or South Midlands - Council for British Archaeology

SOUTH MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGYThe Newsletter of the Council for British Archaeology, South Midlands Group (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire,Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire)NU1VIBER 29, 1999CONTENTSPageEditorialBedfordshire 1Buckinghamshire 14Northamptonshire 23Oxfordshire 29Index 90Notes for Contributors 100EDITOR: Barry Home CHAIRMAN: Roy Friendship-Taylor'Beaumont'Toad HallChurch End86 Main RoadEdlesboroughHackletonDunstable, BedsNorthamptonLU6 2EPNN7 2ADHON SEC:Shelagh LewisOld College Farmhouse2 Magdalen CloseSyreshamNorthantsNN13 5YFTREASURER:Jon Hitchcock75D Princes StreetDunstableBeds.LU6 3ASTypeset by Barry HomePrinted by The Open UniversityISSN 0960-7552

EDITORIALIn my last Editorial I reported on the state of play in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The attrition continues withJonathan Parkhouse "jumping ship" and taldng up a post as County Archaeologist in Warwickshire, I'm sure we all wishhim well.Over the past year there have been suggestions that this publication should change. One of the suggestions has been thatthere should be peer review of the articles which are submitted. I have trsisted this on two counts:Time. The elapse time between the deadline for articles, end of March,,and the time when the publication goes tothe indexer, begirming of June, is two months. It is usually tighter than this as illustrations inevitably arrive late. Theindexer is then able to fit our job in between her other work and holidays; because of this we get a "good deal".This is a publication primarily for reporting results, not interpretation. I'm not too bothered if an interpretationreported in SMA is proved to be incorrect, it is the nature of archaeology that as more data accumulate allinterpretations are overtumed. Peer review will not tell us whether or not archaeologists are falsely claiming to findwhat they are not finding. Only inspection of the material will do that.Contributots are responsible for the content of their contributions and a note to this effect has been added to "Notes forContributors".Members who are unhappy about SMA and wish to see a change and a new Editor have only to wait until the AGM in2000 when the post next comes up for election.In conclusion I would like to thank all those who sent in reports and ask that they, and anyone else, send in articles forSMA 30. Please send a note, however short, of any work carried out in the four counties.Copy date for SMA 30 is 31st March 2000; please refer to Notes for Contributots.Barry Home AIF'A

BEDFORDSHIREBEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE (BCAS)The past year saw the start of a programme of major changefor BCAS. As part of the County Council's PartnershipProgramme BCAS will move out of the public sector andwill have the opportunity to achieve its strategic aimsthrough merger with another organisation. Building on ourcurrent regional expertise we aim to continue to achieve:- delivery of a first class service to clients;- development of the highest professional standards;- rapid dissemination of the results of archaeologicalprojects to the public and the profession.In addition, the new organisation will continue to providethe County Council with an archaeology service, which willinclude:- analysis and archiving work on pre-existing CountyCouncil funded projects;- maintenance of county type series;- public outreach activities;- small, public-funded archaeological investigations.Barton-k-clay, The Bury (FL 085 305)Nick Shepherd and Mark PhillipsA single trial trench was dug in the garden of the Bury, ahouse of 17th/18th century origin close to the Church inBarton-le-Clay. The garden was divided into two parts by alarge curving ditch extending into properties to the north andsouth. This may have originated as post-medieval gardenearthworks. The trench was located across the site ofproposed development, a swimming pool and walledgarden, and measured 30 m by 2 m wide.Features marginal to settlement/activity of Iron Age andpost-medieval date were recognised. Within the middle partof the trench two shallow pits containing artictilated animalburials were located. One contained a single sherd of IronAge pottery. To the south a large pit, also containing ananimal burial was backfilled with redeposited naturalcontaining two fragments of late medieval or later tile. Thiswas sealed by a dump of chalk possibly associated with aconstructional phase of the house or the nearby gardenearthworks.Biggleswade, Greene King Brewery (FL 1902 4470)Sean Steadman, Tony Walsh and Rob Edwards.An archaeological evaluation, comprising a desk-top surveyand trial-trenching, was carried out on the site of the formerGreene King Brewery, Biggleswade.BedfordshireThe desk top survey indicated that the site was essentiallyagricultural in nature for most of its history. Five barnsoccupied the site in the late medieval period. A brewhouseand maltings were established on the site by 1764.Demolition layers relating to earlier brewery buildings wereencountered in all of the trial trenches but no archaeologicaldeposits survived. This suggests that the area waslandscaped prior to development of the brewery.Bromham, St Owen's Church (FL 0128 5126)Tony Walsh and Sean SteadmanTrial trenching of earthworks adjacent to St Owen's Churchin advance of a proposed graveyard extension revealed noarchaeological features. The "earthworlcs" were the result ofnatural undulations in the underlying clay, accentuated bythe construction of the access road for the church and smallscale quarrying on the site.Dunstable, Market Square (FL 019 217)Mike LukeA watching brief was undertaken during water pipereplacement within the area of known Roman settlement.No archaeological features were observed, althoughdisturbed ground near the High Street may indicate thepositions of former cellars. Modern disturbance had clearlytaken place in the vicinity of the pipe trenches. No artefactsearlier in date than the post-medieval period were recovered.Edworth, Toplers Hill (FL 216 405)Mike Luke, Rob Edwards and Mark PhillipsEvaluation comprising aerial photograph analysis, fieldartefact collection and geophysical survey (undertaken byGeophysical Surveys of Bradford) identified a series ofenclosures adjacent to the Baldock to GodmanchesterRoman road. Although insufficient artefacts were recoveredto date the enclosures with confidence, they are likely to beIron Age or Roman. Geophysical anomalies suggestsettlement activity, including possible roundhouses, wasconcentrated on the east side of the road.Great Barford (FL 133 519)Mike Luke and Paul BrightArchaeological field evaluation comprising field artefactcollection and trial excavation was undertaken in advanceof housing development. Worked flint, Saxo-Norman andmedieval pottery was recovered from the ploughsoil but noconcentrations were discernible.Two clusters of archaeological features were observedwithin the trial trenches sealed below alluvial clays. Thefeatures included postholes and small pits. A small1

Bedfordshireassemblage of pottery was recovered from the pitssuggesting a Bronze Age and early Iron Age date for eachof the concentrations.Harrold, Land Off Meadway (SP 953 571)Nick Shepherd and Tony WalshGeophysical survey and trial trenching identified the site ofan early to middle Saxon settlement to the north of themedieval/modem village. The site lay on the southem edgeof gravel workings where finds of early prehistoric, IronAge, Saxon and medieval date were made during the 1950sand reported on later by Eagles and Evison (1970). Potteryand metalwork recovered during those works form animportant part of the collections of the Bedford Museum.Open area excavation (Fig 1) covering 03 ha confirmed thelocation of the Saxon settlement. Unendosed post-built andsunken buildings were identified along with quarry pitsre-used for refuse disposal. A large assemblage of potterywas recovered from these features and this together with thewell preserved animal bone has good potential for furtheranalysis.In addition to the Saxon period features a complete earlyprehistoric ring ditch was exposed and excavated. Thisincluded a central inhumation and cremation and asecondary inhumation placed just inside the ring. Thestratigraphy suggests the central inhumation may have beeninterred prior to the construction of the main ring ditchmonument Finds accompanying the burial included flinttools and a polished stone, with an antler pick placed withinthe backfill. A cremation was placed directly above theinhumation and may have been primary to the constructionof the ring. This and the secondary burial were undated byartefacts. No reliably datable material was recovered fromthe fills of the ring ditch and no mound material survivedlater truncation. Just to the south of the ring ditch a completecollared um had been placed in a pit and this may date theuse of the monument to the early Bronze Age. Furtherextended use of the monument, at least as a focus for burialactivity, is indicated by the location of a small late Iron Agecremation cemetery located 15 m t,o the south-west.ReferenceEagles, BN., and Evison, VI., 1970, 'Excavations at Harrold,Bedfordshire, 1951-53', Beds. Arch. J. Vol. 5,17-55.Marston Moretaine, Church End Lower School(SP 9960 4178)Sean Steadman and Gary EdmondsonArchaeological evaluation uncovered boundary ditches andoccupation evidence dating from the early-middle Saxonthrough to the post-medieval period .Full excavation of the footprint of the proposed schoolextension and associated contractor's compound wasundertaken in March-April 1998. The northern part of thesite consisted of substantial modern dumps of rnaterial,probably associated with the construction of the school. Inthe south a variety of medieval and post-medieval featureswere identified, indicating significant changes in the use ofthe area.The northern bay and cross passage of a possibleSaxo-Norman hall was discovered on a gravel "island"within the underlying clay geology in the extreme south ofthe site. It was orientated north-north-west tosouth-south-east with its long side parallel to the lane whichleads to the church. The building, of post and interruptedbeam construction, was at least 9 m long by 7 m wide, withindications of alterations to its internal layout. Few findswere recovered from this area, which may suggest a nondomesticfunction at least for this end of the building.A late medieval or early post-medieval saw pit wasidentified to the west of the disused hall. It wassub-rectangular in plan, c 3.5 m northwest - southeast by1.45 m wide, and 1.19 m deep. The waterlogged conditionshad preserved layers of sawdust and a crude floor, consistingof planks from the outer part of the tree trunk. Waterinundation probably forced the abandonment of the pit,which was subsequently backfilled. It is possible that titispit is associated svith repairs to the church or the moatedmanor to the west. Given the disparity in dating, it is unlikelyto be associated with the construction, alteration or repair ofthe Saxo-Norman hall.The area was subsequently divided into land parcelsdemarcated by ditched boundaries which probably alsoacted as drains. A crude metalled surface or trackway mayhave provided access from the west.Pavenham, Walled Garden (SP 990 559)Mike LikeAn archaeological watching brief was undertaken duringconstruction of a new house within the walled garden. Thegarden was constructed in the mid 19th Century and oncebelonged to The Bury (believed to be the site of one of themedieval manors). No archaeological features wereobserved. The only artefacts recovered comprised 19thcentury brick and tile fragments associated with the gardenwall.Poddington, the Church of St. Mary the Virgin(SP 943 627)Tony WalshPart of the west wall of the nave was recorded during repairworks. A number of architectural features were recordedincluding two blocked openings. The wall can be interpretedin two ways regarding the development of this part of thechurch. Most likely, the original nave wall was partlydismantled and the first phase tower inserted. Subsequentheightening of the tower took place with the original tower2

BedfordshireHarrold, Land off MeadwayPlan of excavated featuresSaxon buildingsIron Agecremationso20MMedievalboundary andtrackFig 1. Harrold, land off Meadway.openings replaced by the tower arch or blocked. The secondinteipretation sees the original nave wall surviving acrossthe whole width of the exposure, with the tower built on topof it.Salford, Whitsundoles Farm (SP 921 403)Mike Luke and Mark PhillipsWatching brief and limited excavation identified twoconcentrations of archaeological features 100m apart. Twoparallel ditches 7.5 m apart are presumed to define a3

Bedfordshiretrackway or droveway. The ditches contained a smallquantity of late Iron Age pottery but no other occupationdebris. This trackway is probably associated with the systemof fields and enclosures investigated to the east by Petchey(1978).A concentration of pits and postholes indicates the locationof a settlement. Pottery recovered from the fills of the pitssuggests a late Iron Age date but no coherent form of thesettlement could be determined from the limited extent ofthe investigations.ReferencePetchey, M R, 1978, "A Roman field system at Broug,hton,Buckinghamshire" in Recs. Bucks. XX, 637-645Sandy, BecIcs Land (FL 182 467)Nick Shepherd and Tony WalshFourteen trial trenches were excavated across the study area,a section of gravel terrace overlooking the River Ivelbetween Sandy and Biggleswade. Eight trenches containedarchaeological features. Recovered artefacts includedworked flints, pottery, tile, fired day and animal bone,dating from the early prehistoric to modem period.One area of significant archaeological remains wasidentified to the north-east of the study area. This compriseda number of pits and ditches, probably representingsettlement of pre-Belgic Iron Age date (800 BC-100 BC)with more limited evidence for activity during the BelgicIron Age (100 BC-AD 100) and Roman periods. Alluvialand peat deposits, predating the archaeological features,were recorded in the east towards the river.Sandy, Ivel Farm (TL 183 465)Nick ShepherdThis project comprised desk-based assessment, fieldartefact collection and trench evaluation across an extensivecropmark site situated between Sandy and Biggleswade inthe Ivel Valley. Thirty-six trial trenches were excavated,each measuring 50 m in length. Of these, 19 containedarchaeological features ranging in date from the earlyprehistoric (Mesolithic to early Bronze Age(9000 BC-1000 BC)) to the mid-late Roman period (toc AD 300). The results of the trial trenching largely confirmthe location and density of features plotted from aerialphotography survey, although it was interesting to note themarked absence of surface artefacts recovered duringfieldwalking. Two core areas of significant archaeologicalremains were identified, with two subsidiary areas:Core Area 1: Early-middle Iron Age (800-300 BC) activitycomprising pits and ditches.Core Area 2: Late Iron Age/Romano-British(50 BC-AD 300) settlement comprising pits, ditches and atleast two cremations representing the site of a smallfarmstead utilising a north-south gravel island/terracesurrounded by low lying wet or boggy ground.Subsidiary Area 1: To the north of Core Area 2 scatteredfeatures, including cremations and ditched boundariesindicating localised and less intensive activity, again of LateIron Age and Romano-British date.Subsidiary Area 2: To the south of Core Area 2, ditchesplotted from aerial survey and excavated within trialtienches probably represent the boundaries of outfields tothe main Iron age/Romano-British settlement and trackwaysleading to it.In addition, a network of palaeochannels ran across thecentral part of the site and in particular along the easternfringe. In places, overbank alluvium and/or peat depositswere found to seal archaeological features of Late IronAge/Roman date. These deposits probably relate to risingwater level from the late Roman period which may have ledto the abandonment of the site for settlement.Stagsden Golf Course (SP 9920 4930)Mike Luke, Rob Edwards and Paul BrightArchaeological evaluation comprising aerial photographanalysis, geophysical survey and trial excavation wasundertaken in advance of golf course construction over astudy area 60 ha in extent. Cropmarks were identifiedindicating at least three ditched enclosures, one containingcircular ditches believed to define roundhouses. Thegeophysical survey, undertaken by West YorkshireArchaeology Servie, confirmed the location of the threeenclosures but suggested archaeological remains were farmore extensive than the cropmarks suggested. Fifty seventrenches were located to investigate cropmarks, geophysicalanomalies and to provide broad coverage of the area. Fivesettlements were identified ranging in date from the earlyIron Age to the later Roman period (Fig 2). Only one of these(Area F) was located on low-lying ground, the others weresituated on a clay ridge. The nature, date and extent of eachsettlement was established.The earliest substantive evidene,e for human activitycomprised a ditched enclosure 0.35 ha in extent ofearly/middle Iron Age date (Area A). No internal featureswere located but deposits filling the ditches suggest it wasassociated with domestic activity.Contemporary activity (Area B) was identified 180m to theeast although no focus or fonn of this settlement could beidentified. During the late Iron Age a series of enclosureswas established within this area. The geophysical surveysuggests a number of these may be inter-linked. The largest(0.5 ha in extent) was surrounded by a substantial ditch andcontained time circular drainage ditches presumed to defineroundhouses. A number of the smaller enclosures alsocontained settlement type features. Settlement type featuresextended over a 25 ha area, although it is uncertain if these4

Bedfordshire49000Stagsden Golf CourseAreas of archaeological significance499000 499500Fig 2. Stagsden Golf Course.are contemporary. Based on pottery evidence somesettlement activity continued into the later Roman period.Approximately 400 m to the north another settlement(Area C), 1.6 ha in extent, was located which was at leastpartially enclosed. The pottery evidence suggests thisoriginated in the late Iron Age and continued into the laterRoman period. Although no clear building plans wereidentified the concentration of features suggest there wereat least two foci.5

BedfordshireTwo hundred metres to the north of Area Ca further, smallerarea of settlement was identified (Area E). This extendedover 0.7 ha and appears to have been unenclosed. Thepottery suggests this settlement originated in the later IronAge and continued into the late Roman period.The continuation of the settlement partially investigated inadvance of the construction of the Stagsden bypass (Dawsonforthcoming) was located and its limits established (Area F).The concentration of features including ditches, pits,postholes, gravel surfaces (sealed below alluvial clays) andthe presence of occupation rich deposits indicates domesticactivity rather than activity peripheral to the mainsettlement.Stewartby, " MMennium " Country Park (TL 0045 4107)Sean Steadman, Gary Edmondson and Rob Edwards.An archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavationwere undertaken in connection with the proposed"Millennium" Country Park at Stewartby.Sixty-two trial trenches were excavated in advance of theconstruction of three reed beds to the south and west ofStewartby Lake. Evidence of Late Iron Age, 3rd/4th centuryRomano-British and Saxon activity, extending over an areaof c 2.5 ha. was identified adjacent to the Elstow Brook,immediately to the south of the village of MarstonMoretaine. Elsewhere, sporadic traces of ridge and furrowcultivation were identified. A concentration of finds in thefurrows may suggest medieval activity to the north-east.Post-medieval activity including quarrying was located inthe extreme north-east of the area.Inunediately after completion of the evaluation, the secondphase of work commenced. This involved the stripping andexcavation of archaeological features within a6 m wide roadcorridor. This extended from Station Road in the west,running parallel to and 50m south of the Elstow Brook overa length of 250 m. Residual flintwork, including an axeroughout, suggests prehistoric activity in the vicinity but nofeatures could be assigmed to this date. Well preserved LateIron Age ("Belgic") enclosure ditches, pits and structureswere uncovered along the line of the access road and anextensive metalled surface of presumably similar date waslocated close to Station Road. Discrete concentrations ofSaxon pitting were identified and clusters of undated postholes were also uncovered, some of which could be of Saxondate. Many of the Saxon pits contained occupation debrisand artefacts. With the exception of residual late Romansherds recovered from the later Saxon pits, few Roman findswere recovered from any of the features which may indicatea break in occupation.Environmental evidence from the pits is currentlyundergoing assessment and should provide importantinformation on the environmental background of this areain the Late Iron Age and Saxon periods.Streatley, Bramingham Lane (FL 074 265)Nick ShepherdTrench evaluation was undertaken across the suggestedwestern end of Dray's Ditches, a scheduled prehistoricboundary earthwork. Work was occasioned by theconstruction of an extension to the existing Hospicebuildings and five trenches were excavated within thefootprint of the development. No archaeological featureswere recopied, sug,gesting the ditches do not extend anyfurther west beyond the present scheduled area.THE HERITAGE NETWORKReport compiled by Helen Ashworth, Research ManagerGroveland Way, Stotfold (FL 223 362)An archaeological evaluation of land off Groveland Way,Stotfold was carried out on behalf of the owner in December1996. The work was supervised by Chris Turner under thedirection of David Hillelson.Extensive archaeological remains dating to the latepre-Roman lion Age and Roman periods had been recordedto the south of the present site by the Bedfordshire CountyCouncil Archaeology Unit in the winter of 1994/5, inadvance of the construction of the Stotfold by-pass.Evidence for sub-Roman or early Saxon occupation wasalso recorded (see SMA 25, 1995, pp14-16).Five evaluation trenches, measuring 1.5 m x 30 m, wereexcavated. Archaeological evidence, chiefly in the form ofboundary ditches of late Iron Age and Romano-British date,was recorded across the whole study area. An apparentchange in the orientation of these in the late 1st century/early2nd century AD suggests that the nature of land use changedin the period inunediately following the Roman Conquest.One ditch, which was apparently backfilled in the late 1stcentury AD, was of substantial size and may have beendefensive in purpose.The artefact assemblage demonstrates a span of occupationin the area from the late Bronze Age to the early Saxonperiod. The nature of the assemblage suggests that one ormore settlement sites existed nearby, but not necessarilywithin the present study area.As a result of the evaluation, further excavation wasspecified by the planning authority and this was undertakenat a later date by the Bedfordshire County CouncilArchaeology Unit.The Old Vicarage, Haynes (FL 0812 4114)A watching brief was maintained on the excavation offootings trenches for a garage block and small extension to6

the house at the Old Vicarage, Haynes. The work wassupervised by Nick Armour under the direction of DavidHillelson in September 1997.The trenches for the garage block were machine excavatedand revealed a layer of topsoil with an average depth ofc10 cm, overlying a mid-brown sandy silt subsoil. Thenatural in the base of the trenches varied in type betweenclean orange sand with occasional lenses of clay andorange/brown mixed sand and gravel with lenses of lightblue and greenish-grey clay.The foundation trenches for the extension to the existinghouse were hand dug and revealed severe truncation bymodem pipe trenches, which were cut into the greenish-greyclay natural.No archaeological features or deposits were observed duringgroundworks on the site and no artefacts were recoveredafter examination of the spoil from the trenches.LUTON ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUPLuton Allotment SurveyR HudspithDuring February 1998, the writer (with the permission of MrB Clarke, Parks Manager) carried out a sample surfacesurvey of most of the available Council owned allotmentland in Luton.Several small scatters of Neolithic-Bronze Age flints wereidentified: at Wigmore Lane (TL126223) Stockwood Park(TL089201) & Lewsey Farm (11052249). Only a fewworked flints were found on allotments at Toddington Road(TL052249) Limbury (11067243, 71078242, TL078241)Round Green (TL095228) Wigmore Valley Park(TL112232) & New Bedford Road (TL087234). AtStocicwood Park allotments scatters of fire fractured flintswere observed.A smxil scatter of late Iron Age/Early Romano-Britishsherds was found near the River Lea behind Willow Way(TL064245) and to the north of the 14th century Moathouseat Limbury, a scatter of medieval sherds and pegtilefragments may indicate the site of further medievalbuildings.MANSHEAD ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETYA fuller report appears in Manshead Journal No 38, 1998.Millington Hill (SP9422 2265)Dave WarrenIntroductionExcavations took place at New House Farm with the kindpermission of Mr Billy Edwins the fanner. Cuts were takenBedfordshireon the north-east quarter of the hill, just off the fairly flatarea of the top, to investigate the presence or otherwise ofan Iron Age defensive ditch.The presence on this hill of an Iron Age fort has long beensuggested, not least because, due to the isolated nature of thehill, it looks a likely site. Banks which may have been partof such a feature are said to have been bulldozed in the1950s. The topography suggested our site might include asection of the ditch and so allow us to determine if a fort hadexisted here. A building platform, suspected of beingMedieval, adjacent to a holloway corning up the hill on thenorth side was also in the available area; this wasconfirmation that the area under examination had escapedcasual gravel extraction lmown to have occurred on the hill.Iron Age material has been found in the vicinity, so if a ditchof the relevant period were discovered, the question wouldarise: "Is it substantial enough to be considered defensive ordoes it merely delimit an area of occupation?"ExcavationsThe topsoil was quite barren in its upper portion, almost allthe material was concentrated towards the bottom by wormaction which had continued undisturbed for many years. Afurther sign as to how long the ground had been leftuntouched was the shattered, but otherwise complete,remains of an earthen chamberpot of c 1680 (Fig 3) foundmore or less together as left. Other material, mainly redearthenwares was liberally represented largely as severalfragments of bigger sherds with a vague suggestion of lineardeposition. Included were a number of finds datable toaround 1680-1700 such as clay pipe bowls, and wine bottlefragments of "onion" or "shaft and globe" type, one of whichhad an applied seal stamped Ti', possibly Thomas Theedmentioned several times in the parish register at this time.The greater part of of the pottery lay over what was to provea gully or small holloway dividing the two platforms. Inplaces a quantity of white sandy plaster/render was presentwhich may have been deposited to firm up a muddy patchon a track leading to a spring about 20 m to the east. Theplaster, some fragments of which exhibited smoothedsurfaces, also showed signs of having faced brick walling.The bones include ox, horse, sheep, pig and one of a largebird of a size that could be of a Sea Eagle.Once clear of the 17th century material the fill of the gullywas loam with Medieval pottery and small finds, aparticularly interesting object being a copper alloy buckleplate (Fig 4) decorated with an embossed design of a birdand possibly a serpent holding a bag, composed of"letters"(?) and containing a plant. Within the fold of themetal a piece of the pigskin leather belt survived.Towards the bottom of the loamy layer increasing examplesof earlier material such as St. Neots Ware, andRomano-British pottery and the mechanism of a Romanspring lock were found. On the south side of the hollow,some fine ware Roman sherds and an early Saxon sherd ofa hand made, probably bag shaped, vessel similar toChamberlain's Barn examples (Hyslop, 1964).7

