Dig05Analysis

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Analysis

Four phases were identified.

Phase 1 Natural deposits

In Trench 1 natural deposits were approximately 1.10m from the modern ground surface. These comprised a reddish brown silty clay, 0.15-0.20m thick (108; Fig 4) over a reddish brown, compact silty sand (109; Fig 4). In Trench 2 natural was identified at approximately the same depth below the modern ground surface. This was a compact, dry, reddish brown clay deposit (207; Fig 5).

Phase 2 Romanmedieval deposits

Roman pottery was present in both trenches, although that in Trench 1 was residual (disturbed from its original deposit) in a post- medieval layer (105; Fig 4). Three highly abraded sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from this. The Roman pottery in Trench 2 was recovered from the mid grey, silty clay fill (206) of a feature (208; Fig 5) cut into the natural clay. This feature was only partially excavated due to the constraints of the evaluation trench. Within that area, the sloping south side of an apparently linear feature running east to west was observed. The fill of this (206) was sampled for environmental remains. Charred seeds recovered from this sample were well preserved, and although not diagnostic of any period were more indicative of a medieval date than a Roman one (Appendix 3). This feature lay below, and was truncated by, later deposits and activity. A residual sherd of Roman pottery was also recovered from post- medieval dumped deposits (200) in this trench.

Phase 3 Medieval deposits

In Trench 2, overlying the fill of the Phase 2 linear feature (206208) was a layer of probable medieval date. This was a pale brown silty clay, 0.35m thick (204; Fig 5). Within the excavated area, this had largely been truncated by post-medieval activity. A single sherd of cooking pot recovered from this deposit dated from the 12th-13th century. Medieval pottery and a fragment of medieval floor tile, considered to be residual, were recovered from later deposits (104, 200 and 201).

Phase 4 Post-medieval deposits

Post-medieval deposits were excavated in both trenches. In Trench 1 (Fig 4) three similar layers of clay to silty clay, averaging 0.20m in thickness overlaid natural deposits (105, 106 and 107; Fig 4). These all contained fragments of brick and tile. The uppermost (105) also contained three sherds of residual Roman pottery and five fragments of bone, one of which was human. This had been cut by two features (111 and 113; Fig 4), both of which were filled with a greyish brown clay loam containing brick fragments (110 and 112). These were sealed by a 0.05m thick spread of gravel (104; Fig 4) which contained a sherd of late medieval pottery and two fragments of human bone. Above this was a dark greyish brown, silty loam topsoil, 0.10m thick (103). A slot for an electricity cable cut into this, running north to south along the west side of the trench (not illustrated). A number of finds were also recovered during the removal of turves from the site (100).

In Trench 2, a cut (203; Fig 5), 0.50m deep and at least 1.25m across, was filled with a mixed deposit of reddish clay and mid-brown silty clay. This contained brick, tile, stone and charcoal along with a sherd of medieval cooking pot, a medieval floor tile fragment and 24 fragments of bone. Of the bone, seven fragments were human and the remainder animal, including sheepgoat and cow. This cut a compact reddish brown silty clay layer (205) which contained a fragment of tile. This layer (205) was also cut by a substantial posthole (202; Fig 5), 0.80m in diameter and 0.45m deep. This contained stone and brick in its fill and to its base. These deposits lay below 1.00m of mixed soils (200; Fig 5), containing pottery of Roman, medieval and post-medieval dates, two bottles, part of a paraffin lamp and 20 fragments of bone. The bone included five fragments of human bone and fifteen of animal bone with pig, sheep and cow represented. The human bone was returned for reburial.

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