a ccoun ted f or i fs o me o f t he t imbers h ad b een r e moved , a l low ing t he t ur f wa l ls t o c o l lapse , wh i le o thers h ad b een l e f t s tand ing t o r o t i n s i tu . I ti s u n l ike ly t ha t t h is b u i ld ing was u sed a s ah ab ita t ion b u t s hou ld r a ther b e r egarded a s as hed i n t he c orner o f af i e ld o r c lear ing i n t he s crub . I n t he 1 3 th c en tury t he a rea f ormed p ar t o f t he manor o f T y more a nd t he n earest k nown s e t t le men t l ay 0 .5 km t o t he n or th ( Sm ith , 1 977b C hap ter 1 4) . There i s d ocu men tary e v idence t o s uggest t ha t t h is p ar t o f t he manor was n o t b rough t b ack i n to c u l t iva t ion u n t i l t he l a t ter p ar t o f t he 1 3 th c en tury ( Sm ith 1 977b 2 29-30) , a nd u n t i l t h is t ime t he I ron Age e nc losure may h ave s urv ived a s al ow e ar thwork wh ich c ou ld h ave p roved a n a t tract ive s i te f or a t e mporary s he l ter . Var ious o ther f eatures r ecorded c ou ld b e long t o t h is p er iod o f a ct iv i ty o n t he s i te , b ut t he o n ly o nes f or wh ich t here a re a ny c lear i nd icat ions a re 2 18 , 2 22 , a nd 2 23 a l l o f wh ich h ad b een c ut i n to t he f i l l o f t he r ing-d itch . S tructures s uch a s t h is a re a c o m monp lace o ccurrence o n s i tes d a t ing f ro m t he A ng lo-Saxon p er iod ( Addy man , 1 972 ; W i lson , 1 976) a nd l oca l p ara l le ls a re p rov ided a t C a tho l me n ear t he c onf luence o f t he r ivers T ame a nd Tren t ( TVARC, 1 974, 9 -10 ) .

T he F isherw ick b u i ld ing i s u nusua l b ecause o f i t s l a te

d a te , t hough t h is may b e d ue t o t he f ac t t ha t most e xcava t ion h as s o f ar o ccurr ed o n s e t t le men t s i tes whereas t he b u i ld ing i n q uest ion was p robab ly n o more t han a c harcoa l b urner ' ss hed o r s w ineherd ' ss he lter .

3 3

THE EXCAVATIONS AT SK187083 , 1 975 C o l in Hayf ie ld

I NTRODUCTION Me mbers o f t he U n iversi ty o f N o t t ingha m Archaeo log ica l S oc ie ty , u nder t he d irect ion o f t he a uthor , were i nv ited t o i nvest iga te a s er ies o f c rop- marks t o t he n or th o f SK187082 .

T he a rea h ad b een s tr ipped o f t opso i l i n a dvance o f

g rave l q uarry ing s o i nvest iga t ion t ook t he f orm o f c lean ing s tr ips a cross t he g rave l s ur face t o l oca te f ea tures i den t if ied o n a er ia l p hotographs. O nce f ound , t hese f eatures were t raced b y f ur ther c lean ing a nd s evera l o f t he ir i n tersect ions were e xcava ted . L im ited t ime a nd man-power a l lowed o n ly a c ursory e xa mi na t ion t o b e made o f wha t w as r ea l ised t o b e ac o mp lex s er ies o f i n ter-re la ted f i e ld b oundar ies . H owever , s uf f ic ien t e v idence was r e tr ieved t o warran t a d iscuss ion o f t he ir n ature a nd p ossib le r e la t ionsh ips. E igh t f ea tures were I den t if ied a nd t hese a re d escr ibed i nd iv idua l ly i n a ppend ix 2 .

T hey a re i l lu-

s tra ted i n f igures 4 a nd 3 3 . T hree p hases were i n terpre ted f ro m t he f ea tures e xam ined a nd t hese a re d iscussed i n t he ir a pparen t c hrono log ica l o rder . PHASE 1 Th is was r epresen ted b y f eature 1 003 wh ich r an o n an or th-south a l ignmen t f ro m n ear t he n or theast c orner o f s i te SK187082 t o t he s ou thern e dge o f t he P hase 2 e nc losure ( c fb e low ) . T h is d i tch was a pparen t ly c ut b y f eature 1 002 a nd was a ccord ing ly t he e ar l iest f eature i n t he c o mp lex . A l though 1 003 l ay p ara l le l t o 1 005 n o r e la t ionsh ip c an b e s uggested a nd i ti s u nfor tuna te t ha t n o d a teab le a r t ifacts were r ecovered f ro m e i ther f eature . PHASE 2

1 002 .

Th is was r epresen ted b y t he r ectangu lar e nc losure f ormed b y f ea ture T he a rea e nc losed measured a t l east 6 0 m e ast-west b y 4 4 m. O n i t s

n or the r n s ide t he f ea ture t erm ina ted a t wha t was i n terpreted a s t he e aste r n e dge o f an or thern e n trance .

Why t h is e n trance s hou ld f ace n or th when t he

s e t t le men t wh ich i ti s t hough t t o b e a ssoc ia ted w i th l ay t o t he s outh c annot b e e xp la ined .

T he f ea ture was s ect ioned a t t h is p oin t o f t erm ina t ion a nd t he

s ha l low s lop ing c ut s uggests t ha t t h is e n trance h ad n o g a tepost f or s hu t t ing o f f t he e nc losure . I ft h is was s o i t migh t i nd ica te t ha t t he e nc losure was a n a rab le f i e ld r a ther t han a p addock .

Ab ase o f ar o tary q uern ( f igure 1 7 ) was

r ecovered f ro m t he b o t to m o f t h is s ect ion , a nd wh i le i t s p osi t ion s o c lose t o t he e n trance migh t s uggest i t s u se a s ap adstone f or a g a tepost t h is c an b e d is m issed f or t wo r easons . F irst ly , i t was a bou t 1m away f ro m t he e nd o f t he d i tch a nd s econd ly , a l though f ound f ace d own i t s a ng le s uggested t ha t i t h ad n ot b een d e l ibera te ly p laced i n p os it ion . 3 5

As ec t ion a cross t he s ou thern

s ide o f 1 002 , a bou t 1 5 m west o f t he i n tersect ion w ith 1 003 , p roduced a s econd q uern s tone , t h is t ime t he b ase o f as add le q uern .

I t was f ound l y ing

f ace d ownwards a bou t 0 .05 m f ro m t he b ot to m o f t he c learn ing t rench . Norma l ly q uern s tones s uch a s t hese m igh t b e a ssoc ia ted w ith d o mest i c l i fe w ith in a s e t t le men t a nd t he ir p resence i nf i e ld d i tches r equ ires s o me e xp lana t ion .

N e ither s tone a ppeared t o h ave b een p laced i n p osi t ion t o s uggest

af unc t iona l p urpose a nd b o th were d a maged t o t he e x ten t t ha t t hey were n o l onger s erv iceab le a s q uerns.

I fd o mest ic r efuse f ro m t he s et t le men t w as

d epos ited , a long w i th manure , o n t he f i e lds r a ther t han b ur ied I n waste p its w ith in t he s e t t le men t e nc losure , l arge d iscarded i t e ms s uch a s t hese q uerns wh ich h ad b een p laced o n t he wasteheaps f or d isposa l may h ave b een t hrown i n to t he f i e ld d i tches d ur ing manur ing s o a s n o t t o h amper t he s ubsequen t c u l t iva t ion o f t he f i e ld . A t s o me t ime a f ter t he c u tt ing o f 1 002 t he r ectangu lar e nc losure t ha t i tf ormed was s ub-d iv ided b y an or th-south d i tch , f eature 1 006 a bu t t ing t he s outhern e dge o f 1 002 a nd h ead ing n or thwards t owards t he n or thern e n trance ( f igure 4 ) . Fro m t h is i t wou ld a ppear t ha t t h is n ew d iv is ion u t i lized t he p ree x ist ing e n trance . T he e astern h a lf o f t h is d iv is ion r epresen ted a n e nc losure a pprox i ma te ly 4 4 mm b y 4 0 m g iv ing a n a rea o f 0 .18 h a .

Wh i le e xa m in ing t he

i n tersect ion o f f eatures 1 002 a nd 1 003 a b ody s herd o f b lack , r educed I ron Age p o t tery was f ound a t t he b o t to m o f t he c lean ing t rench o f 1 002 . Th is s herd, a long w ith t he p resence o f t he t wo q uerns, a l though v ery f l i msy e v idence wou ld f i t ad a te i n t he l a t ter p ar t o f t he I ron Age , a nd p rov ides t he o n ly a r te factua l l i nk b e tween t hese f ea tures a nd t he s e t t le men t t o t he s ou th ( SK187082 ) . PHASE 3 A l a ter p hase o f e nc losure was r epresen ted b y f eatures 1 004 a nd 1 007 wh ich f ormed t he s ou thern s ide o f a n e nc losure s yste m t ha t a pparen t ly u t i l ized f eature 1 006 t o f or m t wo i rregu lar ly s haped e nc losures ( f igure 4 ) . The s ect ion e xcava ted t hrough t he i n tersec t ion o f 1 002 a nd 1 004 ( f igure 3 3 ) d e mons tra ted t ha t 1 004 was t he l a ter f ea ture .

A lthough t he r e la t ionsh ip o f f eature 1 007 t o

1 006 c ou ld n o t b e e xa m ined t hrough e xcava t ion , t he p resence o f t he l i nk ing a rm 1 007a s uggested t ha t i t must b e l a ter ; i fo ne a ccep ts t ha t 1 002 was n ot l i ke ly t o h ave b een c on te mporary w ith 1 007 . Th is r e la t ionsh ip o f 1 007 t o 1 006 a nd h ence 1 002 wou ld s uggest t ha t 1 004 a nd 1 007 w ere p ar t o f t he s ame f ea ture ( f igure 4 ) . With r egu lar c lean ing t he d i tches o f t he P hase 2 f i e ld s yste m may we l l h ave h ad a l ong l i fe . H owever , t he t rans it ion f ro m t he a bandonmen t o f t he Phase 2 f i e lds t o t he f orma t ion o f t hose o f Phase 3must h ave o ccurred q uite q u ick ly t o i nduce t he n ew f i e ld p lanners t o u t i l ize 1 006 . T he r e la t ionsh ip b e tween Phases 1 a nd 2 d id n o t s uggest s uch c on t inu ity a nd a n i nde term inate c hrono log ica l g ap may b e i nd ica ted . D ISCUSSION Phases 2 a nd 3o f t hese f eatures r epresen ted e nc losures o f l and a round t he s e t t le men t a t SK187082 t o f orm f i e lds. T he p resence o f t he q uern s tones

3 6

a nd t he p oss ib ly u nga ted n a ture o f t he Phase 2 e nclosure a nd i t s s ubd iv ions s ugges t t ha t t hey may h ave b een a rab le f i e lds. T h is s uggest ion i s l arge ly c on f irmed b y t he b o tan ica l e v idence f ro m s i te SK187082 . Any s tock e nc losures wou ld b e more l i ke ly t o h ave b een l oca ted c loser t o o r w ith in t he ma in s et t lemen t e nc losure .

T hese sma l l e nc losures w ou ld b e t yp ica l o f t he

r ecen t ly d escr ibed b y T ay lor ( 1975, 1 9-46) .

C e l t ic F ie lds '

O ur k now ledge o f t hese f i e lds o n

t he f l a t ter l ow lands i s n eg l ig ib le a s ar esu l t o f s ubsequen t c u lt iva t ion o r s e tt le men t d eve lopmen t .

T he l oca t ion a nd e xcava t ion o f p ar ts o f as yste m o f

p reh is tor ic f i e lds o n ag rave l r iver t errace i s t herefore o f i n terest , i n s p i te o f t he s can ty n a ture o f t he e v idence r ecovered . T ay lor s uggested t ha t t he s ize o ft hese f i e lds a veraged b e tween 0 .2 a nd 0 .5 h a . T he P hase 2 e nc losure must h ave b een i n e xcess o f 0 .26 h a wh i lst t he e astern s ub-d iv ision was 0 .18 h a . I ti s u n for tunat e t hat i t was i mposs ib le t o r e la te t he P hase 2 a nd 3 e nc losures more p rec ise ly t o d eve lop men ts w ith in t he s e t t lemen t .

3 7

THE EXCAVAT IONS AT SK187080, 1 976 P . J . Banks

I NTRODUCTION The e xcava t ions a t SK187080 were p ar t o f t he p rogram me o f a rchaeol og ica l i nvest iga t ion i n t he a rea o f t he E lford Q uarry o f B lue C irc le Aggrega tes . T he e xcava t ions o ccurred b e tween May a nd J u ly 1 976 a nd i nvest iga ted a n e nc losure a nd r e la ted f ea tures i n t he s ou thern most f i e ld o f t he e x ist ing f ranch ise o f t he q uarry .

Grave l e x tract ion h ad a lready b egun a t t he t ime o f t he e xca-

v a t ion a nd t he s i te was t o ta l ly d estroyed s oon a f terwards. LOCATION AND D ISCOVERY S ite SK187080 l ay a pprox i ma te ly 2 00 m s outh o f s i te SK 187082 , wh ich was e xcava ted i n 1 974 a nd 1 975 a nd was t he s ub jec t o f ap rev ious s ect ion o f t h is r epor t . When i t was a scer ta ined i n m id- May 1 976 t ha t s i te SK187080 was a bou t t o b e d estroyed , i n v iew o f i t s p rox im ity a nd s uper f ic ia l s im i lar ity t o t he s i te a t SK187082 , i t was d ec ided t ha t f ur ther e xcava t ions wou ld b e p otent ia l ly o f c ons iderab le v a lue a nd work b egan i m med ia te ly . A l though t he e x istence o f t he s i te h ad b een k nown f or a n u mber o f y ears ( TVARC r ecord n u mber 0 031) , p r inc ipa l ly f orm a er ia l p hotographs o f t he c rop-marks t aken b y J im P icker ing i n 1 969, i t was o n ly c lear ly r evea led b y as er ies o f p hotographs t aken b y Mr . P icker ing i n J une 1 975, when t he f i e ld was u nder a c rop o fb ar ley . F our p hotographs were t aken , o ne f ro m e ach o f t he c ard ina l p o in ts, a nd t oge ther t hey r evea led a p a t tern o f c rop- marks wh ich c ou ld b e l i nked w ith

t he c omp lex a lready i nvest iga ted t o t he n or th ( f igure 4 ) .

F irst ly , t here was a l i near f ea ture wh ich a ppeared t o p rov ide a western b oundary t o t he c o mp lexes o f c rop- marks a ssoc ia ted w ith b oth SK187082 a nd SK 187080 .

T o t he s ou th o ft he l a t ter s i te i tt urned s harp ly e ast-south-east

a nd c on t inued t owards t he R iver T a me . Two f ur ther c rop- marks l e f t t he l i ne o f t h is f eature a nd r an t owards t he e ast , r ough ly p ara l le l, u n t i l t hey j o ined t he w est s ide o f a n e nc losure , o r r a ther a t hree-sided , s ub-rectangu lar e nc losure , t here b e ing n o e v idence o n t he p ho tographs f or a n or th s ide .

Where

t he t wo p ara l le l c rop- marks j o ined t he e nc losure t here was a b reak , s uggesti ng a n e n trance . T he c rop- marks o f t he e nc losure were t he w idest v isib le o n t he p ho tographs a nd i ts ee med l i ke ly t ha t o n e xcava t ion i t wou ld p roduce a f ea ture o f s o me d ep th . From t he s ou theast c orner o f t he e nc losure a l i near c rop- mark r an o n ac urv ing c ourse t o t he s outheast . F ina l ly , a t t he s ou the r n e nd o ft he c o mp lex t races o f af ur ther r ect i l inear , c rop- mark a d jo ined t he s ou th s ide o ft he f i rst f eature d escr ibed , ( f igure 4 ) .

3 9

Area

A rea

A

Area

B

D 0

me tre s

4

4m 2

P r fnc ipa l

a reas

e xcavated

a t S K 1 87080

1 cw

SK

1 87080

F ISHERW ICK

F ig. 1 0

4 0

1 976

METHOD OF EXCAVATION When t he s i te was v is i ted i n mid- May 1 976 i th ad a lready b een s tr ipp ed o f a l l t opso i l p r ior t o g rave l e x tract ion . Prev ious e xper ience a t s i te SK 187082 s uggested t ha t i t was u n l ike ly t ha t a ny s tra t if ied d eposi ts wou ld h ave r e ma ined i n t he t opso i l . Never the less t he u pper f ew c en t i me tres o f t he g rave l s ur face were a lso l o st b y t he s tr ipp ing p rocess a nd s o me v ery s ha l low f ea tures may h ave b een d es troyed . A l l t he f eatures n oted o n t he a er ia l p hotog raphs were l oca ted o n t he g round ,e ven t hough s o me were r emarkab ly s ha l low . As a r esu l t o f l im ited t ime a nd r esources i t was i mpract ica l t o c onsider t o ta l e xcava t ion a nd t hree , p r i mary , t arge ts were t hus c once ived ; ( a ) t o l ocate a nd p lan a s many o f t he f ea tures a s p ossib le, ( b ) t o e stab l ish a ny r e la t ionsh ips, a nd ( c ) t o e xcava te a s much a s p ossib le o f t he ma in e nc losure d itch . T o t h is p urpose f i ve a reas o fv ary ing s izes were c leaned b y h and : AREA A The j unct ion o f t he l i near b oundary a nd t wo p ara l le l d itches ( f eatures 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , &1 5) , ( f igure 1 0) . AREA B t he j unct ion o f t he t wo p ara l le l d i tches a nd t he s outhwest c orner o f t he e nc losure ( f ea tures 9 , 1 0, 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 6, 2 3 , 2 5 &3 0) , ( f igure 1 0) . AREA C a s ect ion a cross t he s outh s ide o f t he ma in e nc losure d i tch a nd a n a d jo in ing p iece o f t he i n ter ior ( f ea tures 1 4 &2 7 ) . AREA D t he s outheast c orner o f t he ma in e nc losure a nd t he e ast s ide ( f eat ures 1 7 , 1 8 , 1 9, 2 0 , 2 1, 2 2 , 2 4 &2 8) , ( f igure 1 0) . AREA E t he r ect i l inear f eatures a t t he s outhern e nd o f t he c o mp lex ( f eatures 3 1 &3 2 ) . F u l l d e ta i ls o f e ach f eature w i l l b e f ound i n a ppend ix 2 . I NTERPRETATION OF THE FEATURES T he most i mpor tan t f eature was u ndoubted ly t he ma in e nc losure d itch ( 10 , 1 2 , 1 4, 1 7 , 1 8 , 2 4 &2 5) . Eas i ly t he most s ubstan t ia l f eature w i th a w id th u p t o 2 .5 m a nd a d ep th o f 1 .1 m, i tc ou ld b e f o l lowed a round t hree s ides o f a s ubrec tangu lar a rea o f a t l east 0 .15 h a . T h is was t he ma jor f eature o f t he f irst p hase , f or a l l r e la ted d i tches were o f l a ter d a te . S evera l p rob le ms a r ise o ver t he i n terpre ta t ion o f t h is e nc losure , t he f oremost o f wh ich must b e t he q uest ion o f t he f our th s ide . A s h as b een n oted a bove n o n or th s ide was v is ib le o n t he a er ia l p hotographs, n or was t here a ny l oca ted d ur ing t he e xcava t ion .

U nfor tuna te ly , t ha t p ar t o f t he s i te was t he f irst

t o b e d estroyed b y q uarry ing s o t ha t n o more t han a wa tch ing b r ief c ou ld b e ma in ta ined . Q uan t it ies o f ad ark , p ea ty d eposit , s im i lar t o t he l ower l ayers o f t he e nc losure d i tch were n ot iced , t hough n o t i n s i tu , t owards t he n or th , f ar f ro m e i ther t he e ast o r west s ides. However , ab ut t e nd t o t he west s ide was l oca ted a nd p lanned , wh ich w ou ld s uggest e i ther t he p resence o f a n e n trance t o t he n or thwest o r t ha t t he d i tch t erm ina ted t here . I fs o, we a re f aced w i th t he p rob lem o f a n a pparen t ly o pen e nc losure . T h is i s n ot i nsuperab le f or t here i s 4 1

n o r eason why t he b oundary s hou ld b e f ormed b y ad itch o n a l l f our s ides, i ndeed i t wou ld b e q u ite p oss ib le t o u se s o me n a tura l f ea ture . S o mewha t f ur ther n or th r an t he Brook L easow , am inor t r ibutary o f t he R iver T ame, a nd i ti s q u i te f eas ib le t ha t i to r ig ina l ly f ormed t he p rob le ma t ica l n or th s ide . T h is a ppears e ven more l i ke ly when t he o r ig ina l n ature o f t hese e nc losure d i tches i s r ea l ised - h o l lows f i l led w ith mud, w a ter a nd v ege ta t ion ; i ndeed s im i lar t o t he p resen t d ay f i e ld b oundar ies o n t he g rave l t erraces a nd f l ood p la in . As i nd ica ted b y t he v ar ious s ect ions a cross t he e nclosure d i tch ( f igu res 1 0 , 3 4 a nd 3 5) , i ta ppears t o h ave p assed t hrough a t l east t wo ma jor p hases . I n t he f irst t he e nc losure s tood a lone , w i th n one o f t he s upp le mentary d itches, e nc losed b y t he n arrower , d eeper p hase o f t he d i tch , a nd w i th t wo e n trances, o ne t o t he west , t he o ther t o t he s ou theast . T here may h ave b een s o me s ort o f e n trance s tructure i n t he western o ne ( f eatures 2 3 &2 0) t hough t he d e ta i ls a re n ot c lear , s ince t he who le a rea was c on fused b y as er ies o f n atura l , p er ig lac ia l, h o l lows. T he p i t f i l led w i th f irecracked s tones ( f eature 2 3 ) i s i n tr igu ing a s i ti s p ara l le led b y as im i lar f eature f ound w ith in t he e nt rance o f s i te 5K187082 ( f eature 3 26) . A t s ome s tage d ur ing t h is f i rs t p hase ad i tch was a dded , l ead ing u p t o t he s outh e ast e n trance ( f eature 2 2) , p erhaps f orm ing s o me s or t o fb oundary a ga inst wh ich s tock c ou ld b e d r iven a nd l ed i n to t he e nc losure . On ly a sma l l n u mber o f f eatures were l oca ted w i th in t he e nc losure . S o me o f t he 1 969 a er ia l p ho tographs h in ted a t t he p resence o f ar ound b u i ld ing ( or r a ther a r ing d i tch wh ich wou ld h ave s urrounded s uch a s tructure ) n or the ast o ft he c en tre o f t he e nc losure . S ince t h is a rea was o ne o f t he f i rst t o b e q uarr ied n o i nvest iga t ion c ou ld b e c arr ied o ut . T o j udge , h owever , f ro m s im i lar s i tes s uch a s SK187082 , a n e nc losure s uch a s t h is was p robab ly d es igned p r i mar i ly f or h ab ita t ion .

T he most i mpor tan t o f t he i n terna l f ea tures

e xcava ted was t he p a l isade t rench r unn ing p ara l le l t o t he e nc losure d i tch o n t he e ast s ide . N o o ther i n terna l s tructures were d iscernable ; t he s amp le a rea e xa mi ned ( Area C ) wh ich a d jo ined t he l eng th o f e nc losure d i tch wh ich p roduced t he most d o mest ic ma ter ia l ( f eature 1 4) , p roduced o n ly a s ing le p ost h o le ( 27) . I n t he s econd p hase t he e nc losure d i tch was r ecut w i th a b roader , s ha ll ower p rof i le , c ut t ing t hrough t he s i l ted u p d i tch r unn ing t o t he s ou theast ( 22) a nd a cross t he s ou theast e n trance .

A t t he s ame t ime were a dded t he n ear ly

p ara l le l b ut s l igh t ly c onverg ing d i tches r unn ing westwards f ro m t he w est e nt rance ( 4 , 1 3 , 6&9 ) .

T hese a re b est i n terpre ted a s f orm ing p ar t o f ad rove-

way , s tock b e ing d r iven a ga inst t he ma in n or th-south b oundary ( 2 ) , w h ich must h ave b een e i ther c on te mporary w ith o r e ar l ier t han t he d roveway d i tches . I t i s wor th r eca l l ing t ha t f eature 2 d id g o t hrough a t l east t wo p hases w h ich c ou ld b e s ynchronous w ith t he t wo p hases n oted i n t he ma in e nc losure d itch . S o me c onsidera t ion o f t he r e la t ionsh ip o f s i te SK187080 t o s i te 5K187082 i s n ecessary .

T here a re n o c lear a nswers, t hough i n v iew o f t he e v idence f or

t wo p hases a n h ypo thes is may n o t b e o u t o f p lace .

I n t he f irst p hase t he

e v idence s uggests a n i ndependen t e nc losure p robab ly d es igned f or s e t t le men t , whereas i n t he s econd t here i s a more o bv ious p astora l l i nk a nd s ome i nd i-

4 2

c a t ion o f d ependence o n t he s i te t o t he n or th .

C ou ld i th ave b een t ha t t hese

n e ighbours a cqu ired t he e nc losure , a nd c onver ted i t s f unct ion f ro m t ha t o f s e t t lemen t t o s tock c orra ling? A s f or t he f eatures i n AREA E , t hey a ppear t o h ave b een l a ter t han t he ma in l i near b oundary ( f eature 2 ) .

T he s harp a ngu lar ity o f f eature 3 2 , q u ite

d if feren t f ro m t he o ther e nc losures i n t he c o mp lex , migh t i nd ica te a d if feren t d a te t hough t he a bsence o f f i nds must l eave t h is u nproven . F INDS The q uan t ity o f f i nds f ro m t he e xcava t ion was sma l l a nd a l l c a me f ro m t he ma in e nc losure d i tch , t hough f ro m b oth o f i t s p hases . T he f inds c ons isted e n t ire ly o f p o t tery , most ly f ro m f eature 1 4 t u t s o me a lso f ro m f eatures 1 7 & 2 4 .

I ti s d iscussed i n g enera l i n Par t Io f t h is r epor t a nd i nd iv idua l f inds a re

d escr ibed i n a ppendix 3 .

I n s u m mary i t may b e d iv ided i n to t hree t ypes ;

Very

C oarse P ot tery ( or Br ique tage) , Ancaster-Breedon S cra tched Ware a nd a t h ick, s andy ware r eferred t o a s F abr ic C i n Part I a nd a ppend ix 3 . The p ropor t ions o f t he ma ter ia l a re q u ite d i f feren t f ro m t hose a t s i te SK18 7 082 , t he amoun t o f V ery C oarse Po t tery b e ing v ery sma l l, t hough t h is may b e d ue t o t he l ack o f d omest ic f eatures e xcava ted a t SKI 8 7080 .

By f ar t he ma jor ity o f t he p ot-

t ery i so f Fabr ic C wh ich was o n ly p oor ly r epresen ted a t s i te SK187082 , t hough i ti s d i f f icu l t t o d raw a ny c onc lus ions f ro m t h is . r esu l t o f d a te , wea lth o r f unct ion .

T he d if ference may b e t he

H owever , t here i s n o d oubt t ha t t he p ot tery

b e longs t o t he I ron Age a nd p robab ly t o t he p er iod b etween t he 4 th a nd 2 nd c ent ur ies B . C .. I n t he l i gh t o f c urren t k now ledge o f I ron Age p ot tery f ro m t he a rea i t wou ld b e i nadv isab le t o s ay more . The d eeper p ar ts o f t he e nc losure d i tch a lso c on ta ined sma l l amoun ts o f w a ter logged wood . A l though i t was n ot p oss ib le f or a ny o f t h is ma ter ia l t o b e i den t if ied t here i s n o o bv ious r eason why i ts hou ld h ave d if fered s ign if ic an t ly f ro m t ha t r ecovered a t SK187082 . DAT ING The d a t ing o f t h is s i te d epends u pon i t s r e la t ionsh ip t o o ther f ea tures I n t he c o mp lex a nd t he p o t tery f ound i n t he e nc losure d itch . Both t hese i ssues a re d iscussed i n Par t I I o f t h is r epor t . Here i tw i l l b e s uf f ic ien t t o r e mark t ha t t he f eatures e xcava ted a t SK187080 a ppear t o b e b road ly c on te mporary w ith t hose a t SK187082 a nd t ha t t he e n t ire c o mp lex p robab ly d a tes f ro m t he l a t ter p ar t o f t he I ron Age .

4 3

PART I—THE F INDS

I NTRODUCTION I n t h is p ar t o ft he r epor t a t ten t ion i s g iven t o t he f i nds r ecovered d ur ing t he e xcava t ions d iscussed i n PART I . Each c a tegory o f e v idence i s d iscussed a nd e va lua ted b y t he s pec ia l ists who h ave w orked o n t he ma ter ia l d ur ing t he e xcava t ions a nd s ubsequen t ly .

Prec ise d e ta i ls o f i nd iv idua l f i nds w i l l b e f ound

i n a ppend ix 3 , p resen ted i n t he s a me o rder emp loyed i n t h is p ar t o f t he r epor t . Most o f t he f i nds r epor ted o n, o f a l l k inds, c ame f ro m t he e xcava t ions a t SK 187082 a nd o n ly c o mpara t ive ly sma l l amoun ts o f p ot tery a nd s tone o b jects c ame f ro m t he o ther t hree s i tes.

A ccord ing ly , a l l t he ma ter ia l i s c onsidered

t oge ther h ere, r egard less o f s i te , t hough t he r epor ts o n work a t SK183098 , 1 87083 a nd 1 87080 e ach i nc lude s o me r e ference t o t he f i nds r ecovered .

I n

a ppend ix 3t he f i nds a re l i sted f irst a ccord ing t o ma ter ia l , b ut w i th in t h is a re g rouped a ccord ing t o s i te ( Ed .) .

I RON AGE POTTERY AND BR IQUETAGE P .J . B anks a nd E . L . Morr is ( The c on tr ibu t ions t o t he f o l low ing c eram ic r epor t were wr it ten i ndep enden t ly o f e ach o ther , t he a uthors b e ing p reven ted b y l oca t iona l f actors ( see a ppend ix 1 ) f ro m c onven ien t ly c onsu l t ing e ach o ther .

N o a t temp t h as b een

made t o ama lgama te t hese t wo c on tr ibu t ions t hough t hey a re l arge ly c o mp lemen tary , a nd t hey a re p resen ted h ere i n t he f orm i n wh ich t hey were p repared b y t he ir a uthors, w ith t he e xcep t ion t ha t ad e ta i led d escr ip t ion o f t he f abr ics b y Banks h as b een om it ted a s t h is h as b een s uperseded b y Morr is ' sc on tr ibut ion . Morr is h as a lso p rov ided a g enera l d iscussion o f t he b r iquetage o r VCP .

Ed .)