Bedfordshire--,..,,,...-------4\40%47 8C101112Fig 3. Post-medieval pottery.Fig 3. Post-Medieval Pottery.Note, unless stated otherwise all examples are a redearthenware fabric and measurements are rim diameters.1 Chamberpot. 19 cm. Fired orange/red with a clear glazeon the inside turning slightly green on top of the rim. Glazeis badly scratched and scraped on lower half of interior.2 Bowl? (see No. 3) 18 cm. Brown surfaces, glazed belowinterior out-turn.3 Bowl. 26 cm. Surfaces brown with thin patchy 'brown'(clear) glaze inside.4 Bowl? 28 cm. Exterior surface grey/brown withgreen/brown glaze inside.5 Jar. 22 cm. Fired red with grey core. Trace of glaze onexterior shoulder.6 Bowl. c 17cm. Rim wavy horizontally and radially (in andout). Exterior band 'faceted', body with finger indentationsin the Roman folded beaker manner. Inside marbled withcreamy-yellow, pale green and 'brown' (clear) in nearvertical bands with a clear overall glaze.7 Bowl or jar. 24 cm. 'Orange' (clear) glaze inside and topof rim.Below the pebble/gravely layer at the bottom of the gully ametre wide trench was dug alongside the west section of theexcavation to determine whether or not undisturbed naturallay beneath. North of the gully the soil is sticky grey clayapparently untouched although one or two charcoal fleckswere seen near the top. In the (at present) absence of anyincontrovertible man-made material this is taken to benatural. However, it is not impossible it could be anexceptionally clean deposit making up the base of thenorthern platform. To the south of the gully, and runningeast-west, lay what a few tiny sherds indicate is a smallRoman period ditch. This appears to cut another ditchsection also going east-west along the latter's north side.Sloping down to the north from the south baulk, and cut bya ditch, is a layer of fired clay fragments burnt pink to brick8 Bowl. 20 cm. 'Orange' (clear) glaze inside and overwith 'yellow' glaze where it covers a streak of white paste.9 Cup.12 cm. Slipware 'Posset cup in orange fabric. Darkbrown/black overall with a trailed cream slip under a clearglaze. Possibly 17th century.10 Jug. Base dia 8 cm. Fragments of base and body only.Salt glaze ware with 'orange peel' surface and a raised edgedesign under a pale grey glaze. There is a dark cobalt blueadditional glaze in the panels and in a band around the base.There is also manganese purple in patches below and partlybetween the design. The segments are surrounded by raiseddots and faint raised lines outside the latter showing wherethe units which are in opposed pairs were pressed into themould. A product from Westerwald Germany; 17th century.11 Lid.30 cm. Dirty green/brown glaze inside, sooty?outside.12 Shallow bowl or dish. 20 cm. Matt white wash on sideand underside of the rim. Rim top and inside marbled acreamy yellow, pale green and 'brown' by a clear overallglaze.red. Not as hard as brick or earthenware, some of the largerpieces appear to show rough smoothing on one face asthough it had been hand applied rendering. If so the materialso far examined does not offer any clear indication as to whatit was attached to. The deposit is definitely cut by one of theditches, and probably by the other.While the burnt clay surface was being cleaned up a humanskull was found. It appears to be an adult lying face down atthe top of the slope with the crown of the head to the east.After complete excavation of the skeleton it was realisedthat the individual showed signs of what appears to beacromegaly, caused by a tumour of the pituitary gland whichreinitiates growth; in this case the face had become long andthere was pronounced supra-orbital ridge growth. This8

skeleton, and another found later, have ben sent to theUniversity of Bradford for further study.158 High Street South, DunstableDave WarrenBedfordshireWith the permission of the owner the Society carried out arescue excavation and discovered two features. The first wasa small circular oven or ldln dating from the Medieval periodbut built mainly of Roman brick; a yellow glazed Medievaltile was included in the construction. The second feature wasprobably the stokehole of a Medieval oven or kiln outsidethe limits of excavation.36 Kingsway, DunstableDave WarrenThe object was to observe trenching carried out for anextension to the rear and north side of the north east cornerof the house in fullfillment of a PPG16 condition.Fig 4. Buckle Plate.The Buclde Plate. (Fig 4)Made of copper alloy sheet it has repoussé decomtion on thefront face (back plain) of a bird facing right and holding inits beak a bag formed of `Lombardic'? lettering. Within thebag is a stylised plant. To the right of the bag is another headabove a `corded' column perhaps meant to represent aserpent also acting as a supporter. The design is borderedtop, left and bottom by a very worn `string cording' whilethe low are.as within are coated with a layer of niello. Theleft edge of the front plate is also scalloped. Two holes nearthe corners on the left retain traces of iron pins helping tohold the leather fragment (apparently pigsldn) whichsurvived with the top right corner cut off. The buckle framepin and hinge pin are missing.A Norwich example has a lion and faces right but isotherwise of similar size. Made at Limoges in France it isdated to the 13th century.A note from Holly Duncan at the Bedford ArchaeologicalUnit makes the following points: no exact parallels but asimilar loop design as the bag appears on a badge fromLondon Cheapside. London Med. catalogue DOCIV no 64;such plates also from Norwich and London both have blacklacquer and are thought to date from the 15th - 16th century.ReferencesHyslop M; 1964 "Two Anglo-Saxon Cemeteries at ChamberlainsBarn, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Arch J CXXApart from very modern pottery two or tluee sherds of late17th/18th century pot, ie scribble ware, a tyg and glazedearthenware were found but were quite probably introducedwith the topsoil. In the easternmost trench just above thecballk two sherds were seen and rescued from the excavatorbucket. Both were coarse Medieval wares fired red on darkgrey cores. One slightly finer (Fabric C57 [Dunstableseries]) had a splash of spotty green glaze on the outside theother (Fabric C25) had raised line and finger impression,probably a vertical decoration. There were no other finds ofsignificance.Our thanks to Mr and Mrs Howlett for their kindco-operation.Harling Road (Grid Ref. SP986196)Dave Warren & Renny HudspithA watching brief was carried out by the Society as part ofthe planning consent for Mr Fan for the development of landwith Nursery buildings in a field next to the Harling Road.The field had been identified as an area of probable Romanoccupation following observations along the course of awater pipeline and subsequent fieldwalking (Hudspith,1993-94).IntroductionHarling Road runs southeast-northwest on thesouth-western side of a rectangular site whilst DoolittleLane goes southwest-northeast along the south-eastem side.The Totternhoe Roman Villa lies about 1200 m to thenortheast.FeaturesThe following areas were observed and recorded:(A) The site of a storage building (cleared area with deepfootings) no features observed. Shallow topsoil to 23 cmdepth below surface (DBS) above grey/yellow gaultclay. One animal bone fragment found.9

Bedfordshire(B) Greenhouse site, shallow footings and holes forupright supports. No features observed. FincLs from spoilheaps included Mesolithic/Neolithic worked flints,Roman and Medieval sherds and post-Medievalmaterial.(C) Large area of stripped topsoil (Car Park). Topsoildepth to 30 cm DBS containing a scatter of worked flints,Iron Age, Roman and Medieval sherds and tilefragments. Patches of charcoal with Medieval sherds andpeg tile fragments may represent scrub clearance. Twoditches of probable early Roman date were identifiedaligned north-south, at 21 m and 25m east of the HarlingRoad.Ditch 1, 1.4 m wide and 0.7 m deep, containing a tmifonnwet grey clay/loam fill. Finds included a piece of burntlimestone (a hearth stone?) in the upper fill, Roman andLate Iron Age sherds oyster shells and animal bonefragments.Ditch 2, 2 m wide and 0.8 m deep, containing a greyclay/loam fill. Finds included fragments of a largegrooved hon Age jar, of shell tempered fabric, pot-boilerstones, Late Iron Age sherds, Roman sherds (including afragment of samian in the lower fill of the ditch) a wallplaster fragment, daub/bumt clay fragments, oystershells, charcoal, animal bones and teeth (from ox, pig,sheep and dog). The ditch cut a post hole containing ablack clay/loam fill with Roman sherds and animalbones.A third ditch-like feature was found to contain a modernfield drain.(E) The cable trench was dug without an observerpresent and the worlunen in an endeavour to be helpfulhad assembled much of the pottery, bone and ironobjects in neat piles. Other material was found in thespoil alongside. However, since nothing could bepositively associated with any specific feature althoughclearly coining from the dark clayey areas in the trenchall were treated as surface finds and combined with othersuch material from exposed soil on the southem half ofthe site. Some of this last was spoil derived from the carpark area spread out.The sides of the cable trench (35 cm wide, 60 cm deep)were somewhat smeared by the JCB bucket so it couldnot be ascertained in which direction the features ran butsome at least of the dark features appeared to be ditchesand possibly connecting with those seen in the car parkarea. The dark fill, some of it very dark, appeared to bebasically gault clay with black organic matter such asmight be found at the bottom of wet stagnant ditches.ReferencesHudspith R; 1993 Manshead Journal 33,32-40.Hudspith R; 1994 Manshead Journal 34, 19-22.Warren D & Hudspith R; 1998 Manshead Journal 38. 13-16Chaul End, Caddington (TL0521).Renny HudspithIntroductionDuring August and September 1997 a Watching Brief wascarried out on construction work for the new Skimpot Road.DescriptionThe contractors (Clugston) cleared a wide strip of topsoilbehind the Chaul End Cottages and adjacent to the existingline of the road on the hillslope (Fig 5). A substantial cuttingwas then dug to ease the gradient for traffic along the newroad.Previous fieldwalking in the area (Hudspith, 1991) indicatedthe likelihood of finding worked flints and Medieval findsaround Chaul End.During the watching brief 300 worked flints were found,mainly in the area to the west of the cottages. Most of theflints (80%) were waste flakes (debitage) with someretouched pieces, chopping tools, piercers, scrapers, bladesand cores. The assemblage may represent Neolithic-BronzeAge flint working activity on the site, although an early IronAge sherd was fotmd with the worked flints. A tranchet axeand Mesolithic core were found immediately to the north ofthe old road, on the hilltop. A few fire fractured flints werefound svith the worked flints, suggesting this may have beena task-specific site in the prehistoric period and not perhapsan area of occupation.A small quantity of Medieval sherds, Late Medievaltransitional and post-Medieval sherds (as well as a Late IronAge/Romano-British sherd) were found amongst flint andtile scatters, probably the remains of lateMedieval/post-Medieval building platforms and yardsurfaces.An area of bumt clay (associated with the Medieval sherds)may indicate some industrial activity on the site. On thehillslope, the former lines of hedgerows were evident withsome indication of lynchets on the lower slopes. A ditch wasseen in section (in a pipe trench) 30m south of the right anglebend on the old road. Pipes of brick earth/orange clay up to8m deep were seen on the hilltop. A visible mound of clay,pebbles and conglomerate suggested a feature of glacialorigin, but more likely redeposited material frompost-Medieval/modern brickearth extraction or othereartlunoving activity.ReferencesHudspith R, Manshead Journal 31, 1991,39-43.Hudspith R, BAI 19, 1991,57-64.Hudspith R, Manshead Journal 38, 1998, 18-2210

.BedfordshireKEYN96Mesolithic axe & core/ / / Main area of N/BA Worked FlintsF Fired flintsI Iron Age sherdR Roman sherdM Medieval sherds11 Area of Burnt Clay:1. Flint & Peg Tile Scatters* MoundD DitchFormer Hedgeline/ LynchetNew Road (Cutting)0 100m/..J-gm..:-: :.- *. : ..\ /4 F,....,.... ......; 1I - -- ...CottagesChaul End Farms.TEST TRACKFig 5. Chaul End test track.Fieldwalkingstreams draining towards the north. To the east of the farm,Renny Hudspith the land rises steeply to a chalk ridge (Fig 6).At Pegsdon & Shillington an area of c 1.5 sq km at Pegsdonand Shlllington, Beds, was walked by the writer in theautumn of 1997.The block of land around Pegsdon Common Farmcomprises fields of low lying chalk marl, with severalAlong the chalk ridge, the prominent outline of ICnockingKnoll Neolithic long barrow is visible (excavated in 1855:Dyer 1964). A Bronze Age round barrow can be seen, againon the ridge, in Tingley field Plantation (Thomas, 1964).Lynchets can be seen on the steep hillslopes in this area.11

BedfordshireKEYN/BA FlintsO Iron Age sherdsOlron Age SiteRoman sherds°Roman SiteMedieval sherds* Thmulus49 Montrr Survey Area0 lkmFig 6. Pegsdon and Shillington.The distribution of finds (around Common Farm) is shownin Fig 7. Only one possible Mesolithic core was found andNeolithic/I3ronze Age flint finds were few in number, aswere fire fractured flints (indicating little surface evidencefor earlier prehistoric settlement in the lowland area).Later Iron Age sherds were found in two areas: near thespring rise at the foot of the slope and in large quantities,with stone scatters, potboilers and burnt clay fragmentsoverlapping a large Romano-British site to the north ofCommon Farm (Fig 7, TL1331). Sherds (including samian)and tile fragments were found scattered (with stones) overseveral hundred square metres, suggesting areas of domesticsettlement and cultivation. Samian and sherd fragmentswere also found close to the spring rise. Previous finds ofRoman date from Pegsdon Common have been noted bySimco (1984) and discussed by Clark & Dawson (1995).Medieval sherd finds, close to the Shillington Road, mayindicate manuring scatters or domestic occupation alongsidethe trackway.The low lying land to the east of Shillington is bounded bystreams (Fig 6). No worked or fire fractured flints werefound in this area. A scatter of Roman sherds and tilefragments (with a few Iron Age sherds) denotes anotherpossible occupation site alongside a stream at TL132331.Houghton Regis & Chalton - fields at Mill Road TL0123,Houghton Regis, were rewalked prior to development workin 1997. The area was previously fieldwalked in 1992(Hudspith, 1993) Again, very little in the way of surfacefinds was recovered, only a few worked and fire fracturedflints and post-Medieval-modem sherds. The area of setaside adjacent to the development site was also rewalked in1995, 1996 & 1997 and fragments of quernstone, Iron Age,Roman and Saxon sherds recovered (close to the area of theSociety's excavation at Puddlehill (Matthews & Schneider,1989). Iron Age sherds, from the eroded land surface, havealso been found along the inner quarry edge at Puddlehill.Fields at Bidwell were also rewalked (TL015245) findsincluded: a few Mesolithic blade fragments, Roman andMedieval sherds (indicating probable areas of cultivation)and a larger quantity of post-Medieval-modem Material.The Mesolithic site alongside the Edeway (TL0226) wasagain revisited and further examples of Mesolithic flintwork(blades and cores) recovered.Other fields near Houghton Park (TL0424) were rewalked,with finds of predominantly Neolithic-Bronze Ageflintwork, including a leaf shaped arrowhead.Upper Sundon - further survey work was carried out by theSociety at Upper Sundon in the winter of 1996-97. Scattersof Medieval pottery were found in the field immediately12

A. /I.Iltk/.14N4a '. el./NBBedfordshire. iI1tfk../z.s...to "0 . cl/00 / 100NFire Fractured FlintsNI BA Worked FlintsDistribution based on a 2% Distribution based on a 2%Sample SurveySample Survey1-213-4olkm5-60 nunCD/. .100Cik.144> Les\S.) %)t4 NN' 141111 jilg/ 100re:lNIron Age sherdsRoman sherdsDistribution based on a 2% Distribution based on a 2%Sample SurveySample Survey1-5 1-56-10 6-1011+11+Dun IDolkmE F EXAMPLES OF ROMANOBRITISH CERAMIC FINDSMedieval sherdsDistribution based on n 2%Sample Surveyr. ki//./1Z4ZA4N0Fig 7. Peg,sdon Common field survey.1 1 )2 1))5 I)\I1,2 Bowls, brown sandy ware3,5 Jars, shellgrit ware1-5 4 Jar, grey sandy ware6 Tegula flange0 lkm Scale 1:4/()61111Pbehind the village hall (TL049279) indicating former areasof domestic occupation. Finds elsewhere were mainly ofworked flint, with small scatters in the field at TL053281, afew Roman and Medieval sherds were also found in thesame field. In a cleared area of ground at the school,Medieval and post-Medieval-modern sherds wererecovered.Billington- a scatter of Roman, Late lion Age and Medievalsherds was identified on cultivated ground on the hilltop tothe south west of the church (SP9322). Late lion Age andMedieval sherds were also found along a hillslope hedgerowat New House Farm (SP9422). These finds, together withprevious evidence from excavations at Billington(Matthews, 1959) and the current excavation site (Warren,this volume) indicate probable areas of settlement along theridge in the Iron Age, Roman and Medieval periods.13

BuckinghamshireReferencesDyer J, 1964 BAI 2, 10.Clark R & Dawson M, in Chiltern Archaeology, Recent Work,1995,56-67.Hudspith R, 1991 MansheadJournal31, 44-51.Hudspith R, 1993 Manshead Journal 33,32-40.Matthews C L, 1959, Manshead Magazine 2, 17.Matthews CL & Schneider J P, 1989, Ancient Dunstable (secondedition), Manshead, p100.Simco A, 1984 A Survey of Bedfordshire: The Roman Period,p117.Thomas N, 1964 BAJ 2, p28.MICHAEL FARLEY ARCHAFALOGYA watching brief at St Mary's church, Edlesborough(SP 9700 1905)A watching brief, carried out for the Churches ConservationTrust, during the digging of six trial pits, reconied thefootings of the church, a piece of re-sited moulded stone,and several burials. One burial, possibly of medieval date,had been lain in a grave with a chalk cut head recess.Confirmation was obtained that the prominent mound onwhich the church is sited, is natural, not man-made.BUCKINGHAMSHIREBUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY MUSEUMARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICEJonathan ParkhouseFollowing cuts to the County Museum's budget, thearchaeological field team was wound up in March 1998.Amongst other staff lost by the Museum were the CountyArchaeologist, Keeper of Archaeology, and Conservator, allof whom had played a major role in Buckinghamshirearchaeology. One piece of fieldwork, noted below, wasundertaken prior to closure; the rest of the team's energieswere devoted to post-excavation work.Two members of staff were retained after April 1998, withone post supported by English Heritage, and on October 1stthe Archaeological Service was transferred into theCounty's Environmental Services Department. TheService's duties are concemed mainly with the provision ofplanning-related advice and maintenance of the Sites andMonuments Record. At the time of writing (Jan 1999) thematter of the Service's long-term accommodation has stillnot been resolved.Granborough (SP 7625)A topographical survey and cartographic/documentarystudy was undertaken on behalf of Bruton Knowles andBuckinghamshire County Council in respect of an area ofearthworks on the western edge of the village ofGranborough at Hogshaw Road. The earthworks areinterpreted as the renmants of earlier elements of the village,consisting of several house platforms/building plots, set outupon a probable east-west lane. Study of aerial photographssuggests the possibility that the building plots mayoriginally have continued further west. Map evidencesuggests that the topographical development ofGranborough was complex. The east-west axis of thesettlement appears to have declined in importance, with thedevelopment of a probable open area or green. The "green"subsequently contracted in size, and it seems likely thatabout this time (17th/18th century) Hogshaw Road came tooccupy its present position.MUSEUM OF LONDON AARCHAEOLOGYSERVICEMarlow Brewery, High Street, Marlow,Buckinghamshire (centre of site: TO 8495 8640)A watching brief was carried out in December 1998 duringexcavation of service trenches in the Brewery courtyard.The project was funded by Marlow Brewery Limited.Natural Terrace Gravels were overlain by a sterile clay siltwith gravel, which reached c 29.4 m OD. The earliest feat=on site was a probable 17th century cess pit fill, although itis possible that agricultural activity commenced in the 16thcentury. Assemblages of 16th to 18th century pottery, 17thand 18th century glass bottles, and some clay pipe, animalbone and lead shot were found, apparently within the fills ofpits cut into a cultivated soil.Several sections of brick wall were recorded, in some casespossibly predating the later 18th century brewerydevelopment, whilst others relate to buildings shown on the1876 OS map. Later 19th or 20th century features includedbrick bases for a recently demolished open-frontedstructure, and a brick drain with associated nonretum valve.(Site code: MBW98; Buckinghamshire County MuseumAccession Number: 1998.180; CAS (SMR) Number: 4491)NATIONAL TRUSTGary MarshallBoarstall Tower (SP 6242 1425)Boarstall Tower is all that remains of a moated manor housecomplex dating back to the 14th century. The manor houseitself was pulled down in the 1770s, leaving only the tower.This originally served as the gatehouse to the manor. Thesite is depicted on a superbly detailed engraving dating from1695. It is clear that by this date security had become muchless of a concem to the owners, the Aubrey family, because14

,'.':11.1±flVA;14;W!';iiVF"".:I

Buckinghamshireone side of the moat had been fillecl in and the setting to thehouse had been formally landscaped.A resistivity survey carried out in 1998 revealed the outlineof the house almost exactly as it is depicted on the 1695engraving. From the plot it is possible to decipher theoutlines of chimneys, bay windows, porches and internalwalls which appear on the engraving. The plot has alsorevealed that paths and garden features which appear on theengraving appear to be extremely well preserved,suggesting that the level of archaeological preservationrelating to the 16th century house and the 17th centurylandscape setting appears to be extremely high.The Tower itself has been the subject of dendrochronolgydating. This has given a date of 1312 for the ground floorceiling joists and a date of 1614 for the roofjoists. The earlierdate suggests a date for the construction of the tower and tiesin precisely with a licence to crenellate awarded in 1312.The latter date possibly ties in with the date when the roofparapet was raised in height. A watching brief carried outby Oxford Archaeological Unit in 1998 observed the quoinsof the original crenellations as having been incorporated intothe construction of the 17th century parapet. It would appeartherefore that the height of the tower was raised during theearly part of the 17th century, perhaps when the fonnalgardens were laid out so that the landscape could be viewedfrom the top of the tower.Cliveden, Bucks (SU913856)The tranquillity of the gardens at Cliveden has beensomewhat disturbed by the noise of contractors installing awater main through the garden landscape and around thenorth front of the house. A watching brief was maintainedwhilst this work was in progress. This led to the discoveryof brick footings in the former stable yard. Evidence fromthe 2nd and 3rd edition Ordnance Survey maps suggests thatthese are the footings for glasshouses, probably forcing pitsas the brickwork was found to be set into a rubble-filledtrench, the rubble serving as a form of drainage for manureplaced against the pit to provide warmth.Brick footings were also encountered passing across thewidth of one of the trenches in the north-west corner of thenorth lawn. 'These are thought to form part of an extensionof the adjoining 18th century walled gardens.Claydon House, Bucks (SP 720 253)Trenching during 1998 for the installation of a water mainrunning across the park and across the north front of thehouse revealed the brick footings for the north wall of theformer Ball Room. It was anticipated that the excavationwould encounter this evidence since several earlierexcavations conducted for laying services in 1994 hadrevealed parts of this structure lying at a depth of about 6feet below the present ground level. The Ball Room must beranked as one of the great White Elephants of CountryHouse construction since it formed part of a massive westwing incorporating a Rotunda more than 100 feet in height.Construction started in the 1760s, yet as a consequence ofcowboy building the structure was soon demolished, quitepossibly without any function having been held in the BallRoom.The excavation was preceded by a geophysics survey. Thisfailed to reveal the outline of the footings, possibly due totheir depth below ground level. However, it did reveal thecourse of the drive which passed across the west front of thehouse and eventually looped around the north end of the BallRoom. Part of this drive was sectioned by a trench(Trench 1) cut in 1993 but its identity has only becomeapparent as a consequence of undertaking the geophysicssurvey.Princes Risborough Manor House, Bucks (SP 8064 0351)This brick manor house dates from the mid 17th centuryAdditions were made towards the end of the 17th centuryand during the 18th century. It was given to the Trust in 1926by the Rothschild Family, Lord Rothschild having acquiredand restored the building in the 1880s after its use as agranary had taken its toll. Some of the 1880s alterationsseem to have affected the structural stability of the building,hence in 1998 extensive repairs were carried out whichinvolved stitching together the timber frame of the building.A watching brief was maintained whilst this work was inprogress which involved recording the skeletal carpentry ofthe house. Detailed analysis of the fixtures and fittings ofthe house was also carried and as a consequence it waspossible to define more closely the structural developmentof the building.The exterior of the house carries a vernacular style ofclassical detailing in the form of engaged brick pilastersrising through the full height of the building. The interiorcarries interesting 17th century detail including heavilymoulded panelling and a rather fine mid 17th century,fireplace surround. Access to the various floor levels isprovided by a mid 17th century elm staircase with panelswith a fleur de lys design carved from a single piece of wood.The manor house has an interesting setting since it ispartially enclosed by a moat. The moat predates the existinghouse but seems to have enclosed an earlier manor house onthis site. It has generally been assumed that the existingbuilding incorporates the remains of part of this earliermanor but no evidence of earlier fabric was found during thecourse of the watching brief.West Wycombe Sawmill, Bucks (SU837942)The sawmill at West Wycombe was erected during the1770s as one of several 'eye catchers' in the park. Despiteits ornamental appearance, with elevations of brick and flint16

construction, it still served as a functional building. That isuntil the 1920s when it was converted into a residence andthe machinery removed. It has remained in residential useever since but during 1998 the interior was extensivelymodified with the removal and alteration of 20th centurypartitions and plasterwork.A watching brief maintained whilst this work was inprogress led to the discovery of a number of blockedopenings, including an arch at basement level carrying theoriginal head race to the waterwheel. As part of the 1998modifications a lift shaft was inserted into the originalwheelpit and the wheelpit was therefore recorded and thedimensions of the wheel established. Sufficient informationwas gained from the watching brief to allow for thereconstruction of the configuration of the machinery and theevidence seems to suggest that the building was first usedas a corn mill before its conversion to a sawmill in the 19thcentury.Stowe Landscape Gardens, Bucks (SP675375)Stowe now has its own dedicated project archaeologist,Oliver Jessop. It also now has its own electrical resistivityequipment, thanks to the generosity of the Ealing NationalTrust Association. The archaeological work at Stowe hasalways been in desperate need of this piece of equipmentand the discovery of several previously missing gardenfeatures provides testimony to its value. Perhaps the'crowning glory' of these discoveries is the base (Fig 2) forthe statue of King George II. George stood on a column morethan 30 feet in height on the edge of the south front. He wasrelocated to another area of the gardens in the 1820s andeventually left Stowe after the great sale in 1921. Hisapproximate location was known from plans accompanyingthe 18th century Seeley guides and the accuracy of theseplans was confirmed when the resistivity plot revealed asquare structure almost exactly on the spot suggested byscaling up the 18th century plans. Subsequent excavationfollowing on from the resistivity survey revealed asubstantial stone base 4 m square, extending to a depth of1.2 m, at which point it rested on a raft of roughly laid brick,tile and stone rubble.As well as finding statue bases geophysics has also beenused to trace the outline of several paths. One of these,leading up to the statue group lmown as the Saxon Deities,was subsequently found by excavation to have a kerb ofroughly knapped blue flint blocks. This unusualarrangement was probably installed in the 1840s when aRoman pavement excavated at Thornborough nearBuckingham was installed in the middle of the statue group.Despite such technological advances Stowe has notabandoned its tried and tested technique path findingtechnique which involves excavating strip trenches acrossthe line of paths extrapolated from map evidence. Theoriginal paths on the south side of the Grecian Valley leadingto the Queen's Temple and to Cobham's Monument haveBuckinghamshirebeen rediscovered by this means and have thus beenrecreated with new gravel.NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGYReport for 1998, compiled by Andy ChapmanGayhurst, Gayhurst Quarry (SP 853 446)Andy Chapman, Chris Jones, Mark Holmes, and JoePrenticeOpen area excavation and a watching brief were undertakenin advance of gravel extraction on a known cropmark site(CAS 2553) situated on land adjacent to the Ml motorwayat Gayhtust Quarry, Mill Farm, and lying on the floodplainimmediately south of the River Great Ouse (cf SMA 28(1998), 23). Seven ring ditches forming a small dispersedBronze Age round barrow cemetery have been excavated,along with three small Iron Age enclosures and a shortlength of a recently recognised pit alignment which hadalready been largely lost to previous quarrying.A line of four ring ditches to the south of a west-east riverpalaeochannel had all been heavily truncated by earlierploughing. No burial deposits had survived, although in oneinstance there was a srnall central pit and a length ofcarbonised wood in the ring ditch.A further three barrows lay to the north of the palaeochannel.Two of these had also been truncated by ploughing, butburial deposits had survived. One barrow contained a centralunurned cremation deposit. The other contained a centralcremation deposit in a large plain urn, buried upright, andthree satellite unurned cremation deposits, two within andone just beyond the ring ditch (one of these had beenpreviously excavated during an evaluation byBuckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Servicein 1996). One of a further two pits in the central areacontained a complete small collared urn, this stood uprightbut did not contain any cremated bone.The other barrow was the largest and best preserved; it wasdouble ditched, with internal diameters of 12 m and 34 m,and survived as a low earthwork, although the western sidehad been lost to a river channel (Fig 3). Recent ploughinghad removed all traces of the central part of the mound, buta ring of mound material had survived over and immediatelybeyond the inner ditch. It comprised a succession of graveland loam layers which provide a detailed history of themulti-phase development of the barrow.At the centre there was a large, vertical-sided grave pit,33 m long by 2.1 m wide and 1.45m deep, containing aremarkable succession of five burials (Fig 4). The primaryburial was an extended, supine inhumation (5086).Remnants of carbonised wood (5087 and 5089) indicatedthat the grave was plank-lined, and the former presence ofa lid was indicated by the partial disarticulation of the17

BuckinghamshireGravel:. a '0, 0 t4NuiiII!,111211PII 1/lip ..wirptiq0//od'::,21>::pC-25C.eitai:.Zuzi=81:.Pest r,.HZ runi:ru=q::.0 UZI/=11.7Clay packingoMortar patch-r-Plan illustrating the construction of the foundationfor King George's ColumnFig 2. Stowe Landscape Gardens.18

Buckinghamshire\Urned cremation,I.------Extent \of Mound \Iron AgeDitches..Unurned cremation \-oIstFig 3. Gayhurst Quarry. Plan of barrow 2.20mskeleton and by the steeply tipped fills. There were no gravegoods, but the fore leg of a pig, presumably placed there asa joint of pork, lay by the right leg.The second burial comprised an unumed deposit ofcremated bone (5083) within a pit 0.9 m deep; the upper fillcomprised pyre debris of charcoal-rich, burnt soils. Abovethis there was a second inhumation burial in a rectangular19

BuckinghamshireSwF5044NE 270mOD0Fig 4. Gayhurst Quarry. Composite section of the central burial sequence in barrow 2.grave pit (F5065), this too appeared to have been placedwithin a plank-lined grave and the flexed legs had partiallyslumped sideways from their original near upright position.The burial was accompanied by two piano-convex flintknives; these were recovered from near the head and knees(7 and 8) but originally they had been placed on the planklid, and a complete, unshed red deer antler had also beenplaced on the lid (5064).The fourth burial was another unumed cremation deposit(5068) within a square pit, and the upper fill again containedcharcoal and bumt soils from the pyre. The final burial wasa further cremation deposit, but within a primary seriesCollared Um (F5044), decorated with whipped-corddecoration both on the c,ollar and below the shoulder, whichhad been placed upright within a partially backfilled pit.The cremation deposits all comprise 1-2 kg of bone, withmany large pieces, suggesting that they probably representnear complete skeletal remains, which have not beenextensively crushed after collection, rather than mere tokendeposits.However, the most distinctive feature of the entire barrowwas the presence of a huge assemblage of cattle bones withinthe secondary fills of the inner ditch, but which had clearlyslumped into the ditch from deposits originally placedaround at least the outer margin of the primary centralmound. A total of 183 kg of bone (52 archive boxes) wasrecovered from a 50% sample of the extant ditch, and thefull ditch circuit may have contained some 500-550 kg ofbone (the unexcavated part of the inner ditch is to bepreserved at the edge of the quarry). All parts of the animalappear to be represented and typically by complete bones,any fragmentation having occurred by crushing in situ, andmost bones show some degree of erosion or splittingresulting from exposure to the elements. The exact nature ofthe original deposition is uncertain, but it would seem morelikely to have been as parts of carcases, probably as jointsof meat, rather than as complete animals, although this maybe resolved by detailed analysis. This assemblage representsa unique occurrence, and the quantity and completeness willprovide a detailed study of the size, age at death and othercharacteristics of a substantial herd of Bronze Age cattle.The cattle bone deposit was sealed by the surviving moundmaterial, indicating that the outer ditch was most probablycontemporary with later enlargements of the mound to amaximum diameter of at least 22m. In addition, an unurnedcremation deposit and a cremation deposit within aninverted collared um lay beyond the outer barrow ditch. Inthe central area two complete, and the plough damagedremnants of a further three inhumation burials, denote a laterreuse of the mound. The presence of a decapitation burialsuggests that this dates to the late Roman period. Thenortheastern side of the barrow had been truncated by fieldboundary ditches on the same alignment as the remnantfurrows of the medieval field system.Milton Keynes, Loughton, Leys Road (SP 837 376)Michael WebsterGeophysical survey and trial excavation was carried out ona site to the north of Watling Street and close to a moatedenclosure. No Roman material was recovered and there wasa single pit of 13th century date.Milton Keynes, Little Woolstone, MM Lane (SP 877 394)Michael WebsterGeophysical survey and trial excavation was carried out ona site on the west bank of the River Ouzel close to LittleWoolstone Moated Site, a Scheduled Ancient Monument.Both trenches located an infllled, post-medieval mill leat20

elated to the former mill which is known to have stood herefrom at least the 17th century to its demolition in 1940.Milton Keynes, Shenley Church End, OaWall Road (SP830 365)Michael WebsterEarthwork survey, geophysical survey and trial trenchingwas carried out on a site to the east of the Scheduled AncientMonument of Shenley Toot motte and bailey castle. Theearthworks appeared to comprise a holloway, two ponds andrecent terracing, but the ditches, pits and pond infill locatedin trial excavation were all of 19th century or later date.Upper Wittington, RAF Medmenham (SU 817846)Mark HolmesTrial excavation was undertaken at the site of the nowabandoned RAF Medmenham. This area was once part of amedieval estate and includes the multivallate Iron AgeHillfort of Danesfield Camp (Scheduled Ancient MonumentNo. 27156). From the mid 17th century a series of residenceswere built at the site, the latest of which included theaddition of a chapel designed by Augustus Pugin andfinished by his son in c 1853. The house was eventuallydemolished c 1901. Despite extensive disturbance fromtwentieth century buildings and services, the excavationsidentified truncated structural remains belonging to thislatest residence, as well as those of a contemporary icehouse.Remains of earlier buildings survived as robber trenches andthe vestiges of walls. Medieval activity was limited to threeresidual sherds of pottery. Scattered pits and ditches of IronAge date were also revealed.A watching brief undertaken whilst trial pits were beingexcavated within the interior of Danesfield Camp showedthat the areas investigated had been subject to 20th centurydisturbance and no Iron Age activity survived.OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNITChetwode, St Mary and St Nicholas Church(SP 6405 2983)John DaltonThe unit carried out a watching brief in May 1998 duringthe removal of a suspended wooden floor in the north chapel,and the reduction of the underlying material byapproximately 0.15 m, prior to the installation of a newsuspended floor. The Tudor panelling was temporarilyremoved in order to facilitate the lifting of the floor. Thechurch is the surviving chancel of the church of anAugustinian priory and was built around 1240.The removal of the Tudor panelling revealed adouble-niched piscina in the south wall of the chapel. ThisBuckinghamshirehad been carved from a single block of limestone andmeasured c 1 m in height and 15 m in width. It consisted oftwo niches under an arch which featured an incised foliatedesign at its apex. Two blocked doorways were revealed inthe east wall, diagonally opposite the piscina, neither ofwhich was visible from outside the church. It is not knownwhether these features represent an earlier arrangement ofthe north chapel of the church or part of the priory.Ford, Moreton Farm (SP 7910 0950)John DaltonIn May 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief during theexcavation of footings prior to the construction of a new cartshed. The farm lies beside a medieval moated manor but thehouse has disappeared and the farm, used until the 1980s,has since been demolished. The moat is still partly extantand water-filled and the well is visible as are the earthworksand interior platform for the manor. However, the naturalclay was found directly below the topsoil and no featureswere encountered.High Wycombe, All Saints Church (SU 865 935)Adam BrosslerThe unit carried out two phases of watching brief in thechurchyard of Ail Saints Church, High Wycombe, inFebruary and April 1998. Two trenches were excavated forwalls to be positioned adjacent to a new driveway in thenorthern area of the churchyard. The recording actiondiscovered a previously unlmown burial vault and a stretchof wall that was possibly post-medieval and part of a gravesurround or mausoleum. The watching brief did notestablish the full extent of the burial vault because of thelimited amount of overburden that was removed.Maidenhead, Berry Hill Ice-House (SU 9070 8132)Jonathan GillThe unit undertook a programme of archaeological buildingrecording on an ice-house associated with the former BerryHill House, prior to its demolition as part of the Maidenhead,Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme. The buildingrecording took place in July 1998 and a watching brieffollowed in October 1998 as the ice-house was demolished.The well-preserved 19th century structure was set within thegrounds of the former Berry Hill House and surprisingly hadpreviously been unrecorded. It was relatively modest indesign, consisting of three square plan, barrel-vaultedchambers, with a ventilation shaft between the lowestchamber and ground floor level. The shaft was orientedtowards the road from where it may have been filled withimported ice. The machine-made bricks strongly suggesteda mid to late 19th century date. The remains of anotherpossible ice-house are located in the light woodland on thewest bank of the estate lake.21

BuckinghamshireMilton Keynes, Shenley Brook End, CNT Site 4, MiltonKeynes (SP 8360 3545)John DaltonThe unit carried out a watching brief during April, May andJune 1998 at CNT Site 4 during the construction of a housingestate with associated access roads and services. Site 4 waslocated along the northern edge of Garthwaite Terrace andadjacent to the northern edge of Taclmell Drive, MiltonKeynes. The development site covered an area of 0.75 ha ina nan.ow area of open fields separating Shenley Brook Endfrom the deserted medieval village of Westbury. Ridge andfurrow was identified in the north-east corner of the site andcould be seen to extend into the grassed field beyond thenorthern boundary of the site. No finds were recovered fromthe furmws but it was noted that the ridge and furrowappeared to respect the standing hedge boundary at theeastern edge of the site.Milton Keynes, Simpson, St Thomas Church(SP 8850 3690)John DaltonIn April 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief duringthe excavation of eight test pits at St Thomas Church,Simpson. The test pits were excavated to determine thecondition of the church foundations and ground conditionsprior to the underpirming of various parts of the churchstructure. The majority of the church is 14th century in date,with restoration undertaken in 1873 and the towerunderpinned earlier in the 20th century. An OAU watchingbrief at the church in 1989 had revealed a cobbled andflagged medieval floor in the north transept and haddiscovered that the earlier floors in the south transept hadbeen removed in the 18th century. The tiled floor of thedemolished vestry was unc,overed in excavations outside thechurch, between the chancel and the north transept.A test pit inside the church, at the base of the tower, revealedwall footings and disturbance associated with the insertionof a modern wood panel floor. The remaining seven test pitswere located outside the church, on the south and east sidesof the building, and contained wall footings of the standingchurch. A crudely built brick wall that was possibly a formercrypt was also recorded. Neither disturbed burials norprevious floors were present.graveyard soil and a small quantity of human charnel; thesoakaways revealed graveyard soil to a depth exceeding1.6 m, one grave cut and a substantial quantity of humancharnel. All of the human bone was retained for reburial atthe completion of works.An OAU watching brief at the church in 1995 had identifiedfeatures associated with the periodic repair andrefurbishment of the building and a buried graveyard soiloutside the church had contained a substantial quantity ofhuman charnel. The results of the 1998 watching briefsuggested a greater tradition of burial to the west of thechurch.Sherington, St Laud's Church (SP 8910 4680)Sean CookIn July 1998 the unit conducted a field evaluation of fourtrendies at St Laud's Church, Sherington, as a result ofproposals to construct an extension to the north side of thechurch and to accommodate a possible extension to theburial area. The church was built between the 13th and the16th centuries but the inhumations recorded in each trenchare associated with the post-medieval cemetery. Theevidence suggests that substantial use of the graveyardduring this period has caused considerable truncation of anyearlier archaeological deposits or burials.Wooburn, Royal Stag Works (SU 9098 8787)John DaltonIn May 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief at theRoyal Stag Brewery in Woobum during the excavation offootings, prior to the commercial redevelopment of the site.The building incorporates the fabric of an 18th centurybrewery which was later redeveloped or reused for lightindustry or for private use. The site lies adjacent to anarchaeological notification area where quantities ofmedieval and post-medieval pottery and a mortar platformcontaining tile and brick were recorded in 1987. However,the 1998 works did not impact on any medieval archaeologyand no archaeological features were encountered. Alldeposits related to the working life and demolition of theRoyal Stag Brewery and the pottery dated from the 19th and20th centuries.Olney, the Church of St Peter and St Paul (SP 4890 2509)John DaltonIn May 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief at theChurch of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, which was originally12th to 14th century in date but was almost completelyrebuilt during the 19th century. The work took place duringthe excavation of a French drain around the north side of thechurch and two drain runs rumfing north to two soakaways.The foundations of the north wall of the church wererevealed in the French drain trench. The drain runs revealedWESSEX ARCHAEOLOGYTaplow Court, Taplow (centred on SU 907 823).Phil AndrewsEvaluationWessex Archaeology was commissioned by Architype onbehalf of SGI-UK to carry out an archaeological evaluationin connection with a proposed redevelopment in the groundsof Taplow Court, Taplow. The proposed redevelopment to22