I NTRODUCT ION S ince t he n u mber o f r econstructab le , c o mp le te p rof i les f ro m t he F isherw ick s i tes i s sma l l , i t was d ec ided t o c onsider t he mater ia l o n g rounds o f f abr ic r a ther t han f orm . I ndeed , a s i s t yp ica l o f t he ma jor ity o f s i tes f ro m t he c ent ra l p er iod o f t he I ron Age i n Br ita in , a nd p ar t icu lar ly t he M id lands, t he p o t tery I s c haracter ised b y w eak ly d eve loped f orms, t he ma jor ity o f t he v esse ls h av ing b u t as l igh t ly r ounded s hou lder , o r a re more o r l ess s tra ight s ided , a nd f a l l i n to t he g enera l c a tegory o f j ars .

4 5

S K 1 87082

H3 I l

2b 2

P61

j cw

F ig. 1 1

I ron Age Po t tery

I n t he i n i t ia l a na lys is s even f abr ics were d ist ingu ished a nd l abe l led a lphabe t ica l ly f ro m A t o G .

Bo th A a nd B were i den t if ied a s v ar ian ts o f t he

Very C oarse Pot tery o r VCP n o ted e lsewhere i n t he West M id lands b y G e l l ing a nd S t an ford ( 1965) . b e low b y Morr is .

T h is i sn ow r egarded a s b r iquetage a nd i s d iscussed

The r e ma in ing f abr ics c an a l l b e d escr ibed a s s andy wares,

v ary ing a ccord ing t o t he ir c oarseness a nd t he n a ture o f t he ir i nc lus ions.

A

v ar ie ty o f s ur face t rea tmen ts i s r epresen ted a nd i ncludes smoo th ing , b urn ishi ng , s cra tch ing a nd s cor ing . A lthough a c lose c orre la t ion b e tween s ur face t rea tmen t a nd f abr ic was n o t a pparen t i t was n oted t ha t b urn ished v esse ls were u sua l ly o n ly made i n F abr ic G , s cra tched v essels i n f abr ic E a nd s cored v esse ls i n f abr ic F . R im f orms a re v ery s i mp le , s tra igh t , f l a t o r s l igh t ly r ounded . S o me a re s l igh t ly p inched a nd a f ew o u t-turned a l i t t le , b ut c ou ld n ot b e d escr ibed a s b ead r ims. s lashed d ecora t ion o n t he r ims.

T here i s ag enera l l ack o f f i nger t i p o r B ases a re g enera l ly f l a t , s i mp le o r s p layed ,

o f ten c onsiderab ly s o . D eta i ls o f a l l i nd iv idua l s herds a re g iven i n a ppendix 3 wh i le e xa mp les o f t he ma ter ia l a re i l lustra ted i n f igures 1 t o 1 3 . A s Cha l l is a nd Hard ing ( 1975) h ave p o in ted o u t , v ery l i t t le ma ter ia l h as, u n t i l n ow , b een k nown b e tween t he Tren t a nd M idd le S evern a rea . The F isherw ick p o t tery g oes s o me way t owards f i l l ing t h is g ap , a l though i ti s b y n o means s uf f ic ien t ly r ich i ni t sel f t o p rov ide a ny th ing l i ke a t ype s er ies.

N ot s urpr i-

s ing ly , i n a n a rea wh ich s eems t o h ave b een s o mewha t o f ab order land b etween t he C ornov i i t o t he west a nd C or i tan i t o t he e ast , e le men ts f ro m b oth e ast a nd west a re p resen t . The b u lk o f t he p o t tery i s c oarse a nd n ot p ar t icu lar ly d iagnost ic w ithout t he h e lp o f f iner p e tro log ica l a na lys is ( see b e low ) .

The g enera l ly s lack f orms

c an b e p ara l le led w ide ly i n t he M id lands a nd f ur ther a f ie ld i n t he c en tra l p ar t o f t he I ron Age a t , f or e xa mp le , s i tes s uch a s Breedon o n t he h i l l , L e icesters h ire ( Kenyon , 1 950 ; Wacher , 1 964) , Ancaster , L inco lnsh ire

( May 1 976, 1 39) ,

Up ton , N or than ts. ( Jackson , 1 969 , 2 19) , a nd Twywe l l, Nor than ts. ( Jackson , 1 975) . T he more d iagnost ic f eatures h ave a s im i lar d istr ibut ion , p ar t icu lar ly t he s cra tched a nd s cored v esse ls, a l though i ts hou ld b e n oted t hat t h is f orm o f s ur face t rea t men t i s n o t l im i ted t o t he East M id lands, b e ing f ound a s f ar a f ie ld a s East Ang l ia a nd Y orksh ire , n or t o t he c en tra l p ar t o f t he I ron Age (May 1 976, 1 38 ) . H owever , i ti s i n t he East a nd S outheast M id lands t ha t t he b u lk o f s uch p ara l le ls a re f ound . T he more d eep ly s cored d ecora t ion i s d if f icu lt t o p ara l le l . Cer ta in v esse ls i nt he We lsh Marches a rea h ave f l uted d ecora t ion , b ut c over ing a much sma l ler a rea t han t ha t i nvo lved w i th t he F isherw ick e xamp les ( f igures 1 2 a nd 1 3 ) . T h is d ecora t ion i s c er ta in ly f ar more r egu lar t han t he AncasterBreedon t ype o f s cra tch ing , w h ich c annot r ea l ly b e c onsidered t o b e d ecorat i on , b u t r a ther a n a id t o h o ld ing t he v esse l .

Cer ta in f ragmen ts f ro m t he

East a nd S outheast M id lands d o s how t races o f d eep , more o rgan ised s cor ing o r g roov ing , s uch a s t ha t f ro m S tr ix ton , N or than ts ( Ha l l a nd N ickerson , 1 969 1 -12 ) , o r R ush ton , Nor than ts ( Jackson , 1 976, 7 1-88 ) . F or t he p resen t t he c u ltura l a ssoc ia t ions o f t h is t ype o f d ecora t ion must r ema in s o mewha t n ove l .

4 7

H2 5o

1

l i k e rC ' Y H? 50 4

H2 5 a 2

13

5a

1 3

1

1 3

5a

0

CM S

5a

3

10 7 7 1

I CW

F ig. 1 2

I ron Age Po t tery

T he VCP o rb r ique tage f ormed t he b u lk o f t he c era m ic a sse mb lage f rom F isherw ick , a nd t he West M id lands a ssoc ia t ions o f t h is h ave b een c lear ly d e mons tra ted b y G e l l ing a nd S tan ford ( 1965) . p ara l le led t o t he west b y t he

The f ine b urn ish ing i s a lso

b lack v es icu lar ware ' o f C redenh i l l ( S tan ford ,

1 971) , a l though a n e astern p ara l le l i s a lso p rov ided b y av esse l f ro m Twywe l l , N or than ts ( Jackson 1 975, 7 1) . The d a te r ange o f t h is ma ter ia l i s n ecessar i ly i mprec ise .

A lthough

s cra tched wares a re k nown e ar ly i n t he I ron Age , t he b u lk f a l l i n to i t s c en tra l p ar t .

T he F isherw ick ma ter ia l s hows n o e ar ly o r l a te c haracter ist ics s o a

g enera l d a te r ange f ro m t he 5 th t o t he 2 nd c en tur ies BC may b e s uggested , a nd p erhaps w i th in t h is p er iod t he l ast t wo c en tur ies wou ld s ee m t he most p robab le . T he r ad io-carbon d a tes o bta ined f or s i te SK187082 ( d iscussed i n PART I I ) a re i n c lose a ccordance w ith t h is .( P. J .B .) P e tro log ica l a na lys is P e tro log ica l a na lys is o f t he p ot tery , b aked c lay a nd mud wa l l ing f ro m t he F isherw ick s i tes d e monstra tes b oth l oca l e xp lo ita t ion o f av ar ie ty o f s andy c lay s ources f or p ot t ing , a s we ll a s t he u se o f n onloca l p ot tery .

Percen tage

r a t ios b y we igh t o f e ach f abr ic t ype wou ld h e lp a ssess t he i mpor tance o f d o me st ic p roduct ion a nd r eg iona l e xchange .

O n ly o ne sma l l s herd o f e ach f abr ic

t ype was p rov ided f or a na lys is. S ize a na lys is o f t he q uar tz ( Pye 1 943; F o lk a nd Ward , 1 957 ) was n o t emp loyed b ecause a s ing le s herd o f e ach f abr ic t ype i s i nsuf f ic ien t t o p rov ide s ta t ist ica l ly v iab le c o mpar isons d ue t o t he p ot en t ia l v ar iab il ity w ith in a s ing le c lay s ource . Deta i ls o f s ur face t rea tmen t a nd f orm h ave b een d ea l t w i th b y Banks, a bove , a nd c o lour d if ferences a re r ecorded i n a ppend ix 3 . F abr ics A a nd B T h is ma ter ia l h as b een i den t if ied a s Very C oarse P ot tery , VCP o r b r ique tage , a nd i s r epor ted u pon s epara te ly b e low . F abr ic C/D O r ig ina l ly t h is f abr ic was s or ted b y t he e xcava tors i n to t wo t ypes, macroscop ica l ly , b u t e ven tua l ly t he c oarser a nd f i ner r anges were c onso l ida ted i n to o ne g enera l t ype wh ich d isp layed a g radua l v ar ia t ion i n t he q uar tz s pec trum .

N o d ist inct d iv is ions were d ef inab le .

T h is a n iso trop ic f abr ic c on ta ined a h igh p ercen tage ( 20% ) o f a ngu lar t o s ub-angu lar q uar tz f ro m 0 .1-1.0 m m a cross w i th t he o ccasiona l g ra in u p t o 1 .5 m m . The med iu m r ange o f q uar tz ( 0 .05-0 .1 m m) , s ub-angu lar t o s ubr ounded i n s hape were much l ess i n q uan t i ty ( l ess t han 5% ) wh i le t he sma l lest r ange v is ib le microscop ica l ly ( l ess t han . 0 .05 m m) made u p a modera te 5% o f t he t o ta l ma tr ix.

One r ounded q uar tz i te f rag men t ( 1 .0 m m ) , o ne f e lspar a nd

t hree sma l ler m icaceous s andstone f rag men ts ( 0 .5 m m a nd l ess ) w ere i den t if i ed.

Bu t t he most i n teres t ing i nc lus ion was a s ing le p iece o f r hyo l ite ( 1 .6 m m ). T here i s as trong p robab i l ity t ha t t he h igh p ercen tage o f l arge , a ngu lar

t o s ub-angu lar q uar tz may b e a dded t o t e mper a n atura l ly s andy c lay .

4 9

SK 1 87082 84d

30 1e

2

84d 1

1 200 1

84i 3 38c

1 20a 2

1 20o 9

0

cms

1 0

S K 1 87080 1 4 l ayer 5 2

1 4 l ayer 5 1

1 4 l ayer 1 0

1 4l ayer 5

3

1 4 l ayer 5 4

C ms

1 0 i cw

F ig. 1 3

I ron Age Pot tery

5 0

Fabr ic E Th is t oo , i s as andy a n isotrop ic c lay w ith a r e la t ive ly h igh p ropor t ion o f l arge q uar tz b u t n o t q u ite a s l arge a s F abr ic C/D .

The q uar tz i s g enera lly

l ess t han 1 .0 m m a cross , s ub-angu lar t o s ub-rounded i n s hape , a nd i s o n ly 1 5-20% o f t he t ota l ma tr ix a rea .

T he med iu m a nd sma l ler-sized q uar tz a re 5

a nd 8 % r espect ive ly . Fabr ic F Th is i s t he most u nusua l o f t hese t hree s andy f abr ics. I tc ons ists o f ah igh q uan t ity o f a rg i l laceous ma ter ia l a nd v ery l i t t le q uar tz . The a rg i l lac eous ma ter ia l i s d ist ingu ishab le a s amorphous l u mps o f c lay wh ich b lend i n to t he r egu lar ma tr ix s tructure o f t he f abr ic . T here a re n o d ist inct e dges t o t hese l u mps a s wou ld b e f ound w i th g rog t e mper , o r n atura l c lay p e l le ts. O ccas iona l ly d ist inct n atura l l ayer ing c an b e s een i n t he l u mps.

T h is a r-

g i l laceous ma ter ia l i sb e l ieved t o b e c haracterist ic o f p oor ly mixed , o r b ad ly w edged , mar l c lays u sed i n c era m ic p roduct ion ( Morr is, f orthco m ing ) . The q uar tz c ons is ts o f l ess t han 3% l arge q uar tz ( 0 .1 o r g rea ter ) , l ess t han 3 % med iu m q uar tz ( 0 .05-0 .1 m m) , a nd l ess t han 1 0% sma l l q uar tz . S uch a d ist inct ive ly s parse amoun t o f q uar tz i n a mar l c lay c an o n ly b e n atura l . L ev iga t ion o f t he c lay i s d oubt fu l d ue t o t he v isib le s tructure o f t he l u mps i n t he ma tr ix . F abr ic G L arge a ngu lar i nc lus ions u p t o 4 .0 m m a cross c an b e s een macros cop ica l ly i n t h is s andy f abr ic . T hey a re o paque , wh ite r ock f ragmen ts w ith g l it ter ing p a tches. O f t he f our p o t tery f abr ic t ypes e xam ined , t he s herd i n t h is f abr ic was t he t h innest ( 8 .0 m m ) , a nd h eav i ly b urn ished o n i t s e x ter ior a nd we l l-s moo thed i n terna l ly . B urn ish ing i s n o t at echn ique emp loyed w ith t he o ther f abr ics .

The l arge i nc lus ions m icroscop ica l ly a ppeared a s a ngu lar

i gneous a nd me ta morph ic r ocks, f ro m 0 .2-4 .0 m m a cross, c onsist ing o f b o th p lag ioc lase a nd p otash f e lspar , a nd q uar tz f ro m 0 .5-2 . 0 mm a cross. T he f e lspars were f requen t ly masked w i th a g o lden s ta in ing , t herefore t w in ing was f a in tb u t a lbi te i s s uggested . M icroper th ite i s t he c o mmonest p otash f e lspar . B io t ite m ica i s v ery p ro m inen t i nc lud ing o ne e x tre me ly l arge e xamp le 3 .0 m m l ong . The l arge q uar tz c rysta ls a re f requen t ly c louded a nd d if f icu l t t o i den t ify .

I n a dd i t ion t o t he a bove r ock f ragmen ts i s t he u sua l

n a tura l b ackground o f s ub-angu lar q uar tz f ro m 0 .01 -0 .3 m m a cross. There a re a lso i n frequen t d ark g rey-b lack c lay p e l le ts a nd a sma l l amoun t o f i ron o re .

Ep ido te i s ac o m mon a ccessory .

T he r ange o f i nc lus ions i s ag rano d ior ite s im i lar t o t ha t o f t he Ma lv ern H i l ls r a ther t han a n a ug ite-syen ite l i ke t ha t o f t he C harnwood F orest . Ma lvern ian-te mpered p ot tery h as b een f ound 5 0-60 mi les f ro m t he s ource : a t T he B er th , a t t he Bre idden h i l lfor t ( Musson , f or thco m ing ) , a nd a t Twyny -Gaer h i l lfor t , n ear Abergavenny , Powys ( Prober t , p ers. c omm .) .

There-

f ore t o t ranspor t p o t tery 4 5-50 m iles f ro m t he Ma lverns t o F isherw ick wou ld n o t b e u nexpected .

5 1

A lthough n one o ft he r im s herds o f t h is f abr ic t ype were s tamped o r l i near- t oo led , t he p ossib i l ity t ha t al a ter v ar ie ty o f Ma lvern ian I ron Age p ot tery i s r epresen ted h ere . Th is p o t tery t ype h as o n ly r ecen t ly b een i dent i f ied f ro m s tra t if ied c on tex ts a t Beckford , Worcestersh ire ( W i l ls, p ers. c o mm .) b u t as im ilar p heno menon o f u ndecora ted Ma lvern ian ma ter ia l h as b een r ecovered f ro m t he B lackstone e nc losure s i te n ear K idder m inster , Worc ester ( Hun t , f orthco m ing );

t he f or m o f t h is p o t tery i s i den t ica l t o t he I ron

Age v essels , b u t h as s l igh t ly f l ar ing r i ms.

N one o f t he r i ms i s b eaded o r i n

a ny way s uggests t he l a ter , 2 nd c en tury AD t ubby c ook ing p o ts o f RomanoBr i t ish Ma lvern ian manu fac ture ( Peacock , 1 968b ). The r ad io-carbon d ates f ro m t he F isherw ick s ites s uppor t al a te I ron A ge d a te f or t h is p o t tery.

T he Mud Wa l l ing As ing le p iece o f mud wa l l ing f ro m s i te SK187082 was e xa m ined .

I t

h ad t he s a me a rray o f q uar tz i n s ize , s hape a nd q uant ity a s t he b r iquetage , ( see b e low ) . B u t e ven more i mpor tan t was t he i den t i f ica t ion o f as ing le f ragmen t o f r hyo l ite . T he B urn t C lay T he s a mp le p rov ided d isp layed t he a rg i l laceous c onstruct ion a nd sma l l amoun t o f q uar tz i den t ica l t o t ha t i n Fabr ic F .

THE BR IQUETAGE OR VERY COARSE POTTERY VCP 1 . I n troduct ion The r ubb ish d epos i ts o f t hree I ron Age s i tes i n t he F isherw ick a rea ( SK183098 , SK187082 a nd SK187080) c on ta ined a c onsiderable q uan t ity o f a n u nusua l , v ery c oarse c era m ic ma ter ia l . T he f abr ic a nd f orm , c onstruct ion a nd c lay s ource a l l s uggest t ha t t h is ma ter ia l i sb r ique tage—the c eram ic c ont a iners u sed t o d ry b r ine a nd t ranspor t s a l t f ro m i n land s pr ings t o s e t t le men t s i tes.

T h is p heno menon h as b een i den t if ied i nt he West M id lands, We lsh

Border land a rea ( Hun t , p ers. c omm .;

Morr is , f or thco m ing ) where s im i lar

c on ta iners h ave b een f ound o n h i l lfor ts a nd s e t t lemen t s i tes i n Powys, Heref ordsh ire a nd Worcestersh ire . T he s ource f or t he West M id lands s a l t a nd b r iquetage i s a t Dro itw ich , where e v idence f or I ron Age s a lt-work ing h as b een d iscovered i n c on junct ion w i th e ar ly R o man s a lt-work ing f eatures a nd v ast q uan t it ies o fb r ique tage . However , t he b r iquetage f ro m t he F isherw ick s i tes h as a more l ocal s ource.

T he f o l low ing p re l im inary a na lys is s uggests

t ha t I ron Age s a lt-work ing was a c o m mon a ct iv ity i n t he T a me Va l ley . 2 .

Macroscop ic F abr ic I den t if ica t ion T h is v ery c oarse ma ter ia l i s e as i ly d ist ingu ished f ro m p ot tery o f t he

s a me p er iod , b u t may b e c on fused w i th d aub w hen o n ly f ragmen ts a re f ound . T he ma jor ity o f s herds a re o x id ised t hroughou t , r ang ing f ro m a g enera l ly p ink ish t one t o ad ark o range .

The Munse l l s o i l c o lour c od ing i nc ludes 1OR

6 /6 ( l igh t r ed ) a nd 2 .5 YR 6 /6-6/8 ( l igh t r ed ) f or t he p a ler r ange, a nd 5YR

5 2

F ig. 1 4

Br ique tage o r Very Coarse Pot tery ( VCP )

5 3

7 /6- 7/8 ( redd ish y e l low ) a nd 2 .5 YR 5 /8 ( red ) f or t he d arker r ange .

I n fre-

q uen t ly t here a re r educed s herds, a nd i n ter ior c ores o f s herds 5 YR 7 / 1 a nd 6 / 1 . ( l igh t g rey & g rey) . The ma ter ia l h as b een e ven ly h ard f ired . T he s urf ace o f e ach s herd i s r ough t o t he t ouch d ue t o t he s andy i nclusions i nt he c lay . The l arger i nc lusions a re v ery d ist inct ive .

They r ange i n s ize f ro m

0 .1-1.5 cm a cross a nd a re s ub-angu lar t o v ery a ngu lar r ock f ragmen ts wh ich d o n ot r eact t o a cid ( 10% HC L ) These r ock f rag men ts may b e r edd ish a nd g ra iny ; wh ite , o paque a nd s h iny ; o r d u ll a nd g rey . I n frequen t ly , i ti sp ossi b le t o i den t ify u nusua lw h ite-coa ted i nc lusions, o r o n ly t he c oa t ing when t he i nc lus ion i s miss ing .

T hese f our r ock f ragmen ts a ppear o n t he s herd s ur faces

i n v ary ing p ropor t ions — fro m s parse t o modera te i n f requency . I n a 5 cm s quare s herd , t here c an b e f ro m 6 t o 3 0 s uch r ock f ragmen ts o f v ary ing s izes. A lso ,quar tz s and ( l ess t ha n 0 .1 cm a cross) i s ac onstan t , a bundan t i nc lusion i n t h is f abr ic . 3 .

F orm a nd C onstruct ion o f Vesse ls

Body s herds o f t h is h and- made ware r ange f ro m 1 .0-2 .0 cm t h ick . T hey f requen t ly s how a n arrow g ir th e f fect w i th p rov ides a c lue t o t he v esse l ' s f orm . cm .

The b ases a re f l a t , t h ick , a nd i rregu lar i n d ia me ter s ize f rom 1 4-17 .0 T he r ims ( ex terna l d ia me ters f ro m 2 1-25 .0 cm)curve u p s tra ight o r

e x tend o u t f ro m t he b ody .

T he ma jor i ty a re p inched o ver i n terna l ly b ut s o me

a re p la in a nd smoo th , wh i le t wo e xamp les h ave a g roove i n t he ir u pper e dge ( f igure 1 4) . Th is v ar ie ty o f r im f i n ish ing t echn iques, f requen t ly f ound t ogether i n as ing le r ubb ish c on tex t , d oes n ot s uggest a ny workab le t ypo logy . S uch v ar ie t ies may b e ac o m mon p heno menon f or a n i ndustr ia l, h and- made c eram ic whose u se was p urely f or s a lt p rocessing a nd t ranspor t , a nd n ot f or d a i ly h ouseho ld o r t ab le ware . The a ctua l h e igh t a nd f orm o f t hese c on ta iner v esse ls i s s t i l l o n ly h ypo the t ica l , s ince e xa mp les o fb ody s herds j o in ing r im a nd b ase s herds h ave n o t b een f ound f or e ven a s ing le t o ta lp rof i le among t h is F isherw ick a rea ma ter ia l . H owever t he method o f c onstruct ion i s e xact ly t he s ame a s t ha t f or t he Dro it v v ich mater ia l f or wh ich n ear ly c o mp le te s ect ions a re k nown ( Hun t , f or thco m ing ; S aw le , f or thco ming ) . T he Dro i tw ich-type b r ique tage a nd t he F isherw icktype b r iquetage f ound a t The Ber th , n or th o f S hrewsbury , S hrops h ire were f irst r ecogn ised a s a n u nusua l c eram ic g roup o f u ncer ta in f unct ion b y G e l l ing a nd S tan ford ( 1965) who s uggested t ha t t he method o f c onstruct ion was t ha t o fb u i ld ing u p f ro m a b ase b y p lacing c o l lars o f c lay o ne o n t op o f t he o ther—each n ew c o l lar b e ing a t tached b y p ress ing d own i n terna l ly a t t he j o ins wh i le f i nger ing u pward e x terna l ly f or a f i n ish ing t ouch when a l l c o l lars h ad b een a pp l ied . The F isherw ick ma ter ia l h as t he s ame c o l lar me thod o f c ons truct ion w i th o ccas iona l i n terna l f i nger ing , b ut t he e x terna l f inger g rooves a re n ot a pparen t . Th is c o l lar t echn ique i s most o bv ious o n t he b ody s herds. T he p ress ing d own i n terna l ly a t t he c o l lar-on to-co l lar j o in c rea tes a 4 50 a ng le o n e ach c o l lar a t t he j o in ing e dges. Th is j o in i s a lso t he weak p o int I n t he v esse l wa l l s o t ha t , when b roken f or s a l t e x tract ion , t he j o in p rov ides an a tura l b reak ing p o in t . Most b ody s herds d isp lay a t l east o ne o f t hese a ng les o n i t s l ower o r u pper s ec t ions

T he w id th o f ac ol lar may measure f ro m 3 .5-7 .0

cm . As uggested r econstruct ion o f t hese v esse ls s how ing p ossib le h e igh t a nd t he c o l lars i s p rov ided ( f igure 1 4) . 5 4

O ccasiona l ly b ody s herds may h ave p a tches o f a wh i te d eposi t o n t he e x terna l s ur face , wh ich i s a lso c haracter ist ic o ft he Dro i tw ich-type b r iquet age . Th is d eposi t d oes n o t r eact t o a c id , a nd may b e e v idence o f s a l t wa ter u sed i nt he c onstruct ion o f t he c on ta iners ( Peacock , p ers . c omm .) . 4 .

P e tro logy a nd S ources

S ix teen t h in s ect ions o f t h is ma ter ia l were e xa m ined u nder t he p e trol og ica l microscope . Each e xamp le c on ta ined a c onsisten t amoun t , s hape a nd s ize o f q uar tz, a nd t he r ock f rag men t r hyo l ite . O ther r ock a nd m inera l f ragmen ts i nc luded o ccasiona l ly were q uar tzsi te , s andstone , p lag ioc lase a nd p otash f e lspar , a nd m ica . B e low i s ad e ta i led d escr ip t ion o f t hese i nc lus ions, f o l lowed b y as uggested s ource f or t he c lay . I t must b e s tressed h ere t ha t t h is s ource i s t he r esu l t o f p re l im inary r esearch i n to t he p rob le m .

C lay

s amp les f ro m t he F isherw ick r eg ion h ave y et t o b e e xa m ined t o s uppor t o r a l ter t h is p oss ib le s ource . Rap id t extura l a na lysis was u t i l ized i n t he f o l low ing e xa m ina t ion , a p rac t ice e stabl ished b y P eacock ( 1 971, 2 55-259) . S tandard ized c har ts a nd v isua l c o mpar isons h ave b een c rea ted f or t he p ercen tage o f i nc lus ions ( Terry & C h i l l inger , 1 955) , r oundness ( Kru mbe in , 1 941) a nd s pher ic ity ( R it tenhouse , 1 943 ) f or g ra in a na lys is u nder t he microscope . Fabr ic Def in it ion I n t h is s ec t ion , t he c lay ma tr ix o f t h is f abr ic i s a n iso trop ic u nder c rossed n ico ls . I ti s d if f icu lt a t t h is s tage t o d e term ine whe ther t he ma jor I nc lusions a re n atura l ly o ccurr ing , o r a dded t e mper f ro m g rave l d eposi ts. H ope fu l ly a na lys is o f c lay s amp les f ro m t he v ar ious F isherw ick d eposi ts w i l l p rov ide t he a nswer t o t h is p rob le m .

H owever i tw i l l b e a ssumed h ere t hat t he

v ery l arge a ngu lar r ock f ragmen ts o f r hyo l ite , q uar tz ite , a nd s andstone a re t e mper , wh i le t he more r ounded sma l l q uar tz i s n atura l ly f ound i n t he c lay . T he most n u merous i nc lus ions i n t he f abr ic a re s ub-angu lar q uar tz g ra ins o f g ood s pher ic ity c on tract ions r espect ive ly : 3 -7% , 5 -10% a nd 1 0-20% w ith a t o ta l f ro m 2 0-30% ( modera te t o a verage amoun t ) . Very i n frequen t ly t here a re l arge q uar tz 0 .5-1.0 m m i n s ize . The most s ign if ican t r ock f ragmen t , h owever , i s t he c ons isten t r hyol i te . I ti s af ine-gra ined , a c id i gneous r ock wh ich i n t h is ma ter ia l i s n ear ly a lways masked b y o paque i ron o x ide ( cover ing u p t o 7 0% o f t he f ragmen t ) . T hese a ngu lar r ock f ragmen ts measure f ro m 0 .3-8 .0 m m a cross a nd h ave a modera te s pher ic i ty .

Q uar tz ite a nd micaceous s andstone f rag men ts a re l ess

f requen t t han t he r hyo l ite .

T hey r ange i n s ize f ro m 0 .3-6 .0 m m a nd a re

s ub-angu lar i n s hape , b ut o f g ood s pher ic ity .

The c rysta ls o f q uar tz i n t he

s andstone v ary f ro m h o mogeneous ly sma l l ( up t o 0 .05 m m) t o i rregu lar ly l arge ( f ro m 0 .1-0 .7 m m) a nd a re f ro m a ngu lar t o s ub-rounded i n s hape . Very i n frequen t ly t here i s ag ra in o f p lag ioc lase f e lspar (t w inned) i n t he m icaceous s andstone . T iny f rag men ts o fb o th b iot ite a nd muscov i te m ica a re a n a bundan t c lay m inera l i nclus ion .

On ly s ix e xa mp les o f t w inned f elspar were i den t i-

f i ed , b u t t he u nusual p er th i te efec t w as n o ted f or a s im ilar n umber o f 5 5

l arge , a ngu lar p otash f e lspars u p t o 1 .0 m m a cross .

Two s ect ions d isp layed

a modera te amoun t o f a rg i l laceous mater ia l . The c losest s ource o f t h is c o l lec t ion o f i nc lusions i s i n t he H opwas Brecc ia f our mi les t o t he s outh-west o f F isherw ick where Wa t l ing S tree t p asses t hrough H in ts . An e xposure o f t he H opwas was e xa m ined wh ich r ev ea led p robab le p re-Cambr ian r hyo l ite , q uar tz i te , a nd p ink f e lspars w i th r ed mar l a nd s andstone d irect ly o n t he H opwas ( Barrow e t a l .

1 919, 1 45 ) .

The p rob le m i n t h is a rea i s t ha t i gneous r ocks a re o ccasiona l ly f ound i n av ar ie ty o f g eo log ica l d eposits d ue t o g lac ia l d r if t . T hese r ocks h ave n ot b een i den t if ied y et , a nd o n ly t hrough a d eta i led s a mp l ing o f t he c lays a nd r ocks i n t he a rea w i l l a ny o ther l i ke ly s ources b e i den t if ied ( Morr is, f or thc om ing ) . 5 .

S a l t &C era m ic S ources—A C orre la t ion

There i s ah igh p robab i l ity , d ue t o t he l oca t ion o f n atura l b r ine s pr ings, t ha t s a l t-work ing was p rac t iced i nt he F isherw ick a rea d ur ing t he I ron Age . Med ieva l s a lt-work ing h as b een f ound t hree m iles t o t he n or th o f t hese s i tes, a t S a lter ' s Br idge ( Smi th , p ers. c o mm .) , a nd e ven t oday a b r ine s pr ing i s s t i l l k nown a t Dosth i ll , s even m i les t o t he s ou th-east .