known archaeological remains. Principal among these is theprincely Saxon Taplow burial mound dated to the 7thcentury. This mound is situated within the churchyard of thedemolished church of St Nicholas, itself probably of Saxonorigin. A nearby Romano-British site and a concentration ofprehistoric finds including Mesolithic material are alsorecorded.The field evaluation identified three principal periods ofactivity. A concentration of Mesolithic worked flint in freshcondition was recorded A possible ditch produced acomparatively large quantity of Late Bronze Age potteryand provides the first evidence for possible settlementactivity at this time in Taplow. Several undated features,including a group of substantial post-holes and a curvilineargully, have been broadly assigned to the prehistoric periodbut cannot be more closely dated. No features or finds ofRomano-British date were recorded nor any remains ofAnglo-Saxon or medieval date. Post-medieval featuresincluded one ditch which is likely to have formed part of the17th century walled garden associated with Taplow Court,and two or possibly three broad, shallow, undated ditchesfurther to the north which may have been landscape featuresof possible 17th century date.NORTHAMPTONSHIREBEDFORDSHIRE COUNTY ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE (BCAS)Old Strafford, Towcester Road (SP 7750 4120)Sean Steadman and Paul BrightTen trial trenches were excavated to investigate a 6 ha plotadjacent to Watling Street. Despite previous discoveries inthe vicinity during pipeline construction, no archaeologicaldeposits survived in any of the trenches and no artefactswere recovered from the spoil.CO'FSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUSTCourteenhall, Grange Park (SP 760 550)Alan ThomasEvaluation confirmed the existence of four sites which hadpreviously been mapped by geophysical survey. They weresituated on localised areas of high ground and were between200 m and 650 m apart. Site 1 contained at least fourenclosures, possibly with an associated field-system andtrackway. Site 2 contained a large D-shaped enclosure anda trackway. Site 3 contained small enclosures, pits, and atrackway, and Site 4 a single enclosure and several intemalNorthamptonshirepits. All of these sites were of mid-late Iron Age datealthough Sites 1 and 2 also produc,ed evidence of earlyRomano-British activity. Sherds of early-mid Anglo-Saxonpottery were also recovered from Site 2. A further site(Site 5), which contained a concentration of shallowundated pits and ditches, may also be Anglo-Saxon, giventhat pottery of this date has previously been recovered fromfieldwalking in the immediate vicinity.Towcester, 6 and 8 Watling Street (SP 69600 48370)Richard MortonGroundworks relating to the development of the site weresubject to a watching brief. The excavations for servicetrenches were found to be of insufficient depth to reveal theprehistoric and Roman deposits identified in the earlierevaluation.Wellingborough, Wilby Way (SP 882 660)Alan ThomasFurther work on this large Iron Age settlement wasundertaken to the south-east and north-east of the 1997excavations (see Vol 28, pp. 31-2). The earliest identifiedactivity comprised a single pit of Neolithic/early BronzeAge date. Further evidence of Iron Age settlement includedpits, a fenceline, numerous postholes and a possible pondwith associated watercourse. Several ditches were alsorecorded defining large enclosures on the periphery ofsettlement. These enclosures contained few intemalfeatures, suggesting an agricultural or agrarian use. Twounumed cremations and a single crouched inhumation,which may be Bronze Age or Iron Age in date, were alsorecorded. The disparate nature of the burials suggests thefocus of any cemetery lies outside the area of excavation.Several fragments of human bone were also found scatteredacross the site. Of particular note were the human remainsfound in association with a large assemblage of horse bonesrecovered from a linear series of pits on the periphery of thesettlement.Additional evidence of craft-based activity was identified,with loomweights suggesting weaving and an iron file andtool wood working. Evidence of small-scale industrialactivity in the form of metal-working debris was alsorecovered.Excavation at this site is now complete and a publicationreport is currently being prepared for both the 1997 and 1998seasons. Overall the site appears to be a large agglomeratedsettlement with both enclosed and unenclosed elements.Initial analysis suggests that there has been settlement shiftover time, and the pottery points to occupation startingaround the 6th to 5th centuries B.C. and continuing until the1st century BC.23

NorthamptonshireTHE HERITAGE NETWORKNorthamptonshire County Golf Club, ChurchBrampton (SP 723 647)In response to a pre-detennination planning conditionplaced on the construction of an irrigation reservoir at theNorthamptonshire County Golf Club, Church BramptonThe Heritage Network was commissioned by the golf club,to carry out a desk-based assessment and field evaluation ofthe proposed site. The fieldwork was undertaken in August1998 by Bob Zeepvat and Nigel Wilson, under the directionof David Hillelson.The desk-based assessment demonstrated that the site lieswithin a rec,ognised archaeological landscape, and that thepotential for the discovery of features and artefacts from theprehistoric to the medieval periods was high.This potential was not, however, borne out by the fieldevaluation, which uncovered no conclusive evidence for thepresence of archaeological remains in the area proposed forthe reservoir.NORTH OXON FIELD ARCHAEOLOGYGROUPPrehistoric sites and small findsChipping Warden (SP512486)Possible Mesolithic and Neolithic flakes were found not farfrom a known villa site. The village has the bon Age campof Arbury Banks next to it.Rainsborough Camp (SP534354)Just three fields south of the camp a few worked flintsincluding a scraper and a Bronze Age tanged and barbedarrowhead were found by Deborah Hayter of the CharltonHistorical Society. The camp has a Neolithic long ban-owright next to it.Roman SitesCold Harbour Barn (SP527384)This is a known, but uninvestigated site frequented by metaldetectorists who are the only source of information in thispart of Northants. Late Roman coins have been found here.Charlton Historical Society members had found pottery nearthe site and this was examined and included grey wares, grogwares and Oxford red and colour coated wares. Whitelimestone slates were also picked up.Rainsborough Camp (SP524348)In the field west of the camp, about 100-200 m away fromthe entrance, a large scatter was found covering 1-2 ha. Thesite was walked jointly by NOFAG and the Charlton andNewbottle Historical Society using the line technique. Theassemblage was the usual mix of Oxford, Nene Valley, grog,shell tempered, grey wares and samian encounteredeverywhere else in the area. Paul Booth confirmed that thiswas solely a late Roman assemblage. A late Roman buildingwas excavated within the camp during the 60s, so the twosites must be linked. The scatter was first noted by the ridgeand furrow expert, David Hall (pers comm).NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGYReport for 1998, compiled by Andy ChapmanAshton, Ashton Manor Moated site (SP 7645 5003)Peter MastersThree small trial pits, each 1.5 m square, were excavated onthe site of a proposed garage at this Scheduled AncientMonument (No. 13615). They were up to 13 m deep, butonly one reached natural. The earliest layers compriseddumps of clays with limestone to a depth of 0.8 m. Findswere sparse but there was both some medieval pottery andresidual Roman pottery. The upper layers containedbuilding material, pottery and other finds of 16th-18thcentury date.Brigstock, Latham Road (SP 9460 8537)Rob AtldnsA trial excavation on land to the east of Latham Roadidentified a series of pits, one contained early/middle Saxonpottery and the rest were post-medieval in date. The survivalof archaeological deposits was poor, probably due to recentgroundworks associated with the car park.Daventry, The Abbey Centre (SP 547626)Andy ChapmanEvaluation trenches on the site of the former monasticprecinct of the medieval Cluniac priory of St. Augustinelocated a small area of well preserved medieval depositsincluding two substantial, clay-bonded stone walls, 1.25 mand 130 m wide, which were probably demolished in themid 16th century. They are on the same alignment as thepriory church and cloister and are likely to be parts of formerpriory buildings, but there is insufficient evidence todetermine their plan form. Although a 12th century ditch anda medieval pit were also located, there were extensive areasof deep post-medieval disturbance, some of which mayrelate to the known destruction of the last priory buildingsin the mid-19th century.24

Fineshade, Fineshade Abbey (SP 973 979)Joe Prentice and Mark HolmesTrial excavation and a subsequent recording actionuncovered the well preserved remains of an iron smeltingfurnace; it was oval in plan, 1.80 m long, with a solidifiedpool of tap slag in situ at the western end. A roof tile in thefurnace structure indicates a Roman or later date. Nearbypits contained further quantities of slag and ashy barnsderived from previous firings.Kettering, The Rectory (SP 867 784)Michael WebsterTrial trenching within the garden of The Rectory, to the eastof the Market Place, revealed limited evidence of medievalactivity; a linear ditch and a soil horizon only survivingbeneath demolished post-medieval buildings to the west ofthe present Rectory. There were no structures along thefrontage onto the Market Place. Much of the area waslandscaped with garden terraces in the 18th and 19thcenturies, and this may have removed earlier evidence.Northampton, Bridge Street (SP 7543 6004)lain SodenTrial Excavation at the Kwik Fit site located thewell-preserved remains of a medieval building fronting ontothe east side of Bridge Street. The wall foundations were inunmortared ironstone and remains of pebble and clay floors,and other internal features, were sealed beneath bothoccupation debris and demolition rubble. The building wasconstructed no earlier than the mid 13th century and wasdemolished in the late 15th century. No remains of medievalor Civil War defences were present at the northern end ofthe site, and no medieval levels had survived in the areaclosest to the supposed location of St. Thomas' Hospital.Northampton, Marefair (SP 7505 6045)lain SodenAn extensive programme of trial excavation was carried outwithin the 1.35 ha site of the former Barclaycard premises.The site lies within the core of the late Saxon and medievaltowns and across the road from the extensive series ofexcavations to the east of St Peter's church, the St Peter'sStreet and Saxon Palaces sites, excavated by theNorthampton Development Corporation in the 1970s and80s. It was shown that quite large areas of medieval andpotentially earlier archaeology survive beneath and aroundthe present building. Medieval activity was represented bynumerous rubbish pits and the remnants of both timber andstone buildings, while early to middle Saxon activity wasattested only by residual pottery. The site also contains theNorthamptonshirepotential to recover part of a late medieval and postmedievalstreet frontage along the former Pike Lane.Northampton, Moat House Hotel (SP 75266060)Andy ChapmanThe site of a new swimming pool was excavated in advanceof development. There was extensive disturbance frompost-medieval buildings, wells and pits, but earlier depositssurvived in three areas. Two pits are dated to the 10thcentury and provide the first evidence for late Saxon activityin the north-eastem corner of the postulated extent of the lateSaxon town. Further pits are dated to the llth and 12thcenturies. In the mid 13th century there was a distinct changein activity with the digging of large quarry pits into the localironstone bedrock, no doubt to supply building stone. Theyhad been infilled by the end of the 14th century. A directconnection with the 13th century foundation of theDominican Friary, which may have stood in this area, wasnot established. The presence of the quarry pits indicates thatthe adjacent frontage onto King Street was developed noearlier than the 15th century.Potterspury, High Street (SP 7586 4313)Peter Masters, Richard Ivens and Steve ParryTrial excavation on land adjacent to 47-53 High Streetlocated a pottery kiln, and pits and ditches of medieval date.The kiln was not excavated and its full plan was not exposed,buta large assemblage of unstratified pottery was recovered.This included over-fired and other waste sherds indicatingthat it was representative of the kiln products. There was alimited range of forms; baggy jugs predominated, but theassemblage also included pans, neckless jars and cistems.The kiln was probably in use during the early to mid 14thcentury.Pytchley, Pytchley Golf Lodge (SP 868 754)Erlend Hindmarch and Richard JenningsTrial excavation and fieldwalking was carried out to informa mitigation strategy ahead of proposed development of agolf course on an area of known cropmarks of presumed IronAge or Roman date. Trenches were excavated primarily todetermine the depth of soil cover, and none of the exposedfeatures were excavated, but the recovery of small quantitiesof pottery from the exposed fills indicated that the mainperiod of activity is of Roman date, running from the late1st to the 3rd centuries AD.Radstone, &Lawrence's Church (SP 5879 4052)Alex ThomeAn archaeological watching brief on alterations to the naveroof recorded several former roof-lines of the nave. Somestructural renanants from the fourteenth century roof may25

Northam ptonshirehave been located. The current roof furniture appears to datefrom the post-medieval period and has been extensivelyrepaired.Towcester, Sponne School (SP 6888 4875)Joe Prentice and Mark HolmesGeophysical survey and trial excavation was carried out onthe school playing fields across an area of 0.8 ha lying 150moutside the defences of the Roman town of Lactodorum. Noremains or finds of Roman or later date were recovered, andthere was no indication that any more recent activities mayhave removed such evidence.Towcester, Water Lane (SP 692484)Mark HolmesPre-emptive excavation and watching brief were undertakenduring the construction of a new Safeway store on landbetween Water Lane and Richmond Road, just outside thesouth-western side of the Roman town of Lactodorum (cfSMA 28 (1998), 38).Settlement evidence included parts of timber structures, arectilinear enclosure and the truncated remains of a Romanmalting oven. These were located to the west of the RomanAlchester road, a length of which crossed the site and wasrevealed during the watching brief.Evidence for the Roman defences recovered during theexcavations was limited to a series of ditches whilst twofurther ditches may be associated with the town's Civil Wardefences.A total of 28 inhumations and one unumed cremation wererecovered, probably dating to the late 1st or early 2ndcentury AD. These were interred within individual plots ofland rather than representing a formal cemetery. Two of thegraves contained multiple inhumations and there were twoinstances of decapitation. A variety of burial positions werenoted and defomtity of the spine in one individual has beenassessed as representing a case of Pott's Disease.Warmington, Chapel Street (TL 0768 9123)Tony BakerA trial trench on a plot of land to the west of Chapel Streetlocated a series of shallow ditches and some lengths ofshallow linear slots which may have been the remnants of atimber building. The sparse finds are all medieval in date,and there was no evidence for any early-middle Saxonoccupation.Warmington, Manor House (TL 078 914)Ian Meadows and Michael WebsterFurther geophysical survey and trial trenching, and a largescale open area excavation was carried out in advance ofhousing development on a major late Saxon/earliermedieval settlement complex at the northern end of thepresent village (cf SMA 28 (1998), 38). The site comprisestwo or more phases of rectilinear ditched enclosures,including a complex of several timber buildings, defined byboth post-pits and wall slots. The dating evidence indicatesthat this site was in use for only about a century and wasprobably abandoned by AD1150.West Haddon (SP 629 724)Rob AtkinsTrial Excavation was undertaken on land along the line ofthe proposed A428 West Haddon bypass. An extensivesettlement comprising a sinuous road flanked by rectangularenclosures had been located by geophysical survey. Ninetrenches c,onfirmed the results of the geophysical survey andassociated finds suggest that the settlement was perhapsshort lived, dating to the mid-first to mid-second centuriesAD.Winwick (SP 624 739)Mark HolmesAn earthwork survey and trial excavation was carried outwithin the earthworks of the shrunken village ahead of asewage works replacement scheme. Most trenchescontained several ditches and related features indicatingdense occupation of the area. The majority date to the12th-14th centuries, but a single ditch is of late Saxon date.A cobble and ironstone revetment of uncertain date laybeneath one of the earthworks. Post-medieval activity wasrepresented by further ditches, the infilling of a hollow wayand an associated trackway. No evidence of domesticstructures was recovered..Wollaston (SP 910 631)Anthony MaullTrial excavation was carried out at the Scott Bader site onthe edge of the present and medieval villages. Four trencheslocated a sparse scatter of shallow ditches, gullies and pitsof medieval and post-medieval date, but no evidence ofSaxon settlement.Northamptonshire Archaeology, reports published in1998Brown A G, and Meadows I, 1997 Environmental Analysisof a Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Palaeochannel of the RiverNene at Turnells Mill Lane, Wellingborough,Northamptonshire, Northamptonshire Archaeol., 27,185-191Chapman A, 1997 The Excavation of Neolithic andMedieval Mounds at Tensor Crossroads, Northamptonshire,1995, NorthamptonshireArchaeol., 27,3-5026

1 =Piddington 1998pre vat phasesUPPER NENE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETYRoy Friendship-Taylor-..... ..--.......,Y1E=,I:::"711./1SWUM. 8.1ViiI I+14 A 3°. Vti740TaltmetrAnasesfraftil_ri.. P I. ''I (o...:i. I to ' ./ 0.- . or !1..I r,.ec** ---.,.....,...,..._L2,..........._ 1 _.,. ii,....1 rtI ...I. .4L- iCIn74...V .., sr 1 ,.....12. 1.--1+!Piddington Roman villaDuring the 1998 season, we cut a section through therecently discovered courtyard wall and down through themodem hedgerow and into the modem ditch. This yieldedthe exciting discovery that extending from, and protected bythe 'wall', was a much earlier ditch below the modern fieldditch. This earlier ditch can be dated from the late IronAge/early Roman period and possibly relates to an earlymilitary phase of the site, suggested recently by some recentair photographs of the area.Figs 1 and 2 show features found up to the end of 1998.:,:j.,21172....+ ..ii . Itr iSflIIII!60 ' A- 1 Iii..;:t:.4 p e ' ' .,1 IFI r--.1..,-.Won I 1 Ior..4

Northamptonshirer---o f.jp------ -1H11111110-g,?.14.;;,:!7;":4714-Fig 2. Composite plan of the Piddington villa showing all phases from late 1st to 4th century.28-s-

Chapman A, 1998 Brackmills, Northampton; An early IronAge torc, Current Archaeology, 159,92-95Meadows I, 1997 The Pioneer Helmet, NorthamptonshireArchaeoL, 27, 192Shaw M, 1997 Recent Work in Medieval Northampton:Archaeological Excavations on St Giles' Street, 1990, andat St Edmund's End, 1988,NorthamptonshireArchaeoL, 27,51-100Shaw M, Chapman A, and Soden I, 1997 Northampton,Current Archaeology, 155,408-415Soden I, 1997 Saxon and Medieval Settlement Remains atSt.John's Square, Daventry, Northamptonshire, July1994-February 1995, Northamptonshire Archaeol., 27,101-142OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNITSulgrave Manor (SP5605 4558)John DaltonThe unit carried out a watching brief at Sulgrave Manor fromFebruary to March 1998 as part of a proposal to develop thecourtyard with a shop, refres/unent area and other facilities.The watching brief was further to a geophysical survey andOAU field evaluation, both in 1997. The evaluation exposeda sequence of post-medieval deposits culminating in acobbled surface directly below the present lawn. Ditcheslocated to the south-west of the manor were dated to the 12thor 13th century. These ditches may have formed a plotboundary and part of the earthworks recorded in the field tothe west of the Sulgrave Manor. The existing structureprobably dates from the reign of Elizabeth I but much of thehouse was demolished in the 1780s and it was rebuilt in1921.The watching brief identified a series of ditches in thesouthern end of the site but no dating evidence was retrievedfrom them. Structural evidence of buildings, a possible19th century courtyard and a mid 17th century stone-lineddrain were also recorded as was a pond with a possiblewatercourse. Pottery dated from the 12th century onwardsand archaeological deposits had been heavily truncated.OXFORDSHIREABINGDON AREA ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANDHISTORICAL SOCIETYRoger AinslieOxfordshireAbingdon Spring Road Cemetery (SU 48735 97497)Work by the Society, directed by Jeff Wallis, took place latein 1994/early 1995. This was a series of small trenches toestablish the amount of remains in this area as the formerleather works to the west was about to be demolished. In thenorthern cemetery the graves were extending onto areaswhere the grave digger had found considerable amounts ofSaxon and Roman material. The OAU had, funded byEnglish Heritage, carried out an assessment of this area,using machine trenches, in 1990 and had found Saxonremains and post holes. Unfortunately English Heritage hasnot provided funds or resources to facilitate a properexcavation of this area, despite Geoffrey Wainwright tellingthe Congress of Independent Archaeologists that cemeterywork which fell outside PPG 16 was the type of work whichwould be funded by English Heritage.The society excavated 5 trenches. The results of these were:-Old cetnetetyHere a trench 5 mx1mx 0.4 m deep was excavated atSU 4865 9722. This area was low lying with clay subsoiland no archaeologically interesting deposits were found.New cemetery - northern sideA trench 5mx1mx 03 m deep was excavated atSU 4871 9761. Here there were no archaeologicallyinteresting deposits although the ploughsoil here wasremarkably deep over the natural gravel.Two trenches each 3mx3mx approx 0.8 m deep were putinto the eastern side of the central part of the new cemeteryat approximately SU 48735 97497 and one was placedapproximately 20 m to the north of this. The first twotrenches both produced a north - south gully with postholes.This was located at approx 60 cm depth and was approx50 cm wide and 10 cm deep. Three small post holes followedits line. At the northern side of trench 2 a pit, 27, containedthree sherds of Roman and 25 of Saxon pottery together witha 2nd/3rd century brooch (Fig 3). The Neolithic/Bronze Agepottery, part of a polished axe and the Iron Age material allappears to have been residual in later contexts.Overall the numbers of flints and sherds from these 3trenches can be summarised thus:-Flint Neo. LA. Roman Saxon MedievalTrench 1 27 5 7 17 11 15Trench 2 9 1 14 18 34 4Trench 3 36 2 24 49 9TOTAL 72 6 23 59 94 28The 94 Saxon pottery sherds weighed a total of 560 g fromthe 9 square m of these ttenches. The currently undisturbed29

Oxfordshire159 Oxford Road Cowley, Oxford (SP5438 0435)Jeff Wallis and Melanie Burton-Cundall carried out a smallexcavation in the back garden of this house which was beingre-arranged. They found a medieval wall and medievalpottery.Thrupp near Radley (SU 51450 97185)It was possible to carry out a small amount of work oneweek- end to salvage the remains of this trackway (Fig 4)before it was destroyed by gravel extraction.o 1 2mFig 1. Trench 2 plan. Abingdon Spring Road cemetery.area is over 3000 square m. The deep ploughsoil whichprotects the Saxon deposits contained a penny of Edward 1(Class 8 C of the London mint).ConclusionIn the Saxon period the Saxton road cemetery is well known.Graham Keevill found 6/7th century occupation off Audlettdrive (Oxoniensia 1992 p 55-80) as has Tim Allen in theVineyard area, (SMA 1990 p 75) Here we fortunately havea site which has been protected by a medieval ploughsoiland it is depressing to see it being destroyed - especiallywhen English Heritage know what is going on but choosenot to facilitate the necessary excavation.AcknowledgementsThe Society would like to thank Abingdon Town Councilfor permitting this work, Tim Allen for looking at the finds,Martin Henig for identifying the brooch and the memberswho took part in the excavation.The trackway ran in a north-south direction and crossed achannel of the Thames when it was silting up. The first phaseappears to have been that stakes were driven into thealluvium following which limestone pieces were put on asurface which had a large amount of sticks laid horizontally.This limestone trackway had a width of some 4m and alongthe centre of this was laid a strip of gravel some 2m wide.As the trackway reached the side of the channel the initialbed of stakes and sticks was no longer required and thelimestone pieces were laid direclly on natural gravel. Onefeature of interest here is that as the trackway reached thesouthern side of the channel it split into two separate routeswith a branch going to the south-east.In the centre of the main trackway at this junction was a largepost hole. What this was doing there is a mystery but if itwas a sign-post then it must be a an early example of literacyin this area.Jill Hey of the OAU has kindly looked at the pottery whichlargely came from the surface of the limestone trackwaybefore the gravel was deposited on it. This appears to bemiddle Iron Age in date with a globular bowl rim being themost distinctive sherd whilst the others were from large,thick vessels. A large amount of animal bone was alsorecoveted as were many, largely poor quality, flints. Piecesof human skull were also found on the gravel company'sspoil heap.Itight brown loamred brown silty loamdark grey brown siltTerry Stoppa and Simon Steele excavated a medievalmidden deposit at SU 5170 9718 which was also threatenedby gravel extraction in this area. 'Whilst this had a depth ofsome 0.4 mit was not possible to distinguish any distinctivelayers or features in the deposit. It contained a quantity ofpottery of 1 lth to mid 12th century date.Fig 2. Trench 2, east section.64 Bath Street, Abingdon SU 495 972O3cmsFig 3. Roman brooch. Abingdon Spring Road cemetery.A small extension was added to previous work in this area.It located disturbed soils which contained much Romanmaterial although no structures were found, apart from thecontinuation of a ditch which had been located earlier. Asingle cremation was found without any container or gravegoods. This has kindly been identified by Dr P Hacking asbeing of an adult or sub-adult. Unfortunately the remains30

OxfordshireSection D-Edark grey diglight greY chlYSection B-Cyellow gravellimestone pieta at base.brown grey cbymid grey dayyellow buff daybrown peat._light grey daynatural gravelwooden stakesPost Hole A-Section, ,i-7.7,,,t34. ........ ,.,\ ......\ \\ \II4, iV I. I .1Br I: :1. ib ill ;- - .0 Ob,0,.. - ° . -(.,OCI=.°g) ° .1-_ !III cg,...0-,0,00,,-9...... . . . .. .. ....... ,....-......,........:.,...-..-: . .. -..19 :."..-) .I.1 i...- _ . . .. . .... - . .. . ..,.. . .. . .... .. 6 A.'. : .' .".. .1. Ï Ï. f l 1*-1.1. rt.° .,. .-..: :: '. i:. ',. . .." t r;) . . (.:3 a .II0 ley2 , .. - 1 ..'"ci, 41i.I.^. .° .0 0 0 ..I ° o 0 IAiEOs North5 metres.Fig 4. Thrupp trackwaywere in a fragmentary condition and it was not possible tocarry out further identification. The seeds were recoveredfrom the cremated material and Mark Robinson hasidentified these as being of wheat and hulled barley withfragments of oak and of Prunus wood.Pat Excel' of York University has recently been carrying outwork at Waste Court, part of Abingdon School, to the northof this site, where she has found burials. The extent of thisRoman cemetery may therefore be fairly large.AOC ARCHAEOLOGYFinmere, Gravel Farm and Foxley Fields Farm(SP631329639325)Imogen GrundonAs part of the B4031 Finmere Diversion, a new stretch ofroad was planned to cross from Studdle Pits west of Foxley,past Gravel Farm to join a new roundabout just east of theA421 at the point of the old entrance to Finmere market(Fig 5). Owing to the presence of substantial Iron Age andPrehistoric earthworks within a 3 km radius of the village ofFinmere, a possible cropmark (PRN 13631, OCC AI' no. SP6332/A-B) in one of the fields to be affected by the new roaddiversion, and the fact that the A421 follows the line of theRoman road from Alcester to Towcester, a watching briefwas carried out during the construction work.During the excavation of roadside drainage ditches for thenew road scheme, several ancient ditches came to light,showing cuts and re-cuts and crossing the new ditch atvarious angles. The predominantly Belgic hand- andwheel-made grog-tempered ware ree,overed from a few ofthe ditch sections suggested a Late Iron Age settlement sitein the vicinity, so a strip of approximately 60 m x 3 m wascleared for excavation (Area B Fig 6). Due to operationalneeds a larger strip could not be investigated, leavingunexplored 2 possible ditches and 2 possible pits 65 mfurther west of the area excavated, which however producedno pottery. With the known presence on this land of naturalfossil ice-wedge polygons, which bear a strikingresemblance to ditches in section, and with the naturaldeposits being a corrugated mix of silty clay and gravel, itwas necessary to establish as far as possible which of theoblique sections were man-made ditches, and which natural.The westernmost ditch group (cut 114 et al) was seen tocomprise up to four separate cuts running approximatelyeast-west, though excavation failed to show whether theywere parallel re-cuts of a single linear ditch line, or severalditches on different alignments converging at this point. Due31

Oxfordshireto the limited area available for excavation it was notpossible to trace their divergence/convergence for anyuseful distance. Another group (107 et al), runningnorth-south, was located 20 m south east of this group ofditches, possibly forming a rectilinear boundary with thosementioned above. There appeared to be two cuts in thisgroup, but again their convergence or collinearity could notbe clearly distinguished. The pottery was for the most partLate Iron Age Belgic pottery of the 1st century AD.However, one of the north-south ditches (100) produced twoRoman rim sherds and a fragment of Roman tile. 'Their softpink grog-tempered fabric was a natural development of thelocal traditional fabrics of the Late Iron Age, and dated tothe 2nd-4th century AD.The area of greatest archaeological concentration wassouth-east of these two aligmnents of ditches. Five moreditches were located (Fig 6), interspersed with pits andpostholes. But the most interesting feature was an ashyhearth-like pit (128), the base of which was pitted withpaired stake holes. This area shows definite evidence ofsettlement activity in the Late Iron Age. A soil sample takenfrom this feature contained a grain of hulled barleyrecognizable among the more carbonised remains,suggesting that barley was being cultivated in the vicinity,probably as part of a subsistence economy and diet thatdepended, at least in part, on cereal cultivation. Other cerealgrains were present in small quantity (too abraded to identifyprecisely), along with wild weeds commonly gatheredinadvertantly during the reaping of cultivated cereals.The presence of such charred cereal raises the possibilitythat this feature was a hearth, over which cooking utensilswere suspended from a cottical arrangement of stakes -approaching a small-scale version of the frame of a wigwam,embedded in the base of the pit dug to collect the ash andinsulate the fire. The profusion of these small stake holes -22 in all - suggests that they were re-established frequentlyin the firmer ground, perhaps at each cooking session. It alsosuggests that the hearth was used more than once, for therewould have been room for no food or utensils if all the stakeholes had been in use at once. Two heat-fractured stoneswere also found within the feature, which might have beenused to maintain the heat of the fire or as pot-boilers forheating water.The feature as it survived measured 0.7 m x 0.8 m x 0.11 mdeep. So though the upper part of the pit had undoubtedlybeen sheared off to some extent, the positioning of the stakeholes implies that it could not have been much more than0.2-03 m deep at the most, before the close arrangement ofthe stakes made it unusable.Alongside this feature to the east, were two pits in closeproximity to each other (140 & 136), the eastem of whichproduced some fragments of a roughly shaped, perforatedplate of fired clay. This find was open to two interpretations.Firstly, if it was a fragment of a crude ldln structure then itraised the possibility that at least small scale production ofpottery was being conducted in the settlement. However,where such plates have been excavated before they have insome cases been interpreted as cooking platforms. Thissecond interpretation may fit in better with its proximity tothe hearth feature, though there was no evidence survivingto indicate that the two features were in use simultaneously.These three features were to some extent bounded by anarrow ditch feature (134), and a wider ditch feature (135)which lies parallel to the narrower one for two metres. Thewider ditch was the deeper, but as it lay within the area ofgreatest soil structure collapse (caused by use of the land asa haul road during construction) it was impossible to traceit further. However, their proxitnity makes it unlikely thatthese two ditches were from contemporary phases of the site.The narrower of the two faded out either because it neverwent any further west, or because it was even shallowerfurther west and has simply not survived. Along the 10-11 mof its surviving length, it followed a very irregular path, forthe most part running roughly east-west, though at its westend it appeared to curve a little to the north, and it was tothis bend that the wider outer ditch conformed. At its eastend, however, it was cut by a more substantial linear ditchrunning north-south (143). This latter, like the other largerditch groups, had been re-cut at some stage. The later fillproduced Late Iron Age pottery, including a rim sherd of abowl.To the north-west of this series of features, there was apossible curvilinear ditch (124). The lack of finds in it andthe fine silty clay fill, led at first to suspicions that it mayhave been an ice wedge polygon, but closer scrutiny of thesection revealed evidence of a re-cut, confirming that it wasin fact the arc of a ditch. It did not show up in the modemditch sections, so it was impossible to judge what directionor shape it took beyond the excavated area.Further north-west again, was a linear ditch (133), whichalso produced Late Iron Age pottery, flanked by a series ofpost and stake holes both east and west of it. The fourpost-holes (138) were arranged in an arc, but there were noothers on a similar arc that could shed light on what theywere used for. The post-hole on the west side of the ditch(151), may have been related to those on the east, but if itwere part of the same arc, that would give a circumferenceof only 4 m, which is rather small for a hut circle. Fivestake-holes (153) were located around the single post-holeon the west side of the ditch, four of which seemed to bealigned, but there is little clue as to what their purpose was.The pottery which this site produced was ptedominantlyLate Iron Age and belonged to a single ceramic phase, datingfrom the 1st century AD. This material was largely Belgicin character, mostly a mixture of hand- and wheel-madegrog-tempered WareS, and represented largely necked jars(one of which had two incised wavy parallel lines) and bowls(including one with slash marks on its outer rim edge), butwith some sherds of a grog- and sand-tempere,d ware andsingle sherds of shelly ware and a limestone-tempered ware.32

caca

. .--eModernRoadside Ditch101 102 100TLllaselihe pi 11 (Ch 580m) i+\ 109\MeIcesDitch cuts Visible in Section10415 ,A153133_1 I12)-124-r- Baseline pl 2(Ch 640m),I 1031281%(4-39 1+ 134s _ 104-71136\ 141143145144132

The combination of ditches, pits and a hearth feature pointvery strongly to this being part of a Late Iron Age homesteadsite. However, not all the features belong to a single phase.If the phase relationship of the only two ditches with a directrelationship is typical of the other features then it is probablethat the north-south and east-west ditches were part of a laterphase of activity than that related to the features of thehomestead that were located here. Once land had beencleared for a small settlement, further clearance andexpansion would probably follow. Perhaps the settlementmoved a short distance away, while the land already clearedfor settlement was enlarged and partitioned off as the needsof the settlement grew.In a rural context such as Finmere the grog-tempered waresof the Belgic pottery could have continued in use up to theend of the 1st century AD, so the period of occupation so farinvestigated might bridge the transition between the end ofthe Late Iron Age and the early Roman period representedby the 2nd-4th century AD sherds found in one of theditches. Alternatively, one is looking at an occupation ofanything from one to three centuries of occupation at thissite, but the lack of domestic rubbish on the site does notsupport this. Should the area to the north of this site ever bedeveloped, it would be a good opportunity to establish thelimits of the inhabited area, or even a succession of such,and to determine whether the northern limit was removedduring the modern ditching or extends further north.Whatever might have been immediately to the south thoughhas been destroyed by the new road.The finds tended more towards a domestic environmentrather than an industrial one. Small scale manufacture ofpottery for personal use might have taken place near the site,but this remains to be proved.Unexpectedly, two possible sherds of Saxon pottery, of afabric characteristic of the early Saxon, were found on thesurface of one of the ditch fills. Though these are verypossibly a later contamination, they are notable in that noother Saxon material is known in the area.An investigation was carried out concurrenlly with thisexcavation to locate traces of the Roman road that once ranfrom Alcester to Towcester along the line of the currentA421. An area to the west of the road was stripped (Area AFig 5), as had been a shnilar area on the east side byBuckinghamshire County Museum Archaeological Service,but neither produced traces of roadside ditches or structures.When the surface of the A421 was removed and a ditch cutacross the line of the Roman road, no evidence for either theroad or its make-up was revealed in plan or in section,though the latter penetrated into the natural.OxfordshireSutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay: Sutton Wick Area C(SU495945)Graham Bruce & John MoorExcavation was conducted in advance of gravel extractionwithin the extension of the gravel pit ofJ Curtis & Sons Ltd.Aerial photography had revealed two rectangular enclosureson the site, (Fig 7), an evaluation of which was carried outin 1989, (reported in SMA 21,98-9). The excavation enableddetailed examination of these enclosures and theinvestigation of a large number of pits and post holes.The northernmost enclosure was approximately square,around 35 m across, orientated north-west to south-east.From the surface it appeared to be formed by a singleunbroken ditch. Hand excavated sections, placed at 10 mintervals around the enclosure suggested a degree ofvariation in the cutting and backfilling of the ditch. Theprofile varied from broad U-shaped to tighter V-shaped andthere was evidence of recutting within some of the sections.The fills suggested the existence of an internal bank, formedwith upcast gravel, which had weathered into the ditch.Gradual silting had been followed by deliberate dumpingwhich had almost levelled the bank and ditch although thefinal fill in many of the sections was very much like theoverlying ploughsoil and suggested that the ditch hadsurvived as a slight hollow after it had gone out of use. Therewere no contemporary features inside the enclosure.The southem enclosure was clearly more complex, with theaerial photographs suggesting an internal division and theevaluation trenching showing that up to five ditches werepresent. Hand excavated sections revealed two principalphases of this enclosure's construction and use, (Fig 8). Thefirst phase was rectangular, 40 m x 30 m, aligned almostnorth to south, with an entrance on the east side. Theenclosure was formed by a broad, shallow, U-shaped ditch,which had been recut or emptied, the fills of whichsuggested that there was no associated bank. The onlycontemporary internal feature was a shallow length of ditch,opposite the entrance.The second phase consisted of a number of shallow ditchesthat formed a rectangular enclosure approximately 44 m x40 m. In places the ditches were so shallow that they hadbeen totally removed by recent ploughing and by themachine stripping of the topsoil. However, enough survivedto clearly show that this post-dated the original enclosure onthe northern side. The west, south and east sides respect theline of the first phase ditch so clearly that it was almostcertainly still visible as an earthwork when the second phasewas laid out. This is confirmed by the continued use of theentrance, which may also indicate a track linldng thisenclosure with associated sites. There were no internalfeatures relating to this second phase enclosure.Prior to and during the course of the machine stripping ofthe site it was fieldwalked by Abingdon and areaArchaeological and Historical Society, and a substantialquantity of flint working debris was recovered, concentrated35

OxfordshireNorthernEnclosure" BuildingsSU 495 9451SouthernEnclosure0100MetresFig 7. Sutton Courtenay: Sutton Wick Area C. Position of enclosures and possible buildings.in a fairly small area in the north east of the site. This wasconsistently hammer struck material of probably early tomid-Neolithic date, (see attached appendix). Thefieldwalking also recovered forty-one sherds of pottery froma single vessel. The fabric contains abundant, angular grogfragments, some as large as 10 mm and rare stone (mostlycalcined flint) inclusions. This was a mostly plain tripartitevessel of the Collared Urn tradition of the early Bronze Age,(Longworth 1984). It seems likely that the urn was depositedwithin a cut that did not intrude into the surface of naturalgravel as no trace was present at this level, and thatploughing and machining had completely removed thefeature.Removal of the topsoil revealed not only the enclosures, butalso a number of other possible archaeological features. Asubstantial proportion of these were shown to have beenproduced by the removal of trees. Although these werepresent across the entire site there was a noticeable biastowards the northern edge. Occasional fragments of workedflint were present in the fills, and some showed signs ofhaving been burnt out, suggesting that they representdeliberate woodland clearance. Examples of tree pits wereseen to pie-date both the northern and southern enclosures.Although there was no dear evidence of how much earlierthan the enclosures they were, the known activity ofNeolithic and Bronze Age date in the surrounding areawould seem to indicate that the clearance had taken placewell before the digging of the enclosure ditches.Concentrated in the north east of the site was a series of postand stake holes. These had clearly been heavily truncatedby ploughing and had also, in some cases, been disturbed bythe movement of machinery across the site, making theiridentification difficult In the majority of cases no obviousspatial pattern was evident and no datable artefacts were36

Oxfordshire0 10Modern DisturbanceMetresFig 8. Sutton Courtenay: Sutton Wick Area C. Southern enclosures.recovered. Some of the post holes, however, appear to createcoherent groups. These form short lines, up to 7m in length,and their relative positions suggest that they may be parts ofrectangular buildings, (Fig 7). These possible buildings areclose to the north-eastem edge of the northem enclosure andmay be related to it, although without any dating evidencethis association is uncertain.The original evaluation trenching discovered concentrationsof sub-rectangular post-Medieval quarry pits, especially tothe west of the southern enclosure, and at a point about halfway between the two enclosures. Other sub-rectangular pitswere observed across much of the site, and these were alsoseen on excavation to be late post-Medieval in date. Thequarrying is presumably related to the fann of Otney in thesouth west corner of the site. A single Roman potsherd foundduring the evaluation of the site, (Moore 1991, p.99), wasseen to be residual, within one of these later features.The site was remarkable for the scarcity of artefactualmaterial from excavated features. In total 26 sections werehand dug through the ditches of the two enclosures and theirfills were fully excavated by machine, with selected sievingbeing undertaken. However, the ditches failed to produce37