I n t he a rea b e tween

H in ts a nd t he R iver T a me , t he s andstone a nd p ebble b eds a re k nown t o d ra in p oor ly , a nd when t ested , t he wa ter i s s a l ine ( Barrow e t a l ., 1 919, 2 18 ) . Each o f t hese e xa mp les i s f ound o n mar l , as tra ta wh ich i s w e l le stab l ished a s as a lt r esource i n C hesh ire , S taf fordsh ire , Worcestersh ire , S hropsh ire a nd s outh Derbysh ire . I ti s i nt he l a ter p hase o f K euper t imes, d ur ing t he New Red S andstone e ra , t ha t s a l t d eposits were f ound when "w ide s ha l low l akes c ame i n to e x istence a nd s o me o f t hese may h ave b een s ub jected t o i ncurs ions o f s ea-wa ter . The a bsence o f f ree d ra inage , a nd t he h igh e vapora t ion , l ed t o i ncreased s a l in i ty a nd t o t he c rea t ion o f a n e nv ironmen t u nsu itab le t o l i fe i n w h ich t he d eposit ion o f r ock s a l t , g ypsu m a nd a nhydr ite t ook p lace" ( Ha ins & H or ton , 1 969 , 6 1-3 ) Excava t ions a t M idd lew ich ( Bestw ick , 1 975 , 6 6-70) a nd a t Dro itw ich ( Hun t , f orthco m ing ; S aw le , f or thco m ing ) h ave d emonstra ted t ha t t he mar ls were a n a rea o f s a l t e xp lo ita t ion i n t he Ro man , med ieva l a nd modern p er iod , a nd f ro m t he l a t ter s i te i n t he p reh istor ic p er iod . Therefore s ince t he F isherw ick s i tes l i e i n a n a rea o f K euper mar ls i np rox im ity t o s evera l k nown b r ine s ources, t he l i ke l ihood f or t he p resence o f l oca l s a lt p roduct ion i s e x tre me ly h igh . T h is i s c on f irmed b y t he p e tro log ica l i den t if ica t ion o f t he i nc lus ions i n t he b r ique tage c on ta iners, wh ich s uggest a l oca l s ource e i ther o f s o l id o r .o f d r if t n ature . 6 .

D istr ibu t ion o f T ame Va l ley S a l t The F isherw ick-type b r iquetage h as b een f ound l oca l ly o n f our s i tes,

b ut e qua l ly i mpor tan t i s t he i den t if ica t ion o f t h is ma ter ia l a t T he B er th , S hrops h ire. Pre l im inary a na lysis o fb o th f or m a nd f abr ic h as s hown h a l f o f t he B er th c o l lect ion t o b e i den t ica l t o t he Tame V a l ley ma ter ia l ( Morr is, f or th5 6

c om ing ) .

Therefore t he T ame Va l ley was p ar t o f aw ider n e twork c oncerned

w ith t he d istr ibu t ion o f s a lt a nd , a s d e monstra ted a bove , p ot tery . C onc lus ions T he F isherw ick s i tes a re l ocated i n a n a rea wh ich i nc ludes a t l east f i ve p o ten t ia l ly d if feren t t ypes o f c lays a nd i nc lusions w ith in a f i ve m i le r ad ius . The s i tes r est o n t errace g rave ls a nd b ou lder c lays, w ith r ed k euper mar ls w i th s andy b ands o r s andstones, a nd H opwas Brecc ia b eyond t he m . T herefore t here i st he p oten t ia l f or a v ar ie ty o f s andy p o t tery f abr ics i n t he l oca l a rea . T he p o t tery f abr ics

C/D a nd E may we l l b e r epresen ta t ive o f t e mpered , l oca l

c lays, e spec ia l ly s ince C/D c on ta ins a f rag men t o f r hyo l ite , l arge q uar tz ite, a nd m icaceous s andstone , whose s ource c ou ld b e n ear t he Brecc ia .

Fabr ic

Fi s s o s im ilar i n e very way t o t he b aked c lay d aub s amp le t ha t al oca l s ource i s u nden iab le . Daub i s g enera l ly a ccep ted t o b e l oca l t o as i te . Therefore f abr ic F , a nd t he mud wa l l ing a nd b aked c lay i nd ica te t he most l oca l , a l though d if feren t s ources ; -f abr ic F a nd t he b aked c lay f ro m t he mar ls a nd t he mud wa l l ing f ro m a c lay s ource c loser t o t he Brecc ia . S im i lar ly t he r hyo l ite i n t he mud w a l l ing a nd f abr ic C/D s uggest a s ource n ear t he Brecc ia . The b r iquet age , t e mpered w i th l arge a ngu lar i nc lus ions o f r hyo l ite, q uar tz ite a nd s ands tone , i s t he s trongest c on tender f or a Brecc ia s ource .

The r ed mar l e ast o f

t he B recc ia may h ave p rov ided a s ource f or t he b r ine . Therefore t o s u m mar ize , t h is p re l im inary a na lys is h as s uggested t ha t s evera l l oca l c lays were b e ing u t i l ized i n t he F isherw ick a rea , b oth f or p ot tery a nd s a l t c on ta iner p roduct ion .

T he s a lt , t ranspor ted i n t he b r ique tage v esse ls,

was d istr ibu ted l oca l ly i n t he Ta me Va l ley a nd a s f ar west a s The Ber th i n S hropsh ire . The Ta me Va l ley was a lso p ar t o f t he Ma lvern ian p ot tery n etwork w ith e v idence o f s uch p ot tery i den t if ied a t t he F isherw ick s i tes . Th is s uggested d oub le n etwork o f e xchange i nd ica tes t he b roader c on tacts wh ich e ven sma l l f armsteads, s uch a s t hose a t F isherw ick , ma in ta ined d ur ing t he I ron Age .

I t

i s u ncer ta in y e t j ust h ow t hese c o m mod i t ies were t raded—d irect ly f ro m s ource t o s i te o r t hrough t rave l l ing t raders ; b y k insh ip e xchange s yste ms ; t hrough r ed istr ibu t ion c en tres ; o rb ar ter markets . Emphas is must b e s tressed o n t he p rel im inary a spec t o f t h is work . The p etro log ica l d escr ip t ions a re v a l id a s t hey a ppear , b u t t he i n terpretat ion o f s ources, p ar t icu lar ly f or t he s a l t , may a l ter w ith f ur ther work . ( E. L .M. )

5 7

BAKED CLAY FRAG MENTS AND MUD WALL ING J ohn S a mue ls

The e xcava t ions a t SK187082 p roduced a pprox i ma te ly 5 40 g ra m mes o f b aked c lay f rag men ts f ro m 1 3 c on tex ts, 9 o f wh ich were s tra t if ied . The b u lk o f t h is ma ter ia l c a me f ro m t he t erm ina ls o f t he r ing-d itch ( f eature 5 ) a nd a l arge p ost h o le ( f eature 1 93 ) s i tua ted a pprox i ma te ly m idway b e tween t he m . De ta i ls o ft he f i nds f ro m e ach c on tex t a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 . Most o f t he f ragmen ts e xam ined were o f h ard b aked c lay , t he l argest p ieces b e ing 5 cm x 5 cm x 2 cm, a nd a l though a f ew smoothed s ur faces were n oted , t here were n o s t ick i mpress ions o r s haped e dges l i ke t hose s een a t Ancaster ( May , 1 976, 1 34) wh ich m igh t h ave s uggested t he f or m o f t he s truct ure t ha t t hese f rag ments c a me f ro m . I tc an o n ly b e a ssu med t ha t t hey r epres en t t he r e ma ins o f h ear ths o r o vens . However , f our f ragmen ts, o f wh ich o ne f ro m t he h ear th ( f ea ture 9 3) was t he l argest ( f igure 1 5 ) , were o f af iner r ed s andy c lay wh ich h ad b een s haped a nd smoo thed.

They a re s im ilar t o t he b aked c lay c y l inder f ragmen t

f rom t he h i l lfor t a t S heeph i l l , Dunhar tonsh ire ( Mack ie , 1 977 , 2 13 a nd 4 41, f igure 3n u mber 2 ) wh ich was s uggested a s af ragmen to f ap our ing f unnel , p res umab ly i n a ssoc ia t ion w ith t he me ta lwork ing t ha t h ad t aken p lace .

B ear ing

t h is i nm ind i ti s i n terest ing t o n ote t he i nden t if ica t ion o f s lag f ro m s i te SK 187082 . T he e xcava t ions a t SK187082 a lso p roduced a pprox i ma te ly 3 000 g ra m mes o f f ragmen ts o f mudwa l l ing f ro m 1 4 c on tex ts o f wh ich 1 2 were s tra t if ied . The b u lk o ft h is ma ter ia l c ame f ro m t he t erm ina ls o f t he r ing-d itch , e spec ia l ly t ha t t o t he s ou th o f t he e n trance , a nd a r epresen ta t ive p iece i s i l lustra ted i n f i gure 1 5 . D e ta i ls o f t he f i nds f rom e ach c on tex t a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 . T h is ma ter ia l was l i gh t b rown d r ied mud a nd c on ta ined , i n v ary ing d egrees, a n a dm ixture o f g r its, sma l l p ebbles, c harcoa l a nd f ragmen ts o f f ired c lay .

None o f t he p ieces f o ind was l arger t han t ha t i l lustra ted wh ich

was a lso t he o n ly p iece w i th a smoo thed s ur face o r ap oss ib le s t ick i mpress ion .

O n s o me f ragmen ts sma l ler i mpress ions were v is ible , p ossib ly o f

c hopped g rass b ut a lso i nc lud ing o ne o rt wo p os it ive i den t if ica t ions o f t hres hed em mer a nd s pe lt s p ike le ts ( i n forma t ion p rov ided b y R .C . A lvey , Depar tmen t o f Archaeo logy , Un iversity o f N o t t ingham) . N one o f t he p ieces h ad b een f ired s o t h is was n o t o ven f abr ic b ut r a ther t he r e ma ins o f wat t l ing ( eg Dets icas , 1 966, 1 39 a nd P la te 2 ) , mud a nd s tud , o r mud c onstruct ion . Bu t wherea s i nt he f irst t wo p ossib i l it ies mud i s r endered o n t o a wooden f ramework , t he l ack o f f ur ther t imber i mpress ions a nd t he n ature o f t he ma ter ia l i t se lf i s i n t h is c ase more c o mparab le t o mud wa l l ing where sma l l p ebb les a nd o ther mat er ia ls a re u sed t o b ind t he mud t oge ther . Mud wa l ls a re o f ten b u i lt i n l ayers ( Anonymous, 1 837 , 5 29) , s ome t i mes w i th s traw l a id a t t he b eg inn ing o f e ach l ayer b u t n o e v idence o ft h is was s een i n t he f ragments e xa m ined . 5 9

T o p rov ide s o me p ro tect ion f ro m d a mp i ti su sua l i n modern e xa mp les f or t he mud wa l ls t o h ave b een b u i lt o n as tone f ounda t ion , b ut t h is w as n ot s tructura l ly n ecessary . I ts ee ms p robab le t ha t t he b u i ld ings a ssoc ia ted w ith t he r ing-d itch , n ot b e ing r epresen ted b y e i ther wa l l t renches o r p ost r ings, were o f mud wa l l c onstruct ion.

Wa lls o f t h is t ype wou ld h ave b een q u i te c ap-

a b le o ft ak ing t he f u l l we igh t o f t he r oof w ithou t a dd it iona l s uppor t , a l though w i thou t as tone f ounda t ion s uch a s tructure wou ld h ave h ad a s hor t l i fe .

6 0

F ig. 1 5

SK 1 87082 3 38

Baked c lay a nd mudwa l l ing

R omano- Br it ish p ottery

H31 1 1

( NI

a

SK 1 83098

1 09 b

C MS

5

r s

1

Med iaeva l

SK 1 87082 1 31 1

2 .,,,, •........ ... . . . .

• •. .

p o ttery

, . `; ', . ', .

2 1

3

B7 1

L31

J3 I l

66 1• 1 1 1 1 1

= 1• 1 1 1 1 1

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crns

= 3

4 J C W

F ig. 1 6

Romano-Br i t ish a nd med iaeva l p o t tery

6 1

RO MANO-BR ITISH POTTERY J ohn S amue ls

On ly n ine s herds o f Ro mano-Br it ish p o t tery were f ound d ur ing t he e xcava t ions r epor ted o n h ere , o ne e ach f ro m SK 183098 a nd SK187080 a nd s even f ro m SK 187082 .

Two s herds f ro m SK187082 were s tra t if ied , o ne i n

t he u pper l eve ls o f t he I ron Age e nc losure d itch ( con tex t 3 38a f igure 1 6) a nd t he o ther i n ar e la ted f i e ld b oundary ( con tex t 1 09b f igure 1 6) .

De ta i ls o f a l l

t he s herds a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 . Th is ma ter ia l , a nd p o t tery f ro m f i e ld wa lk ing i n t he a rea ( Sm ith , C , 1 977b, 1 69-74) , i nc ludes s herds o f M id lands t ype mor tar ia

Derbysh ire Ware ,

g rey wares a nd S am ian , a nd a s ag roup i s s im ilar t o t he mater ial f ro m t h E Ro mano-Br it ish f armstead e xcava ted a t SK 185102 (M i les, 1 969 1 4-9) . The , c o l lect ion f ro m t he e xcava t ions c an b e r egarded a s e v idence f or Ro manoBr it ish a gr icu ltura l a ct iv it ies i n t he a rea d ur ing t he 2 nd a nd 3 rd c en tur ies A .D .

6 2

MED IAEVAL AND LATER POTTERY Chr istopher Sm i th

Twen ty-seven s herds o f med iaeva l p o t tery were f ound d ur ing t he i nv est iga t ions a t s i te SK187082 , f if teen a s s urface f inds ( f igure 5 c) , e leven d uri ng t he e xcava t ion o f t he t opso i l a nd o ne s tra t if ied w i th in a f eature ( 66) .

The

g enera l s ta te o f k now ledge o n med iaeva l p o t tery i n t he a rea ( up t o a bout 1 976) h as b een s u m mar ised e lsewhere ( Sm ith , C , 1 977 1 2, 1 74 - 8 1) a nd t he c lassi f ica t ion emp loyed t here h as a lso b een u sed f or t h is mater ia l . Most o f t he s herds f ound were o f B uf f Ware wh ich i s t he most c o m mon t ype o f med iaeva l p ot tery f ound i n t he a rea . Th is t ype o f p ot tery h ad a l ong c urrency a nd i nd iv idua l s herds c ou ld d a te f ro m a nywhere b etween t he l a te 1 2th c en tury a nd t he e nd o f t he 1 4th . I ti s , h owever , s ome t i mes p ossib le t o d ist i ngu ish e ar l ier f ro m l a ter ma ter ia l o n g rounds o f i t s s of ter f abr ic, s lacker f orms a nd s i mp ler r im p rof i les.

L a ter e xamp les o f Buf f Ware a re of ten v ery

h ard w ith e labora te a nd s harp ly a ngu lar r im f orms . Th is a ssemb lage , wh ich i nc ludes b oth e ar ly a nd l a te t ypes, p robab ly emana ted f ro m t he s e t t lemen t o f T ymore wh ich l ay a pprox i ma te ly h a lf a k i lometre t o t he n or th a t SKI 8 7087 . Par t o ft h is s ite was e xcava ted i n 1 97 1, a nd a l though t he r esu l ts a re a s y e t u npubl ished a n e xam ina t ion o ft he ma ter ia l i nd ica tes t ha t i ti s c losely c o mp arable t o t ha t b e ing c ons idered . The a va i lab le s ources i nd ica te t ha t Tymore was o ccup ied f ro m a t l east t he l a te 1 1th c en tury d own t o t he e ar ly 1 4th , a nd s uggest t ha t i t may h ave b een c omp le te ly d epopu lated b y t he e nd o ft ha t c en tury ( Sm ith , C ,1977 1 2, 2 01 - 4 6) . T here i s a lso e v idence t ha t t he a rab le l and o f t he manor was b e ing e xpanded i n t he v ic in ity o f t he s i te a t SK 187082 d ur ing t he l a t ter p ar t o f t he 1 3 th c en tury a nd s uch a ct iv ity w ou ld p rov ide a c on tex t f or t he f inds a t t he s i te . The a ssemblage f rom SK187082 i s n otab le f or t he a l most c o mp le te a bsence o f S andy Wares, t he o ther most c om mon l oca l t ype o f Med iaeva l p o tt ery . S andy Wares a re t hough t t o o ver lap i n d a te w i th t he Buf f Wares b u t a ppear t o h ave b egun e ar l ier . I ft he ma ter ia l a t SK 187082 c an b e a ccoun ted f or a s manur ing d ebr is f rom a l a te 1 3 th c en tury e xpans ion o f a rable l and i ti s n o t s urpr is ing t ha t e ar l ier t ypes a re p oor ly r epresen ted . S im i lar ly i fT y more was d epopu la ted i nt he 1 4th c en tury t h is wou ld a ccoun t f or t he p auc ity o f l a ter wares . L a te med iaeva l p o t tery i s r are i n t he Ta me Va l ley a s a who le ( Sm ith , C , 1 977 1 2 1 81) . F or ty-f ive s herds o fp ost- med iaeva l p ot tery were a lso c o l lected f ro m t he s ur face a nd t opso i l.

Wh i le t h is g roup i nc luded a f ew s herds o f p ossib ly

1 6 th & 1 7 th c en tury wares t he b u lk o ft he ma ter ia l was o f 1 8th , 1 9 th o r e arly 2 0 th c en tury

d a te.

L ike most o f t he p ost-Iron Age p ot tery o n t he s i te t h is

ma ter ia l p robab ly r ef lects t he a gr icu ltura l a ct iv i t ies o f t he l oca l f armers .

6 3

METAL AND SLAG C hr istopher Sm i th

T he o n ly p ieces o f a nc ien t meta l work r ecovered d ur ing t he e xcava t ions a t F isherw ick a re t he c orroded f rag men ts o f i ron s p ind les s urv iv ing i n t he b eeh ive r otary q uerns f ro m SK18708z a nd SK187083 ( page 6 5 ) ( f igure 1 7) . O ccas iona l f ragmen ts o f n a i l a nd w ire were f ound i n t he t opso i l b ut t hese were p robab ly o f q u ite r ecen t d a te . Sma l l q uan t it ies o f s lag were a lso f ound a t s i tes SK183098 a nd 5K187082 , a nd d e ta i ls a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 .

A lthough most o f t h is mater ia l was i den-

t i f ied macroscop ica l ly a s f ue l a sh s lag i t was d ec ided t o c heck t h is i den t if ic a t ion b y a na lys is . Accord ing ly , as amp le was s ub m it ted t o Dr . D . A . J enk ins o ft he Un ivers ity C o l lege o f Nor th Wa les, Bangor who c arr ied o ut a s em iquan t i ta t ive a rc s pectrograph ic a na lys is . a na lys is a re s e t o u t I n a ppend ix 3 .

T he r esu l ts o f Dr . J enk ins '

He c o m men ts t ha t t he c o mpos it ion o f t he

s a mp le c orresponds g enera l ly t o t ha t o f as i l ic ic i gneous r ock a nd d oes n ot s uggest a ny me ta l work ing . F ue l a sh s lag c an b e p roduced b y av ar ie ty o f i ndustr ia l p rocesses a nd n eed n o t r epresen t me ta l lurgy . I ft h is s lag d oes r epresen t meta l w ork ing t he o res must h ave b een sme lted s o e f f ic ien t ly t ha t n one r eached t he s lag .

I ti s

j ust a s l i ke ly t ha t t he s lag r ef lec ts s o me o ther i ndustr ia l p rocess, s uch a s t he manufacture o f s a l t wh ich i s a t tested b y o ther e v idence f ro m t he s i te .

6 4

STONE ARTIFACTS J ohn S a mue ls

Q uerns a nd Rubbers T he f inds f ro m t he e xcava t ions a t F isherw ick i nc lude p ar ts o f t hree b eeh ive r otary q uerns ( two t opstones f ro m SK187082 a nd a b ot to m s tone f ro m SK187083 , f i gure 1 7 ) , t wo s add le q uerns ( one e ach f ro m SK187082 a nd SK187083 , f i gure 1 8) , aq uar tz ite r ubber ( SK 187082 , f igure 1 8) , a nd a r otary q uern s ize b lock o f m i l lstone g r it .

Fu l l d eta i ls o f e ach f ind w i l l b e f ound i n a ppend ix 3 .

Un for tuna te ly t here h as b een l i t t le s yste ma t ic r esearch o n q uerns wh ich e nab les t he m t o b e d ated v ery p rec ise ly .

The b eeh ive r otary q uern s ee ms t o

h ave b een i n troduced s o me t ime i n t he e ar ly I ron Age a nd o n s o me s i tes, s uch a s Ancaster (May , 1 976, 1 36) , S a l monbury ( Dunn ing , 1 977 , 1 14) a nd F isherw ick a ppears t o h ave b een a long s ide w ith s add le q uerns.

Bo th o f t he t opstones f ound

a t F isherw ick a re o f t he g roup b road ly k nown a s t he Hunsbury t ype ( Ph i l ips, 1 950 , 7 6) , f igure 1 7a w ith t he mou lded r im b e ing o f t ype A a nd f igure 1 7b w ith i t s more r ounded r im o f t ype B .

I ron f i t t ings h ave b een f ound i n q uerns

o f t hese t ypes o ver much o f t he East M id lands a nd a ga in a t Ancaster . A t Breedon-on-the-H i l l i n L e icestersh ire i t was t hough t t ha t t he q uerns h ad b een d epos ited i n t he p re-Ro man I ron Age , a lthough (May 1 976 , 1 37 ) h as p o in ted t o t he c on t inuous u se o f b eeh ive r otary q uerns i n to t he Ro man p er iod . And , a l though i t migh t b e s upposed t ha t t he r o tar y q uern s uperseded t he s add le q uern , Dunn ing ( 1977 , 1 15) h as s uggested t he ir c on te mporary u se i n s o me a reas i n t he l a ter I ron Age .

I ti s a t p resen t t hen i mposs ib le t o b e a ny more p rec ise

a bou t t he d a te o f manufacture o f t he q uerns a t F isherw ick . The o r ig in o f t he mi l lstone g r it u sed f or t he F isherw ick q uerns i s n ot e as i ly i den t if iab le a s mi l lstone g r it o u tcrops w ide ly i n n e ighbour ing Derbysh ire . T he l arge b lock o f mi l lstone g r it f ound i n t he e nc losure d itch a t SK187082 h ad c lear ly b een b rough t t o t he s i te b u t whe ther f or t he manufacture o f aq uern c annot b e d eterm ined .

6 5

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FL INT ARTIFACTS C hr istopher Sm ith

E igh t f l in t a r t ifacts were f ound d ur ing t he e xcava t ions a t F isherw ick , t wo a t 5K183098 a nd s ix a t SK 187082 . De ta i ls o f e ach a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 a nd a l l b ut o ne a re i l lustra ted i nf igure 1 9 . A lthough e xcava ted f i nds h ave b een r epor ted o n f ro m t ime t o t ime ( v iz: M iles, 1 969 ; May , 1 970 ; P h i l l ips, 1 971; Sm ith , 1 975) t here i s a s y e t n o g enera l s tudy o f f l in t a r t ifac ts f ro m t he Tren t g rave ls . Ma ter ia l c o l lected d ur ing f i e ld wa lk ing i n t he T a me v a l ley h as b een d iscussed b y C . Sm ith ( 1977 1 3, 1 54-165) a nd S av i l le h as r eassessed t he c o mpara t ive ly l arge a sse mb lage f ro m Bourne Poo l, A ldr idge ( Sav i l le , 1 973) .

A l l p rev ious work i n t he a rea h as t o

s o me e x ten t u sed t he c lass i f ica t ion f irst emp loyed b y C lark e t a l . a t H urst Fen , S uf fo lk ( Clark , H iggs a nd L ongwor th , 1 960 2 14-226) , a nd t h is i s f o l lowed h ere a s f ar a s p oss ib le . The g roup r epor ted o n h ere i nc luded f our c ores. One w ith o ne s tr ik ing p la t form f ro m wh ich f l akes h ad b een r emoved a l l r ound ( C lark ' st ype A l) ( SK183098-1) , o ne w ith t wo p ara l le l s tr ik ing p la tforms ( C lark ' st ype B 1) ( 5K187082-312) , o ne w i th mu l t ip le s tr ik ing p la tforms ( C lark ' st ype C ) ( SK 1 87082-L41) , a nd o ne k ee led c ore w i th more t han o ne s tr ik ing p la tform ( Clark 's t ype E ) ( SK187082-H2I1 ) .

T he l a t ter was p robab ly a lso u t i lized a s ac ore-

s craper . The i mp le men ts f ound c ons isted o f as craper n ot o bv ious ly b e long ing t o a ny o f C lark ' st ypes b e ing a c o mpos ite e nd a nd s ide s craper made o n wha t a ppears t o b e ac ore r e juvena t ion f l ake ( SK187082-K8I ) a nd p ar t o f ab roken l eaf-shape a rrowhead ( SK 187082-A4I ). The r e ma in ing t wo p ieces i n t he g roup were a f l ake a nd ab lade ( SK 183098-12) . On ly t he l eaf-shape a rrow h ead b e longs t o a we l l k nown t ype o f a rt ifact , a nd a s s uch was p robab ly c asua l ly l ost o n t he s i te s o me t ime d ur ing t he N eo l ith ic p er iod t o b e s ubsequen t ly b roken b y p lough ing . t o t he f eatures e xcava ted .

I tb ears n o r e la t ion

O f t he r e ma inder t he A l c ore a nd b lade f ro m

SK183098 a nd t he B 1 c ore a nd f l ake f ro m SK187082 a l l c ame f ro m s tra t if ied c on tex ts . s o i l .

The r e ma in ing C & E c ores a nd t he s craper were f ound i n t he t op-

None o f t hese o b jec ts b ear a ny c lose r ese mb lance t o f l in t work o f t he

N eo l ith ic o r Bronze Age p er iods a nd t he f act t ha t s o me o f t hem were s tra t if ied i n f eatures d a ted o n o ther e v idence t o t he I ron Age s uggests t ha t t hey may b e long t o t ha t p er iod .

Th is was t he v iew a dop ted b y Ma y i n c ons ider ing t he

ma ter ia l r ecovered d ur ing t he e xcavat ion o f a n I ron Age s quare e nc losure p robab ly a b arrow

a t A ston u pon Tren t ( May , 1 970 1 6-8) .

T hese o b jects

b ear a g enera l s im i lar ity t o t he F isherw ick mater ia l a nd p rov ide o ne o f t he f ew p ara l le ls a va i lab le i n t he a rea .

An a l terna t ive e xp lana t ion wou ld b e t ha t

t hey r epresen t t he r e ma ins o f a n i mpover ished e ar l ier i ndustry s urv iv ing i n 6 7

r es idua l c on tex ts .

S uch impover ish men t c ou ld h ave c o me a bou t e i ther t hrough

a n a cu te s carc ity o f g ood r aw ma ter ia ls o r as parc i ty o f s et t le men t . A lthough t he r aw ma ter ia ls a va i lab le a t F isherw ick were l im ited , b e ing f l in t p ebb les b rough t i n to t he a rea a s p ar t o f t he Eastern Dr if t o f t he Wo lston ian ( penu l t i ma te) G lac ia t ion , o ther f i nds f ro m t he a rea s how t hat i t was q u i te p oss ib le t o p roduce e xa mp les o f ah igh s tandard o f workmansh ip ( Sm i th , C . 1 977 1 9, 1 54-65) . I ti s a lso c lear t ha t p re-Iron A ge s e t t le men t i n t he F isherw ick a rea was f ar f ro m s carce ( Sm ith , C . f or thcom ing ) .

On b a lance , i ts eems

more l i ke ly t ha t t he F isherw ick f l in t work , l i ke t ha t f ro m Aston u pon Tren t , r epresen ts a g enu ine I ron Age f l in t k napp ing i ndustry , a lbe it b u t ap a le r ef lect i on o f i t s a n teceden ts .

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WATERLOGGED WOOD RE MAINS P . W i l l iams

I NTRODUCTION Tw igs a nd l arger p ieces o f wood w ere f ound t hroughou t t he wa ter logged d epos i ts i n t he e nc losure d i tch a t s i te SK187082 . D e ta i ls o f a l l t hese f i nds a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3w ith a n a ccoun t o ft he me thods o f i den t if icat ion u sed a nd a d iscuss ion o f s o me s pec if ic p rob lems wh ich d o n ot a ppear t o h ave b een f u l ly t aken i n to a ccoun t i n e ar l ier work . As ta t ist ica l b reakdown o f t he s pec imens i den t if ied i s g iven i n T ab le I a long w ith c o mpara t ive p o l len d a ta p rov ided b y J . R . A . Gre ig . I nt he f o l low ing s ec t ion c ons idera t ion i s g iven t o wha t a re , a rchaeo log ica l ly , t he t wo most i mpor tan t a spects o f t h is c lass o f e v idence ; v iz : t he e co log ica l s ign i f icance o f t he p resence o fv ar ious s pec ies a t t he s i te a nd t he e v idence f or I ron Age woodwork ing a nd c arpen try p rov ided b y t he a r t ifac ts i den t if ied among t he s pec i mens c o l lec ted . E co log ica l c ons idera t ions W i th t he e xcep t ion o f A sh ( Frax inus e xce ls ior ) , a l l t he s pec i mens r ecorded i n T ab le I wou ld b e e xpec ted t o o ccur o n t he g rave l p la in w i th a h igh w a ter t ab le . A lder ( Alnus g lu t inosa ) i s at yp ica l t ree o f w e t a reas, n owadays r estr ict ed t o s tream , r iver a nd l ake b anks, b u t p robab ly more w idespread w here t here was g rea ter f ores t c over . H aze l ( Cory lus a ve l lana ) i s ac o mmon sma l l t ree o r s hrub o f woods, s crub o r h edges, o n d amp o r we l l d ra ined s o i ls . I to f ten f orms t he s hrub l ayer b enea th o ak o n modera te ly a c id s o i ls o rb enea th a sh o n c a lcareous s o i ls . I t may b e d om inan t i n s crub o n e xposed l imestone . H aze l i sw ind p o l l ina ted , t he f l owers a ppear ing b efore t he l eaves .

F lower ing

I s i nh ib ited b y s hade a nd i st herefore o n ly p ro l if ic i n o pen s crub , o n t he e dges o f w oods, i n c lear ings, o rw here c opp ic ing h as o ccurred . H aw thorn ( Cra taegus monogyna ) , i s n ow a h edge p lan t b u t w as o r ig ina l ly o fw idespread o ccurrence a round f orest c lear ings . A sh ( Frax inus e xce ls ior ) , i su ndoub ted ly a p lan t o fb ase r ich s o i l , e .g . l imes tone o r c ha lk p la teaux , o r s teep a reas where s o i l movemen t i s s uf f ic ien t t o ma in ta in a h igh b ase c on ten t . A s 4 h was r epresen ted b y o n ly a s ing le a r t ifact ( con tex t 3 01 j) i tc ou ld e as i ly h ave b een i mpor ted t o t he a rea . B lack thorn ( Prunus s p inosa ) i s n ow r estr ic ted t o h edgerows a nd s crub a reas , b u t p robab ly o ccurred o r ig ina l ly i n more o pen f orest a reas , O ak ( Quercus s p .) i s af orest t ree a nd wou ld h ave g rown o n t he f l ood p la in a s w e l l a s o n h igher g round .

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W i l low ( Sa l ix s p .) i s at yp ica l we t l and a nd wa ters ide p lan t , of ten u sed b y man . E lder ( Sambucus n igra ) , i s r epresen ted b y o n ly e igh t s pec i mens f rom o ne c on tex t ( 338d ) . I ti s ap lan t of ten a ssoc ia ted w i th h u man h ab ita t ion a nd a ct iv i ty . I ti s s a id t o b e n i troph i lous b ut p robab ly p hosphate a nd o pen s i tes a re a lso a n a dvan tage . C ou ld i th ave b een e ncouraged f or i t s b err ies w h ich were p ro l if ic i n t he s eed s amp les c o l lec ted? T he l ack o f H aw thorn Q . monogyna ) i n t he p o l len s pectru m when i ti s a s ubstan t ia l c o mponen t o ft he wood c o l lec t ion c an t o s o me e x ten t b e e xp la ined b y t he f ac t t ha t i ti s i nsec t p o l l ina ted a nd d oes n o t p roduce a s much p o l len a s w ind p o l l ina ted t ypes . T he sma l l q uan t ity o f H aze l ( p _ . a ve l lana ) i n t he w ood s amp les when t here was s o much p o l len i s more d if f icu l t t o e xp la in . I t c ou ld h ave b een g row ing s ome d istance away . B e ing w ind p o l l ina ted i tp rod uces p o l len c op ious ly b u t o n ly when g row ing i n a n o pen s i tua t ion . T h is s uggests t ha t a ny H aze l g row ing i n t he a rea may h ave b een d e l ibera te ly o r u n in ten t iona l ly c opp iced . I t may b e s ign if ican t t ha t t he o n ly s pec imens o f H aze l i den t if ied w ere a rt ifac ts ( con tex t 3 011) . T he e v idence f or w oodwork ing a nd c arpen try O ft he 4 09 s pec i mens o f wa ter logged wood i den t if ied , t we lve p roved , o n e xam ina t ion , t o b e a r t ifacts . I n t he f o l low ing s ec t ion t hey a re g rouped a ccord ing t o t he c on tex ts i n wh ich t hey were f ound . 8 4d/ f 1 . A l arge f ragmen t o f h ear twood o f O ak ( Quercus s p .) ,105 m m x 7 5 mm x3 7 mm ( f igure 2 1) . T h is s pec i men a ppears t o h ave f ormed p art o f ac aref u l ly made j o in t o r s ocke t . T he f act t ha t t he o bverse s ide i s p ar t ly c arbon ised , b u t t he wood i s o therw ise s ound , s uggests t ha t t he j o in t may h ave b een p ar t o f as truc ture d estroyed b y f i re , a nd s ubsequen t ly f e l l o r was t hrown i n to t he e nc losure d i tch . 2 . Ab ranch o f A lder ( A lnus g lu t inosa ) , 1 65 m m x 2 0 mm ( f igure 2 1; P la te I V) . Both e nds a re c lear ly c u t b ut n o t p repared f or a ny s pec if ic p urpose . T he p ho tograph ( P la te I V ) s hows t he t yp ica l b ru is ing a nd t ear ing o f t he wood f i bres a nd v esse ls i nt he f i r st p ar t o f t he b low , f o l lowed b y ac leaner c u t where t he t i ssues were c ompressed . T h is wou ld s uggest t ha t t he i nstrumen t u sed was n o t v ery s harp , a nd a lso t ha t t he wood was wh i ls t b e ing c u t .

s uppor ted o n ab lock

8 4 1 1 . As awn o r s p l it p lank o f O ak ( Quercus s p .) , 2 40 m m x 6 3 mm x 2 0 mm , w i th f l a t s ides s how ing s igns o f t oo l marks ( f igures 2 0b a nd 2 1) . E igh t g row th r ings were c oun ted a cross a s ect ion f ro m t he w idest p ar t . T h is s pec imen h as b een t angen t ia l ly s p l i t p ara l le l t o t he g row th r ings ; i .e . a t r igh t a ng les t o t he d irect ion i nw h ich s pec i men n umber 2b e low was p repared . 2 . Ap iece o fw orked O ak ( Quercus s p .) , r ad ia l ly s p l i t f ro m a l arger l og , t he s pec i men b e ing 3 00 m m x 8 8 mm x3 4 t o 4m m ( f igures 2 0c a nd 2 2 ;

7 3

F ig. 2 0

Rad ia l ly a nd t angen t ia l ly s p l it p lanks ( a )

Quercus t h in s ect ion s how ing o r ien ta t ion o f r ays , r ings a nd v essels

( b ) Tangen t ia l ly s p l i t p lank ( c ) Rad ia l ly s p l it p lank

7 4

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The o b ject c ou ld h ave b een t he e nd o f ap lank b u t t he s hape , n arrow ing g radua l ly f rom a max i mum t h ickness o f 3 4 mm t o as harp e dge o f 4 m m—w ith a d ist inc t " aero fo i l" s hape i n c ross s ect ion s uggests t ha t i t may h ave b een p ar t o f at oo l s uch a s as pade o r p add le.

The e dge d oes n o t s ee m t ob e t he r esu l t

o f an a tura l f rac ture a long t he l i ne o f t he g row th r ings , a s c lear s igns o f t oo l work ing a re v is ible. The c onvex s ides d o n o t f o l low t he n a tura l l ine o f t he r ays , a nd s ee m t o h ave b een c arefu l ly " c leaned u p" w i th a s harp c u t t ing i n s trumen t . T he s uggest ion t ha t t he " aero fo i l" s ect ion h as b een d e l ibera te ly p roduced i s s uppor ted b y t he f ac t t ha t a n u n tr i mmed r ad ia l ly s p l i t p lank w ou ld h ave s ides p ara l le l t o t he r ays, whereas i nt h is s pec i men t he s ides h ave b een t r i mmed a t a n a ng le o f 1 00 t o 2 5o t o t he r ays . E xam ina t ion o f t he d ispos i t ion o f v esse ls i nt h in s ec t ions, c lear ly s hows t ha t t he more b lun t ly r ounded e dge o f t he o b jec t was c u t f rom n ear t he c en tre o f t he t ree , wh i lst t he t h inner e dge was f rom n ear t he o u ts ide o f t he t ree ( f igure 2 0 ) . The p resence o f a bundan t t y loses i nt he v esse ls s hows t ha t t he o b jec t w as c u t f rom t he h ear twood o f t he t ree . T h ir ty-e igh t g row th r ings were c oun ted o n at ransverse s ec t ion c u t a cross t he w idest p ar t o f t he s pec i men .

A l though t hey w ere n o t al arge e nough

s amp le t o j ust ify t he l abour o f c arefu l d endrochrono log ica l a na lys is, t he s pec i men d oes c lear ly s how a s pan o f a bou t t wen ty r e la t ive ly w ide g row th r ings f o l lowed b y e igh teen much n arrower r ings ( f igure 2 0c) . 3 . Ap iece o f O ak ( Quercussp .)poss ib ly b roken f rom s pecimen n u mber 2 a bove , 9 0 mm x4 5 mm x 2 0 mm . 3 01 j/ I 1 . Ac arefu l ly s haped p iece o f A sh ( Frax inus e xce ls ior ) , 9 0 mm l ong w ith a max i mu m d iame ter o f 2 0 mm a nd t aper ing t o 1 5 mm a t e ach e nd ( f igu re 2 1 ; P la tes I V) . As lo t h as b een c u t t hrough t he w idest p ar t t hrough wh ich ar ope o rt hong c ou ld b e t i ed . T he p iece i s t oo sma l l t o b e at oo l h ead o r h and le a nd p robab ly s erved a s at ogg le f or s ecur ing c lo th ing .

T h is i st he o n ly

s pec i men o f A sh i den t if ied f ro m t he s i te a nd a s n o p o l len o f A sh h as b een r ec orded i ts eems l i ke ly t ha t t he t ogg le was a n "i mpor ted " p roduct . 2 . Ac arved p iece o f O ak ( Quercus s p .) h ear twood , 9 0 mm l ong w i th a max imu m w id th o f 3 2 mm a nd a max i mum t h ickness o f 1 4 mm ( f igure 2 1) . T he s pec i men h as a r ounded p o in t a t o ne e nd , b u t i s c u t o f f s tra igh t a tt he o ther .

O ne f ace was c arefu l ly c arved t o p resen t ar ounded s ur face w h i lst t he

o ppos ing f ace was q u ite f l a t . T h is f l a t s ur face i sp ara l le l t o t he r ays o f t he w ood , a nd may r epresen t a n a cc iden ta l f ea ture i ft he s pec i men was s p l it f rom al arger c o mp le te ly c y l indr ica l p o in t . T he f ace d oes s how s o me p ossib le t oo l marks a nd i ti s q u i te l i ke ly t ha t t he f ace was d e l ibera te ly c u t t o p roduce t wo s harp e dges o f a sma l l s craper o r k n ife. 3 . Ac arefu l ly c arved c y l indr ica l p eg o f H aze l ( Cory lus a ve l lana ) ,w i th a s hank 2 5 mm l ong a nd 1 5 .5 m m i n d iame ter , a nd a l arger h ead a bou t 2 0 mm l ong a nd 2 3 mm i n d iame ter ( f igure 2 1 ; P la te I V ) . The e nd o f t he s hank i s c u t v ery c lean ly a t r igh t a ng les t o t he l ong a x is. I ti s n ot c lear whe ther t he e n t i re o b jec t was a r a ther sma l l p eg , o r whe ther t h is r epresen ts o n ly t he h ead p or t ion o f al arger p eg , wh ich was t r i mmed o f f a f ter b e ing d r iven i n to a j o in t .

7 6

4. A pointed shaft of Hazel (Corylus avellana), 243 mm long, broken into sixteen pieces, varying in diameter from 8 mm near the point to 10 mm (fig­ ure 21 Plate IV). This shaft may have been part of an arrow, the pointed end perhaps fitting into the socket of a metal head. 302f The pointed end of a stake of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) about 45 m m long and 35 mm in diameter (figure 21). The point has been carefully trimmed with a sharp tool, and is slightly off-centre. This may have been a deliberate feature as such an arrangement would make it easier for the stake to by-pass stones when being driven into the ground, and is common practice to-day. 305f A trimmed branch of Alder (Alnus glutinosa) 145 mm long and 25 mm in diameter (figure 21). One end was clearly severed by two blows from a sharp cutting instrument. A side branch has been lopped off with a single cut and the remaining e nd is irregular and broken, showing no sisrns of being c t. 338d

A p ece of branch of Willow (Salix sp. cf. a -�t� , with well prese ved bark shmvfnrr tew e ticels, 105 mm by 25 mm. The epidermis is still prese 1 and longitudinal furrows visible (figure 21 ). One end has a clean oblique cut, in­ dicating the use of a sharp tool. gb + . ot oossibl� to make a re ia.b e distinction between many o the e BI;! f Willow (Sa. ix p .. ), on the asls of wood an.a .omy alone, the r 0 .r loni;ritud nal striations beneath the bark confirm that the species is not the com­ m n Goat Wi low, (Sallx caprea)or the Crack Willow @_.fragllis). The Eared Sallow @.aurlta) has well developed striations clearly visible be eat the bark, whilQt it is necPssary to strip to see the striations in the Common Willow (� atrocinerea); or in �.cinerea. The last species ls at present confined to easte EnP"l nd. rt ls most likely that the specimen ls Salix aurita. 1

Cl

77

THE ANI MAL BONE J ud i S tar t in

As a mp le o f 9 6 f ragmen ts o fb one was c o l lec ted f ro m s i te SK187082 a nd e xam ined . O f t hese 8 1 c ame f ro m t he ma in e nc losure d itch , a nd 1 5 f ro m t he h u t a rea . S o me 6 3 s pec i mens were d ef in ite ly a ss igned t o s pec ies, t he r ema inder c onsist ing ma in ly o f sma l l t oo th a nd r ib f ragmen ts . C a t t le , p igs, s heep ( or g oa ts) , h orses, a nd r ed d eer were r epresen ted , i n t he p ropor t ions g iven b e low . T he f igures were c a lcu la ted b y t he T ota l Number o f Fragmen ts me thod , b ecause o f t he sma l l s ize o f t he s amp le . An i ma l

No .

C a t t le

4 4

7 0

P ig

8

1 3

S heep/goa t

3

5

Horse

7

Deer

1

T o ta l

6 3

1 1

1 1 00

T he s a mp le i s c lear ly t oo sma l l f or d ef in ite c onc lusions t o b e d rawn , b ut i ts ee ms l i ke ly t ha t c a t t le were k ep t i n l arger n u mbers t han p igs o r s heep , wh i le t he p resence o f a l l t hree o f t hese s pec ies s uppor ts t he b ody o f t he e nv iron men ta l e v idence f ro m F isherw ick . T he ma jor ity o f t he s pec i mens e xa m ined were t he b ones o f d o mest ica ted a n ima ls, b ut t he a n t ler f ragmen t c ou ld we l l h ave b een c o l lected , a nd t he p ig h u merus ( 301 j) was s o l arge t ha t i t must r epresen t aw i ld b oar . T hree s pec i mens were b utchered , a nd t hese , a t l east , r epresen t f ood r efuse .

The a n i ma l b one f ro m F isherw ick was i n e x tre me ly p oor c ond it ion ,

e spec ia l ly t ha t f ro m t he h ut a rea , f ro m where o n ly t he most c o mpac t b ones, s uch a s t ee th , s urv ived .

T he b one f ro m t he e nclosure d i tch was i nb et ter

c ond i t ion , a nd d id i nclude s o me i m ma ture s pec imens, b ut i ti s l i ke ly t hat s o me p ost e xcava t ion e xpans ion o ft he b one t ook p lace , wh ich i s r ef lected i n t he e x tre me ly l arge s ize o f t he p ig h u merus. T hus t he i n forma t ion g a ined f ro m t he a n i ma l b ones, must b e r egarded a s s econdary t o t ha t g a ined f rom t he i nsect , s eed a nd p o l len r e ma ins, wh ich were g rea t ly f avoured b y t he c ond i t ions a t t he s i te .

7 9

S EEDS AND POLLEN FRO M S ITE SK187082 J . R . A . GREIG

S eeds The s eeds l i sted were o bta ined f ro m t he r esidues o f t he b ee t le e xt rac t ion p rocess u sed b y P . J . O sborne ( 1 1 a nd 3 01 j) ; i ti s l og ica l t o b reak d own as ing le s a mp le a nd e x tract t he v ar ious t ypes o f r e ma ins f ro m i t , where p oss ib le .

T he p o l len , h owever , was o bta ined f ro m a sma l l s a mp le c o l lected

o n s i te ( 302p e spec ia l ly f or t h is p urpose b y t he wr iter a nd t hen t rea ted i n t he a ppropr ia te manner i n t he l abora tory .

Ac er ta in amoun t o f f i e ldwork was

c arr ied o u t o n s i te , l ook ing a t t he p resen t d ay , ma in ly weedy , f l ora . T he p lan t r e ma ins may b e l og ica l ly d iscussed i n g roups a ccord ing t o t he ir most l i ke ly h ab ita ts, b ased o n C lapha m , T ut in & Warburg ( 1962 ) . T here a re s evera l s igns o ff u l ly a qua t ic p lan ts, wh ich wou ld o n ly g row where t here was ad ep th o f wa ter a l l t he y ear r ound . T he s eeds o f L e mna s p . ( Duckweed) were v ery a bundan t , a s were t hose o f R anuncu lus s ubg . Ba trach iu m ( Water Crowf oot ) , t he v ar ious s pec ies o f wh ich g row i n h ab ita ts r ang ing f ro m mud t o sw if t water .

The i nd ica t ions a re o f s t i l l wa ter , i n wh ich Potamogeton wou ld b e

u sua l .

Ev ident ly t here was a s tage when t h is d i tch h e ld wa ter .

T here a re f ar more s eeds f ro m p lan ts wh ich g row i n v ery d amp g round a long t he s ides o f d itches o r where t hey h ave b eco me s i lted u p , a nd s o me o f t he s eed r ecords p robab ly c orrespond w ith p ar ts o f t he p o l len l i sts ; t he 4% r ecord o f Cyperaceae p o l len a nd t he a bundan t C arex ( Sedge )

s eeds wou ld r e-

p resen t s edges g row ing a long t he d i tch e dges, a l though t h is was s o me th ing n o t e v iden t i n t he d i tches t here t oday . L ycopus e uropaeus ( Gypsywor t ) i s a bundan t i n t he s eed r ecord , b u t i ti s n ot a p lan t t o s how u p i n t he p o l len r ecord s ince t h is g roup d oes n ot s cat ter much p o l len . J uncus ( Rush ) h as t i ny s eeds, many o f wh ich p robab ly g e t l ost t hrough t he 3 00 micron mesh s ieves, a nd i t s p o l len i s n ever f ound , b ut G a l iu m p a lustre ( Marsh Bedstraw ) , o r L ychn is f l osc ucu l i ( Ragged Rob in) s eeds p robab ly c orrespond t o t he a ppropr ia te p o l len r ecords, a lthough i n t he c ase o f P o lygonu m h ydrop iper ( Wa ter-Pepper ) t here i s n o p o l len .

P lan ts o f d a mp g round s tand a much b e t ter c hance o fb eco m ing

i ncorpora ted i n to a naerob ic d epos its n ear where t hey were g row ing , a nd t hereb y p reserved , t han p lan ts o f r e la t ive ly d ry h ab i ta ts, u n less man a l ters t h ings b y t ranspor t ing p lan t ma ter ia l a bou t .

H owever t h is we t land v egeta t ion wou ld

a ppear t o b e a l most e n t ire ly n a tura l a par t f ro m t he p ossib le e f fects o f g razi ng n oted b y P . J . O sborne . P lan t r ecords o f e spec ia l i n terest a re C on iu m macu la tu m ( He m lock )wh ich d oes n ot a ppear t o b e ' mown i n Br ita in b efore t he Ro man p er iod ( Godw in , 1 975) , emphas ising t he i mpor tance o f p re-Roman s i tes where t here a re g ood c ond i t ions f or p lan t p reserva t ion . T here d oes n o t s ee m t o b e ap re-Ro man r ecord f or B idens t r ipar t ita ( Bur- Mar igo ld) e i ther .

8 1

I ti s ap i ty t ha t c ond it ions were t oo a c id f or s na ils, t he r e ma ins o f wh ich m igh t h ave p rov ided e ven more i n forma t ion a bout wha t t he d itch a nd i t s i mmed ia te s urround ings were l i ke , b ut t he p lan ts a nd i nsects d e mons tra te i n s o me d e ta i l t he r ushes a nd s edges e tc a long t he b anks, a nd t he d uckweeds a nd a qua t ic p lan ts f l oa t ing i n t he wa ter i t se lf . O f t he d ry-land p lan ts r epresen ted , many a re k nown a s weeds o f o pen l and , a nd t hey a re f ound where t he s o i l i s r ich a nd d isturbed e nough n ot t o h ave g rown i n to a v ege ta t iona l ly c ompe t it ive t h icke t , i n s uch p laces a s f armyards a nd o ther p laces d isturbed b y t he a ct ivi t ies o f h u mans a nd a n i ma ls . A tr ip lex ( orache) i s p ar t icu lar a bundan t , a nd i s p ar t o f ag roup o f weeds wh ich a re v ery o f ten r epresen ted b y t he ir s eeds i n a rchaeo log ica l d epos its, f or i nstance C henopod iu m ( Goosefoo t ), Po lyg onu m s pec ies ( eg K no tgrass, Redshank ) , S te l lar ia ( Ch ickweed) a nd U r t ica ( Ne t t le) . Fro m wha t i s k nown o f F isherw ick a s af ar m ing s e t t le men t t he p resence o f t hese p lan ts i s n o t s urpr is ing , a nd t he l arge n u mber o f p otent ia l h ab ita ts d oes n o t p erm it v ery d e ta i led c onc lus ions t o b e d rawn . T he S onchus ( S ow T h ist le) a chenes a re q u ite c o m mon ly f ound , a l though t h is s i te h as a g rea t a bundance o f t h ist le r e ma ins, a nd t he f i nd ing o f H yoscyamus ( Henbane) i s o f i n terest b ecause t h is p lan t h as a r a ther s ou thern d istr ibut ion n owadays, y e t i ta ppears t o h ave b een a ssoc ia ted w ith man a nd i t s s eeds h ave b een f ound f ar n or th o f i t s p resen t d ay r ange , i n p laces l i ke Y ork . I ti s c ons idered t o b e o ne o f ag roup o f p lan ts wh ich were e i ther i n troduced t o Br ita in w ith a gr icu lture a t s o me s tage , o r wh ich were r a ther r are u n t i l s o me a spect o f a gr icu ltura l p rac t ice p rov ided t he m w ith t he o ppor tun ity o f s pread ing . L ike t he H em lock , i ti s s t i l l o bscure why t he r e ma ins a re s o met imes s o a bundan t i n a rchaeo logi ca l ma ter ia l . T he p o l len r esu lts a dd P lan tago ( P lan ta in ) t o t h is weed l i st . Ag roup o f weeds n otab le b y t he ir a bsence a re c haracter ist ic o f c orn f ie lds, l i ke C orn C ock le , Mayweed a nd C orn Mar igo ld , a l though t hese a re e x tre me ly c o mmon i n s o me o ther d epos its . Among t he meadow p lan ts l i sted , t h ist les o f v ar ious k inds s uch a s C arduus ( Musk-th ist le) a nd v ar ious s pec ies o f C irsiu m ( Spear t h ist le e tc) p redo m ina te , a nd t he S onchus ( Sow-th ist le) g roup m ight a lso b e i nc luded h ere t oo . O ther meadow p lan ts, s uch a s g rasses, were p robab ly v ery a bundan t t oo, a nd a l though o n ly f i ve g rass c aryopses were f ound , t he h igh l eve l p o l len s uggests t he p resence o f g rasses i n s o me f orm . T he l arge amoun ts o f t h ist le s eeds may b e ar esu lt o f t he ir g ood d ispersa l mechan is m , b ut i t s hou ld b e n oted t ha t t hey d o n eed a warm d ry s ummer t o e nab le t hem t o d isp erse g ood s eed . T here a re s o me s igns o f p lan ts wh ich wou ld r epresen t h edgerows , b oth t he w oody p lan ts l i ke Betu la ( B irch ) , Prunus s p inosa ( S loe ) a nd s evera l o thers wh ich s how u p i n t he p o l len r ecord a nd t he h erbs wh ich a re f ound t here l i ke S o lanu m d u lca mara ( Woody N igh tshade) , R ubus f ru t icosus ( Bramb le) a nd p erh aps S i lene a lba ( Wh ite C amp ion ) wh ich i s f ound i n h edges a nd c u lt iva ted g round . I n i n terpre t ing t h is p lan t ma ter ia l i ti s n ecessary t o b e v ery c are fu l ;

t he

wa ter p lan ts v ery p robab ly g rew a t t he p läce where t hey b eca me p reserved , b u t t he o thers may n o t h ave . On o ther s i tes w i th p reserved p lan t r e ma ins t here i s o f ten e v idence t ha t p lan t p roducts were t ranspor ted s ome d istance b efore b e ing d epos i ted , a nd wh i le t here i s e v idence o f meadow p lan ts h ere , i ti s n ot a t a l l c lear h ow c lose b y t he meadows a ctua l ly w ere .

8 2

POLLEN T he p rob le m o f p rovenance makes t he i n terpre ta t ion o f t he p o l len s pect rum v ery h ard ; p o l len c an b e d epos ited i n ad i tch a nd p reserved , h av ing c o me more o r l ess d irect ly f ro m t he p lan ts t hat p roduced i t . I ti s t h is a t mospher ic p o l len f a l l-ou t wh ich p rov ides t he r eg iona l i n forma t ion f ro m l ake a nd b og d ep os i ts .

I n ad i tch , h owever , t here i s l i ke ly t o b e a nother c o mponen t , d er ived

f rom p lan t ma ter ia l w ith f l owers s t i l l c on ta in ing p o l len .

S ome a rchaeo log ica l

ma ter ia ls h ave a v ery l arge d er ived p o l len c on ten t wh ich c an b e h igh ly i nf orma t ive , a l though n ot a bou t p lan ts a ctua l ly g row ing a t t he p lace i n q uest ion ( Buck land , Gre ig & K enward , 1 974) , where p lan t ma ter ia l c on ta in ing h ay a nd s traw c an b e i den t if ied a s s uch b y t he p o l len c on ten t . Ac lue a s t o h ow " na tura l' t he d epos it a t F isherw ick i s c o mes f ro m t he t ree p o llen . Trees i n f l ower ing c ond i t ion a re o n ly v ery r are ly k nown t o h ave b een b rough t i n to s et t le men ts, a nd t here i sn o r eason t o s uspect t h is a t F isherw ick ( t he k nown e xa mp les a re f odder c o l lect ion i n l ake v i l lages) ; T herefore t he t ree p o l len r ecord i s v ery u n l ike ly t o b e d er ived f ro m p lan t ma ter ia l, a nd s hou ld t herefore r epresen t t he t ree p o l len r a in f ro m t he s urround ing v eg ta t ion . The l eve l o ft ree p o l len , 3 5% i s much h igher t han f or t he d epos its t hough t t o b e ma in ly d er ived p o l len wh ich h ave l ess t han a bou t 1 0% t ree p o l len . S o me 5% o f t he p o l len c o mes f ro m o ak , e lm a nd l ime , t he ma in c o mp onen ts o f " pr i meva l f orest". T h is l ow f i gure c ou ld b e e xp la ined i ft he s urr ound ing a rea , s uch a s t he g rave l f l oodp la in o n wh ich t he s i te s tands, was l arge ly c leared , l eav ing t rue f orest o n ly o n t he h i l ls a t s ome d istance .

There

i s n o t y et a p o l len d iagram f ro m t h is r eg ion t o s how wha t h appened t o t he pr i meva l f orests h ere b ut t o j udge b y r ecen t work ( Rackha m , 1 976, G ir l ing & Gre ig 1 977) t hey may h ave b een c o mpr ised o f a mosa ic i n wh ich T i l ia ( l i me) was t he most a bundan t t ree , w ith o ak a nd e lm i n sma l ler amoun ts, a nd t hen o ther t rees o ccasiona l ly .

T he r est o f t he a rborea l p o l len i s f ro m t rees a nd

s hrubs wh ich wou ld f or m s econdary wood land , o r g row i n h edgerows, w i th Betu la ( B irch) , A lnus ( A lder ) , C ory lus ( Haze l) a nd H ex ( Ho l ly) .

Th is l ast

a ppears t o h ave i ncreased a t t he e xpense o f o ther t rees a f ter i n it ia l c leara nce , t ogether w ith Frax inus ( Ash) , t he p resence o f wh ich i s s hown b y t he wood i den t if ica t ion l i st b y P . Wi l l ia ms .

T h is h edgerow f l ora , i nc lud ing

S ambucus ( E lder ) a nd S a l ix ( W i l low ) wh ich a re v ery c o m mon a t F isherw ick t oday , c ou ld e as i ly h ave g rown a long t he s ides o f d i tches d ur ing t he I ron Age, ap heno menon a lso d educed f ro m r e ma ins p reserved i n t he O xfordsh ire g rave ls d a t ing t o t h is p er iod ( Rob inson , 1 978 ) . T he h erbaceous p o l len r ecord n eeds t o b e i n terpre ted w i th g rea t c au t ion b ecause a p ropor t ion o f i tc ou ld b e d er ived f ro m p lan t r ema ins a nd n o t f ro m a t mospher ic p o l len r a in . I n t he c ase o f t he a qua t ic p lan ts t h is i s a s e xpected , a nd t he ir p o llen a nd s eeds h ave b eco me i ncorpora ted i n to t he s ed i men t t ha t f ormed i n t he d itch .

The meadow p o l len f l ora , i nas much a s i tc an b e i den-

t i f ied , l arge ly c orresponds w ith t ha t o bta ined f ro m t he s eeds, w ith a n u mber o f amp l if ica t ions i n c ases where p o l len s urv ives b e t ter t han t he s eeds o f p art icu lar p lan ts, a s f or e xamp le , t he Gra m ineae ( grasses) a nd P lan tago l anceo la ta ( R ibwort P lan ta in) a nd T ha l ictru m ( Rue) .

Many o f t he n on-spec if ic p o l-

l en r ecords c ou ld c orrespond t o p lan ts k nown f ro m t he s eed r ecord wh ich 8 3

p roduce t hose k inds o f p o l len , l i ke t he b ut tercups a nd d ocks.

T he C ompos itae

p o l len r ecord g ives l i t t le c lue a s t o wha t p lan ts i tc ou ld r epresen t a s t here i s s o many members i n t h is p lan t g roup .

T he p lan t r ecord g ives l i t t le c lue a s t o

h ow t he p o l len a nd s eeds may h ave a rr ived , a l though p erhaps t he l arge n u mbers o f t h ist le s eeds c ou ld s uggest t ha t t hey a rr ived b y t he ir n atura l means o f d isp ersa l .

The b ee t le e v idence o f fers t he b est c lues t ha t t h is was t he ma in l oca l

v ege ta t ion t ype . T here i s as im ilar s tory w ith t he weeds .

T he Chenopod iaceae ( Goose-

f oot ) a nd Ur t ica ( Net t le ) .p o l len r ecord s c on f ir m t he s eed r ecord , wh i le t here a re a dd it ions i n t he f orm o f Cruc iferae wh ich c ou ld r epresen t weeds o r e ven c rop p lan ts .

T he 5% C erea l ia ( cerea l g ra in) r ecord i s e spec ia l ly i n terest ing ,

whether t he p o l len i s d er ived o r n o t , a s i td emonstra tes t he p resence o f c er ea l p o l len g ra ins h ave n ot b een a t te mp ted s ince t h is i s ar isky d iv is ion t o make .

One p o l len g ra in wh ich s trong ly r esemb led V ic ia f aba t ype was s een ,

s uggest ing a t l east t he p oss ib i l ity t ha t b eans were g rown .

Very l i t t le i s k nown

a bou t t he p ropor t ions o f t he v ar ious c rops g rown i n t he p ast , b ecause t he e v id ence d epends e n t ire ly u pon t he v agar ies o f p reserva t ion o f t he e v idence, e i ther a s p o l len , s eeds, c arred r e ma ins o r i mpressions i n p ot tery . B eans a nd p eas s eem t o b e p oor s urv ivors s ince t he p o l len r ecord i s n ot s trong a nd t hresh ing p rocesses d o n o t a pparen t ly i nvo lve t he m i n a cc iden ta l c arbon isat ion a s i n t he c ase o f t he c erea l c rops, s o q uest ions l i ke t he a rab le/pastora l r a t io a nd t he i mpor tance o f d if feren t c rops c annot y e t b e a nswered . The 4% Er ica les p o l len r ecord c ou ld r epresen t h eathland f or med b y t he d epaupe r a t ion o f s o me o f t he b et ter d ra ined g rave l s o i ls, p erhaps o n h i l l s lopes a t t he e dge o f t he f l ood p la in , o r i tc ou ld r epresen t a n i mpor t o f p lan t ma ter ia l f ro m a d istance . CONCLUSIONS I t wou ld a ppear t ha t t he r ecords o f t he v ar ious p lan t a nd a n i ma l r e ma ins f ro m t h is s i te a l l g enera l ly c orrespond w i th o ne a no ther a nd p erm i t af a ir ly d e ta i led y e t we l l s ubstan t ia ted i n terpreta t ion t o b e made , s o me th ing t ha t wou ld n ot h ave b een p oss ib le i ft he l i nes o f e v idence h ad b een c onsidered i nd iv idua l ly . Much o f t he i n forma t ion r ecovered c oncerns t he i m med ia te e nv ironmen t o f t he d i tch , wh ich i s p erhaps o f more i n terest i n t he c on tex t o f f l ora l a nd e n to mol og ica l r ecords t han t he s e t t ing o f t he s i te a s a who le . F or tuna te ly t here i s e nough i n forma t ion i n a more r eg iona l c on tex t t o s uggest t ha t t here a re more s igns o f p astora l f arm ing t ha t t he g row ing o f c rops, a t l east i m med ia te ly n ear t he s i te .