Oxfordshiremore than a handful of small fragments of animal bone,undiagnostic flint flakes, and possibly worked stone. Theother excavated features produced little more than this, andthe greater part was from the post-Medieval quarry pitbackfills. However, the field walking that took place priorto and during the machine stripping recovered a substantialassemblage of worked flint, and a large part of a late BronzeAge urn. This contrast between material within features andmaterial from the ploughsoil possibly suggests that only thebases of the excavated feature,.s have survived ploughing.An indication of the environmental conditions is providedby land snails retrieved from samples, taken predominantlyfrom the ditch fills. The most frequently represented speciesare those generally found in open calcareous, usually wet ordamp habitats. This suggests that the site may have beenprone to seasonal flooding of the adjacent River Thames.The absence of an absolute chronology for the site not onlyhinders us in dating the enclosures in general, but also meansthat questions of the duration, and relative contemporaneityof the two main features cannot be answered. This clearlyaffects our ability to interpret the activities being conductedon the site. However, stylistically the two enclosures aremost likely to be of the Romano-British period and therectangular character of the possible buildings suggests asimilar date for these. The differing natures of theconstruction of the two enclosures suggests that they wereperforming different functions. The northern enclosureditches, even in their truncated form, represented a realphysical barrier and with the addition of the bank this wouldbe even more imposing. The lack of any clear entrance orinternal features may indicate that this enclosure wasconstructed to keep domestic and wild animals out of an areaof crops.The southem enclosure, on the other hand, had a clearlyestablished entrance and fairly insubstantial ditches withoutbanks, suggesting that they functioned less as a physicalbarrier than the ditches of the northern enclosure. The seriesof very shallow ditches of the second phase appear toindicate successive marking out of a specific area of land.This may have formed a legal boundary of a settlement area,although the lack of contemporary structures on the interiorcauses problems for its interpretation.The presence of an isolated Bronze Age urn on the site isnot that great a surprise in view of the proxirnity of a numberof elements indicating a prehistoric ritual landscape, (suchas ring ditches). The woodland clearance is almost certainlyalso of prehistoric date, and would appear to be part of anextensive phase of this activity, possibly associated with thelaying out of the major Neolithic field monuments in thelocality (Gledhill & Wallis 1989).The full report on the results of the excavation have beendeposited with the County Sites and Monuments Record.BibliographyGledhill, H. & Wallis, J 1989 Sutton Courtenay: a Neolithic longenclosure. SMA 14,5-8.Longworth I H; 1984 Collared Unts of the Bronze Age in GreatBritain. Cambridge University Press.Moore J; 1991 Sutton Courtenay: Otney gravel pits. SMA 21,98-99Sutton Courtenay: Sutton Wick Area CAppendix.Supplied by Dr Bob Eeles, on behalf of Abingdon and AreaArchaeological and Historical Society.Lithic MaterialA dense flint scatter, centred above the two rectangularstructures located during these excavations (Fig 7) has beenmonitored by members of AAAHS since 1989. The scatterextended for approximately 10m in all directions and lay ona finger-like projection of the main gravel-island, juttingnorth-east towards the River Thames. Previous fieldwork(Hiller 1995, Holgate 1996, OAU 1989) was undertakenunder less than ideal field-walking conditions and failed tolocate this site. Lithic material recovered from theploughsoil, collected sporadically, but usually each autumn,has been previously noted (Wallis et a/ 1992) and a moredetailed account is given here. There is no distributionalevidence for specific activity areas within the scatter and thisfactor is given no further significance.All objects are white patinated (characteristic of flint fromlighter, neutral to alkaline soils) except for a single flakecore which may have originated from adjacent alluvium.The likely source(s) of the flint is either the BerkshireDowns or the Chiltern Hills, the former being closer. Noneof the flint can be considered to be local. The majority ofrecoveries are unutilised waste flakes (Table 1), often ofconsiderable size for the Abingdon area (Total weight10.9 kg, mean weight 13.4 kg), characteristic of corepreparation and reduction activities. It is probable thatimplement manufacture occurred on site. The abundance oflong blades and long blade cores suggests, primarily, anearly to mid-Neolithic date for much of the materialalthough an earlier date for some of the blades is possible inview of the presence of three microliths from the ploughsoiland others recovered from soil stripped in this area. Thepresence of three broken polished axes may be associatedwith tree clearance activity. The proportion of utilised tonon- utilised material is 7.6 %, typical for such scatters ongravel islands (pets. obs.).The comment was made previously (Wallis et a/ 1992) thatthis scatter may extend beneath the alluvium (to thenorth-west, north and north-east) and this was found to bethe case during the machine stripping by J Curtis & SonsLtd. Vast quantities of worked flint and a limestone linedhearth (in the vicinity of the rectangular enclosures, but itsprecise location was not recorded) were lost in this area.Implements recovered from dumped spoil originating fromthe vicinity of the two rectangular structures (but notincluded in the above account) include 3 scrapers, 7microlithic projectile points, a quartzite cobble axe ofpossible mesolithic date, the central portion of a polished38

flint axe and a large (57 mm) barbed and tanged arrowhead,all grey-blue patinated.Table 1: Classification of lithic material recovered fromploughsoil immediately above the two rectangularstructures on Otney gravel-island.QuantityRetouched blades 5Unretouched blades 111Utilised blades 16Blade cores 27Retouched flakes 10Unretouched flakes 568Utilised flakes 10Flake cores 47Side scrapers 13End scrapers 1Flint hammerstones 1Quartzite hammerstones 1Knives 1Slug lmives 1Polished axe fragments 3Microliths 3Total 818Additional referencesHiller, J; 1995 Land at Sutton Wick Abingdon, Oxfordshire NGRSU 940955. Archaeological Watching Brief. 0.A.U. UnpublishedReport.Ho!gate, R; 1986 Mesolithic, Neolithic and Earlier Bronze AgeSeulement Patterns South-West of Oxford. Oxoniensia 51: 1- 14.Oxford Archaeological Unit 1989 Sutton Courtenay; Otney, thon- Archaeological Assessment.1998 ReportAbingdon, Penlon Factory, Ftadley Road (SU 5007 9740)I GrundonAn evaluation was carried out in the grounds of the Penlonfactory, Radley Road, Abingdon, revealing traces of earlymedieval occupation in the form of ditches and pits.Abingdon, Pavlova Works, Colwell Drive(SU 4864 9740)D PalmerAn evaluation was undertaken on the site of proposeddevelopment at the Pavlova Works, Colwell Drive,Abingdon. Much of the area proved to have been truncatedby levelling and make-up for the tanning works, with onlytraces of a potential archaeological soil horizon surviving.No archaeological temains were revealed cutting the naturalgravel terrace in any of the three trenches excavated.Bampton, The Grange (SP 3159 0309)I GrundonAn archaeological watching brief was carried out duringground works for a garage in the garden of the Grange,Bampton. The site showed evidence of 19th centurydumping, but no earlier remains were located.Bicester, The Old Courthouse and Police Station,Church Street (SP 5835 2235)I GrundonA watching brief was undertaken to monitor ground worksduring alterations and extensions to the Old Police Stationand Courthouse at Bicester. No archaeology was found, butthe floor structure of the Old Police Station cells wasrecorded.Denchworth Village Cross (SU 3815 9189)I GrundonA watching brief was carried out during the relocation of theDenchworth Stone. No archaeology was uncovered.Gosford and Water Eaton (parish), North Oxford Parkand Ride (SP 1190 5020)I GrundonAn evaluation was carried out on the site of the proposedNorth Oxford Park and Ride and B1 development. Severalditches were discovered, one of which was Roman oflst-2nd century date and may indicate the presence of anearby settlement The remaining ditches are considered tobe post-medieval drainage ditches.Oxford, Former Royal Mail Depot, Becket St.(SP 5060 0615)I GrundonOxfordshireAn archaeological evaluation revealed that, in the 12thcentury, the eastern half of the site had been reclaimed bylarge-scale dumping for the development of three tenementplots with buildings facing onto St. Thomas High Street.Limited excavation of one of these buildings producedpottery of late 13th to 15th century date. Investigation of theback plots revealed thick deposits of medieval andpost-medieval garden soil but there was no evidence for anyform of industrial activity. One post- medieval wall of theRed Ox Ditch was located. A trench through the lane whichbecame Church Street in the 19th century, and whichroughly bisected the site, revealed that it originated from thetime of the land reclamation. Only a series of small un-datedstakeholes pre-dated the reclamation, and there was noevidence of prehistoric activity. The western half of the sitewas found to have been meadow until the 19th century.39

OxfordshireOxford, St. Frideswide's Bridge, Botley Road(SP 5012 0662)I Grundon and J MooreDuring the construction of two new footbridges flanking St.Frideswide's Bridge to the north and south, anarchaeological watching brief was carried out to record anyarchaeological remains. No archaeological features wereencountered during the work.Woodstock, Fletcher's House (SP 4438 1677)I Grundon and D PalmerA watching brief carried out during the course ofgroundworks for the construction of a new cafe and coffeebar extension and a new gallery extension revealed traces ofearlier structures and a system of drains and water collectiontanks connecting the main house with its outhouses,particularly the brewhouse.BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY FIELDARCHAEOLOGY UNITBanbury Town Centre (centred on SP 4575 4075)Stephen J. Litherland & Kirsty NicholIntroductionArchaeological work on behalf of Banbury Shopping CentreLimited and PillarCaisse bas tackled an overall developmentarea as three distinct, but physically and chronologicallyoverlapping, archaeological zones; the Castle Precincts(Zone 1), Bridge Street and Mill Lane (Zone 2), and thecanal-side (Zone 3). The timespan of interest ranges fromthe Saxo-Norman period up to, and including, the Industrialera. Each archaeological zone was evaluated by extensivedocumentary and map research, the recording of standingbuildings and non-destructive prospection for buriedarchaeological deposits by Stratascan, using groundprobingradar, in addition to trial excavations.In 1998 the final mitigation stages of the overall fieldworkproject commenced. Work included area excavation ofbuilding plots in Bridge Street and Mill Lane, which finishedin late July, and, towards the end of 1998, the beginning ofwork on the remaining site of Banbury Castle in the CastleGardens Carpark. In addition, recording work has also beenstarted within the Scheduled Ancient Monument ofTooley's Boatyard for Cherwell District Council, andfurther work is due to commence shortly upon the site of themedieval Cuttle Mill. This work is very much at anintermediate stage, therefore the results presented here must,of necessity, take the form of an evolving general discussion.Zone 1: The Castle Precincts (centred on SP 4570 4080)The ground-probing radar survey in Castle GardensCarpark, combined with the results of the rescue excavationsin the 1970s (Fasham 1973 & 1983, Rodwel11976), allowedthe footprint of the double, concentrically-moated phase ofthe Castle, demolished after the Civil War, to be accuratelymapped and for some of the inconsistencies of the 19thcentury Ordnance Survey interpretation to be corrected.However, the levelled surface of the modern carpark maybe compared with the 'mound' described by the surveyor for'Victoria County History' in the early years of this century:"the site (of the castle) was occupied by gardens and bystreets of houses...(which)...have destroyed much of theevidence of the grotmd, but it is possible, from tracesfound in digging for draining and building, to lay downthe course of the outer moat...In the centre of this area isa mound 9 feet above ground-level at its base, nowoccupied by a rather ruinous cottage built at thedemolition of the castle on to the only remaining portionof its wall" (1907, 322).The scouring away of the mound me,ant that little survivingarchaeology here post-dated the 1250-1350 remodelling ofthe Castle proposed by Rodwell, with the exception of theinfilled moats and sections of foundations of the innercurtain wall. However, the upturn of this was that earlierarchaeological deposits were more readily accessible.There was clear evidence of an initial timber and earthworkphase at Banbury Castle, sited upon a natural, well-drainedsand and gravel knoll overlooking the River Cherwell. Thisarchaeological evidence may complement the availableearly documentation, which, in addition to that of theplace-name itself, indicates that Banbury was part of a largeestate belonging to the See of Dorchester-on-Thames inAnglo-Saxon times, which was transferred, along with otherNorth Oxfordshire estates, to that of Lincoln around 1070.The evidence consisted of a c 10m wide, east-west alignedditch, surmounted by a timber palisade built into the upcastfrom the ditch. The ditch, which was water-logged at itsbase, was recut a number of times before being infilled withclay and ironstone rubble.The foundations of a range of ironstone buildingsconstructed over the first ditch probably date from thedocumented period of castle building by Alexander theMapificent, Bishop of Lincoln, in the 12th century. Theconstruction of this phase or, more accurately, phases ofbuilding increased the area occupied by the castle, but alsoled to structural instability in the buildings constructed overthe soft fills of the old ditch, necessitating subsequentbuttressing of the walls. Two principal buildings wereexcavated, a small square building located in the northwestcorner of the castle and a larger range to the east, eachabutted by lean-to structures. The square building was theonly one to retain fragmentary floor levels, which had alsosubsided into the soft fill of the 'timber and earthwork' phaseditch. A new moat was dug to the north of these buildings,into which sections of the foundations of the inner curtainwall of the 1250-1350 castle were built.The two concentric moats of the later castle were massivedefensive features, in excess of 15 m wide and nearly five40

Fig 9. Banbury development. Zones.41Oxfordshire

Wordshiremetres deep. Pottery recovered from the inner moat had awide time-span, from the 1 lth to the 19th century, but thepresence of 14th and 15th century pottery in two of the lowerfills of the moat suggests that it was allowed to silt up duringthis period. There was also extensive evidence of hecticrefortification in the Civil War, as various documentarysources attest. It is clear that a significant percentage of thepottery recovered from the moat was residual. No doubt thisis a reflection of the remodelling of the castle in the13th/14th century, the Civil War refortification and thesubsequent slighting of the defences. In the aftermath of theCivil War, the moat was infilled, primarily in the late 17thand early 18th centuries, with later landscaping activitiesoccurring in the 19th century, when the area became knownas the Castle Gardens. Preservation of water-logged depositswithin all the ditches and moats which were sampled on theCastle site was good, and these have high potential forreconstructing aspects of the changing environnent in thispart of Banbury over the last 1000 years.Zone 2: Bridge Street and Mill Lane (centred onSP45854065)A detailed programme of building recording in this streetblock has added a new dimension to the late-18th and 19thcentury social history of the area, shedding particular lighton the impetus to development provided by the nearby canal.In addition, partial survivals of ironstone buildings, roughlydating from the later 1500s to the early 1800s, will shedfurther light on earlier post-medieval development.Key features found during the recent excavations include aboundary ditch, nmning parallel to Mill Lane, whose fillcontained pottery of Saxo-Norman date, and a latermedieval street surface, together with ironstone footings ofbuildings fronting onto that street. In contrast, the earliestarchaeological evidence from the Bridge Street frontagedated to the 1500s, and consisted of the foundations andcellars of a row of quite substantial commercial buildingshere. These were progressively modified during the 17th,18th and 19th centuries, a picture reinforced by theinvestigations of the above-ground evidence mentionedearlier. The relative lack of any significant archaeologicaldeposition across the site in general, together with a paucityof typical back-plot activity, such as the digging of rubbishpits, provides intere,sting lines for further inquiry.Zone 3: The canal and river-side (centred on SP 4580 4075)Mitigation work in this area is planned for later in 1999.However, the medieval town boundary ditch and anout-flow leat of the medieval Cuttle Mill have beenidentified, together with evidence of the 18th/19th centurytown quay. In addition, further recording work on theScheduled Ancient Monument of Tooley's Boatyard is inprogress, while a further canal dock was also discoveredduring excavations on the site of the castle.ConclusionsIn several important respects the results of the presentcampaign of archaeological work promise to complementand enhance the findings of the rescue excavations on thesouthern half of the castle made in the 19'7(s, while alsoshedding more light on the late-Saxon/early-Norman historyof Banbury. Further research will aim to explore theinter-relationship of the castle and the town, while alsoseeking to propose a model for the development of this partof Banbury from its origins about a thousand years ago, rightup to the present day.ReferencesFasham Pi. 1973 'Excavations in Banbury, 1972: First Report',Oxoniensia 38,312-338.Fasham, Pi. 1983 'Excavations in Banbury, 1972 Second andFinal Report', Oxoniensia 48,71-118.Ferris L, Leach P. and Litherland S. 1991 Banbury Town CentreRedevelopment: AnArchaeologicalAssessment: Implications andResponse BUFAU Report No.94/01. (see also BUFAU ReportNos. 94/02-94/06, 1995-1998)Rodwell K.A. 1976 'Excavations on the Site of Banbury Castle,1973-4', Oxoniensia 41,90-147.Stratascan 1997A-J Banbury Town Centre Redevelopment: AGeophysi cal Survey Phases 1 to 4.VCH Oxon, ii 1907 Victoria History of the C.ounty of Oxford, Vol.2.COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUSTCharlton-on-Otmoor, Grange Cottage (SP 5426 1632)Franco VartucaGrange Cottage lies adjacent to Odey Grange, a medievalmoated site which was in origin a grange of the Cistercianabbey at Thame. A watching brief during the excavation ofa foundation trench for an extension to the cottage revealedno archaeological features.Clattercote, Clattercote Priory (SP 45800 49200)Richard MortonA watching brief was carried out as part of a programme ofanalytical recording and historical research at ClattercotePriory, parts of which date to the medieval Gilbenine Prioryand Hospital. Substantial wall foundations located to thenorth of the building may represent the south wall of thePriory church. A small amount of disarticulated human bonemay have originated from a burial area attached to thecomplex.Harwell to Blewbury Pipeline (SU 500899 - SU 530860)Alan ThomasA watching brief was carried out during the construction ofa pipeline which ran from a sewage station at Zulu Farm,Harwell to another on the north-western outskirts ofBlewbury. Two Romano-British sites were identified. Onewas located 60m to the north-west of Zulu Farm where fourfeatures were identified. One of these produced alst-century A.D. pottery assemblage. The other site waslocated to the east of West Hagbourne and comprised pits42

within a rectilinear enclosure. Pottery spanning the periodfrom the late 2nd to 4th century date was recovered. Inaddition a small amount of unstratified pottery ofRomano-British and later date was recovered north-west ofthe pumping station at Blewbury; a single Romano-Britishditch was identified east of Upton; and an undated featurenear Down Farm. The discovery of these sites, together withthose previously found in the area during pipeline workindicates that the landscape between Didcot and the NorthWessex Downs was intensively settled in theRomano-British period.Hook Norton, Rope Way (SP 3581 3295)David ICenyonField evaluation prior to residential development identifieda series of ditches. One in particular, which crossed thewhole site, was tentatively identifed as a former fieldboundary. Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered.Le-afield Reservoir (SP 317 154)David KenyonA watching brief was maintained during works associatedwith the construction of a 200 m length of new water main.No features of archaeological interest were identified.Shipton-Under-Wychwood, Shaven Crown Hotel (SP2785 1780)David KenyonThe Shaven Crown hotel has a 14th century origin and lieswithin the historic core of Shipton. A watching brief duringthe construction of an extension to the hotel encounteredmedieval deposits to the south-west of the current building,including a possible cobbled surface, and large quantities ofanimal bone. The limited area excavated did not allow thesefeatures to be interpreted fully, but did confirm the existenceof well-preserved deposits at the site.Somerton, Dovecote Farm (SP 4993 2866)Alistair BarberEvaluation, in advance of residential development revealeda shallow pit which yielded seven sherds of medievalpottery. A series of post-medieval wall-footings andassociated cobbled surfaces was also noted, associated withthe former agricultural complex.Stanford-in-the-Vale, 27 High Street (SU 3434 9321)Laurent ColemanA watching brief was conducted prior to redevelopment ofthe site. This followed an evaluation undertaken in 1996.Two undated postholes, a series of post-medieval roadsideOxfordshireditches and a Roman pit were identified. Romano-Britishoccupation is likely to lie outside the study area to thesouth-east.Wantage, 78 MM Street (SU 3950 8814)Alistair BarberEvaluation in advance of residential development revealeda linear ditch which may be a continuation of one of theditches revealed during the adjacent CAT excavation at MillStreet in 1993-4. It is of possible Early Saxon date. No otherarchaeological features predating the modem period wereencountered. The lack of survival of any but the mostsubstantial archaeological features is perhaps due to thetruncation of deposits in the recent past.Wantage, Land off Stockholm Way/Denchworth Road(SU 3945 8837)Alistair Barber and Graeme WalkerExcavation jointly funded by the Vale Housing Associationand English Heritage was undertaken in 1998 in advance ofresidential development, and followed an evaluationconducted in 1996. Enclosure ditches, gullies and pits datingfrom the 1st to 2nd centuries A.D. were sealed beneath a 2ndto 3rd century artefact-rich garden soil or manuredploughsoil. A double-ditched trackway with stone and flintmetallings was also found.In the 3rd century a stone villa-style building wasconstructed, with a regular pattern of large boundary ditchesto the rear defining a series of plots. The building wasaligned northeast-southwest and overlooked the valley ofthe Letcombe Brook. Only part of the villa lay within theexcavation area. That part examined comprised arectangular range in excess of 18 m long and at least 13 mwide. It was constructed with mortared limestone walls setover chalkstone footings up to 0.95 m wide and 0.75 m deep.An infant burial found beneath the building appeared to bea deliberate foundation deposit.The range comprised at least three rooms, up to 4 m wideand 6.5 m long, with a 3 m wide corridor to the rear and a2 m wide cross passage. Further rooms or another corridorlay to the front. One room was surfaced with opus signinum,others perhaps having had flagstone and mortar-gravelfloors. Fragments of wall plaster, pila and box-tile, andceramic and stone roofing materials were also recovered.Pottery and coins indicate that occupation continued untilthe late 4th century. Few traces of the building survivedabove floor level. The structure had been systematicallystripped of all reusable materials, with discarded stonedumped over and around the building. A single stray sherdof Anglo-Saxon pottery was recovered from the site.43

OxfordshireWitney, Downs Road (SP 3330 1000)Laurent ColemanEvaluation comprising fieldwallring and trial trenching wascarried out prior to development. The field walking surveyidentified two distinct areas of late Neolithic flintworking,one associated with Colwell Brook. However, subsequenttrenching did not locate any subsurface features in either ofthese areas. A number of undated archaeological featureswere identified in the western corner of the site along witha post-medieval field boundary running north to souththrough the centre of the study area.INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGYThe HiWorts of the Ridgeway Project: excavations atAlfred's Castle 1998.Chris Gosden and Gary Lock.BackgroundAlfred's Castle is a small earthwork enclosure ofapproximately hexagonal shape with an interior area of1.2 ha (c 2.75 acres). It has been a Scheduled AncientMonument since 1958 (English Heritage SM 28163,originally Berkshire No. 89, now Oxfordshire SAM 203)owned by the National Trust and located on their AshdownEstate at Ashbury, Oxfordshire (SU27738223). Excavationstook place for four weeks in July 1998 and were the flfthseason of fieldwork within the HiWorts of the RidgewayProject. This follows two seasons at White Horse Hill (Lockand Gosden, 1997a) and two at Segsbury Camp (Lock andGosden, 1997b; 1998). As previously, the fieldwork isorganised as a compulsory training excavation for studentson the Oxford BA in Archaeology and Anthropology andpart-time students on Continuing Education UndergraduateCertificate and Diploma courses.There is no direct evidence connecting the site to KingAlfred and it seems that the name Alfred's Castle is an 18thcentury attempt to romanticise the place and connect it withAlfred who had his capital at nearby Wantage. Records tellof a battle he fought against the Danes in AD871 at Ashdownalthough the exact location is unknown.The ramparts at Alfred's Castle are quite massive in relationto the small enclosed area, and have three breaks throughthem (at the south-east, north-west and north-east), whichare shown on Lysons' early sketch plan prior to hispublication of 1806 (Lysons, 1806) although Colt-Hoarementions only two 'entrances' in 1819 (Colt-Hoare, 1819;p46). It is still uncertain, however, which are originalentrances. No previous work is known of at the site otherthan surface finds collected over many years and detailed byCotton (1960), a report which also includes an earthworkplan. Since 1960 there have been various local reports ofsurface pottery from within the enclosure and we havecollected material dating to the (possibly early) Iron Age andRomano-British periods.The ramparts, particularly the ones to the south and west,are badly eroded due to past excessive stocking levels. Thiswas a recurring problem as erosion by cattle was noted asearly as the 1950s and seems to have been aggravated bylarge quantities of sarsen stones close to the surface on thetops and sides of the ramparts. Aubrey (1665-1693; p338)mentions the use of sarsen stones taken from here to be usedin the building of nearby Ashdown House in the 17thcentury. The National Trust purchased the monument in1993 and have attempted to stabilise the ramparts althoughdamage is still considerable. The interior of the site is underrough grass and its topography suggests it has never beenploughed although damage by cattle tmmple has beenconsiderable in the past.Aerial photogmphs indicate a large enclosure associatedwith the site in the field to the north but now ploughed out.Nothing is lmown of the relationship between the largerenclosure and the earthworks although according to theSMR later Iron Age pottery has been found on the surfacewithin the former. An Archaeological Survey carried out forthe National Trust of their Ashdown Estate (Matthews,1989) has identified a series of extant field system remainswithin the woodland close to the site and originally thegardens of Ashdown House. These were inspected duringthe winter of 1998 when linear features were observedconnecting vrith the vicinity of Weathercock Hill where aLate Bronze Age settlement has been excavated (Bowden,et. al., 1993). This, in turn, is part of a wider area of recordedfield systems, trackways and enclosures extending over thenorthern Berkshire Downs (Rhodes, 1950; Richards, 1978)and forming a central interest of the Hillforts of theRidgeway Project in the future.The interior has recently been subjected to a magnetometersurvey by the Archaeometry Branch of the AncientMonuments Laboratory, English Heritage as part of theirWessex Hillforts Geophysical Survey Project (Payne,1997). The results of this survey were difficult to interpretalthough certainly different from those of other Wessexhillforts on chalk. Ground-proofing of the geophysics,together with a need to establish the character and extent ofdamage to sub-surface deposits for future management andpresentation purposes, resulted in the granting of ScheduledMonument Consent for the targeting of the limitedexcavations described below. Since the summer of 1998 aGround Penetrating Radar survey has been carried out overpart of the interior area and a full resistivity survey isplanned for mid-1999. Thme will be reported in next year'sinterim.Education remains an important aspect of the project, notjust involving the students working on-site but alsoinforming a wider audience. Many site tours are givenduring the period in the field and numerous talks to localgroups throughout the year. Alfred's Castle was an open siteduring National Archaeology Day 1998 when over twohundred people visited and many children enjoyed their firsttaste of digging.44