T he r iver f l oodp la in wou ld a ppear t o h ave b een r a ther s im i lar t o i ts

s ta te t oday , w ith a p a t tern o f f i e lds a nd meadows d iv ided b y h edges a nd d itches . More i n forma t ion o n t he l ong-term c hanges i n t he l andscape i sb e ing p rov ided b y h igh ly d e ta i led a nd r ad iocarbon d a ted p o l len d iagra ms, s uch a s o ne n ow b e ing p repared b y S . C o l ledge , a nd c o mpar isons w il l b e

a b le t o b e

made when r esu lts f ro m o ther s i tes o f t h is p er iod , s uch a s Beck ford , Worcs, a re c o mp le te .

8 4

I NSECT RE MAINS P . J . O sborne

S ite SK187082 S a mp les f ro m f our d if feren t l ocat ions a t F isherw ick h ave b een e xa m ined f or i n sect r e ma ins .

These w ere

h ,

3 01 j, 3 02f a nd 3 04/ 1 .

T he f irst t hree

o f t hese were l arge s amp les, e ach c ons ist ing o f a round 1 0 k g o f o rgan ic mud . The l ast men t ioned , h owever , was a sma l l p iece o f wood o f Prunus s p inosa i n w h ich Dr . Wi l l ia ms h ad n ot iced i nsec t b or ings . T he ma ter ia l f ro m t he t hree ma in s amp les b roke d own r ead i ly i n h ot wa ter a nd a f ter t he f ine minera l p or t ion h ad b een washed o u t t hrough a 3 00 m icron s ieve t he r es idue was s ub jected t o p ara f f in f l otat ion t o c oncen tra te t he i nsect r e ma ins .

These were most ly i den t if ied i n d a mp c ond it ion a nd r eturned t o

a lcoho l f or s torage b ut when t he n ecess i ty t o e xam ine f ine d eta i ls o f m icros cu lp ture made d ry ing i nev i tab le t he s pec i mens were r eturned t o s p ir it a s s oon a s p oss ib le t o k eep d amage t o a min i mu m . T he wet r ot ten wood f ragmen t f ro m 3 04/ 1 was c arefu l ly t aken t o p ieces a nd i t s r e ma ins washed a nd s ieved i n t he s ame way a s t he l arger s a mp les. I nstead o f p araf f in f l o ta t ion , h owever , t he r esu l t ing s hredded wood was s or ted d irect ly u nder a b inocu lar m icroscope . L ists o f s pec ies i den t i f ied f ro m e ach o f t hese c on tex ts a re g iven i n a ppend ix 3 . Env ironmen ta l i mp l ica t ions I ti s o bv ious f ro m e ven a c ursory g lance a t t he f irst t hree l i sts t ha t a lthough sma ll d if ferences e x ist b etween t hem t hese a re o f t he s or t a t tr ibut ab le t o l oca l c auses a nd t ha t t he e nv iron men t a s a who le i s v ir tua l ly t he s a me i n e ach c ase . T he e v idence f or t h is e nv ironmen t i s t herefore d iscussed b e low a s i fi tc a me f ro m a s ing le s i te . The F isherw ick i nsec ts g ive e v idence o ft hree ma in t ypes o f h ab i ta t— ab ody o f wa ter , t he a d jacen t l and s urface a nd t he a rea where t hese t wo met. The r epresen ta t ives o f t he a qua t ic e nv ironmen t a re d rawn c h ief ly f ro m t he Dy t isc idae a nd Hydraen idae , whose c o mb ined e igh t r ecorded t axa a l l l i ve i n wa ter. Amongst t hese i s t he most a bundan t i nsect f ound , Ochtheb ius m in i mus o f w h ich a t l east 13 i nd iv idua ls w ere p resen t b etween t he t hree s i tes. The f am ily Hydroph il idae a lso p rov ides s o me a qua t ic g enera , n o tably Helophorus , Hydrochus a nd Hydrob ius. A l l t hese b eet les l i ve i n s t il l o r s low ly f l ow ing wa ter.

The b eet le wh ich w as s econd o n ly i n a bundance t o O chtheb ius m in i mus

was t he c urcu l ion id Tanysphyrus l e mnae, r epresen ted b y am in i mum o f 8 4 i nd iv idua ls a l together. a nd i s , t herefore,

Th is i nsect l i ves o n t he f l oa t ing d uckweed , L e mna ,

a lso i nd ica t ive o f q u ie t wa ter.

8 5

The g en era Helophorus

a nd Hydrob ius a re u sua l ly f ound i n p onds w i th s ome a qua t ic v egeta t ion b u t , o ther t han L e mna ,

n o water p lan t i s s pec if ica l ly i nd ica ted b y t he b eet les.

The h igh ly c o loured i nsects Donac ia a nd P la teumar is wh ich f requen t ly p rov ide c onsp icuous f oss ils w ere n ot iceably a bsen t f ro m t he F isherw ick s a mp les . T hese b eet les a re most ly f ound o n emergen t r eeds s uch a s T ypha, S pargan iu m a nd Phragm i tes a t whose u nderwa ter r oots t he ir l arvae l i ve a nd t hey a re s o c o m mon a nd w idespread t oday a s t o b e a l most u b iqu i tous wheree ver t he ir h ab ita t e x ists . O f a l l b ee t le f oss i ls t hese a re t he l east l i ke ly t o h ave b een o ver looked d ur ing s ort ing .

I n f act t hey a re f requent ly t he o n ly

b ee t le r e ma ins t o b e n ot iced b y e xcava tors i nt he f i e ld , e ven i n d epos its wh ich s ubsequen t ly p rove t o b e r ich i n i nsect f oss i ls .

T he ir a bsence a t F isherw ick ,

t herefore , i s p robab ly a g enu ine o ne . Wh i le r ea l ising t ha t i ti s n o t p erm iss ib le t o make d ogma t ic a sser t ions o n s uch n ega t ive e v idence i ts ee ms l i ke ly t ha t h ost p lan ts s u itab le f or t hese b ee t les were l ack ing . T he a sse mb lage o f t errestr ia l b ee t les i s h eav i ly d om ina ted b y g enera whose me mbers l i ve i n t he d ung o f l arge h erb ivorous mam ma ls . T he g enus Aphod ius was p ar t icu lar ly we l l r epresen ted w h i lst o ther s carabae ids, Geotrupes a nd O n thophagus were a lso p resen t .

Many o ther s pec ies were r ecorded whose

most f requen t , t hough n o t e xc lus ive , h ab ita t i sd ung . Amongst t hese a re t he n on-aqua t ic h ydroph i l ids S phaer id iu m , C ercyon , Megasternu m a nd C ryp top leuru m , t he s taphy l in ids o f t he g enera Oxy te lus a nd A no ty lus a nd me mbers o f t he f am i ly H ister idae .

T he p resence o f t h is l arge n u mber o f s pec ies a nd i nd iv i-

d ua ls a ssoc ia ted w i th t he d ropp ings o f g raz ing a n i ma ls s trong ly s uggests t ha t t he l oca l t errestr ia l e nv iron men t c ons isted p r inc ipa l ly o f g rassland .

Th is

h ypo thes is i s g iven s uppor t b y t he o ccurrence o f s uch s pecies a s Agrypnus mur inus, Agr iotes o bscurus, Phy l loper tha h or t ico la a nd Hop l ia p h i lan thus, a l l o f wh ich p ass t he ir i m ma ture s tages l i v ing a t g rass r oots . Herbaceous p lan ts whose p resence a t F isherw ick i s s uggested b y t he o ccurrence o f b ee t les wh ich f eed o n t he m ( na mes i n b racke ts) a re C irsiu m a rvense ( Le ma c yane l la ) , R u mex , ( Gastrophysa v ir idu la) , P o lygonu m e tc . ( Chae tocne ma c onc inna) , S isymbr iu m o f f ic ina le ( Psy l l iodes c uprea) , T r ifo l iu m e tc . ( Hypera p unctata ) a nd Ma lvaceae ( Ap ion ma lvae a nd A . a eneu m ) , n one o f wh ich wou ld b e s er ious ly o u t o f p lace i n t he p asture land s uggested .

Most o f t he r e ma in ing d ry l and

s pec ies l i ve i n a n e nv iron men t o f l ow , g rass land s ty le v ege ta t ion o r a re s o c a tho l ic i n t he ir r equ ire men ts t ha t t hey may b e f ound a l most a nywhere . An u mber o f s pec ies were p resen t wh ich , t hough n ot a qua t ic, l i ve a t t he marg ins o f wa ter .

T he b ug C har tosc ir ta a nd t he s taphy l in id b ee t les

P la tyste thus n od ifrons a nd n itens a re f ound l i v ing o n t he mud a t t he s ides o f p onds .

Be mb id ion a ss im i le l i ves a l most e xc lusive ly b es ide wa ter , o f ten

amongst t he s te ms o f Carex wh ilst B le th isa mu lt ipuncta ta t oo, i s ap ondside s pec ies, a ga in f requen t ly w ith s edge . T he c hryso me l id Prasocur is p he l landr i i l i ves o n wa ters ide Umbe l l iferae s uch a s. 0enan the p he l landr iu m , C icu ta v irosa a nd S iu m l a t ifo l iu m wh i lst t he t wo s pec ies o f N o tar is, s c irp i a nd a cr idu lus a re f ound i n d a mp p laces o n s uch p lan ts a s C arex a nd S c irpus. An i n termed ia te z one b e tween t he wa ter a nd t he meadow land i s t herefore e nv isaged wh ich was muddy b u t w ithou t s tand ing wa ter , h av ing r a ther s parse p lan t c over , p robab ly ma in ly C arex . S o me o f t h is a rea wou ld h ave b een t ra mp led b y a n i ma ls c om ing t o d r ink a nd t he ir p assage i n a nd o u t o f t he d uck-

8 6

weed c overed wa ter c ou ld a ccoun t f or t he m ix ture o f t he f aunas f ro m t he t wo ma in h ab ita ts w i th s uch h igh n u mbers o f i nd iv idua ls o f s o f ew s pec ies . I ti s p oss ib le t ha t t he a pparen t a bsence o f t he more s uccu len t r eeds was d ue t o c ropp ing b y a n i ma ls wh ich m igh t h ave f ound t he s harp , s i l iceous l eaves o f C arex more d if f icu lt t o e a t . T h is w ou ld b e more l i ke ly t o b e t he c ase i ft he a n ima ls c oncerned were c a t t le

o r h orses t han s heep whose mou ths a re h arder

a nd p robab ly c apab le o f d ea l ing w i th s edge . I nt he i nvest iga t ion o f a n o u tdoor a rchaeo log ica l s i te i tw ou ld b e =reas onab le t o e xpec t e very member o f t he f auna l l i st t o h ave b een l i v ing o n t he s po t w here i t s r ema ins w ere f ound . I ti s l i ke ly , h owever , t ha t t he e nv ironmen t o f t he i mmed ia te v ic in ity w ou ld c on tr ibu te t he g rea ter p ar t o f t he f oss i l a ssemb lage a nd t ha t r epresen ta t ion o f o ther h ab i ta ts wou ld d im in ish a s t he ir d istance f ro m t he s amp l ing s i te i ncreased . C lear ly t h is c anno t b e p ostu la ted a s a n i mmutab le r u le a s i ti sa f fec ted b y many f actors s uch a s t he d i f ferences i n t he p owers o f d ispersa l b e tween s pec ies, t he ir d i f feren t a p t i tude f or p res erva t ion , t he l oca l t opography a nd p robab ly many o thers . A s ag enera l , work ing h ypo thes is, h owever , i ti s p robab ly n ear e nough t he t ruth . T he f auna l a sse mb lage f ro m F isherw ick i s r e markab ly h o mogeneous a nd t here c an b e l i t t le d oub t t ha t i ti s i nd ica t ive o f t he l oca l e nv ironmen t o f g razed meadow land . O f t he f ew i nsec ts r ecorded w h ich d o n ot f i t i n to t he g enera l p ic ture Anob iu m p unctatum , t he f urn iture b ee t le , may i n fest s tand ing d ead t rees b u t s eems t o t hr ive b est i n s easoned t imber wh ich h as b een u t i l ized b y man . T hus i ti s p oss ib le t ha t aw ooden f ramed b u i ld ing o r d ead t rees w ere s o mewhere i n t he n e ighbourhood b u t a s o n ly t wo i nd iv idua ls o f t h is s pec ies, wh ich i s ag ood f l ier , were n o ted , l i t t le more c an b e d educed f ro m t hem . T he b ug Aneur is l aev is i st he o n ly o ther s pec ies r ecorded wh ich i s a ssoc ia ted w i th t rees u nder whose b ark i tl i ves . T h is i nsec t was r epresen ted b y o n ly a s ing le i nd iv idua l a nd c ou ld h ave a rr ived i n s ome c omp le te ly a cc iden ta l way . T he b ee t le r emains d iscovered i n s amp le 3 01 j/ 1 , t he f ragmen t o f wood o f P runus s p inosa , were v ar ious p arts , i n p r ist ine c ond i t ion , o f t he Anob i ld P t inomorphus i mper ia l is . T h is s pecies s ee ms t o b e p ar t icu lar ly a ssoc ia ted w i th d ead wood i nh edges, t ha t i s w i th t h in s t icks r a ther t han t ree t runks . L it t le c an b e s a id r egard ing t he c l i ma te a t t he t ime o f d epos i t ion e xcep t t ha tn o th ing i n t he f auna c arr ies t he s l igh test s uggest ion o f at e mpera ture l ower t han t ha t o ft oday . S pec ies s uch a s A phod ius H ep tau lacus) t es tud inar ius amongst o thers whose d istr ibu t ion t oday i s ma in ly c onf ined t o t he s ou thern h a lf o f Eng land s ee m t o c on f irm t h is i mpress ion , t ha t t he c l i ma te o f I r on Age F isherw ick w as a t l east a s warm a s t ha t o f t he p resen t d ay a l though t here i sn o c oncre te e v idence t o s uggest t e mpera tures h igher t han t hose o f t he m id lands t oday .

8 7

PART I I - CHRONOLOGY AND DATING P . J . Banks a nd C hr istopher Sm i th

I NTRODUCTION I n p reced ing s ect ions o f t h is r epor t r eference h as b een made t o t he v ar ious p er iods o f d eve lop men t a pparen t a t t he s i tes r epor ted o n . H ere we a t temp t t o c orre la te t h is e v idence a nd p roduce a c hrono log ica l s cheme f or t he a rea a s a who le .

T he l ack o f many c lear s tra t igraph ica l r e la t ionsh ips

b e tween t he s i tes a nd f ea tures i nvest iga ted a nd t he p auc ity o f a bso lu te d a tes means t ha t t h is s che me i sf ar f ro m c o mp le te . R e la t ive c hrono logy The s i tes a t SK187082 , SK 187083 a nd SK187080 f orm p ar t o f as ing le c omp lex o f f eatures a nd a re c onsidered t oge ther . a bou t 1 .5 km t o t he n or thwest a nd i s d ea l t

Tha t a t SK 183098 l ay

w ith i nd iv idua l ly .

Most o f t he d a t ing e v idence f or t he ma in g roup o f f ea tures c o mes f ro m s i te 5K187082 .

T he e ar l iest e p isode h ere i s r epr esen ted b y ag roup o f r ing-

g roove h ouses wh ich a ppear t o a n te-da te t he ma in e nc losure d itch .

I ft hese

b u i ld ings were e nc losed a t a l l i t must h ave b een b y af ea ture r a ther sma l ler t han t he l a ter e nc losure d i tch . L it t le more c an b e s a id a bou t t h is f irst p er iod o f o ccupa t ion e xcep t t ha t t he b u i ld ing f orm a nd t he f ew f ragmen ts o f p ot tery a ssoc ia ted w i th i tb oth i nd ica te a d a te i n t he I ron Age . The s econd p er iod o f o ccupa t ion a t SK187082 i s r epresen ted b y t he c ut t ing o f t he e nc losure d i tch a nd t he r ep lace men t o f t he r ing-groove h ouses b y e xamp les o f t he r ing-d itch t ype , p ossib ly w i th mud wa l ls.

I t was n o t e v iden t

h ow o r why t h is c hange c ame a bou t o r whe ther t here was a n i n terva l o f t ime b e tween t he f irst a nd s econd p er iods d ur ing wh ich t he s i te was u noccup ied . T he t wo s e t t le men ts were c er ta in ly q u ite d if feren t a nd a s i mp le e vo lu t ion f ro m o ne t o t he o ther d oes n o t s ee m a l toge ther l i ke ly . Th is s econd p er iod o f o ccupa t ion was c o mp lex , t he e nc losure d i tch was r ecu t a t l east o nce a nd t he e xcava ted r ound h ouse may h ave b een r ebu i lt a t l east t w ice , a nd r epresen ts t he ma in e p isode i n t he h is tory o f t he s i te . Ar t ifacts r ecovered a nd a s er ies o f r ad io-carbon d a tes ( Tab le I I ) s uggest a d a te b e tween t he b eg inn ing o f t he 3 rd c en tury b .c . a nd t he I st c en tury a.. d . The f irst p hase o f t he f i e ld s yste m i nvest iga ted b y C o lin Hayf ie ld a t SK187083 ( PART I ) ,fea ture 1 003 a nd p oss ib ly f ea ture 1 005, a ppears t o d a te f rom t he t ime t he ma in e nc losure d itch was d ug a t SK187082 . However , a s f ea tures o f t he s econd p hase o f t he f i e ld s yste m a lso p roduced e v idence o f a n I ron Age d ate , a nd a s t he t h ird p hase was s a id t o d eve lop f ro m t he s econd w ith l i t t le o r n o i n terva l i n b e tween i ti s p oss ib le t ha t t he e n t ire d eve lop men t o f t he f i e ld s yste m a t SK187083 s hou ld b e c orre la ted w i th t he s econd p er iod o f o ccup a t ion a t SK187082 . 8 9

T he ma in s tra t igraph ica l e v idence a t s i te SKI 8 7080 c a me f ro m t he e nc los ure d i tch , wh ich , l i ke t ha t a t 5K187082 , wen t t hrough a t l east t wo p hases t he e ar l iest o f wh ich was d eepest . Bo th p hases p roduced p ot tery o f I ron Age d a te a nd o ccupa t ion a t t h is s i te wou ld a ppear t o c orre la te i n b road t erms w i th t ha t o f t he s econd p er iod a t SK187082 , a l though t he p rec ise c hrono log ica l r e la t ionsh ip b e tween t he t wo s i tes c ou ld n ot b e e stab l ished . S i te SK187082 a lso p roduced e v idence f or a t h ird p er iod o f a ct iv i ty d at ing f ro m t he l a te i st a nd 2 nd c entur ies A .D . T h is t ook t he f orm o f as ha l low r ecu t t ing o f t he e nc losure d itch a nd t he l ay ing o u t o f a t l east o ne f i e ld b oundary p ara l le l t o i t . O ccupa t ion w i th in t he e nc losure h ad c eased b y t h is t ime a nd s ca t tered s herds o f Ro mano-Br it ish p o t tery s uggest t ha t i t was b e ing c u lt iv a ted b y f armers f ro m a n earby s et t le men t ( Sm ith , C . 1 977b c hap ter 1 5 a nd map 1 0 ; f or thco m ing ) . The f i e ld s ystem a t 5K187083 may h ave r ema ined i n u se a t t h is t ime . A l though t he s equence a t s i te SKI 8 3098 c annot b e r e la ted t o t hose d isc ussed a bove i td oes a ppear t o f o l low a p ara l le l c ourse . The v ery l im i ted e v idence g a ined f ro m t h is s i te s uggests t ha t t he n or theast e nc losure was t he e ar l iest f eature i n t he c o mp lex .

I t s d itch wen t t hrough t wo p hases t he s econd

o f wh ich p roduced I ron Age p ot tery .

Th is e nc losure was r ep laced , d ur ing t he

I ron Age , b y t wo s im i lar e nclosures wh ich , u n l ike t he e ar l ier o ne, were p ar t o f ac o mp lex s yste m o f f i e ld a nd t rack-way b oundar ies . A lthough t he s et t lemen t e nc losures a ppear t o h ave b een a bandoned b y t he e nd o f t he I ron Age s o me o f t he f i e ld b oundar ies a nd a t l east o ne d itched t rackway r ema ined i n u se i n to t he 2 nd a nd 3 rd c en tur ies A .D .

(M iles, 1 969) .

I n o ut line t he s equence s uggested i s a s f o l lows: P er iod 1 : i den t if ied o n ly a t s i te SKI 8 7082 a nd r epresen ted b y ap rob ab ly u . nenc losed s e t t le men t o f r ing-groove h ouses w i thou t a ssoc ia ted f i e ld b oundar ies ; a ma in ly o pen l andscape . Per iod 2 : e nc losed s et t le men ts o f r ing-d i tch h ouses p ossib ly w ith mud wa l ls a nd t he a d jo in ing l and e nc losed b y as yste m o f f i e ld b oundar ies t ha tb ecame i ncreasing ly c o mp lex ; ap ar t ia l ly e nc losed l andscape . Per iod 3 :

t he a bandon men t o f t he e nc losed s e t t le men ts b ut t he c on t inua nce , a t l east i n p ar t , o f t he ir f i e ld s yste ms .

We must n ow t urn t o t he a bso lute d a t ing e v idence a va i lab le f or t h is p rop osed s equence . Abso lute d at ing T he a bso lute d a t ing e v idence f or t he F isherw ick s i tes i s n ot g rea t a nd c ons ists i n t he a ssess men ts o f t he d a t ing ä f t he p ot tery a nd q uerns b y P . J . Banks, E . L . Morr is a nd J . R . S a mue ls i n PART I , a nd a s er ies o f f our r ad io-carbon d a tes f ro m 5K187082 , s e t o ut i n T able I I . N one o f t he p o t tery was s uf f ic ien t ly d ist inct ive t o make p rec ise d a t ing p oss ib le a nd n o v ar ia t ion was n oted b etween t he d if feren t p hases a nd p er iods o f d eve lop men t i den t if ied .

9 0

T hose e xa mp les wh ich c an b e p ara l le led d o n o t s how marked ly e ar ly o r l a te c haracter ist ics a nd a g enera l d a te r ange o fb e tween t he 5 th a nd 2 nd c ent ur ies B . C . I s s uggested , w ith p erhaps t he l ast t wo c en tur ies a s t he most p robab le . T he p resence o fb o th s add le a nd r o tary q uerns a lso mi l ita tes a ga inst p rec ise d a t ing a s t he l a t ter a ppears t o h ave r ep laced t he f ormer i n t he e ar l ier p ar t o ft he I ron Age . A l l t he q uerns r ecovered h ad b een d iscarded a s r ubb ish a nd c an o n ly g ive a g enera l i nd ica t ion o f t he d a t ing o f t he s i te . T he f our r ad io-carbon d a tes s e t o ut i n Tab le I I a re p resen ted i n t he f orm i n w h ich t hey were p rov ided b y t he d a t ing l abora tor ies . F o l low ing c urren t p rac t ice n o a t te mp t h as b een made t o c onver t t hese d a tes t o t rue c a lendar y ears a nd t hey h ave n o t b een c orrected t o t he n ew h a lf-l ife v a lue o f 5 730 + 4 0 y ears .

The d a tes were a l l o bta ined f ro m wa terlogged t w igs r ecovered f ro m

t he e nc losure d i tch a t SK 187082 . TABLE I I RADIO-CARBON DATES FRO M S ITE SK187082

Age i n y ears b p

C 14 _ A . _l i fe

L abora tory c ode

l j

2 130 + 1 00

5 570

B irm . 6 14

3 011

1 930 + 0 _ 8

5 570

Har-2469

3 05d

2 070 _ + 8 0

5 570

Har-2470

3 05f

2 100 _ + 8 0

5 570

Har-2471

Con tex t

A lthough t hese d a tes a re t oo f ew i n n u mber f or a d eta i led s ta t ist ical a na lys is t o b e wor thwh i le s evera l g enera l p o in ts c an b e made .

F irst ly , a t

t wo s tandard d ev ia t ions t hey s pan t he p er iod f ro m 2 330 b p ( 380 b c) t o 1 770 b p ( ad 1 80) a nd a ccord ing ly i mp ly t ha t t here i s a9 5% l i ke l ihood o f t he s i te d a t ing f rom b e tween t he 4 th c en tury B .C . a nd t he 2 nd c en tury A .D .

H owever , t h is

d a te r ange i s r a ther w ide a nd a t l east t he l a t ter e nd o f i ti s a t v ar iance w ith t he r est o ft he e v idence f or t he s i te , t here b e ing n o i nd ica t ion t ha t o ccupa t ion d id e x tend i n to t he Ro mano-Br it ish p er iod .

A t o ne s tandard d ev ia t ion t he

s pan i s r educed t o t he p er iod f ro m 2 230 b p ( 280 b c) t o 18 50 b p ( ad 1 00 ) , Imp ly ing a t wo-th irds l i ke l ihood o f t he s i te d a t ing f ro m b e tween t he 3 rd c en tury B .C . a nd t he I st c entury A .D .

T h is i s i n b et ter a ccordance w ith t he o ther

e v idence f ro m t he s i te . I tc an b e s een f ro m t he Table t ha t wh i le t hree o f t he d a tes a re w ith in c lose a greemen t , t he f our th , t ha t f ro m c on tex t 3 011 i s s ubstan t ia l ly d if feren t a nd b are ly o ver laps t he o thers e xcep t a t t wo s tandard d ev ia t ions.

Were t h is t he

o n ly d a te i t wou ld b e d if f icu l t t o r econc i le i tw ith t he o ther e v idence f ro m t he s i te . I ft h is d a te i s l e f t o u t o ft he a ssess men t a much more c ons isten t p icture emerges . The s pan a t t wo s tandard d ev ia t ions i s r educed t o f ro m 3 80 b e t o a d 4 0 , a nd a t o ne s tandard d ev ia t ion t o f ro m 2 80 b e t o 4 0 b e . o f o ver lap l i es b etween 2 00 b e a nd 8 0 b e.

9 1

The max i mu m

O nt h e c eram ic e v idence d iscussed i n PART l ilt may b e s ugges ted t ha t t he ma in p er iod o f o ccupa t ion ( per iod 2 ) a t SK 187082 o ccurred d ur ing t he 3 rd a nd 2 nd c en tur ies B .C .

The r ad io-carbon d a tes d iscussed a bove a re i n

a gree men t w ith t h is b ut r a ise t he p oss ib i l ity t ha t o ccupa t ion c ou ld h ave b egun a s e ar ly a s t he 4 th c en tury a nd l asted d own t o t he i st c en tury A .D .

T he p er iod

2o ccupa t ion wou ld c er ta in ly s ee m t o b e long t o t he M idd le a nd L a ter P re-Ro man I ron Age . T he s e t t le men t o f r ing-groove h ouses was e ar l ier t han t h is, b ut h ow much e ar l ier c anno t b e a scer ta ined . T he c lose c orrespondence b e tween t he s i t ing o f t he h ouses o f p er iods 1 a nd 2p robab ly i nd ica tes t ha t t hey were n o t s epara ted b y a ny g rea t i n terva l .

9 2

PART I V - THE LANDSCAPE OF THE F ISHER W ICK AREA DURING THE I RON AGE J . R . A . Gre ig , P . J . O sborne,

C hr istopher Sm i th a nd P . W i l l ia ms

L NTRODUCTION I n t h is p ar t o f t he r epor t t he e v idence p rov ided b y t he e xcava t ions a nd f i e ldwork a t F isherw ick i su sed t o make a c on jectura l r econstruct ion o f t he l andscape o f t he l oca l ity a s i t may h ave a ppeared d ur ing t he l a te i st mi l len iu m B .C . S o me o f t h is ma ter ia l h as a lready b een s u m mar ised ( Smi th , C . 1 977a 5 1-61; 1 978 9 1-101) when i t was b e ing c ons idered w i th in t he w ider c ontex t o f I ron Age s et t le men t i n t he M id lands .

Here t he emphas is i s p laced o n t he

i m med ia te v ic in ity o f t he s i tes a t F isherw ick . I n ac onc lud ing s ec t ion c ons idera t ion i s g iven t o t he i mp l ica t ions o f t he F isherw ick e v idence f or t he r eg ion a s a who le . T he l andscape i nc ludes a n u mber o f c o mponen ts wh ich may b e d ea l t w ith i n t wo g roups ; t he p hys ica l e nv iron men t a nd t he b io log ica l c o m mun ity , t he f ormer p rov id ing t he e nergy , r aw ma ter ia ls a nd l i v ing s pace r equ ired b y t he l a t ter f or i t s ma in tenance a nd g row th .

T he f o l low ing d iscussion b eg ins

w ith a c ons idera t ion o f t he t erra in a nd c l i ma te, t he t wo f actors wh ich f orm t he p hys ica l e nv iron men t .

I ti s f o l lowed b y ac ons idera t ion o f t he b io log ica l

c o m mun i ty wh ich c ons ists o f a l l l i v ing t h ings, i nc lud ing man . T he p hysica l e nv ironmen t The a rea i l lustra ted b y f igure 4 o ccup ies a bout 1 7 h a a nd i s c o mposed o f K euper Mar ls o ver la in b y v ary ing d ep ths o f g rave l a nd a l luv ia l s i lt . These a re c onven t iona l ly d iv ided i n to t he l ower g rave l t errace o f t he r iver Ta me a nd t he f l ood p la in a l luv iu m , t hough i n p ract ice e x tens ive d eposits o f a l luv iu m c an a lso b e f ound o n t he s ur face o f t he t errace a nd t he j unct ion b etween g rav e l a nd a l luv iu m i s n ot a s d ist inct a s i mp l ied b y p ub l ished g eo log ica l maps ( e .g . S hee t 1 54 o f t he One I nch G eo log ica l S urvey s er ies) . Geo morpholog ica l ly t he a rea may b e d iv ided i n to t he l ow l y ing f l ood p la in a nd t he s l igh t , b u t s ign if ican t , d epress ion f orm ing t he v a l ley o f t he Brook L easow , a nd t he more e levated g rave l t errace c o mposed o f as carp , c rest a nd b acks l ope . T he a l t itud ina l r ange i s s l igh t , amoun t ing t o l ess t han t wo me tres. T he ma in d ra inage o ft he a rea i s p rov ided b y t he r iver T ame a nd i t s t r ibutary t he Brook L easow .

Th is l a t ter i s f ed b y s evera l f i e ld d ra ins wh ich , r e ly ing o n g rav ity

f or t he ir f l ow , p robab ly f o l low n a tura l l i nes o f d ra inage .

The s o i ls wh ich

h ave f ormed o n t he f l ood p la in a l luv iu m a re g round wa ter g leys, i ncapab le o f p rov id ing a rable l and u n less a r t if ic ia l ly d ra ined a nd p rotected f ro m f l ood ing ( Mackney & B urnha m 1 964) . T he s o i ls o n t he g rave l t errace a re s andy a c id b rown s o i ls o r aid b rown s o i ls w ith g ley ing a nd h ave b een d escr ibed i n d eta i l i n PART Io f t h is r epor t b y Dr . J ones. 9 3

On t he a va i lab le e v idence i ta ppears

u n l ike ly t ha t a ny o ft hese f ea tures were s ubs tan t ia l ly d i f feren t d ur ing t he I ron Age ( Sm i th , C . 1 977a , 5 7 ) . T he o ther p r inc ipa l c o mponen t o f t he p hys ica l e nv ironmen t i s t he c l i ma te . A s w ith t he t erra in , t he p resen t e v idence s uggests t ha t t he c l i ma te o f t he I ron Age , i n t he M id lands a t l east , may h ave b een l i t t le d i f feren t f ro m t ha t o ft he p resen t d ay ( Osborne , 1 976 ;

P iggot t , 1 972 ) .

T he b io log ica l c o mmun i ty N ear ly a l l t he c hanges wh ich h ave o ccurred i n t he F isherw ick l andscape b e tween t he I ron Age a nd t he p resen t d ay h ave b een c hanges i nt he b io log ica l c o mmun i ty a nd , u n l ike t he p hys ica l e nv ironmen t , c ons idera t ion o f c on temporary c ircumstances c an t e l l u s l i t t le o ft he c ircu mstances p reva i l ing t wo m i l lenn ia a go . O ur p icture o ft he b io log ica l c o mmun ity d ur ing t he I ron Age mus tb e d rawn f rom h istor ica l s ources, a nd i n p ar t icu lar f ro m a rchaeo logy . T he p icture i s a ccord ing ly l im i ted t o t he s ources o f e v idence a va i lab le a nd i sf ar f ro m c o mp le te . Two f orms o f ma jor l im i ta t ion o ccur . F irst ly , s ome l i fef orms s uch a s b irds, sma l l mamma ls, f i sh , s na i ls a nd m icro-organ is ms were e n t ire ly u nrepresen ted b y p hys ica l r e ma ins a t F isherw ick . T h is w as a lso s o w ith h uman b e ings, b ut i n t h is i nstance t he a bsence o f s ke le ta l r e ma ins i s c ompensat ed f or b y t he p resence o f a r t ifac ts . C a tegor ies o f e v idence where d a ta i s s i mp ly n o t a va i lab le a re v ery d i f feren t f ro m c ases where t he e v idence s uggests t ha t t he o rgan is ms i n q ues t ion were n o t p resen t .

We c an

b e r easonab ly s ure t ha t aw ide r ange o fb irds , sma l l ma m ma ls, f i sh , s na i ls a nd m icro-organ is ms l i ved a t F isherw ick t wo m i l lenn ia a go b u t t he l ack o f e v idence p reven ts a ny c ons idera t ion o ft he m . S econd ly , a l though t he b io log ica l e v idence f rom t he F isherw ick s i tes was w ide r ang ing i nc lud ing p o l len , s eeds, wood , i nsec t r e ma ins a nd a n i ma ls b ones i tv ar ied i n t he e x ten t t o wh ich i tc ou ld b e a pp l ied t o t he a rea a s a who le . F or e xa mp le , t he p o l len s pectrum c an b e t aken t o r ef lect c ond i t ions t hroughou t t he a rea whereas t he s eeds c o l lec ted may r ef lec t o n ly t hose p lan ts g row ing a t t he p o in ts where t he s amp les w ere t aken .

S im i lar ly t he a n ima l b ones r ecovered p rov ide i n forma t ion a bou t t he

l arge mam ma ls t ha t c ou ld b e f ound t hroughou t t he a rea , a nd , b y i mp l ica t ion , p a t terns o f l anduse , whereas i nt he ma jor ity o f c ases t he i nsect r ema ins i den t if ied r ef lec t c ond i t ions o n ly w i th in t he i mmed ia te v ic in i ty o f t he ir f i nd s po t . T hese l im i ta t ions must b e k ep t i n m ind wh i le c ons ider ing t he f o l low ing a ccoun t . T he r ange o f e v idence a va i lab le d oes make i t wor thwh i le t o a t te mp t s o me s yn thes is b u t t he p icture we c an d raw o ft he I ron Age l andscape o f F isherw ick a nd t he n atura l h istory o f t he f arms t here i s s t i l l v ery f ar f ro m c o mp le te . F isherw ick d ur ing t he I ron Age P a lyno log ica l e v idence f ro m s i tes t hroughou t L ow land B r ita in i nd ica tes t ha t d ur ing t he A t lan t ic a nd S ub-Borea l p er iods t he p redo m innnt f orm o f v ege ta t ion was a mixed d ec iduous wood land i n wh ich o ak ( Quercus s p ) , e lm ( U lmus s p ) a nd l ime ( T i l ia c orda ta ) were t he most i mpor tan t a nd w idespread t rees, w ith a lder ( A lnus g lu t inosa ) l oca l ly i mpor tan t i n we t a reas s uch a s r iver v a l leys ( Penn ing ton , 1 969 , 5 5-78 ) . A t F isherw ick a lder ( A lnus g lu t inosa ) i s l i ke ly t o h ave b een t he d om inan t t ree t hroughou t t he a rea c ons idered b ut

9 4

o ak ( Quercus s p ) , e lm ( U lmus s p ) a nd l ime ( T i l ia c ordata) c ou ld p robab ly h ave b een f ound g row ing o n t he we l l d ra ined b rown e ar th s o i ls o f t he c rest o ft he g rave l t errace .

T he p resence o f h u man b e ings i n t he a rea f ro m a t

l eas t t he 3 rd m i l lenn iu m i s a t tested f ro m f i e ld work a nd e xcava t ions ( M i les, 1 969 , 1 9-23 ;

Sm ith , C . 1 975) a nd s uggests t hat s o me c lear ings may h ave

b een made e i ther f or a rab le o r g raz ing .

There i s l i t t le e v idence i n r espect

o f t he r est o f t he b io log ica l c o m mun ity a t t h is t ime , a l though K irby ' s( 1974) e voca t ion o f t he f l ora a nd f auna o f t he O ld Eng l ish f orest i l lustrates t he r ichness o f t he wood land e cosystem e ven t owards t he e nd o f i t s h istory . T he p o l len s pectru m f ro m F isherw ick , d a t ing f ro m c . 1 00 b e, i nd ica tes t ha tb y t h is t ime t he wood land e cosyste m h ad b een a l most c o mp le te ly r ep laced b y o ne i n wh ich g rass land a nd a rab le p redom ina ted .

O f t he 3 5% o f t he

F isherw ick p o l len t ha t c ame f ro m t ree s pec ies o n ly 5% c a me f ro m o ak ( Quercus s p) , e lm ( U l mus s p) a nd l ime ( T i l ia c orda ta) , t he ma in c o mponen ts o f t he p r i meva l f orest . T h is i nd ica tes t ha t t he v ic in ity o f t he I ron Age f arms h ad b een l arge ly c leared a nd t rue f orest may h ave s urv ived o n ly a t ad istance , p erhaps o n t he s lop ing f l anks o f t he v a l ley . The r e ma inder o f t he a rborea l p o l len c a me f ro m t rees wh ich wou ld f orm s econdary wood land o r g row i n h edges . The p a lyno log ica l e v idence f ro m F isherw ick g ives a n i nd ica t ion o f t he k ind o f t he l andscape t o b e f ound i n t he a rea d ur ing t he I ron Age b ut i t d oes n ot i nd ica te wha t t ha t l andscape a ctua l ly l ooked l i ke .

F or i n forma t ion

o ft h is k ind i ti s n ecessary t o t urn t o more s peci f ic e v idence . We k now f ro m t he p at tern o f c rop- marks t ha t c an , w i th r easonab le c ert a in ty , b e d a ted t o t he I ron Age t ha t t he a reas c leared o f t rees were d iv ided u p i n to l anduse u n its .

T hese u n its i nc luded s e t t le men t e nc losures a nd f ie lds,

d emarcated b y d i tches ( wh ich g ave r ise t o t he c rop- marks) a nd p robab ly a lso b y f ences o r h edges . T hese f eatures, t he b oundar ies a nd t he a reas t hey d ef ine a re t he ma in e le men ts i n t he l andscape a nd p rov ide t he f ra mework f or t he f o l low ing d iscuss ion . A t l east t wo s e t t le men t e nc losures were i den t if ied a nd i nvest iga ted w ith in t he a rea c overed b y f igure 4 ( SK187082 a nd SKI 8 7080 ) , a nd b o th a ppear t o h ave g one t hrough s evera l p er iods o fd eve lopmen t , ( 9 1 PART I I ) . The f o l low ing a ccoun t d escr ibes t he s i tes i n t he ir most d eve loped f orm , p robab ly d ur ing t he 2 nd c en tury B .C . D ur ing i t s s econd p er iod t he s e t t le men t a t 5K187082 o ccup ied a s ubr ec tangu lar e nc losure o f a bou t 0 .25 h a , d ef ined b y ad i tch 3 .0 m w ide a nd u p t o 1 .7 5 m d eep .

T he b o t to m o f t h is d i tch was b e low t he l eve l o f t he water

t ab le a nd wou ld h ave h e ld s tand ing water f or most o f t he y ear .

When t he

d itch was c leaned o ut , a f ter a p er iod o f s i lta t ion , t he d ep th was r educed t o a bou t 1 .4 m . Th is s ha l lower d itch wou ld h ave b een we t i n w in ter o n ly b u t was p robab ly muddy f or most o f t he y ear .

I n forma t ion a bou t c ond it ions

w ith in t he d itch i s p rov ided b y t he i nsec t r e ma ins a nd s eeds c o l lected f ro m i t s w a ter logged d eposi ts ( 2 1 PART I ) .

O f t he t hree ma in t ypes o f h ab i ta t

i nd ica ted b y t he i nsects t wo a ppear t o h ave o ccurred w ith in t he d itch i t se lf . One o ft hese i s r epresen ted b y an u mber o f s pec ies o f a qua t ic b ee t le wh ich h ave ap reference f or s t i l l o r s low ly mov ing wa ter a nd o ne , Tanysphyrus l e mnae , l i ves o n t he f l oa t ing d uckweed L emna .

S uch c ond it ions wou ld h ave

e x isted i n t he b o t to m o ft he d itch , a t l east d ur ing i t s e ar l ier p hase .

9 5

T he

p lan t r ema ins i nc lude L e mna s p , Ranuncu lus s ubg . Ba trach iu m ( wa ter c rowf oo t ) a nd s evera l s pec ies wh ich g row i n h ab ita ts r ang ing f ro m mud t o sw if t wa ter . S evera l o f t he b ee t le s pec ies p resen t , t hough n ot a qua t ic, l i ve a t t he marg ins o f wa ter a nd s uggest a n i n termed ia te z one b e tween t he s tand ing wa ter o f t he d i tch a nd t he a d jo in ing f i e lds . T h is wou ld h ave b een muddy w i th r a ther s parse p lan t c over , ma in ly o f C arex .

T he p resence , i n t he d itch d eposi ts,

o fb ee t les t ha t l i ve i n t he d ung o f l arge h erb ivors s uggests t hat p ar t o f t h is marg ina l a rea may h ave b een t ra mp led b y a n i ma ls c om ing t o d r ink .

The

a bsence o f t he more s uccu len t r eed s pec ies c ou ld b e e xp la ined b y t he c ropp ing o f s uch a n i ma ls wh ich m igh t h ave f ound t he s harp , s i l iceous l eaves o f Carex more d if f icu l t t o e a t .

A lthough s o me o f t he s pec ies may h ave b een d i f feren t ,

c ond it ions i n t he d itch were p robab ly s im i lar t o t hose f ound i n t he f i e ld d itches o f t he a rea t oday .

T he e nc losure d itch a ppears a lso t o h ave b een u sed a s o ne

o f t he ma in r ubb ish d u mps o f t he s et t le men t a nd f i nds i nc luded i n a dd it ion t o p ot tery a nd s tone a r t ifacts t he b utchered r ema ins o f a n i ma ls a nd d iscarded wooden a r t ifacts . I n a dd it ion t o t he d itch t he e nc losure p er i me ter was p robab ly marked b y s o me u pstand ing b oundary s uch a s ab ank , f ence o r h edge .

The e v idence

f or t hese a l terna t ives i s n ot c onc lus ive a nd was d iscussed i n PART I . I ti s f e lt t ha t t he most l i ke ly b oundary i s at horn h edge g row ing o n ab ank o f u pcast ma ter ia l f rom t he d itch a nd s uppor ted b y o ccas iona l s takes. Th is may h ave b een s itua ted o n e i ther t he i nside o r t he o uts ide o f t he e nc losure d i tch , o r c once ivab ly b oth . T he s pec if ic e v idence f or a l ayed t horn h edge c ons ists i n t he p resence I nt he d itch d eposi ts o f s eeds a nd wood f rom c o m mon h edgerow p lan ts s uch a s Cra taegus monogyna ( haw thorn ) ,

Prunus s p inosa ( b lack thorn ) ,

S a mbucus n igra ( e lder ) , S a l ix ( w i l low ) , A lnus g lu t inosa ( a lder ) a nd R ubus f ru t icosus ( bra mb le) , a nd t hat s o me o f t he wood s pec i mens h ad b een c lear ly c u t a nd were p robab ly h edge t r i mm ings .

The b eet le ( Pt ino morphus imper ia l is) ,

r ecorded f ro m 3 01 j/ I i s t oday u sua l ly a ssoc ia ted w ith h edges c on ta in ing d ead wood .

Caesar , i n d escr ib ing h is c a mpa ign a ga inst t he Nerv i i i n G au l r efers

t o h ow They c ut o f f t he t ops o f s ap l ings, b en t t he m o ver , a nd l e t at h ick g row th o f s ide b ranches s hoot o u t ;

i n b etween t hey p lan ted b r iars

a nd t horns a nd t hus made h edges l i ke wa l ls,..."

( De B e l lo Ga l i leo

I . 4) . I ti s u n l ike ly t ha t t he p ract ice o f h edge l ay ing was a s ecre t k nown o n ly t o t he N erv i i . The f eatures mark ing t he e nc losure p er i me ter were b reached o n t he e ast b y a n e n trance c auseway 4 .5 m l ong a nd 3 .5 m w ide .

The e n trance s tructure

a ppears t o h ave t aken t he f orm o f af enced p assage 1 .5 m t o 1 .75 m w ide w ith g a tes a t b oth e nds a nd w ith f ac i l it ies f or a t e mporary f ur ther g a te i n t he m idd le . T he e n trance p assage c ou ld t hus h ave f ormed a u sefu l d ev ice f or s or t ing l i ves tock a s i te n tered o r l e f t t he e nc losure a nd i s s im ilar t o a rrangemen ts n o ted a t t he n earby Ro mano-Br it ish f armstead ( M i les, 1 969) a nd t he e nc losures I ns ide t he h i l lfor t a t Wink lebury ( Sm ith , K . 1 977 , 5 2 a nd f igure 2 5) .

Two

l arge p ost h o les s tood e i ther s ide o f t he i nner e nd o f t h is p assage a nd a ppear t o h ave h ad n o s tructura l f unct ion .

I t was s uggested i n PART It ha t t hey may

h ave f ormed p ar t o f a n i n ten t iona l ly i mpos ing e n try . 9 6

T he i n ter ior o f t he e nclosure was p robab ly d iv ided b y as er ies o f g u l l ies i n to a n u mber o f c o mpounds r ef lect ing t he d if feren t d o mest ic a nd a gr icu lt ura l f unct ions o f t he f arm .

One o f t he a reas e xa m ined b y e xcava t ion was

f ound t o c on ta in a s equence o f s ubstan t ia l r ound h ouses.

The e ar l iest o f t hese

b u i ld ings, a h ouse o ft he r ing-groove t ype a t l east 9 m i n d iame ter , i s t hough t t o h ave b e longed t o t he f i rst p er iod o f t he s e t t le men t ( c f PARTS I& I I ) wherea s t he b u i ld ing a t tr ibuted t o t he s econd p er iod was o f t he r ing-d itch t ype .

A t

l east t hree p hases were i den t if ied w i th in t he r ing-d itch b u t i ti s n o t c lear w he ther t hey i nd ica te r ebu i ld ings o f t he h ouse o r j ust r ecu ts o f t he r ing-d itch . L i t t le c an b e s a id a bout t he s ize o r f orm o f t h is l a ter h ouse b ecause o f t he a bsence o f a ny c oheren t p at tern o f s tructura l f eatures . The e n trance f aced s ou theast a nd was d e marca ted b y t wo s ubstan t ia l p ost h o les, a nd t here was a c en tra l h ear th b u i lt i n ac on ica l p i t . The a bsence o f c lear e v idence f or a t imber f ra me a nd t he p resence o f wha t a ppear t o b e f ragmen ts o f mud-wa l l ing I n t he r ing-d itch s uggest t ha t t he b u i ld ing may h ave b een mud wa l led .

I ft h is

was t he c ase r oof s uppor ts may n ot h ave b een n eeded , t he we igh t a nd t hrust b e ing t aken b y t he mass o ft he wa l ls .

Those p ost h o les r ecorded w i th in t he

h ouse a rea c ou ld b e long w ith e i ther e ar l ier o r l a ter f eatures, o r w ith f ixtures a nd f i t t ings w ith in t he mud-wa l led h ouse . The r oof was p robab ly t hatched a nd s uppor ted b y t imber r af ters . S pec i mens f ro m t he e nc losure d itch s uggest t ha t o ak ( Quercus s p ) a nd a lder ( Alnus g lut inosa) were t he ma in woods u sed w ith w i l low ( Sa l ix s p ) emp loyed f or a ny wat t l ing . A mud wa l l b u i lt w ithou t t he s tone f oo t ings u sua l ly p rov ided i n more r ecen t s tructures wou ld n o t h ave h ad a l ong l i fe a nd i t s c onstan t e ros ion may h ave c on tr ibu ted t o t he n eed f or t he r ing-d itch t o b e c onstan t ly c leaned o u t .

T he p osts o n e i ther s ide o f t he e n trance a ppear

t o h ave b een r enewed a t l east t hree t imes a nd o ther p oss ib le e v idence f or s truc tura l r enewa l o r r epa ir i s p rov ided b y d iscarded p ieces o f h ewn t imber f ound i n t he e nc losure d i tch i nc lud ing t he c harred r e ma ins o f at imber w ith a c rude f orm o f l ap j o in t . Two s pec i mens o f Anob iu m p uncta tu m ( t he f urn iture b ee t le ) f ro m t he e nc losure d i tch may h in t a t o ne o f t he ma in tenance p rob le ms t ha t f aced t he I ron Age b u i lders a nd c arpen ters. T h is h ouse o ccup ied o ne o f t he p u ta t ive i n terna l c o mpounds a nd t he o ne i m med ia te ly t o t he e ast , o n to wh ich t he h ouse o pened, a ppears t o h ave b een u sed f or v ar ious a ct iv it ies n orma l ly c arr ied o n o ut o f d oors . N o s ubstan t ia l s truc ture was f ound i n t h is a rea , b ut s evera l s ing le a nd o ne p a ir o f p ost h o les was n o ted a long w ith a h earth a nd a n i rregu lar h o l low t ha t c ou ld h ave b een c aused b y t ramp l ing o r s cratch ing o f l i ves tock s uch a s p ou ltry .

S take h o les r ecorded n ear t he e n trance t o t he h ouse

c ou ld mark t he p os it ion o f w ind b reaks . N o o ther a reas i ns ide t he e nc losure were e xam ined i n d e ta i l a nd t he f unc t ions o f t he o ther c o mpounds c an o n ly b e s ur m ised . Fa in t c rop- mark i nd ic a t ions s uggest t ha t t he s ou thwest p ar t o f t he s i te may h ave b een o ccup ied b y af ur ther b u i ld ing b ut s pace wou ld a lso h ave b een r equ ired w ith in t he e nc losure f or av ar iety o f p urposes s uch a s s torage , p enn ing s tock a nd p erhaps g ardeni ng . S torage me thods n orma l ly r ecorded o n I ron Age s i tes i n L ow land Br ita in I nvo lved e i ther t he u se o fp i ts o r e leva ted t imber s tructures .

Ne ither were

f ound a t F isherw ick a nd t he l eve l o ft he wa ter t ab le wou ld make p it s torage i mposs ib le . One o f t he u nexcava ted p ar ts o f t he s i te may t hen h ave b een o ccup ied b y t imber s torage b u i ld ings. h ay a nd s traw r icks.

S pace may a lso h ave b een r equ ired f or

The s ha l low g u l l ies n oted wou ld h ave b een i nsuf f ic ien t t o 9 7

p ro tect s uch s tored p roduce f ro m t he d epreda t ions o f l i vestock p enned w ith in t he e nc losure a nd we may a ssu me t ha t most o f t he c o mpounds were e nclosed b y f ences a nd t ha t t he g u l l ies were ma in ly f or d ra inage .

The h ouse c o mpound

wou ld n eed t o b e f enced t o p reven t t he a n i ma ls e a t ing t he l ow e aves o f t he r oof a nd d a mag ing t he wa l ls . There i s n o d irect e v idence f or t he p resence o f l i ve a n i ma ls w ith in t he e nc losure b u t s uch a n o ccurrence c an b e a ssu med l i ke ly .

On ly r are ly , a s a t

F löge ln i n G ermany ( Zi m merman , 1 978 P la te 2 ) c an a ctua l f ootpr in ts o f a ni ma ls b e d e tected d ur ing e xcava t ion b u t i rregu lar , s ha l low h o l lows a re a c o mmonp lace o ccurrence o n many s i tes s im ilar t o F isherw ick a nd i ti s l i ke ly t ha t s o me o f t hese f eatures r ef lect t he t ra mp l ings o f h ooved a n i ma ls .

T oday t h is

e f fect c an b e n oted a round f i e ld g a tes, d r ink ing t roughs a nd f eed ing p o in ts . F ur ther , i nd irect e v idence f or t he p resence o f a n i ma ls w ith in t he e nc losure i s p rov ided b y t he p hospha te s urvey c arr ied o ut b efore t he e xcava t ions b egan ( PART I ;f igure 5 d , a nd a ppend ix 5 ) .

S evera l s ign if ican t c oncen tra t ions o f

p hospha te were n o ted w ith in t he e nc losed a rea .

One o ccurred o n t he s i te o f

t he h ouse d escr ibed a bove a nd c ou ld r ef lect a ccu mu la ted d o mest ic r e fuse b u t o thers o ccurred o n p ar ts o f t he s i te where t here was n o e v idence f or d o mest ic o ccupa t ion a nd may , a ccord ing ly , r ef lect d ung a ccu mu la ted i n a n i ma l p ens o r c o l lected i n manure h eaps . Ev idence f or t he k ind o f a n i ma ls t o b e f ound i n a nd a round t he I ron Age f armyard i s p rov ided b y t he ir s ke le ta l r e ma ins wh ich were d eposi ted i n t he e nc losure d itch .

The a n i ma l b one f ro m F isherw ick was n ot a bundan t o r we l l

p reserved b u t o f t he s pec i mens t ha t c ou ld b e d e f in ite ly a ssigned t o s pec ies 7 0% c a me f ro m c at t le , 1 3% f ro m p ig a nd 1 1% f ro m h orse . i ng were f ound o n b oth c a t t le a nd p ig b ones .

Traces o fb utcher-

S heep ( or g oa ts) a nd r ed d eer

were a lso r epresen ted i n sma l l n u mbers b ut t he d a mp r iver ine s itua t ion wou ld h ave b een u nsu i tab le f or t he f or mer a nd t he l a t ter p resu mab ly l i ved w i ld i n t he woods wh ich t he b o tan ica l e vidence s uggests were s o me d istance away .

Many

o ther sma l l a n i ma ls a l most c er ta in ly l i ved a round t he f ar myard b u t l ef t n o t race o f t he ir p resence . The p lan t r e ma ins i nc lude a n u mber o f t ypes c o m mon ly f ound g row ing i n f armyards s uch a s o rache ( Atr ip lex) , g oosefoot ( Chenopod iu m) , a nd n et t les ( Ur t ica ) .

Braken ( Pter id iu m a qu i l in iu m) s te ms were a lso f ound i n t he e nc losure

d itch a nd may h ave b een i mported t o t he s i te f or l i t ter , a s c ou ld t he h eather wh ich g ave r ise t o t he 4% Er ica les r ecord i n t he p o l len s pectru m . I t was men t ioned i n t he i n troduct ion t o t h is p ar t o f t he r epor t t ha t t he p res ence o f h u man b e ings o n t he s i te i s a t tested o n ly b y t he b u i ld ings, w h ich h ave a lready b een d escr ibed , a nd o ther a r t ifacts l e f t a s r efuse a round t he f ar myard a nd i n t he e nc losure d i tch .

A lthough sma l l, a nd n ot i n t he mse lves ma jor

f eatures i n t he l andscape , t he a r t ifacts d o c on tr ibute t o i t s e luc ida t ion b y d ocu men t ing s o me o f t he a ct iv it ies t ha t were t ak ing p lace w ith in i t . The ma jor ity o f t he a r t ifact f inds c a me f ro m t he r ing-d itch o n e i ther s ide o f t he e n trance t o t he h ouse , a nd t he e nc losure d itch . The f or mer g roup a ppeared t o c ons ist most ly o f d ebr is c leared o ut o f t he h ouse o r f ro m t he o pen y ard i n f ron t . Th is ma ter ia l r ef lects t he a ct iv ites o n t h is p ar t o f t he s i te a nd c an b e d iv ided i n to d o mest ic p ot tery a nd i ndus tr ia l d ebr is . The f ormer h as

9 8

b een d iscussed a nd d escr ibed b y Banks a nd Morr is i n PART H a nd a ppend ix 3 , a nd p resu mab ly r e f lec ts a spec ts o f t he d ay-to-day l i fe o f t he h ouseho ld . T he l a t ter r ef lects a n umber o f more e xcep t iona l a c t iv i t ies . T he i ndustr ia l d ebr is i nc ludes o ver 3 .5 k gs o f Very C oarse P o t tery ( VCP) o r Br ique tage . T h is ma ter ia l i s r epor ted u pon b y Morr is ( PART 1 ) a nd a ppears t o r epresen t s tages i n t he manufacture , s torage a nd t ranspor t o f s a l t . T here w ere a lso n ear ly 6 00 g rammes o fb aked c lay f rag men ts, s ome o f w h ich a ppear t o h ave f ro m o vens, a nd o thers t ha t w ere a pparen t ly p ieces o f n ozz les ( PART I ) . F ue l a sh s lag w as a lso f ound . T he a r t ifact f i nds f rom t he e nc losure d i tch were d if feren t i n s evera l r espects . T he d o mest ic p o t tery f ound was u sua l ly i n much l arger p ieces s uggest ing t ha tb roken v esse ls were d iscarded d irect i n to t he d i tch wh i lst t hose l e f t l y ing a round t he h ouse were c on t inua l ly b roken i n to sma l ler a nd sma l ler p ieces . I ndustr ia l d ebr is was l arge ly a bsen t f rom t he e nc losure d i tch s uggest ing t ha t s uch a ct iv i t ies were r estr icted t o t he c en tra l p ar t o ft he s i te . L arge i t e ms s uch a s ab roken q uern s tone were f ound i n t he d i tch a s t hese were l arge e nough t o b e ah azard i fl ef t l y ing a round t he f armyard .

T he wa ter-

l ogged c ond i t ion o f t he e nc losure d itch a lso l ed t o t he p reserva t ion o f a r t ifacts made f ro m o rgan ic ma ter ia ls s uch a s ap iece o f s awn a n t ler , wh ich p robab ly f ormed a h and le , a nd a w ho le r ange o f wooden o b jec ts . T h is l a t ter g roup i nc luded p ieces o f s truc tura l t imber , as pade o r p add le , ap o in ted s take , a c arefu l ly c arved p eg , as craper , at ogg le f or f as ten ing c lo th ing , a nd a p o in ted s haf t , p erhaps a n a rrow . S uch f i nds h ave s o f ar b een r are o n I ron Age s i tes a nd i l lustra te a spec ts o f l i fe a nd t he l andscape h i ther to l arge ly u nrecorded . By c o mpar ison v ery l i t t le c an b e s a id a bou t t he s et t lemen t a t SK 187080 . I ta ppears t o h ave o ccup ied a n e nc losure o f a bou t 0 .15 h a d ef ined o n t hree s ides b y ad i tch 2 .5 m w ide a nd a bou t 1 .5 m d eep . The f our th , n or thern , s ide was e i ther o pen , f enced a cross , o r p rov ided b y t he Brook L easow . T h is d i tch a lso h ad wa ter logged l ower d epos its a nd a l though n o s a mp les were e xam ined was p robab ly s im i lar t o t ha t s urround ing SK 187082 . A t l east a long i t s e astern s ide t h is e nc losure was a lso d emarca ted b y ac on t inuous p a l isade r unn ing a long t he i nner s ide o f t he e nc losure d i tch a nd i n t h is r espec t i td if fers f ro m s ite SK 187082 wh ich i st hough t t o h ave b een s urrounded b y t horn h edges . T he s i te a t 5K 187080 a lso d if fers i nh av ing , i n i t s f i rst p er iod , t wo e n trances t hough t hese were r educed t o o ne s ubsequen t ly . No d e ta i ls o f e i ther e n trance s truct ure s urv ived . A l though a er ia l p hotographs s uggest t ha t a t l eas t o ne r ound h ouse l ay w ith in t h is e nc losure t he a rea i n q ues t ion was d estroyed b y q uarryi ng b efore i tc ou ld b e i nves t iga ted a nd mechan ica l s tr ipp ing o f t opso i l a ppeared t o h ave r e moved a l l t race o f o ther i n terna l f ea tures .

T ha t o ccupa t ion d id o ccur

i s e v iden t f ro m t he f inds o fp ot tery r ecovered f ro m t he e nc losure d i tch , b u t i n h is r eport Banks s uggests t ha t o ccupa t ion may h ave c eased d ur ing t he I ron Age a nd t he s i te b ecame a n a nnexe o f SK187082 . T h is i s a s f ar a s i ti sp oss ib le t o t ake t he d escr ip t ion o ft he I ron Age f arms teads a nd i ti s n ow n ecessary t o c onsider t he o ther p ar ts o ft he f arms - t he f i e lds a nd t he o pen l and b eyond . T he t wo s e t t le men t e nc losures were s urrounded b y ac omp lex o f l i near f ea tures f orm ing a f i e ld s ystem o f a t l east 1 0 h a i n e x ten t . I to ccup ied t he s carp , c rest a nd b ack s lope o ft he g rave l t errace a nd d oes n ot a ppear t o h ave 9 9

e x tended e astwards o n t o t he f l ood p la in a l luv iu m o r westwards i n to t he b ack s lope d epress ion .