OxfordshireFig 10. A computer-generated contour plan of Alfred's Castle derived from a Total Station survey of c 8,500 data points.The excavation trenches are shown.The excavationsBec.ause the interior of Alfred's Castle contains detailedmicro-topography suggesting that it had not been flattenedby ploughing, it was decided to invest a considerable amountof time in its recording. A Total Station survey of theearthworlcs and enclosed area was carried out comprisingaround 8,500 data readings taken on an approximate 1.5minterval grid. A computer-generated contour plan from thedata is shown as Fig 10 together with the location of the fourtrenches opened in 1998.Trench 1This ftench measured 35 m by 2 m and was located toprovide a section through the main rampart and ditch and toinvestigate whether or not the south-eastem break throughthe rampart was an original entrance. Also of intere.st is thecharacter of the bank to the south-east of the entrance,generally accepted to be an entrance outwork (Cotton, 1960;p44). Topsoil was removed carefully by machine and handwhere appropriate.It quicldy became apparent that the so-called outwork isactually an area of naturally high bedrock although there isthe possibility that it could be artificially enhanced by acapping of clay, little of which remains. Several enigmaticfeatures were excavated around this area in the centre ofTrench 1, but with artefacts completely lacking these couldbe natural, possibly ancient tree-throws. This higher areacould be left as a result of the erosion of surrounding chalkespecially if the south-eastem entrance is original thuscreating a hollow way leading to it.The main rampart ditch was fully excavated by hand. Cutinto bedrock chalk, the ditch is over 3m deep with aV-shaped profile and a narrow flat bottom, a profile verysimilar to that of the ditch at Segsbury Camp (Lock andGosden, 1998; Figure 15). As shown in Fig 11, thestratigraphy is complex indicating a detailed sequence ofnatural and artificial fill events. Perhaps the most noticeablefeature is the large amotmt of sarsen stones that occur in thebottom of the ditch and throughout the lower half of the fill.This material has fallen from the rampart above as a productof its decay, although it is difficult to assign natural orintentional reasons to this event. It does appear, however,that the destruction of the rampart began when the ditch wasempty and continued slowly over a long period of time,perhaps suggesting an initial act of deliberate slightingfollowed by a long period of gradual decay.45

OxfordshireFig 11. Trench 1. Section of main the rampart ditch.46

AC 98Trench 1Section 1.3Oxfordshire0 2 MetresFigure 12. Trench 1. Section of ditch to the ditch to the south-east.Artefacts from the excavation have yet to be studied in detailalthough in general terms Romano-British items were foundin the top one-third of the fill with later prehistoric furtherdown. The former include several Romano-British hobnailsand an early Romano-British copper-alloy fibula brooch. Aninteresting implication of this is that according to thesequence suggested above, the rampart was destroyedduring the Iron Age and the ditch was half full by thebeginning of the Romano-British period.The area to the north-west of the main ditch, i.e. the rampartand an area in the interior, was not fully excavated andremains to be finished in 1999. Even so, some generalinterim remarks can be offered. The rampart is composed oflarge sarsen blocks laid in four or five approximate rowsparallel with the ditch to give a width of approximately15 m. Only the lowest one or two courses remain andbehind these is an area of compacted chalk with a possiblerear reverting slot and internal structural postholes. Thesefeatures could comprise a second phase during which therampart was widened. It is immediately noticeable that therampart is very different in character to nearby Uffulgton (a'classic' sequence of box rampart replaced by a dumprampart (Miles and Palmer, 1995),,Liddington (similarly,Hirst and Rahtz, 1996), and Segsbury (a complex sequenceof pallisades with ultimate dump rampart (Lock and Gosden,1998). This supports the idea expanded on below thatAlfred's Castle is not one of the Ridgeway Iron Age hillfortsand could be earlier in the local sequence of enclosures.The area in the interior of the enclosure, just behind therampart, is of great potential interest. Here a pit wasexcavated that cut through c 0.75 m of stratigraphy beforehitting bedrock and finishing. Within the lower fills of thepit numerous large fragments of early Iron Age pottery werefound. It is intended to increase the size of this area in 1999because of its possible importance based on: the proximityand relationship of the stratigraphy with the rampart; thepossibility of this being an original entrance although thereis no evidence to support this at the moment; and thepossibility of the stratigraphy not being natural, and datingto the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age.The very western end of Trench 1 was altered in aligmnentto enable the cutting of a section through a ditch that wasdiscovered unexpectedly. Upon excavation this revealed aprofile very different from the main rampart ditch, having awide flat bottom (Fig 12). The stratigraphy suggested a slownatural filling of this feature and only a few sherds of potterywere found, possibly of Iron Age or earlier date. However,the ditch does appear to run across the south-eastern'entrance' which suggests it pre-dates the enclosure. Withthe increasing possibility of Alfred's Castle being a LateBronze Age enclosure, this could be an associated linearditch which is part of the wider Berkshire Downs pattern ofLate Bronze Age activity. This will be explored further in1999.Trench 2One of the major aims of the excavation as a whole was togain some insight into the nature of the interior occupationat Alfred's Castle. As already mentioned, the interior of thesite was covered with humps and hollows and it appearedpossible, prior to excavation, that some sort of structure orstructures might be present. The magnetometer surveyrevealed no clear patterns and in retrospect this isunderstandable due to the amount of metal and collapsedbuilding material on the site, as discussed below. Trench 2measured 10 m by 10 m and was placed near the centre ofthe site to investigate one of the most prorninent surface47

Wordshirefeatures. As soon as the top soil was stripped a majorbuilding was revealed, which soon proved to be Roman indate, but also had underlying prehistoric layers, dating to thelate Bronze or Early Iron Ages. The bulk of the 1998 seasonwas spent excavating the Roman layers, although some ofthe earlier features were started by the end. The trenchremains to be finished during the 1999 season.The topsoil was machine stripped with careful checking toreveal a substantial wall numing diagonally southwest tonortheast across the trench (Fig 13). The wall [2003] wascomposed of chalk blocks dressed on their outer surfacesand deriving from local Coombe deposits, being roughly80 cm in width. Further excavation revealed that the wallremains as three to four courses of chalk blocks bonded withmortar and placed on top of two courses of satsens, used forfoundations. In total, counting the sarsens and the coursesof chalk, the wall has a maximum remaining height of 1 m(Fig 14). Three other walls were revealed running off themajor wall at tight angles and two of these were joined by afourth wall to enclose a chamber (Fig 13). Only thenorthernmost wall [2018] had the same thickness as the walljust described [2003] together with sarsen foundations. Thejunction between these two walls lay outside the northernend of the trench although they may well have representedthe two outer walls of the building. The next wall furthersouth [2009] appears contemporary with the outer wall, asthe chalk composing it was knitted into the outer wall in amanner that would have been difficult to carry out if it hadbeen built later. By contrast, the southemmost wall [2005]appears a later addition, being butted up against the mainouter wall. The wall enclosing the inner chamber on the eastside [2008] is also later than the wall at its northern end[2009], but contemporary with that at the southem end[2005]. Right in the south eastern corner of the trench twowell-dressed chalk blocks were revealed, which are verylikely part of another wall. However, too little of them wasvisible to be certain of this or to ascertain their relationshipto other walls. As will be discussed again below there is thepossibility that a building with an initially open interior wassub-divided at a later date. Parts of walls [2003] and [2009]had been robbed, after their collapse.The nature and sequence of the walls were not worked outuntil a later stage in the excavation because directly underthe topsoil was a series of destruction levels from thecollapse of the building. Given the name of the site and theexistence of Anglo-Saxon finds in the vicinity, we wereinterested in the possibility of post-Roman material oroccupation. No finds were made which date to thesub-Roman period. There was one possible structure, madeup of a rough circle of sarsens, which was found in thenorthwest corner of the trench (in fact the circle, if this iswhat it is, went into the baulk). This feature was clearly ontop of the Roman levels and below the top soil, but containedno finds to date it and was not even certainly a feature. Thuswe have no real evidence for post-Roman occupation in thispart of the site. The destruction levels themselves containconsiderable amounts of limestone roof tiles, which werediamond-shaped with a hole at the top to allow pegging.There were also large numbers of nails (which had thrownout the magnetometry). These layers also contained muchchalk rubble from the walls and plaster used for bonding.Many of the roof tiles were found outside the building to thewest, suggesting the roof had collapsed in that direction. SixRoman coins were found within the destruction layers andpreliminary inspection by Adrian Marsden (Institute ofArchaeology) has shown that these date to betweenAD270-280.Once the upper destruction levels had been cleared, differentareas within the building revealed varying types of featuresand finds. Room 1 may not have been a room at all and mayhave been a courtyard. This is based on the lack of floorlevels, such as found elsewhere, although a small number ofpossible broken flagstones, show that the area may have hada flagstone floor at some stage. Here there was a series oflevels down onto chalk bedrock, which produced a varietyof finds of Roman date.Within Room 1, abutting wall [2003], was a roughlyrectangular structure built of large burnt sarsens [2001],which may have been a hearth (Fig 15). Although titispre-dated the destruction levels, it could relate to a late stagein the use of the building. Closer analysis of the finds mayconfirm this. Towards the western end of wall [2005] was apossible doorway allowing entry into Room 2 and cut intothe chalk bedrock just outside this entrance (within Room 1)was a drain or gully. Adjacent to titis and next to wall [2003]was the burial of a young infant within a shallow grave scoopcut into the chalk. This was one of eight such burials foundwithin Trench 2 all of which appear to be Roman in date,but predate the main floor and occupation levels of thebuilding.Room 2 seems certain to have been an enclosed chamber,with one doorway through wall [2005], as described above.In the lower destruction levels of this room painted wallplaster was found and a number of floor levels were madeof rammed or trampled chalk. A series of rich finds werediscovered in the lower destruction levels and on and withinthe floors. These included window glass, glass vessels, coinsand a range of fine pottery from a variety of sources and arange of dates from at least the 2nd to the late 3rd/4thcenturies AD (more detailed analysis is needed to fix thedate range). The exact role of this chamber is unknown atpresent, although a richer array of finds came from here thanfrom any other area vrithin the building.Room 3 also had a number of floor levels beneath thedestruction layers, with one major floor composed of opussigninum. Into this were scooped a number of small hollows,of unknown function, plus also four infant burials beneaththe floor in shallow scoops in the chalk, or in one case underwall [2005]. A range of finds was recovered from this room,including two fine bone hair pins and large amounts ofpottery of a range of types.Room 4 was the most enigmatic. Here no convincing floorlevels were found beneath the destruction layers, which48

AC 98 Trench 2Plan 215Oxfordshire488.10,520.30ChalkSarsenMortar02 3Figure 13. Trench 2. Plan showing the walls of the Romano-British building.were especially thick and full of chalk rubble, perhaps dueto the collapse of the corner of the building containing largeamounts of stone. There was one large feature, roughly 2 mlong and 1 m wide with a maximum depth of c 60 cm, cutinto the middle of the room. This was filled with rubble forthe most part and contained no special finds to indicate itspurpose.By the end of the excavation all the major Roman layers hadbeen removed, although all the walls have been left intact.This revealed a series of prehistoric layers of either lateBronze Age or Early Iron Age date. 'These layers were mostfully excavated to the west of the Roman building wherethey had not been disturbed to any extent by the constructionof the building itself. Here, beneath the Roman destructionlayers, was a number of layers and lenses containingprehistoric material, which are exceptionally well-preserveddue to the lack of modern ploughing on the site. These layerspresumably ran across the whole of this area of the site priorto the construction of the building when the site was levelledthus removing some of the layers down to bedrock in certainareas, but not in others. The extant layers to the west haveprovided a rich assemblage of pottery, plus occasional otherfinds like a part of a human skull, which had been cut, andsome metal fmds. Beneath these layers a number of pits cutinto the chalk bedrock became visible, five of which have49

OxfordshireAC 98 Trench 2Section 2.13o1 MetreChalkSarsensMortarFig 14. Trench 2. Outer elevation of wall [2003].been excavated. Two pits were within Room 1 and areprobably Roman in date, or at least with substantial re-useduring the Roman period. Three pits have been excavatedin the western area. One of these was found in the cornerbetween wall [2003] and the baulk and contained theskeleton of a sheep. Two others were deeper and cut wellinto the bedrock to a depth of roughly a metre and slightlybee-hived in shape, being wider at the base than the top(Fig 16), so being rather different in form from thestraight-sided Iron Age pits found at Segsbury (Lock andGosden 1997b, 1998). The lower layers of these pitscontained carbonised material, large amounts ofwell-preserved band-made pottery and metal finds includingwhat may be an early Iron Age swan's neck pin, thusproviding the possibility of fine dating and making linksbetween the pottery types and the metal finds.Elsewhere on the site a large number of other possiblefeatures were identified, including what look like both pitsand postholes, which remain to be excavated in 1999. It isinteresting that the Romans appear to have been aware ofthe earlier features and placed large sarsens on the top ofAC 98 Trench 2Plan 201some of the pits where walls run over them, presumably toprevent subsidence.Trenches 3a and 3bThese two trenches measured 24 m x 3 m and 30 m x 2 mrespectively and were outside the scheduled area. Theintention was to gain information about the larger enclosureshown on the aerial photograph, particularly its supposedsurrounding bank and ditch. Both 3a and 3b were positionedto investigate a slight linear earthwork that appeared to runtowards the south-eastern area of the Alfred's Castle fromthe direction of the larger enclosure. Any investigation ofthe larger enclosure is extremely limited by the landownerdenying access to the field that contains most of it. Initialinvestigations showed that both trenches had been ploughedat some time in the past, so topsoil was carefully removedby machine.Trench 3aVery little information was derived from this trench. Thelinear feature towards the eastern end coincided with anaturally high level of bedrock although it appears to havebeen artificially enhanced by a capping of clay containingcobble-sized pieces of sarsen stone. It remains inconclusivewhether this represents the bank of the large enclosurewhich has been spread by subsequent ploughing, althoughAC 98Trench 2Section 2.11.488521Squarenotplanned0 2 MetresChalkSarsenso1 MetreFig 15. Trench 2. Possible hearth or oven within Room 1.Fig 16. Trench 2. Section of a pit situated outside thebuilding.50

taken together with the evidence from Trench 3b below thisseems likely. A small amount of artefactual evidence wasobtained, but nothing diagnostic.Trench 3bA more convincing ploughed-out bank was located towardsthe eastem end of Trench 3b. Again this was composed ofclay but retained in situ parts of an outer revetting wall ofsarsen stones, although only a single course remained.Curiously, no evidence of a ditch was found within thewestern three metres of the trench on the outside of the bank.The area of the inner edge of the bank had been greatlydisturbed and contained a horse-shoe shaped setting ofsarsen stones with evidence of burning. It contained a smallamount of pottery suggesting that this may have been amedieval hearth, and surrounding piece,s of sarsen stonecould have been part of a larger structure built into the rearand top of the bank. There is a likelihood that these sarsenstones were re-used from an original rear reverting wall.To the west of the medieval structure a shallow scoopapproximately oval in plan and 1m in maximum dimensionwas excavated. This contained a considerable amount ofIron Age occupation debris, mainly animal bone and potterywithin a dark matrix. An important component of titis wasseveral sherds of incised pottery, possibly of theChinnor-Wandlebury group (Curtliffe, 1991; Figure A:11)and dated to the 5th to 3rd centuries BC. This fe,ature liesinside the larger enclosure and could provide datingevidence for its use in the absence of direct dating for thesurrounding bank and ditch.At the very western end of the trench the main rampart ditchwas located and partially excavated to reveal a V-shapedprofile similar to that in Trench 1 (Fig 17). Here, however,the stratigraphy suggested a rapid initial filling of chalkshatter [3533] followed by a sequence of intentional rampartdestruction and then slow natural filling for the rest. Whenthe ditch was half filled several large blocks of sarsen weredeposited in it derived from the rampart above. It isinteresting to note the difference between this section andthat for Trench 1 (Fig 11). Although situated only c 60 mapart, the stratigraphies and fill-sequences are markedlydifferent and wam of the danger of extrapolating aninterpretation based on a single section. Finds were notprolific within the ditch fill although some pottery wasobtained which may prove chronologically useful on furtheranalysis. In very general terms, Romano-British materialwas found in the top layers [3509, 3519 and 3528], togetherwith some probable very late native Iron Age forms, such asbeaded globular jars, which might suggest a 1st century ADdate, and later prehistoric pottery in the lowest three layers[3520, 3532 and 3533].DiscussionThe results from the 1998 season are important both for theRomano-British period and the earlier prehistoricoccupation, throwing much new light on the nature of thesite. However, it is obvious that only further excavation,Oxfordshireboth within Trench 2 and elsewhere on the site, will reveala fuller picture for either period.A major outstanding question is the role and nature of theRomano-British building which remains unknown. It isobviously a substantial structure, as is suggested byexcavation, the detailed contour survey plusground-penetraling radar, which shows it stretching overmuch of the eastern part of the site. Future resistivity work,and, perhaps, more limited excavation will allow fumerconclusions as to what type of building we are dealing with.There are a number of villas known from the area (Richards1978) with both Maddle Farm (Gaffney and Tingle 1989)and Starveall Farm (Phillips, 1981) being within a fewkilometres. A villa at Alfred's Castle could make sense interms of spacing across the landscape, being one of a seriesof villa estates each with associated fields as suggested byPhillips (ibid). Alternatively, the building might be betterseen as a temple, given its unusual position within an earlierenclosure as at Chanctonbury in Sussex (Bedwin, 1980).However, it could be that present definitions are too rigidand the structure might have combined elements of both thesacred and the profane, being hard to categorise as eithertemple or villa, as it combined elements of both.Equally unlmown, but equally interesting, is the nature ofthe prehistoric occupation. Our starting hypothesis beforeexcavation was that Alfred's Castle was a small hillfort, asmaller version of Liddington, Uffington or Segsbury,despite its different positioning away from the Ridgewayand the edge of the chalk escarpment. But we are nowinclined to see that the differences may be crucial. Ratherthan a small hillfort in an unusual position, Alfred's Castlemight be one of a class of enclosures found across theBerkshire Downs, many of which are unexcavate,d andundated (Richards 1978: Fig. 22), but some of which mayrelate to the late Bronze and Early Iron Ages. The proximityof the site to the late Bronze Age occupation at WeathercockHill (Bowden, et al1993)and the rich late Bronze Age hoardand settlement on Tower Hill (Miles, 1997) mean that thesite might be part of a cluster of occupation and activity ofthis date.Whatever the final outcome of our deliberations on the site,it is obviously an extremely important one, both in its ownright and in tenns of the wider Ridgeway project. The aimof this project is to understand the evolution of the landscapefrom the late Bronze Age to the end of the Roman-Britishperiod and Alfred's Castle contains vital evidence for thebeginning and end of this whole timespan. Furtherexcavations on the site itself, plus linking it into itssurrounding landscape of field systems and linear ditches,will provide us with a vital instance of the long termevolution of the landscape on one small part of the Downswhich can then be compared with developments elsewherewithin the region.Fieldwork continues for a further four weeks in July 1999.Trenches 1 and 2 will be completed and ScheduledMonument Consent is awaited for further work.51

OxfordshireAC 98Trench 3BSection 3B.4o2 MetresFig 17. Trench 3. Section of the main rampart ditch.Investigation of extant field systems in the woodlands ofAshdown House will also take place.AcbrowledgementsWe are extremely grateful to the National Trust andespecially Keith Blaxhall for all of the help and supportgiven before, during and after the four weeks of digging. Theexcavation would not have been possible without thesupervisory sldlls of Sheila Raven, Richard Bailey, PatrickDaly and Tyler Bell on site, as well as the many students andvolunteeis who worked with such enthusiasm and good will.Special thanks are due to Debbie Day for yet morewonderful culinary delights and to Tyler Bell for digitalwizardry. The 1998 excavations were funded by theUniversity of Oxford, the Roman Research Trust and theSociety of Antiquaries of London.ReferencesAubrey, J. 1665-1693. Monumenta Britannica, ecl. Fowles, J.(Sherbome, 1980).Bedwin, 0. 1980. Excavations at Chanctonbury Ring, Wiston,West suusex 1977. Britannia, 11, pp.173-222.Bowden, M., Ford, S. and Gaffney, V. 1993. The excavation of aLate Bronze Age artefact scatter on Weathercock Hill. BerkshireArchaeologicalJournal, 74, 1991, pp.69-83.Colt-Hoare, R. 1819. The ancient history of North Wiltshire.London.Cotton, MA. 1960 Alfred's Castle, Berkshire ArchaeologicalJournal, 58, pp.44-48Cunliffe, B.W. 1991. Iron Age Communities in Britain. London:Routledge (3rd Edition).Gaffney, V. and M. Tingle. 1989. The Maddle Farm project. Anintegrated survey of Prehistoric and Roman Landscapes on theBerkshire Downs. Oxfoml: BAR 200.Gosden, C. and Lock, G. 1998. Prehistoric Histories. WorldArchaeology, 30(1), pp.2-12.52