A lthough t here was n o c lear n or thern b oundary t he l im its

o f t he s yste m d o a ppear t o h ave l a in w ith in t he a rea i nvest iga ted whereas t he e x ten t t o t he s ou th was n ot e stab l ished . T he s yste m was c lear ly d iv ided i n to t wo u nequa l p ar ts b y t he ma jor b oundary r ecorded a s f ea tures 2 & 3 1 o f t he e xcava t ions a s SK187080 .

T h is

was t raced f or 4 75 m s outh f ro m SK187084 a nd t hen f or a f urther 1 50 m t o t he s outheast .

T o t he n or theast o f t h is b oundary l ay a p or t ion o f g rave l t errace

a bou t 9h a i n e x ten t a nd c lear ly a ssoc ia ted w i th t he s et t le men ts a t SK187082 a nd SK187080 .

The f ea tures t o t he s outh a ppear t o h ave p ost-da ted t h is ma jor

b oundary a nd s uggest a f ur ther s et t le men t b eyond t he a rea i nvest iga ted .

T he

e nc losure o f t he t wo s et t le men ts a nd t he ir s urround ing f ie lds b y t h is ma jor b oundary d oes r a ther s uggest t ha t t hey were n o t e n t ire ly i ndependen t o f e ach o ther a nd p oss ib ly e x isted a s at enur ia l u n it . Excava t ions a t SK I8 7083 a nd SK187080 ( PART I )d e monstra ted t ha t t he f i e ld s yste m d eve loped o ver a p er iod o f t ime .

A lthough i ti s n ot p oss ib le t o

p rec ise ly c orre late t he s equences n oted a t b o th s ites a g enera l p at tern o f d eve lop men t d oes s ee m e v iden t .

Th is b egan w ith t he s et t le men t e nc losures

s tand ing i n af a ir ly o pen l andscape w ith f ew , i fa ny , f ie ld b oundar ies a nd d eve loped t owards a n i ncreas ing d egree o f e nc losure .

I ti s n o t c lear whe ther

t he ma jor b oundary was p resen t f ro m t he b eg inn ing o r whether i td a tes f ro m t he s tar t o f t he p iece- mea l e nc losure o f t he g rave l t errace . F ie ld s yste ms c ons ist o f f ie ld b oundar ies a nd a reas o f l and e nc losed b y t he m .

Those b oundar ies o f wh ich t races s urv ive were a l l , a t l east i n p ar t ,

d itches, f or i ti s t hese t ha t h ave g iven r ise t o t he c rop- marks r ecorded o n a er ia l p ho tographs .

S uch b oundar ies were a l most c er ta in ly a lso marked b y

a n e ar then b ank made o f ma ter ia l u pcast f ro m t he d itch a nd t h is wou ld h ave b een s urmoun ted b y af ence , o r more p robab ly a t horn h edge . The e v idence f or t he p resence o f t horn h edges was d iscussed a bove . S o me f ences may a lso h ave b een u sed , a s i n t he c ase o f t he e nc losure a t SK187080 ( f ea ture 1 9) , a nd wou ld h ave b een e ssen t ia l wh i le y oung h edgerows were b eco m ing e stab l ished . T he f i e ld d i tches were s im i lar t o t hose s urround ing t he s et t le men ts , t hough n o t a s d eep a nd p robab ly d ry f or most o f t he y ear . h ad a c lean ing t rench a t t he b ot to m ( f igure 3 3 ) .

Fea ture 1 002 a t SK 187083

N o t race was f ound o f n on-

d itched b oundar ies a nd t hese a re r are i n t he a rea t oday . T he u n its o f l and e nc losed b y t hese b oundar ies c an most ly b e r egarded a s f i e lds, t hough i n t wo c ases where p ara l le l d i tches r un c lose t oge ther t hey were more l i ke ly e nc losed t rackways .

The f i e lds w ere e ither a rable o r g rass land ,

a nd t he o n ly d irect e v idence f or I ron Age l anduse a t F isherw ick i s p rov ided b y t he i nsect a nd p lan t r e ma ins r ecovered f ro m t he e nc losure d itch a t SK187082 . I n a dd it ion t o i l lustra t ing t he h ab itats a long t he b ot to m a nd s ides o f t he d itch t h is ma ter ia l a lso s heds s o me l i gh t o n t he l anduse p ract ised i n t he a d jo in ing f i e lds .

T he a sse mb lage o f t errestr ia l b ee t les was d om ina ted b y g enera whose

me mbers l i ve i n t he d ung o f l arge h erb ivorous ma m ma ls.

Th is, a nd t he p re-

s ence o f s pec ies wh ich p ass t he ir i m ma ture s tages l i ving o n g rass r oo ts, s trong ly s uggests t ha t t he l oca l t errestr ia l e nv iron men t c ons isted p r inc ipa l ly o f g rassland .

Th is p icture i s s uppor ted b y t he e v idence o f t he s eeds a nd p o l-

l en a nd i ts ee ms v ery l i ke ly t ha t t he f ie lds i m med ia te ly a d jo in ing t he s et t lemen t

1 00

were e nc losed p astures o r meadows, g razed b y c at t le a nd h orses whose b u tc hered s ke le ta l r e ma ins w ere f ound i n t h e e nc losure d itch . T he I ron Age f armers a t F isherw ick a re u n l ike ly t o h ave c oncen tra ted e xc lus ive ly o n t he r ear ing o f l i vestock , t hough t h is may h ave b een t he ir p r inc ipa l a ct iv i ty . An a rab le e le men t i s a t tested b y a 5% r ecord o f C erea l ia p o l len , f inds o fb oth s add le a nd r o tary q uerns a nd i mpress ions o f t hreshed em mer a nd s pe l t s p ike le ts i den t if ied i no ven d aub .

The s andy a c id b rown s o i ls o f t he

g rave l t errace a re we l l s u i ted t o t i l lage a nd t he a rab le f i e lds p robab ly l ay a long t he t errace c rest . H owever , t he a bsence o f much e v idence f or a rable l anduse i n t he e nc losure d i tch d epos its s uggests t ha t t hese f i e lds d id n ot i mmed ia te ly a d jo in t he s e t t lemen t b ut l ay a l i t t le d istance away .

I t wou ld h ave

b een n ecessary t o p reven t g raz ing s tock f ro m g a in ing a ccess t o t he a rab le f ie lds a nd t h is c an a ccoun t f or s o me o f t he f i e ld b oundar ies n oted i n t he a rea . The p resence o f em mer a nd s pe lt s uggest b o th s pr ing a nd a utu mn s ow ing , wh i lst a s ing le p o l len g ra in r ese mb l ing V ic ia f aba migh t i nd ica te a r ota t ion i nvo lv ing b eans .

The g row ing o f t hese d if feren t c rops, wh ich r equ ired d if fer-

e n t c u l t iva t ion p ract ices, c ou ld l ead t o t he c rea t ion o f f ur ther b oundar ies f or t he s ub-d iv is ion o ft he a rab le l and .

The f i e lds were p loughed b y o xen a nd t he

c orn was p robab ly s own b roadcast . I n t he a bsence o f t he n ea t r ows o f t he s eed d r i l l weed ing wou ld h ave b een d if f icu lt o r i mposs ib le o nce t he c rop h ad s tar ted s hoo t ing . We s hou ld n o t p icture t he F isherw ick I ron Age f i e lds a s b road , g o ld en e xpanses o f wav ing c orn .

The many w i ld f lowers a nd weeds o f c u lt iva t ion ,

a s we l l a s t he n u mber o f c erea ls t ha t may h ave b een s own t ogether , wou ld h ave g iven t he l andscape a much more v ar ied h ue a nd t ex ture . The s eed a nd p o l len l i sts i n a ppendix 3g ive a n i mpress ion o f s o me o f t he v ar ie ty t o b e s een i n t he I ron Age a rab le a nd p asture f i e lds a t F isherw ick . I th as b een a rgued e lsewhere ( Sm ith , C 1 978 , 1 00) t ha t t he p resence o f p ermanen t f ie ld b oundar ies i mp l ies a f a ir ly s ta t ic, a s o pposed t o at rue ly s h if t ing , p at tern o f l anduse . T he most l i ke ly p at tern i s t ha t o ft he i n f ie ldo utf ie ld s yste m i n wh ich t he e nc losed f i e lds a round t he s e t t le men ts wou ld h ave f ormed t he a nnua l ly c u lt iva ted i n f ie lds a nd a cco m moda t ion f or s tock w ith t he o pen l and b eyond f orm in gt he o ut f ie ld u sed f or r ough p asture, f orestry a nd t e mporary c u lt iva t ion . T he e nc losed t rackways i mp ly t he move men t o f l i vestock t hrough t he f i e lds a round t he s e t t le men ts .

O ne t rack l ed f ro m t he s e t t le men t a t SK187082 a cross

t he t errace a nd d own t o t he r iver Ta me , p erhaps t o af ord o r wa ter ing p lace . Ano ther t rack r an b e tween t he west e n trance o f t he s et t le men t e nc losure a t SK187080 a nd t he p er i me ter b oundary o f t he f i e ld s yste m t o t he west . Th is s uggests t he move men t o f s tock b etween t he e nc losure a nd t he o pen l and b ey ond t he f i e lds . T he e x ten t o f t he o u t f ie ld a rea a ssoc ia ted w i th t he F isherw ick f arms c ann ot b e e stab l ished . No a r tif ic ia l b oundar ies were n oted i n t he a rea a nd t he l im its may h ave b een d ef ined b y n a tura l f eatures s uch a s s trea ms. A ltern at ive ly , o u tf ie ld l and may h ave b een h e ld i n c o m mon w i th n e ighbour ing s e t t lemen ts . The e cono m ic v a lue o f s uch t err itory was c h ief ly a s r ough g raz ing a nd a s as ource o f r aw ma ter ia ls a nd g a me . Both w i ld b oar a nd r ed d eer a re a t tested a t F isherw ick .

1 01

The a rea o f g round wa ter g ley s o i ls o n t he f l ood p la in a l luv ium wou ld h ave p rov ided g ood p asture a nd may h ave b een c u t f or h ay .

The f requen t f lood ing

wou ld h ave i mproved t he g rass b ut made c u l t iva t ion i mposs ib le . A s t oday , a f ew s tands o f w i l low ( Sa l ix s p ) p robab ly g rew t here a nd p rov ided a c onven ien t s ource f or wa t t les, h urd les a nd b asketry . The a rea t o t he west o ft he f i e ld s yste m i s a lso r a ther l ow l y ing a nd h as p a tches o f s o i l s im i lar t o t hose o f t he f l ood p la in a l luv iu m i n term ixed w i th t he a c id b rown e ar ths o f t he g rave ls . F ie ld n a mes a nd t he s urv iv ing h edgerow f l ora s uggest t ha t i n t he M idd le Ages t h is a rea was r ough g round a nd wood land ( Sm ith , C 1 978 9 3-5) .

A lthough t h is n eed n o t h ave b een t he c ase i nt he I ron

Age t he a bsence o f e v idence f or a ny o ther t ype o f l anduse makes i tq u ite l i ke ly . H owever , t he p o l len s pectru m a t SK187082 i nd ica tes t ha t wha t wood land t here was i s l i ke ly t o h ave b een s econdary s crub . Tab le I i l lustra tes t ha t t he most c o m mon t ree r epresen ted a t F isherw ick was t he a lder ( A lnus g lut inosa ) , a ccoun t ing f or 5 8% o f t he wa ter logged wood s a mp les a nd 4 1% o f t he a rborea l p o l len .

Th is p robab ly g rew o n d amp s o i ls

t hroughout t he a rea , o n d itch s ides, o n t he f l ood p la in a l luv iu m a nd a s c lu mps o n t he t errace b ack s lope . Oak ( Quercus s p ) was a lso f a ir ly c o mmon a ccoun ti ng f or 7 % a nd 1 4% r espect ive ly .

Among t he u t i l ized woods r ecovered f ro m

t he s et t le men t t hese t wo were t he most c o mmon .

O f t he o ther u t i l ized woods,

w i l low ( Sa l ix s p ) , a sh ( Frax inus e xce ls ior )and h aze l ( Cory lus a ve l lana) , w i ll ow h as a lready b een men t ioned a nd a sh was r epresen ted b y as ing le a r t ifact . A s i td oes n o t a ppear i n t he p o l len s pectru m i t was p robably n o t t o b e f ound l oca l ly . Haze l i s p ar ticu lar ly i n terest ing b ecause a l though i t was r epresen ted b y o n ly t wo sma l l a r t ifacts i ta ccoun ted f or o ver 2 4% o f t he a rborea l p o l len a nd was s econd i n f requency t o a lder .

T he v ir tua l a bsence o f h aze l f rom t he e n-

c losure d i tch d epos its i nd ica tes t ha t i t was n ot g row ing i n t he i m med ia te v ic in ity o f t he s et t le men t b u t t he a bundance o f t he p o l len s uggests t ha t s ubs tan t ial s tands may h ave g rown n o t f ar away , p erhaps i n t he a rea t o t he west o f t he f i e ld s yste m . Haze l i s w ind p o l l ina ted b u t f l ower ing i s i nh ib ited b y s hade . I ti s t herefore o n ly p ro l if ic i n o pen s crub, o n t he e dges o f woods, i n c lear ings o r where c opp ic ing h as o ccurred .

The u t i l iza t ion o f h aze l b y t he I ron Age

f armers, a nd t he a ccumu la t ing e v idence f or t he a n t iqu ity o f c opp ic ing ( Co les _ e _ t _ü , 1 975, 1 976-1977 , 1 978 , Rackha m , 1 976) s uggest t ha t t he l ast a lterna t ive may b e t he most l i ke ly .

The a va i lab le e v idence s uggests t ha t t he a rea t o t he

west o ft he f i e lds was o ccup ied b y p a tches o f s econdary wood land w i th p len ty o f o pen g round . The t rees p resen t were most ly a lder ( A lnus g lu t inosa) , O ak ( Quercus s p) a nd h aze l ( Cory lus a ve l lana) . T he l a t ter may h ave b een d e l ibe ra te ly managed a s ac opp ice . T h is a rea a lso p rov ided r ough g raz ing . Th is c o mp le tes t he r econstruct ion o f t he I ron Age l andscape o f F isherw ick a s f ar a s t he e v idence a l lows .

I n s u m mary i tc an b e s een t o c ons ist o f a

s et t le men t o r s e t t le men ts s urrounded b y d i tched a nd h edged p asture a nd a rab le f i e lds . Beyond t hese f i e lds were a reas o f o pen r ough g raz ing a nd s econdary wood land . The r e levance o f t he F isherw ick e v idence f or t he M id lands r eg ion a s a who le h as a lready b een d iscussed b y o ne o f u s ( Sm ith , C 1 977 :1978 ) a nd n eed n ot b e g one i n to a t l eng th i n t h is r epor t .

Two ma in t he mes h ave emerged f ro m

t he c ons idera t ion o f t he w ider i mp l ica t ions o ft he F isherw ick e v idence . 1 02

T he f irst i s t he e x ten t t o wh ich t he l andscape a ppears t o h ave b een c leared o f p r i mary mixed d ec iduous f orest .

The o pen n a ture o f F isherw ick d ur ing t he

I ron Age i s p ara l le led a t an u mber o f o ther l oca l it ies i n t he r eg ion s uch a s Ta l l ing ton i n t he We l land V a l ley ( S i mpson , 1 966, 2 0) , Dragonby a nd Thorn Was te i n Nor th L inco lnsh ire ( Ho lland , 1 975 3 62-3 ; T urner , 1 962 , 3 39) , a nd B lack thorn , Nor tha mp tonsh ire ( Evans, 1 974, 6 3 ) .

Th is a ccu m mu la t ing e v id-

e nce s uggests t ha t a t l east b y t he I ron Age s ubstan t ia l a reas o f t he M id lands, e spec ia l ly t he r iver v a l leys , h ad b een a l most e n t ire ly c leared o f p r i mary wood land . The s econd g enera l t heme t o emerge f ro m t he work a t F isherw ick i s t he n eed f or a r ev is ion o f t he p reva i l ing d e mograph ic mode l o f t he p re- Med iaeva l p er iod t hroughou t L ow land Br ita in .

Work i n t he F isherw ick a rea a nd e lse-

where i n t he Ta me Va l ley h as d e monstra ted t ha t t he d ens i ty o f p re- Med iaeva l s e t t le men t was f ar g rea ter t han was s upposed t wo d ecades a go .

Wha t t h is

means i n t er ms o f n u mbers o f p eop le c anno t b e e stab l ished, b u t i ti s n ever thel ess c lear t ha t t he e v idence t hroughout L ow land Br ita in ( Sm ith , C 1 977a 5 5 ; Cun l if fe , 1 978) i nd ica tes t ha t t he p opu la t ion d ur ing t he I ron Age was v ery much g rea ter t han h as h i ther to b een s upposed . T hese t wo t he mes, t he c learance o f t he wood lands a nd t he d ens ity o f t he p opu la t ion , h ave i mp l ica t ions f or p er iods o ther t han t he I ron Age .

When i t

was p oss ib le t o r efer t o ". .. t he h eav i ly wooded M id land P la in , where p reRo man o ccupa t ion o f a ny k ind i s l i ke ly t o h ave b een s can ty , t rans ien t o r b o th ." ( P iggot t , 1 958 , 1 3 ) i t was r easonab le t o i n terpre t t he s ubsequen t h istory o f s ett le men t i n t he a rea i n t erms o f t he g radua l e xpans ion o f a rab le l and a t t he e xpense o f t he p r i mary wood lands, ( Lew is, 1 958 ; H ., 1 956) .

Hosk ins, 1 955 ;

Sm ith A .

S uch a rgu men ts a re n o l onger t enab le a nd , l i ke Caesar d escr ib ing

s ou theast Br ita in , we may c ons ider t he I ron Age p opu la t ion o f t he M id lands t o h ave b een" ... e xceed ing ly l arge , a nd t he g round t h ick ly s tudded w i th h o mes teads" . ( De Be l lo Ga l l ic° V .2 . ) .

1 03

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1 06

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p ar t 3C o leop tera e d . b y R . D . Pope) , Roy . En t . S oc . L ondon . Kru mbe in , W . C ., 1 941.

"Measure men t a nd Geo log ica l S ign if icance o f S hape

a nd Roundness o f S ed i men tary Par t ic les" J ourna l o f S ed i men tary Pe tro logy 1 1 n o . 2 , 6 4-72 . L ew is, A . R ., 1 958 .

"The C los ing o f t he Med ieva l Fron t ier A .D . 1 250-1350"

S pecu lu m 3 3 . Mack ie, E . W., 1 977 .

"The v itr if ied f or ts o f S cot land" i n D . W. Hard ing ( ed . )

H il lfor ts, L a ter p reh istor ic e ar thworks i n Br ita in a nd I re land Mackney , D . a nd C . P . Burnha m , 1 964 .

The S o i ls o f t he West M id lands

S o i l S urvey o f Eng land a nd Wa les Bu l le t in 2 .

1 07

2 02-35 .

MAFF, 1 967 .

Poten t ia l t ransp ira t ion T echn ica l Bu l le t in 1 6, M . A . F . F .

MAFF, 1 973 .

The a na lys is o f a gr icu ltura l ma ter ia ls Techn ica l Bu l le t in 2 7 ,

M . A . F . F . Ma t t ing ley , G . E . G . a nd R . J . B . Wi l l ia ms , 1 962 .

"A n ote o n t he c he m ica l

a na lys is o f as o i l b ur ied s ince Ro man t imes" ,J ourna l o f S o i l S c ience 1 3 , 2 54-8 May , J . , 1970 .

"An I ron Age s quare e nc losure a t Aston-upon-Tren t ,

Derbysh ire" Derbysh ire Arch . J ourna l 9 0 , 1 0-21. May , J ., 1 976 .

Preh istor ic L inco lnsh ire .

M i les, H ., 1 969 .

"Excava t ions a t F isherw ick , S ta f fs ., 1 968" Trans. S .

S taf fs . Arch . S oc . X , 1 -23 . Moran , P . A . P ., 1 950 .

"N o tes o n c on t inuous s tochast ic p heno mena"

B io me tr ika 3 7 , 1 7-23 . Morr is, E . L . f or thco m ing .

A c o mparat ive s tudy o f t he I ron Age s a lt t rade

a nd c era m ic n e tworks o f N or th Wa les, t he West M id lands a nd Ha mpsh ire , Un ivers ity o f S outha mp ton , M . Ph i l . t hes is i n p repara t ion . Munse l l C o lor C o mpany , 1 954 . Musson , C ., f or thco m ing .

Munse l l s o i l c o lour c har ts .

Excava t ions a t t he Bre idd in h i l lfor t Ca mbr ian

Archaeo log ica l A ssoc ia t ion Monographs. O sborne ,

P . J ., 1 976 .

"Ev idence f ro m t he i nsects o f c l i ma t ic v ar ia t ion

d ur ing t he F landr ian p er iod" Wor ld Archaeo logy 8 , n o . 2 . P eacock , D . P . S ., 1 968a .

"A Petro log ica l S tudy o f c er ta in I ron Age p ot tery

f ro m Western Eng land" PPS 3 4, 4 14-27 . Peacock , D . P . 5 ., 1 968b .

"Ro mano-Br it ish Pot tery Product ion i n t he

Ma lvern D istr ict o f Worcestersh ire" Trans . Worces . Arch . S oc . 3 rd s er ies 1 , 1 5-28 . Peacock , D . P . 5 ., 1 971.

' Petrography o f c erta in Coarse Pot tery" i n

B . C un l if fe Excava t ions a t F ishbourne 1 961-69 Vo l I The F inds, 2 55-9 . Penn ing ton , W., 1 969 . Ph i l ips, J ., 1 950 .

The H istory o f Br it ish Vege ta t ion .

"A s urvey o f t he d istr ibu t ion o f q uerns o f t he Hunsbury o r

a l l ied t ypes" i n K . K enyon "Excava t ions a t Breedon-on-the-H i l l . L e icestersh ire 1 946" Trans . L e ics. Arch .Soc . 2 6, 1 7-82 . Ph i l l ips, A . P ., 1 971.

"The s ur face c o l lec t ion o f f l in t a r t ifacts" i n S . Rev i l l

"An e xcava t ion a t G ibbe t H i l l, S he lford" Trans. Thoroton S oc . o f Not ts . LXXV , 5 9-67 . P iggot t , S ., 1 958 .

"Na t ive e cono m ies a nd t he Ro man o ccupat ion o f Nor thern

Br ita in" i n I . A . R ich mond ( ed . )R o man a nd Na t ive Br ita in , Chap ter 1 . P iggot t , S ., 1 972 .

"A n ote o n C l i ma t ic De ter iora t ion i n t he F irst M i l lenn iu m

B .C . i n Br ita in" S cot t ish Archaeo log ica l F oru m 4 , 1 09 .13 . Provan , D . M . J ., 1 971.

" So l l P hospha te A na lysis a s a Too l i n Archaeo logy"

Norwe igan Archaeo log ica l R Ev iew 4 , 3 7-50 . 1 08

Pye , W . D . a nd M . H . P ye , 1 943 .

" Spher ic ity Determ ina t ions o f Pebbles a nd

S and Gra ins" J ourna l o f S ed i men tary Petro logy 1 3 , 2 8-34 . Rackha m , 0 ., 1 976 .

Trees a nd Wood land i n t he Br it ish L andscape .

R i ley , D . R ., 1 946 .

"The t echn ique o f a ir a rchaeo logy" Arch . J ourna l 1 01,

1 -16 . R it tenhouse, G ., 1 943 .

"A v isua l me thod o f e st i ma t ing t wo d i mensiona l

s pher ic ity" J ourna l o f S ed i men tary P e tro logy 1 3 , n o . 2 , 7 9-81. R ob inson , M ., 1 978 .

"The Prob le m o f Hedges e nc los ing Ro man a nd Ear l ier

F ie lds" i n H . C . Bowen a nd P . J . F ow ler ( eds . )Ear ly L and A l lo t men t , 1 55-8 , B .A .R . 4 8 . S av i l le , A ., 1 973 .

"A r econs idera t ion o f t he p reh istor ic

f l in t a sse mb lage

f ro m Bourne P oo l , A ldr idge , S taf fordsh ire" Trans. S . S taf fs. Arch . S oc . X IV , 6 -28 . S chwarz, G . T ., 1 967 .

"S i mp l if ied Che m ica l T est f or Archaeo log ica l

F ie ldwork" Archaeo me try 1 0 , 5 7-63 . S co l lar , I . , 1 964 . "Phys ica l c ond i t ions t end ing t o p roduce c rop s i tes i n t he R h ine land" i n C o l loque I n terna t iona l d 'a rchaeo log ie Aer ienne , 3 9-47 . S i mpson , W. G ., 1 966 .

"Ro mano-Br i t ish s e t t le men t o n t he We l land Grave ls"

i n C . Tho mas ( ed .) R ura l S e t t le men t i n Ro man Br ita in , 1 5-25, C . B.A. R esearch Repor t 7 . Sm i th , A . H ., 1 956 .

Eng l ish P lace Na me E le men ts Eng l ish P lace Name

S oc ie ty XXV a nd XXVI . Sm i th , C ., 1 975 . " Second Repor t o f Excava t ions a t F isherw ick , S taf fs, 1 973" Trans . S . S ta f fs, Arch . S oc . XVI , 1 -17 . Sm ith , C ., 1 977a .

"The V a l leys o f t he T ame a nd M idd le Tren t ;

t he ir

p opu la t ions a nd e co logy d ur ing t he l a te i st mil lenn iu m B .C ." i n J . C o l l is T he I ron Age i n Br ita in , ar ev iew , 5 1-61. Sm ith , C ., 1 977 1 ) .

Anc ien t L andscapes i n S outheast S taf fordsh ire u npub l ished

U n ivers ity o f No t t ingham Ph .D . t hes is, Nove mber 1 977 . Sm i th , C ., 1 978 .

"The l andscape a nd n a tura l h istory o f I ron Age s e t t le men t

o n t he Tren t g rave ls" i n B . C un lif fe a nd T . Row ley ( eds . )L ow land I ron Age C o m mun i t ies i n E urope , 9 1-102 , B .A .R . S 48 . Sm i th , C ., f or thco m ing .

"The h istor ica l d eve lop men t o f t he l andscape i n t he

p ar ishes o f A lrewas, F isherw ick a nd Wh it t ing ton ; a na lys is" Trans . S . S taf fs. Arch . S oc . Sm ith , K ., 1 977 .

ar e trogress ive

"The e xcava t ions o f Wink lebury c a mp , Bas ingstoke,

H ampsh ire" PPS 4 3 , 3 1-130 . S o i l S urvey , 1 960 .

F ie ld H andbook .

S tan ford , S . C ., 1 971.

"C redenh i l l Ca mp , H erefordsh ire ;

h i l lfor t c ap ita l" Arch . J ourna l 1 27 , 8 2-129 .

1 09

a n I ron Age

S aw le , J . ,f or thco m ing .

"Excava t ions a t t he Bow l ing Green , Dro itw ich ,

Worcestersh ire". Tay lor , C . C ., 1 975 .

F ie lds i n t he Eng l ish L andscape .

Terry , R . D . a nd G . V . Ch i l l ingar , 1 955 .

" Su m mary o f

C oncern ing s o me

a dd i t iona l a ids i n s tudy ing s ed i men tary f orma t ions, b y M . S . S hve tsov" J ourna l o f S ed i men tary Pe tro logy 2 5, 2 29-234 . Turner , J ., 1 962 .

"The T i l ia Dec l ine ;

a n An thropogen ic I n terpreta t ion"

New Phy to log ist LX I , 3 28-41. TVARC, 1 974 .

Annua l Repor t n o . 8 .

Wacher , J . S ., 1 964 .

"Excava t ions a t Breedon-on-the-H i ll , L e icestersh ire ,

1 957" An t . J ourna l 4 4, 1 22-42 . Wi l l ia ms, D ., 1 975 .

" Iden t if ica t ion o f wa ter logged wood b y t he a rchaeo log ist "

S c ience a nd Archaeo logy 1 4 . Wi lson , D . M . ( ed . ) , 1 976 . Z i m mer mann , W. H ., 1 978 .

The Archaeo logy o f Ang lo-Saxon Eng land . "Econo my o f t he Ro man I ron Age s e t t le men t

F loge ln , L ower S axony - h usbandry , c at t le f ar m ing a nd manufactur ing" i n B . C un l if fe a nd T . Row ley ( eds . )L ow land I ron Age Co m mun i t ies i n Europe , 1 47-66, B .A .R . S 48 .

1 10

APPEND IX 1 CONTR IBUTORS

P . J . B anks, B .A. , C/Escu ltor L i mona 3 1 2 0 3 a B arce lona - 3 1, S PAIN . D . S . E bdon ,B .S c .,Ph .D . , D ep t . o f G eography , U n iversi ty o f No t t ingha m , N ot t ingha m . J . R . A . Gre ig , B .A., M.Sc., B irm ingha m Archaeo log ica l L abora tory , D ep t . o f P lan t B io logy , U n ivers ity o f B irm ingham , B irm ingha m , B 15 2 TT C . Hay f ie ld , B .A . , C hurch Gar th , C lock L ane , B ickenh i l l, S o l ihu l l , Warw icksh ire . D . A . J enk ins, B .Sc . ,P h .D . , Dep t . o f B ioche m istry a nd S o i l S c ience, U n iversity Co l lege o f Nor th Wa les, B angor , Gwynedd , LL57 2 I JW R . J . A . J ones, B .S c ., P h .D ., M .I . Geo l . , S o i l S urvey o f Eng land a nd Wa les, Wood thorne, Wo lverha mp ton , West M id lands, WV6 8 TQ E . L . Morr is, B .A. , Dep t . o f Archaeo logy , Un ivers ity o f S ou tha mpton , S outha mp ton , SO9 5 NH P . J . O sborne,

B .Sc . ,

Dep t . o f G eo log ica l S c iences, Un ivers ity o f B irm ingham , B irm ingha m , B 15 2 TT J . R . S a mue ls, B .A. , Dep t . o f Archaeo logy , Un ivers ity o f No t t ingha m , N o t t ingha m .

11

C . Sm i th , B .A., Ph .D ., F .S .A. ( Scot ) . , Anc ien t Monu men ts L nspectora te , We lsh O f f ice , G overn men t Bu i ld ings, D iner th Road , Co lwyn Bay , C lwyd . J . S tar t in , B .Sc . , 5 4 Western Road , Oxford . P . Wi l l ia ms, B .S c .,Ph .D . ,M .I .B io l . , Dep t . o f B io logy , Derby L onsda le Co l lege o f H igher Educa t ion , K ed leston Road , Derby . DD5 1 GB

1 12

APPEND IX 2 I NDEX OF FEATURES

I n t h is a ppend ix d e ta i ls a re g iven o f a l l t he f ea tures e xcava ted a t t he s i tes r epor ted o n i n t h is v o lu me .

T he f eatures a re g rouped a ccord ing t o s i te a nd

t hen , w i th o ne e xcep t ion , l i sted i n s i mp le n u mer ica l o rder .

The e xcep t ion

i s t he a ccoun t o f t he s ect ions e xcava ted a cross t he e nc losure d itch a t s i te SKI 8 7082 wh ich a re p resen ted t ogether f or c onven ience . S i te SKI 8 3098 C hr istopher Sm ith ( As e xcava t ions d id n o tb eg in a t t h is s i te u n t i l t he t opso i l h ad b een mechan ica l ly r e moved a l l d ep ths q uo ted a re f ro m t he s ur face o f t he g rave l . Approx i ma te ly 0 .5 m s hou ld b e a dded t o e ach s uch measure men t t o e stab l ish t he o r ig ina l d ep th f ro m t he g round s ur face) . I .

An e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 3 & 2 2 ); 0 -52 cm f ine g rey s and w i th p ebb les

a nd c harcoa l f ragmen ts ;

5 3-57 cm c oarse y e l low/brown s and w ith p ebb les ;

5 8-59 cm f ine g rey s and w ith p ebb les ; 6 0-63 cm c oarse y e l low/brown s and ; 6 4-67 cm f ine g rey s and w ith p ebb les; a lso o n t he e astern s ide o f t he s ect ion f ro m 2 0 cm t o 4 6 cm a t ense o f c oarse y e l low s and ; f inds f ro m a bove 5 0 cm -a s herd o f I ron Age p ot tery i n Fabr ic E , 1 8 g ram mes o f VCP, f ue l a sh s lag , ab urn t t ype A l f l in t c ore a nd f i recracked s tones. 1 0 .

An e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 3 & 2 2 ); 0 -7 cm b rown s i lt a nd c harcoa l w ith

b urn t c lay a nd a p ot tery b ase o f Fabr ic C ;

8 -61 cm f ine g rey s and w ith c harcoa l

f l ecks a nd p ebb les a l terna t ing w i th z ones o f c oarse y e l low/brown s and ; t wo s herds o f F abr ics E a nd G . 1 2 .

An e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 3 & 2 2 ); 0252 cm f ine g rey s and w ith z ones

o f al i gh ter c o lour ; 1 3 .

5 3-56 cm d ark g rey s i lt ;

o ne f l in t b lade .

Ap it ( f igures 3 & 2 2 ); 0 -43 cm f ine g rey s and w ith c harcoa l a l ternat ing

w ith z ones o f c oarse y e l low/brown s and w ith p ebb les ; 4 4-45 cm g rey s i l t . 1 4 .

An e nc losure d i tch ( c f . 1 2 ) ( f igures 3 & 2 2) ;0-18 cm f i ne g rey s and ;

1 9-35 cm c oarse o range s and ; w i th d ep th .

3 6-63 cm g rey s and b eco m ing i ncreas ing ly s i lty

1 13

c q c q • W I r T i

1 14

S i te S K187082 P . J . B anks, R . J . A . J ones a nd C hr istopher Sm ith ( Fea tures n umbered f rom 1t o 2 86 w ere e xcava ted i n 1 974 a nd t hose f ro m 3 01 t o 3 93 i n 1 975 .

G aps o ccur i n t he s equence where f ea tures n umbered o n

s i te s ubsequen t ly p roved t o b e o f an on-archaeo log ica l n a ture . Near ly a l l f eatures w ere r ecorded f rom t he g rave l s ur face af ter t he t opso i l h ad b een r e moved . A ccord ing ly , e xcep t where d ep ths a re s pec if ica l ly s ta ted a s b e ing f ro m t he g round s ur face , a pprox i ma te ly 0 .4 m s hou ld b e a dded t o a l l s uch measuremen ts o f o bta in t he f u l l, o r ig ina l d ep th . A l l t he f ea tures e xcava ted h ad b een c u t i n to r iver t errace s ands a nd g rave ls a nd t he ir f i l ls were c o mp osed o ft h is ma ter ia l w ith t he a dd it ion o fv ary ing amoun ts o f h umus. A l though we h ave b een a t c ons iderab ly p a ins t o g ive a s f u l l ad escr ip t ion a s p oss ib le o f t he v ar ied a nd c o mp l ica ted d epos its f i l l ing t he e nc losure d i tch t h is t rea tmen t h as n o tb een e x tended t o t he o ther f eatures r ecorded . T he f i l ls o f a l l t hese o ther f ea tures c ou ld b e d escr ibed a s g rey/brown s and a nd g rave l , a nd i th as b een d ec ided t o p rov ide d e ta i ls o f f i l ls o n ly where t hey d i f fer f ro m t h is n orm , u sua l ly b y t he p resence o f c harcoa l o r p ack ing s tones .

F or c onven ience we

h ave g rouped t oge ther a l l t he d escr ip t ions o f t he e nc losure d i tch s ect ions ( 1 , 8 4 , 3 01, 3 02 , 3 05 , a nd 3 38 ) . T he f i rst t hree d escr ip t ions a re t hose o f s ect ions e xcava ted f ro m t he e x ist ing g round s ur face ; v iz : s ect ions 1 , 8 4 a nd 3 02 . E ach i s d escr ibed f u l ly i nb o th p edo log ica l a nd a rchaeo log ica l t erms a nd ag lossar y o ft he p edo log ica l t erms i sp rov ided i n a ppend ix 4 . T he r ema in ing t hree d escr ip t ions a re o f t hose s ect ions e xcava ted a f ter t he t opso i l h ad b een mechan ica l ly r emoved ; v iz : s ec t ions 3 01, 3 05 a nd 3 38 . I n t hese c ases o n ly a rchaeo log ica l d escr ip t ions a re p rov ided .) 1 . T he n or thern s ide o ft he e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 8 & 2 3 ). T h is s ect ion was e xcava ted b e tween t he 1 3 th J une a nd t he 1 8 th o fJ u ly 1 974 , I th ad a max imu m d ep th o f 1 .65 m e x tend ing f ro m t he g round s ur face a t 5 5 .83 m OD t o 5 4.18 m OD . T he f o l low ing p edo log ica l d escr ip t ion was p repared af ter a v isi t t o t he s i te b y R . J . A . J . o n t he 8 th o f August 1 974 . Wea ther :

T orren t ia l r a in d ur ing t he p rev ious week mo istened t he t op 4 0 cm

o f s o i l a nd c aused wa ter logg ing i n t he t rench b ot to m . H or izons : cm 0 -30

r

Dark b rown ( 7 .5YR 3 /2 ) f r iab le mo ist s l igh t ly s tony s andy l oam ; s tones ma in ly sma l l a nd med ium r ounded a nd s ub r ounded q uartz a nd q uar tz ites o f B un ter o r ig in , a nd a ngu lar a nd s ubangu lar f l in ts ; weak ly d eve loped f i ne g ranu lar s tructure ; modera te o rgan ic ma t ter ; f ew f i ne f i brous r oo ts ; c lear smoo th b oundary .

3 0-64 A

Brown t o d ark b rown ( 1 0YR

4/ 3 ,d ry

2 . 5 Y 5 / 2) v ery f r iab le mo ist

s l igh t ly s tony ( 1 5% ) s andy l oam ; s tones a s a bove ; c o mmon med ium d ark y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 4/ 4 ) mot t les ; weak ly d eve loped f i ne g ranu lar s tructure ; i ron c oncre t ions c o mmon ; l ow o rgan ic ma t ter ; f ew f i ne f i brous r oo ts ; g radua l b oundary .

15

6 4-82

Dark g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 4 /2) v ery f r iab le mo ist s l igh t ly s tony ( 12-15% ) a s a bove l oa my s and ; many b rown t o d ark b rown ( 7 .5 YR 4 /4) a nd d ark y e l low ish b rown ( 1 0YR 4 / 4) med ium mo t t les ; v ery weak ly d eve loped f i ne g ranu lar s tructure ;

c o mmon i ron-manganese

c oncre t ions ; n o r oo ts ; g radua l b oundary . 8 2-90 ( i nc l . D )

Brown t o d ark Brown ( 7 .5 YR 4/ 2 )v ery f r iab le j ust mo ist s l igh t ly s tony ( 12% ) l oamy c oarse a nd med ium s and ; a bundan t med ium b rown ( 10YR 5 /3 ) a nd d ark y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 4 /4 ) mo t t les ; v ery w eak ly d eve loped f i ne g ranu lar s truc ture ; c o m mon i ronmanganese c oncre t ions ; n o r oo ts ; g radua l b oundary .

9 0-110

Dark g rey ish b rown ( 2 .5Y . 4 /2 ) f irm j ust mo ist s l igh t ly s tony (8% ) s andy l oam ; s tones a s a bove ; many med ium a nd c oarse d ark y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 4 /4) a nd y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 5 /6 ) mot t les ; weak ly d eve loped med ium s ubangu lar b locky s tructure ; c ommon i ron- manganese c oncre t ions ; n o r oots ; smoo th s harp b oundary .

1 10-125

Very d ark b rown ( 10YR 2 /2 ) f r iab le mo ist v ery s l igh t ly s tony ( 5% ) s andy l oam b ecoming c lay l oam t owards t he b ase a nd i n p ocke ts e lsewhere ; s tones a s a bove t hough ma in ly sma l l a nd w i th a g rea ter p ropor t ion o f a ngu lar a nd s ubangu lar p ebb les ; c o m mon med ium d ark g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 4 /2 ) a nd b rown t o d ark b rown ( 1 0YR 4 /3 ) mo t t les ; med ium s ubangu lar b locky s truc ture ; af ew i ron-manganese c oncre t ions ; modera te o rgan ic ma t ter ; n o r oo ts ; smoo th c lear b oundary .

1 25 - 1 50 B lack ( 1 0YR 2 / 1) a nd d ark r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 2 /2 ) s l igh t ly s t icky 1 ( 2 )

we t s l igh t ly s tony ( 1 2% ) h umose s andy s i l t l oam where m inera l ma t ter p redo m ina tes, l oamy p ea t e lsewhere ; s tones a s a boveb leached q uar tz g ra ins ; h igh o rgan ic ma t ter ( >10% ) , c o mmon d ead woody r oo ts a nd woody p lan t r e ma ins i nt he p ea ty p ocke ts ; g radua l b oundary .

1 50 - 1 70 Very d ark b rown ( 10YR 2 /2 )a nd d ark r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 2 /2 ) s l igh t ly s t icky w e t s l igh t ly s tony ( 1015% ) , h u mose s andy l oam w i th p ea ty p ocke ts ; b leached q uar tz g ra ins -many med iu m a nd c oarse b lack ( 10YR 2 / 1) mo t t les ; h igh o rgan ic ma t ter t hroughou t ; many f i ne d ead f i brous r oo ts a nd c om mon w oody p lan t r e ma ins a ssoc ia ted w ith p ea ty p ocke ts ; we l l d eve loped c lay c oa ts a round s tones -l enses o f r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /4) a nd y e l low ish r ed ( 5YR 4 /6) n on-st icky we t s l igh t ly s tony s and ; smoo th s harp b oundary . L ef t h and s ide o f s ec t ion . 1 40 - 1 55 R edd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /4) a nd y e l low ish r ed ( 5YR 4 /6) n on-st icky 1 ( 1)

we t s l igh t ly t o modera te ly s tony ma in ly c oarse s and w i th l enses o f v ery d ark b rown ( 10YR 2 /2 ) h u mose s andy l oam ; s tructure less, s ing le g ra in .

T he f o l low ing a rchaeo log ica l d escr ip t ion was c o mp i led b y Banks a nd Sm i th d ur ing a nd a f ter t he e xcava t ion .

16

.

Sect ions t hrough t he e nc losure

9 {1870E 32

d i tch

F I SHER W ICK 1 974

F ig. 2 3

1 17

T he k ey i n f i gure 2 3 s hows t ha t t he s ect ion w as d iv ided i n to n ine l ayers wh ich , o n a rchaeo log ica l g rounds, a re c onsidered i n f our g roups t hough t t o r ef lect s tages i n t he h istory o f t he d itch . T he u ppermost g roup c onsists o f l ayers A , B , a nd C , a nd r epresen ts t he l ast i den t if iab le s tage i n t he h istory o f t he d i tch .

I t s d epos its were c ut b y t hose o f f ea ture 4 ( see b e low ) .

The

t hree l ayers were e ssen t ia l ly s im i lar , b eco m ing f i ner w ith d ep th . L ayer C h ad t he a ppearance o f ap r i mary s i lt a nd t he f ac t t ha t i tf ormed a n i mpor tan t p hase i n t he h istory o f t he d itch was s uggested b y ad if feren t ia l d ry ing o ut o f t he s ec t ion , L ayer C r e ma in ing d a mp a bout a week l onger t han L ayer D b e low . L ayers A , Ba nd C a re i n terpre ted a s af ina l , s ha l low r ecut t ing o f t he e nc los ure d itch , p erhaps a f ter o ccupa t ion w ith in t he e nc losure h ad c eased a s n o f inds were made i n t hese l ayers .

T he s take h o le s hown i n f igure 2 3 may

b e long t o t h is s tage o r s o me l a ter e ven t . L ayers D , G , Ha nd 1 2 c onst itute t he p enu lt ima te s tage i n t he h is tory o f t he d i tch . L ayers D a nd G were s im i lar t o t hose a bove a nd were d ist ingu ished o n ly when t hey d r ied o ut d i f feren t ia l ly . L ayer H was q u i te d if feren t b e ing d ark , d a mp a nd r a ther s i lty .

I t was f e l t t ha t t h is L ayer n eed n ot mark a

s epara te s tage b ut r a ther a p hase i n t he s i lt ing p rocess w ith in a s tage . 12 was i n terpreted a s t he p r i mary s i lt a nd f ro m i t s r e la t ive c oarseness may h ave a ccu mu lated r ap id ly , p erhaps i n f l ood c ond it ions . a s t he mud wh ich f ormed a bove t h is d epos it . t hese L ayers: v iz :

L ayer D - t wo s herds o f f abr ic G i nc lud ing a r im ( f igure

1 1) a nd t wo s herds o f VCP ; o f VCP .

L ayer H was i n terpreted

F inds were f a ir ly f requen t i n

L ayer H -t wo s herds o f f abr ic E ;

1 2 -a s herd

A l l t hese f inds c an b e d a ted t o t he I ron Age a nd s uggest a r ecut t ing

o f t he d itch wh i le t he e nc losure was s t i l l o ccup ied . L ayer I j i s i n terpreted a s a l l t ha t r e ma ined o f af ur ther e ar l ier s tage i n t he h istory o f t he d itch .

I t was q u ite d ist inct f ro m L ayers 1 2 a nd J .

L ayer J r epresen ts t he e ar l iest s tage i n t he h istory o f t he d i tch i nt h is s ect ion: T he d eposi ts were wa ter logged a nd h ad a h igh o rgan ic c on ten t . Tw igs f ro m t h is l ayer h ave p rov ided a r ad io c arbon d ate o f : 2 130 + 1 00 b p ( B irra . 6 14) . I n a dd it ion t o wood , s eeds, i nsects a nd a n i ma l b ones, f inds i nc lude a s herd o f VCP a nd a b ase s herd i n f abr ic C ( f igure 1 1) . S a mp les f ro m e ach L ayer were t ested f or p hospha te a nd pH :

Phospha te

pH 8 4.

A

B

C

D

G

2 .5

3 .0

3 .0

2 .0

1 .5

H 2 .5

2 .0

2 .0

6 .5 t o 6 .0 The s ou thern s ide o f t he e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 8 & 2 3 ).

1 .5 ( v a lues af ter S chwarz, 1 967 ,60) 6 .5 t o 4 .5 Th is s ect ion w as

e xcava ted b e tween t he 1 8 th a nd 2 7 th o f J u ly 1 974 a nd t he 6 th a nd 1 8 th o f Apr i l 1 975 . I th ad a n o vera l l d ep th o f 1 .60 m e x tend ing f ro m 5 5 .73 m OD t o 5 4 .13 m OD . T he f o l low ing p ed :o log ica l d escr ip t ion was p repared b y J ones f o l low ing as i te v isi t o n t he 2 3rd o f J u ly 1 974 .

1 18

Hor izons : cm 0 -35 Dark b rown ( 7 .5 YR 3 /2 , d ry 1 0YR 5 /3 ) h ard d ry s l igh t ly s tony ( 30-40)

( 12% ) s andy l oa m ; ma in ly sma l l r ounded a nd s ub r ounded Bun ter q uar tz ite p ebb les, a ngu lar f l in t a nd s andstone f ragmen ts ; moderat e ly d eve loped f ine s ubangu lar b locky t o f ine g ranu lar s tructure ; modera te o rgan ic ma t ter ; f ew f i ne f i brous r oots ;

c lear smooth

b oundary . 3 5-55 ( 50-60) A

Dark b rown ( 7 .5 YR 3 /2 , d ry 2 .5Y .

5 /2) s l igh t ly h ard d ry s l igh t ly

s tony s andy l oa m ; s tones a s a bove, ma in ly sma l l, s o me med iu m ; f a in t t o d ist inct f i ne v ery d ark g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 3 /2 ) mo t t les ; weak ly d eve loped f i ne c ru mb t o s truc ture less s ing le g ra in ; b rown t o d ark b rown ( 7 .5YR 4 /4) a nd y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 5 /6) i ron s ta in ing ;

n o r oots ; g radua l b oundary .

5 5-90 Dark b rown ( 10YR 3 /3 , d ry 2 .5Y 5 /2 ) s l igh t ly h ard t o h ard d ry ( 80-100) s l igh t ly s tony s andy l oa m ; s tones ma in ly r ounded q uar tz a nd q uar tz ite B

p ebb les o f B un ter o r ig in , more o f med iu m s ize t han a bove ; d ist inct med iu m d ark y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 3 /4) a nd d ark g rey ish b rown ( 2 .5Y 4 /2) mot t les ; y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 5 /6) i ron s tains ; g radua l b oundary , s l igh t ly l ower t han i nd ica ted o n s ect ion d raw ing .

9 0-103 Very d ark g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 3 /2) f r iab le mo ist s l igh t ly s tony s andy C l oa m ; many med iu m d ark g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 4/2 ) a nd d ark b rown ( 10YR 3 /3) mot t les ; weak ly d eve loped f ine s ubangu lar b locky s truct ure ; y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 5 /6) i ron s ta in ing a nd b lack i ron- mangan ese c oncre t ions ; n o r oo ts ; f ragmen ts o f c harcoa l ; v ery s l igh t ly c a lcareous ( 0 .5-1% C aCO3 ) ;

a brup t smoo th b oundary .

1 03-122 B lack ( 10YR 2 / 1) v ery f r iab le mo ist s l igh t ly s tony , a s a bove t hough ( 1 14-130) more med iu m s ized p ebb les, s andy l oa m ; f ew f a in t f ine v ery d ark E& d i

g rey ish b rown ( 10YR 3 /2) mot t les ; weak ly d eve loped med iu m g ranu lar ; modera te o rgan ic ma t ter ; n o r oo ts ; f ragmen ts o f c harcoa l ; we l l d eve loped c lay c oa ts ; g radua l b oundary .

1 22-145 B lack ( 10YR 2 / 1) s l igh t ly s t icky wet v ery s l igh t ly s tony , ma in ly I

sma l l a s a bove , h u mose s andy l oa m a nd s andy s i lt l oa m ; weak ly d eve loped a ngu lar b locky s tructure where ma ter ia l more s i l ty a nd weak s ubangu lar b locky where more s andy ; (> 8% ) ;

h igh o rgan ic mat ter

c o m mon d ead f i ne f leshy a nd med iu m woody r oots;

s harp

i rregu lar b oundary . 1 45-165 B lack ( 10YR 2 / 1) s l igh t ly s t icky we t s tony ( 15% ) s andy l oa m ; J

s tones ma in ly a s a bove, w i th s o me l arge ; i um s ubangu lar b locky s tructure ; c harcoa l f ragmen ts ;

weak ly d eve loped med-

h igh o rgan ic mat ter (> 10% ) ;

c o m mon f ine a nd v ery f i ne d ead r oots a nd

d ist ingu ishab le p lan t f ragmen ts ; v ery we l l d eve loped c lay c oa ts a round s tones. L ayers d ist ingu ished i n a rchaeo log ica l s ect ion b ut n ot p resen t i n v ert ica l s equence o f l ayers a re d escr ibed b e low :

1 19

1 10-130 Dark y e l low ish b rown ( 10YR 4 /4) n on-st icky t o l oose v ery mo ist t o F

we t s l igh t ly s tony l oa my s and ; many med iu m y e l low ish b rown ( 10 YR 5 /4 a nd 5 /6) mo t t les ;

s tructure less, s ing le g ra in ; n o r oots.

( l ef t h and s ide o f s ect ion ) 1 40-160 Redd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /3) n on-st icky we t s l igh t ly s tony s and ; many K f a in t d ark r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /2 ) mo t t les; s tructure less, s ing le g ra in ; n o r oots . ( r igh t h and s ide o f s ect ion ) 1 40-155 Redd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /4) n on-st icky we t s l igh t ly s tony s and ; many L

f a in t t o d ist inct d ark r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 3 /4) a nd r edd ish b rown ( 5YR 4 /3) mot t les ;

s tructure less, s ing le g ra in ;

n o r oots.

( l ef t h and s ide o f s ec t ion ) The f o l low ing a rchaeo log ica l d escr ip t ion was c o mp i led b y Banks a nd Sm ith d ur ing a nd a f ter t he e xcava t ion . The k ey i n f i gure 2 3 s hows t ha t t he s ect ion was d iv ided i nto e leven l ayers wh ich c an b e c ons idered , o n a rchaeo log ica l g rounds, i n t hree g roups.

L ayers

A , B , a nd C f orm t he u ppermost g roup a nd a re s harp ly d iv ided f ro m t he L ayers b e low , s evera l o f wh ich t hey t runca te . s harp ly t runca ted b y f ea ture 1 09 ( see b e low ) .

A , B a nd C a re t he mse lves L ayer C h ad t he a ppearance

o f ap r i mary s i lt a nd t h is g roup o f l ayers i s i n terpre ted a s al a te s tage i n t he h istory o ft he d itch .

The a bsence o f a ny f i nds s uggests t ha t t he s e t t le men t

was b y t h is t ime u noccup ied . L ayers D , E , F , Ha nd Ir epresen t t he p enu lt i ma te s tage i n t he h is tory o f t he d i tch a s i l lustra ted b y t h is s ect ion .

L ayer Iwas v ery s i lty w i th a l arge

amoun t o f o rgan ic ma ter ia l, L ayers F a nd D a ppeared t o b e c o l lapses o f ma ter ia l f ro m t he s ides o f t he d itch . L arge n umbers o f s andstone b locks were f ound i n L ayer D o n t he n or thern s ide o f t he s ect ion . Th is was t he i nner s ide o ft he e nc losure d i tch a nd t hese b locks may h ave e roded i n f ro m t he c o l lapse o f ab ank o f ma ter ia l c ast-up when t he d i tch was d ug .

The l arge s tones

a t t he b ase o f L ayer C c ou ld h ave b een r edepos ited f ro m t h is c o l lapse .

I n

a dd it ion t o wood a nd a n i ma l b ones, f inds f ro m t hese l ayers i nclude q uan t it ies o f p ot tery o f f abr ic C f ro m L ayer D a nd f abr ic G f ro m L ayer I ( f igure 1 3 ) . L ayers J , Ka nd L r epresen t t he e ar l iest s tage d e tec ted i n t h is s ect ion . Both K a nd L a ppeared t o b e ma ter ia l e roded f ro m t he s ides o f t he d i tch . L ayer J was v ery s tony b u t a lso we t a nd h ad many t w ig f ragmen ts .

A l l t hree

l ayers may h ave a ccu mu la ted q u ick ly i n wa ter logged c ond it ions, a n h ypothes is s uppor ted b y t he a bsence o f a r t ifac ts. 3 02 .

T he s outhern s ide o f t he e nc losure d i tch ( f igures 4 & 2 4) .

Th is s ect ion

was e xcavated b y JCB o n t he 4 th o f Apr i l 1 975 . I th ad a max i mu m d ep th o f 1 .76 m e x tend ing f ro m 5 5 .76 m OD t o 5 4 .00 m OD . The f o l low ing p edo log ica l d escr ip t ion was p repared b y J ones f o l low ing a s i te v isi t o n t he 1 7 th o f Apr i l 1 975 .

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w ( 4

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c D

c o

c d

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i n N

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cd

C 0

C

C O 0

C

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Table V I I

Observa t ion s o ft he h o mestead e nc losure d i tch marks i n r elat ion t o a va ilable wa ter ( Av ) a nd c rop a d jus ted p o ten t ia l s o il mo is ture d ef ic it ( CPS MD ) ( Av-CPS MD ) ( mm )

Da te a .

C lar i ty o f e nclosure d i tch mark s

N a tura l s o il b es ide d i tch

Homestead d i tch i n f il l

A er ia l o bserva t ions

2 8/06/60 0 7/07/62

C lear v . C lear

1 52(-43 )

1 21 6 8(77 )

2 3/0 7/6 9

F a in t

56(13 )

6 4(133 )

1 5/06/70

C lear

20

1 00

1 1/06/73

N o t v isible

4 5

1 65

2 0/07/74

v . C lear

57 (-42 )

6 3(78 )

2 8/06/75

v . C lear

42

7 8

b .

G round o bserva t ions

1 4/06/74 0 7/07/74

N o t v is ib le C lear

12 36(-42 )

1 08 8 4(78 )

1 3/07/74

C lear

45(-42 )

7 5(78 )

3 1/05/75

N o t v is ible

2 6

1 46

1 7/06/75 2 6/06/75

Fa in t v . C lear

7 36

13 8 4

3 0/06/75

v . C lear

48

7 2

( The f i gures i nb racke ts a re f or t he e nd o f J une )

2 03

GLOSSARY OF PEDOLOG ICAL TERMS U SED I N SO IL DESCR IPTIONS

S o il c o lours a re d escr ibed a ccord ing t o t he Munsel l s yste m o f c o lour n o ta t ion ( Munsel l Co lor Char ts , 1 954 ).

The f o l low ing t er m ino logy i s u sed t o

d escr ibed o ther s o il p ropert ies a nd i s d rawn ma in ly f ro m t he S o il S urvey F ield Handbook ( Hodgson 1 974 ). The t er ms f or c ons istence, amoun t o f o rgan ic ma t ter a nd q uan t ity o f r oo ts a re t aken f ro m t he f or mer S o i l S urvey F ie ld Handbook ( So i l S urvey S taf f 1 960 ). Cons istence Th is p roper ty r efers t o t he s treng th a nd s tab il i ty o f s o il a ggrega tes o r f rag men ts a nd i s d escr ibed f or 3 s o il mo isture s ta tes :

w et , mo ist a nd d ry .

Cons is tence w hen w et : N on-st icky : a f ter r elease o f p ressure, p ract ica l ly n o s o il ma ter ia l a dheres t o t hu mb o r f i nger. S l igh t ly s t icky :

af ter p ressure s o il ma ter ia l a dheres t o b o th t humb a nd

f inger b u t c o mes o f f o ne o r t he o ther r a ther c lean ly . Cons istence when mo ist : L oose : n on-coheren t Very f r iable : s o i l ma ter ia l c rushes u nder g en t le p ressure b u t c oheres when p ressed t oge ther. Fr iable : s o i l ma ter ia l c rushes e as ily u nder g en t le t o modera te p ressure b etween t humb a nd f oref inger , a nd c oheres when p ressed t ogether. Cons istence when d ry : S l igh t ly h ard :

w eak ly r es istan t t o p ressure;

e as ily b roken b etween

t humb a nd f oref inger. Hard :

modera tely r esistan t t o p ressure; c an b e b roken i n t he h ands

w ithou t d if f icu l ty b u t i sb arely b reakab le b etween t humb a nd f oref inger. S ton iness Quan t i ty % b y v o lume :

%b y v o lu me 70

Gravel Sma l l s tones

2 -6 mm 6 mm-2 cm

Med ium

2 -6 cm

L arge

6 -20 cm

S ize :

Very l arge

2 0-60 cm

Bou lders

>60 cm

2 04

mm 5

P LATY ( ve r t ica l a x is )

CRU MB ( d iame te r )

2

TH ICK

MED IU M

TH IN

COARSE

MED IU M

F INE

ANGULAR AND COARSE

MED IUM

F INE

SUB -ANGULAR B LOCKY ( d iame ter )

MED IU M

COARSE

5 0

P R IS MAT IC

F INE

2 0 mm

F igure 3 7

( ho r izon ta l a x is )

1 0

S ize c lasses o f s o il s truc ture

1 0 Ä i

A WA 8 A ° A ear .IWA . e / A W AA/K% A V k .Y A i , . \ 4 , . . ) \ M e \ c e

r s i l tV

\,

s andy c l ay / V 3 0 — _ / s / \ s a d y c l ay l o a r ' n \

1 5

8 1 0 1Ä

s and

19

s andy l o am

, s a

\ ‘

a r

c l a

o am

c z ,

ar A \ s i l ty c l ay \ l o am

s andY s i l t l o am

s i l t l o am

* WA M O NA s and f r ac t ion 6 0-2000 pm

0

Part icle s ize c lass Par t ic le s ize e st i ma tes a re b ased o n t he f o l low ing d ef in it ions : e .s.d. C lay

e .s.d.

< 0 .002 m m

S il t

0 .002-0.06 mm

S and

0 .06-2.0 m m

E . :e qu iva len t s pher ica l d iameter.

Part icle s ize c lasses a re d escr ibed a ccord ing t o t he s che me s hown i n f i gure 3 8. S tructure D egree o f s truc tura l d evelop men t : Th is i s d ist ingu ished i nt he f i eld b y t he p ropor t ion o f t he s o il a ppear ing a s a ggrega tes o r p eds a nd b y t he d evelopmen t o f a ggrega te f aces. S truc tureless o r a peda l : n o o bservable a ggrega t ion o r n o d ef in ite o rder ly a rrange men t o f n a tura l l i nes o f weakness , massive i fc oheren t; s ing le g ra in i fn on-coheren t. Weak ly d eveloped : p oorly f or med i nd ist inc t p eds t ha t a re b are ly o bserva ble i n p lace. When d isturbed , t he s o i l b reaks i n to a m ix ture o f a f ew e n t ire p eds , many b roken p eds, a nd much u n aggrega ted ma ter ia l . Modera tely d eveloped :

w el l f or med d ist inct p eds t ha t a re modera tely

d urab le a nd e v iden t b u t n o t d ist inct i n u nd isturbed s o il .

The s o il ma-

t er ia l , when d isturbed , b reaks d own i n to a m ix ture o f many d ist inc t e n t ire p eds, s o me b roken p eds, a nd l i t t le u naggrega ted ma ter ia l The t ypes a nd c lasses o f s o i l s truc ture a re g iven i n f i gure 3 7 . Mo t t les Abundance F ew mo t t les o ccupy Co m mon

< 2% o f t he e xposed s urface 2 -20%

Many V ery many

2 0-40% > 4 0%

S ize Ex tre mely f ine

d ia. o fg rea test d i mension < 1m m

Very f ine

1 -2 mm

F ine

2 -5 mm

Med iu m

5 -15 mm

L arge

> 1 5 mm

O rgan ic Ma t ter Amoun t V ery h igh H igh

>

1 3% 8 13%

2 06

Modera te

3 -8%

L ow