Hirst, S. and P. Rahlz. 1996. Liddington Castle and the battle ofBadon: excavations and research 1976. Archaeological Journal153: 1-59.Lock, G. and Gosden, C. 1997a. The Ilillforts of the RidgewayProject: excavations on White Horse Hill 1995, SMA, 27, pp.64-9.Lock, G. and Gosden, C. 1997b. The Hillforts of the RidgewayProject: excavations at Segsbury Camp 1996, SMA, 27, pp.69-77.Lock, G. and Gosden, C. 1998. The Hillforts of the RidgewayProject: excavations at Segsbury Camp 1997, SMA, 28, pp.53-63.Lysons, Rev. D. and S. c.1803. Topographical CollectionsBerkshire (British Library Add. MS 9460 fo.82).Lysons, Rev. D. and S. c.1806. Magna Britannia.Matthews, W.L. 1989. The National Trust Archaeological Survey.Ashdown House. Thames and Chilterns Region. Internalpublication, the National Trust.Miles, D. and Palmer, S. 1995. White Horse Hill. CurrentArchaeology, 142, XII, 10: 372-8.Miles, D. 1997. Conflict and complexity: the later prehistory of theOxford region. Oxoniensia LXII: 1-19.Payne, A. 1997. The use of magnetic prospection in the explorationof Iron Age hillfort interiors in Southern England. ArchaeologicalProspection, 4.Phillips, 1981. Starveall Farm, Romano-British Villa. WiltshireArchaeological Magazine. Vol. 74/5 for 1979/1980, pp.40-55.Rhodes, P. 1950. The Celtic field systems on the Berkshire Downs.Oxoniensia,15, 1-28.Richards, 1978. The archaeology of the Berkshire Downs: anintroductory survey. Reading: The Berkshire ArchaeologicalCommittee Publication No. 3.These interim reports are also available on the Internet athttp://info.ox.ac.uk/archinfo/projects/ridgeway/index.htmNATIONAL TRUSTGary MarshallAlfred's Castle (SU282820)Several exploratory trenches were excavated by studentsfrom Oxford University's Department of ContinuingEducation on this Iron Age hillfort on the Ashdown estatein Oxfordshire. The excavations form part of 'Hillforts ofthe Ridgeway', a project carried out by the departmentwhich aims to explore several hillforts on the Ridgeway andplace them in their wider landscape context. Three trencheswere cut, one across the outer ditch, a second across a wellpreserved section of the rampart, and a third in the centre ofthe fort.It was the latter which revealed the most remarkableevidence. The hillfort seems to have formed the focus of aRomano-British farmstead. This central trench soonrevealed several low masonry walls forming what is thoughtto have been a villa, although the identity of this structurehas not yet been confirmed. The recovery of window glass,painted plaster and high quality metalwork suggests that thiswas a high status building. Several coins have beenrecovered but none of the finds date to later than the latethird century so this seems to suggest when the site wasabandoned.OxfordshireFurther excavations will take place during 1999. Theexcavations were used as a site for the National ArchaeologyDay in the region and proved to be highly popular. Morethan 150 children took part and were able to carry outgeophysical survey and digging in a backfilled trench spikedwith pottery and bits of animal bone. For their labours theywere rewarded with a certificate signed by the RegionalDirector!NORTH OXON FIELD ARCHAEOLOGYGROUPReport for 1997-8Edward ShawyerAfter an initial year of great activity, the group's efforts weremainly directed around the Roman village at Swalcliffe Lea.The remainder of the village was fieldwalked and anexcavation was carried out in the vicinity of the site of amosaic found in 1926-7 (VCH). The surrounding fields ofthe village were also fieldwalked and an outlying settlementwas found at Round Hill. Other activities of the groupinclude the discovery of more new Prehistoric and Romansites, as well as surveys of two Shrunken Village sites. Since1997 the group has formed close links with another neworganisation called the Edgehill Project, led by Dave Sabin,who specialise in fieldwalking on theOxfordshire/Warwickshire border. Most of this group'sactivities are centred in Warwickshire, but they all fallwithin the sphere of "Banburyshire", which is NOFAGterritory.ExcavationsSwalcliffe Lea villa site (SP 39133838) (Figs 18 & 19)The site chosen for excavation was in "Blakelands" field inwhich agricultural work in 1926-7 had revealed a mosaicand walls (VCH). These remains were sketched by the welllcnown Romanist R G Collingwood (drawing in privatehands), but the actual precise location of the spot has beenlost and even the drawing took a lot of digging up! Theexcavation was carried out to examine the nature of thebuilding since the "villa" site is found in a village contextand so in some Romanists' eyes would not be classified as avilla at all, but be a "town house".The first fieldwalking on the village settlement began inNovember 1996, the field names used in reports being thosementioned by the local historian Alfred Beesley(Beesley, 1841). The results of the Blakelands walk hintedat two distinct areas of artefact concentrations, and takinginto account other factors such as how level the ground was,how well crops grew and slight breaks of slope, it wasdecided to dig a strip trench (French 1) over the edge of oneconcentration to see if the two buildings were linked.Immediately 30 cm below the surface a wall wasencountered and beyond that what turned out to be 12 m of53

SWALCLIFFE LOWER LEA ,1997-8 gl\IERAL SITE PLAN/-7*,// \ \/ 7\ \ / \VILLA EXCAVATION IN BLRKELANDS FIELD44IS1Do § BUR' L4TH Cetsliti ItyHEARTH1T-2"2' can-ayHEARTHj( 151-2."°ceNTuR1PosTH 0 LEFr-.;-(1 isT-2.14° Ckt4T0apty FitoR[MI uvrEL catruzyFoREEDge OF ROEVATI0t4EMINXVIInun/.gI74/+ +0a 61sT CFNTu Ky WA L LSLATE 3" CENTURY WALLSEARLY 1-1--tH CENTuRy WA LLsAND SToNEWORK1s7 C. NTURY FLOoR(s-rom)LATE 3RDatiTtxfq FLooREARLy 474 CENTvR.moshicLATE IfrPickhiTtAy SLAB AND quvELFLoolkSLFtTRD.ceNTuRy Calais:1) yPrRi). \ee36 Q 4 p 6t..±. A .0 p4e/4N"---t ffronTr_t!t H4 - 4- 4 16 7 2 10 1.1, 11. 13 144 v11 16 17 it 19 2/)42.1 22_e.....-13 2.4 ZS 2.6 17DATUM LINE. IN METRES

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Oxfordshirecobbled yard lying between the two buildings. Once itbecame clear from the finds that the firit building wasprobably not high status, it was decided tO open a secondtrench (French 2) on the second activity area. This area hada localised tesserae scatter which could have been the1926-7 site. Once again walls were found at once and thisbuilding tumed out to be the high status one ive were loolcingfor. At first it was not easy to interpret the features, so a widerarea was cleared and an entire room was exposed. Then itwas decided to get a section across the entire width of thebuilding which ended in an entire wing being excavated.This turned out to be a wise move since little authoritativeabout the site could have been said from just a small digwithout first establishing the basic chronology and phasesof development Overall the strip trench was15 m long x 2mwide and the second trench 12 m long x 10 m wide.Phase IThe natural in Trench 1 was about 70 cm below the surfaceat the east end and sloped very gently 13 Cm deeper 11 mfurther west. Parallel to a later wall, 35 cm above, at theeastern end was a wall trench sloping northwest to southeast,about 46 cm deep and 70 cm wide in which were stonespacked in earth and white clay. Pottery from this trenchconsisted of Savemake ware, black burnished ware, a local,unsourced, grey limestone tempered ware and a bit ofresidual shell tempered Iron Age ware. Paul Booth of theOAU dated the trench provisionally to the late 1 st centuryAD. West of this for a distance of 3 m was a layer of whiteclay laid down upon the natural and an area of blackened,oxidised clay, interpreted jointly as a floor and hearth. Theclay then gave way to 4 m of cobbled surface, with nopartition found between the two. The cobbled surface wasabout 15-16 cm deep, consisting of about' 2-3 courses ofmedium sized stones set in soil. At the western edge of thisfloor was an apparent circular hearth with an enigmaticgulley 3 m long leading off it. The gulley was 14 cm deep,lined with bumt stones set in white clay that had alsooxidised. This feature continued outside the excavation. Alot of iron slag was found in the soil covering the cobbles,which on preliminary inspection seems to be fromblacksmithing, but overall the feature suggests ironsmelting.The cobble disappeared beyond the fire and the other edgeof the building has not yet been located, but at present thewidth of the structure does not exceed 6-7 m. Abutting thegulley was a large hole, which might be a post hole, althoughthis had a number of oxidised stones, clay, burnt bones andblackened pottery in it. All these features will be excavatedfurther in 1999. The 35 cm or so of dark 'soil above thebuilding contained a large amount of 2nd eentury potteryand artefacts, among which was a stamp of a potter calledGenitor from Les Martres de Veyre in Central Gaul and aDobunnic silver quarter stater.The lst century building seems to have gone out of usesometime in the late 2nd century and the land given over tohorticulture or animal corrals since a thick layer of rich loambuilt up over the site, in contrast to the natural, orange, claysoil of the surrounding fields. By the time the late 3rdcentury cobbled yard was built over it, the land surface hadrisen over 35 cm, which is extra evidence for pastoral andarable farming, along with the mass of domesdc farm animalbones and quemstones found in all layers.In Trench 2 at a similar depth, two identical wall trencheswere found with the same type of cobbled floor betweenthem. The walls mn northwest to southeast on a parallelcourse 6m apart. A possible cross wall was found 6m to thenorthwest, but since it had been partially truncated by a laterhypocaust this isn't yet definite. In all the wall trenches agood deal of charcoal and oxidised day was found, whichsuggests that either the walls were burnt down or that thetimber superstructure was burnt during demolition.Traces of a white day floor northwest of the partition wallwere found and overall the building seems to be almostidentical to its neighbour in Trench 1. Pottery finds were thesame with the addition of 1st century Severn Valley wares,bronze rings and bracelets, as well as bone dice and counters.Phase 2Just over 30 cm of rich humus covered both buildings andthe land in between and this seems to suggest at least ahundred years of gardening activity. In this layer there wasalso found the burial of a dog, which stands as extraevidence. The entire layer had no material later than the 3rdcentury AD and the deposit was sealed beneath laterbuildings and a cobbled yard. Presumably the 3rd centurybuildings were close by and overall the layer is provisionallydated to around 150-250 AD.Phase 3aAt the eastern end of Trench 1 walls were found and one wasparallel to the 1st century one beneath. In Trench 2 the wallswere also on parallel courses to the earlier ones and so thisreveals that the location of the former buildings was stillretained when the later ones were constructed and that theywere used to provide solid foundations.The small area uncovered in Trench 1 seemed to show theremains of a cobbled floor similar to that of the earlierbuilding and a hearth as well. A lot of coarse wares and bonewere found and the construction of the walls suggested alower status building with sill walls supporting a timbersuperstructure. The building was bounded by a cobbledyard, 12m of which was exposed in Trench 1. The surfaceconsisted of smallish, tightly packed stones a uniform 10-12cm in depth.Trench 2 revealed a large, well constructed buildingorientated northwest to southeast, with a wing facingnortheast towards the Roman road 100 m to the north.Altogether 4 rooms were uncovered belonging to the earliestphase. One large room (7 m x 6 m), appears to have been adining room (triclinhtm). This room had a floor constructedof stone cobble set in a weak lime mortar above which wasa layer of white clay which had been thoroughly burnt56

through in places. This bunting lay under a later mosaic andslab floor so could not have been caused by later industrialactivity. As mentioned a mosaic was laid upon the claysurface, consisting of tesserae set in fine lime mortar. It ispossible that the lower layers were make up for the mosaicfloor, but considering the burning, this is probably unlikely.In the two smaller rooms (Rooms 2 and 3) traces of similarpacked stone and clay patches were found which supposesthe existence of similar floors there also. Room 4, which ispart of the corridor, had traces of a stone floor, but it was toobadly damaged to be able to see any sequence. The floors ofRooms 2-4 were all heavily damaged by the later insertionof slab floors.The outer walls of the building were 75 cm wide and madeup of large stones about 30 cm square bound by a weak, limemortar. This mortar was over three parts sand, while thebuilding stone was all the local ironstone. The foundationsof the walls were only one course deep, but solidlyconstructed and a structural engineering expert concludedthat the walls could easily have risen one storey high. Theywere certainly very heavily mortared.The roof was tiled with white limestone slate, which is eitherStonesfield or from somewhere in the locality, the only localoutcrops being 3.6 km to the south. The stone is not widelyused and is usually an indicator of a higher status building.All the building materials are local, the lime can be extractedfrom the limestone, and sand outcrops are known aroundLedwell in mid-Oxfordshire. Apart from the heavy use ofmortar the walls are identical to those of the two otherbuildings excavated in the settlement in the 1950s and 60s.One of these was positively dated to after 268 AD. The nextphase of building belongs at least to the mid 4th century, sothe provisional date for this phase is between 250-325 AD,certainly the coin sequence on this site starts off from thernid 3rd century onwards.Phase 3bThis phase is indicated by the addition of an extra room ontothe back of the corridor section and by the laying down of amosaic floor in Room 1.The new room was indicated by the sunken footings of adifferently constructed wall that had pitched foundationsand by a very obvious alteration of the northwest corner ofthe wing. Associated with these changes was a solid stonechannelling feature, with another channel leading off it.Covering these channels was a mass of mortar, tesserae,scored red tiles and painted plaster. The inescapableconclusion was that these were the remains of a room witha channelled hypocaust and this was confirmed this Marchwhen the remains of a wall and a stokehole were found. Thetesserae were smaller than those in Room 1 and clearlybelonged to a different mosaic, while the painted plaster haddesigns in red, green and possibly blue and yellow on a whitebackground. A burnt coin of Constantine was found on thewall footings and other coins of the same period were foundnearby. Channelled hypocausts are a Late Roman feature,so the date of this construction is probably early 4th century.OxfordshireIn Room 1 a mosaic was laid down on the clay floor and itappears to be 4th century Corinian in style. The remainingfragment had a white border 90 cm thick surrounding a blueand white Meander pattern, which enclosed some lcind ofguilloche pattern in red, white and blue, which in turn musthave enclosed a central design. The mosaic was similar tothe one found in 1926-7, but the complete description didnot match and this feature was undisturbed. The descriptiondoes not appear to match the hypocaust room either, so thereare clearly several mosaic rooms in this complex. The bluetesserae were of blue limestone from SouthernWarwickshire or further west, while the white tesserae weremade of mid-Oxfordshire white limestone and the redtesserae were made from fired tile.Room 1 also had a finely faced inner wall and was certainlyplastered, red plaster being the only colour found.Phase kThe final phase of the building wiMessed its abandonmentas living quarters and its conversion into semi-industrialblacksmithing sheds (Fig 20). In Room 1, the eastem wallwas demolished and a stone slab floor overlay it and balf ofthe room. A forge was inserted into the southeast corner ofthe room, which because it was a sunken feature resulted inthe destruction of over a quarter of the mosaic. Elsewherethe pavement was preserved, since the slab floor was laidupon a few centimetres of soil that had been thrown on topof the mosaic. A third of the pavement in the western halfof the room was deliberately destroyed and both tesserae androof tile were broken down to make a kind of gravel surface.The slab floor was dated by a wom coin of Constantiusfound in the soil layer, thus making the metalworking phasepost 350 AD. This fits in well with evidence from thebuilding excavated in the 1960s since this house had alsobeen converted into a smithy. Here also stone slab floors andforges were inserted. This phase was dated by a coin ofTheodosius to after 379-395 AD. Another slab floor was laiddown in Rooms 2 and 3, the partition wall between thembeing demolished. A forge was inserted into Room 3, withits back to the north wall, as the forge in Room 1 also backedonto the south wall. In all rooms iron slag was found beneaththe slabs, both in the soil and also pressed into the clay,which had also been oxidised. This reveals thatmetalworking must have taken place in the shell of thebuilding before they converted it into a permanent workingarea. A slab floor also seems to have existed in Room 4 ofthe corridor section, however only a small area has yet beenexposed.Both forges were well constructed, permanent structuresabout 1.2 m square made of local ironstone blocks mortaredtogether. The stokeholes were stone lined and over 35 cmdeep and full of iron slag, which, from a preliminaryanalysis, seems to be from blacicsmithing, though thepossibility that they were furnaces cannot yet be ruled out.In Forge 2 (Room 3), the stokehole had two phases ofoccupation indicated by a layer of mortared burnt stonescovering over 21 cm of earlier deposits. The solid57

OxfordshireFLUESTOKEROL/BURNTSTONEOVENORRASE116S-6EX ci:WATIoNE.PRoDULEDFRoM SKEToiEsAND PHOTS1P-c?FORE NO.1. ROOM19914 EXCAVATIONSTOKE.HOLEItt:t FOIEFOR§E. W02. ROOM 31317-8 EXCAVATIONEARTHRmotacu,,19 6S-6 Rom AE.TCHES)EXCAVATIONAND PHOTOSFig 20. Swaleliffe Lea. Late 4th century forges and hearths.construction of the forges, together with the depth of slagdeposits, points to an established blacicsmithing industry inthe settlement lasting at least 25 years or so. The forgesfound in the 1960s were almost identical. A wom coin ofHonorius, dating to 401 AD, found in the destruction layerand others found nearby push the date of final occupation atleast into the early 5th century.The surface humus covering the site has produced a mass ofRoman material and a small quantity of late Medieval andpost-Medieval pottery, but nothing from the period between,suggesting perhaps that the site reverted to grassland duringthe Dark Ages.Past Excavations and Overall Asses,smentNow that the Roman village has been completely mappedout and fteldwalked for the first time, when we contrast thepresent work with past excavations an overall picttue beginsto emerge. The excavations conducted by the OxfordUniversity Archaeological Society in 1959 and those carriedout by Shipston-on-Stour Historical Society in 1965-9 wereunfortunately very poorly publicised and many of therecords have been mislaid. Despite this, leading Romanistesuch as R G Collingwood, Ian Richmond, Graham Websterand, last year, Roger Goodbum have visited the site to viewthe excavations from the 1920s to the 1990s.The 1959 dig was roughly in the area labelled as the "wedge"and the northeast corner of Town Ground and this revealed58

a recLsngular building fronting onto a 7.6 m wide road. Theearliest phase dated to possibly the late 3rd century, althoughits construction technique strongly resembles the 1st centurybuilding found last year. The original house was 9.75 m longby 7.3 m wide and had a stone slab floor. It had two, possiblythree rooms, these being indicated by the way in which thefloors were paved, the internal partitions being wooden. Theroof appeared, from the lack of slates found, to have beenthatched.This building was completely demolished and enlarged bythe early 4th century and was not deserted until very late inRoman times. It is unknown if any metalworking wascarried out in the building during the final phase, but a lotof iron slag was found on site.A crude, post-2nd century round hut was found just to theeast and the remains of a damaged building to the south.Beneath the hut was 45 cm of burnt debris containing 1stand 2nd century pottery, which sounds similar to the30-45 cm of soil, iron slag, burnt material and 1st-2ndcentury pottery found on top of the early phase buildings inthe recent dig.Also beneath this layer was a 1.2 m deep 1st century ditch,which is contemporary with the recently found buildingsand is only just over 100 m north west of them.Construction techniques of the late Roman buildings wereagain very similar in all three excavations, the villa buildingbeing distinguished by its greater size, mosaics, hypocaustsand painted plaster rooms. Collingwood's description of1926 mentions a hypocaust, so we can be certain that at leasttwo rooms were heated.The 1965-9 excavation uncovered a large rectangularbuilding 24 m x 8 m lying on a northeast-southwest axis,which had an annexe 8m x 5 m abutting the southwest wall.This building overlay two ditches containing Late Iron Agepottery, which were secondary to an occupation layer thatproduced a Celtic coin of Cunobelin (10 BC -28 AD). Nofurther information is extant, however residual. Late IronAge pottery was found in the recently discovered 1st centurybuilding.The building on top was dated by a coin to after 258-268AD. There were at least three rooms, solid partition walls,cobbled floors and a white limestone slated roof. This typeof rectangular building occurs at local centres asoutbuildings to villa houses and on non-villa settlements insouthern Britain. (Hingley, 1989)The house was converted into a workshop in the late 4thcentury and had both stone slab and flagstone floorsinserted, together with a forge (furnace?) and a few hearths.A stone hut was erected within the shell of the building anda large hole made in the wall, presumably to admit wheeledtraffic, since the stones showed signs of bearing heavyweights.OxfordshireAll these finds suggest smithing and wheelwrighting in ahouse converted into a ldnd of open shed. The excavatorsenvisaged it as being unroofed, but at least a makeshift,lean-to structure must have existed over the area where thesmithing took place, since the well built forge suggestspermanent activity.Fieldwalking in 1997-8 revealed at least 6 minor buildingsand a possible villa-type complex in the settlement inaddition to the 4 houses and villa-type complex alreadyexcavated. The two other houses excavated were onlyrevealed by small trenches about which there is very littleinformation at present. Of the sites investigated it is certainthat two were used as smithies in the late 4th century andfrom the large scatters of slag found it seems likely that atleast three more houses had metalworking activity also. Oneactivity area had a stone oven exposed by ditch cutting inthe 1960s.The road leading through the settlement was cobbled, witha camber and a drainage ditch on its southern side. Its coursehas been traced from the Roman town at Tiddington, nearStratford-on-Avon, at least as far as Blacklands near KingsSutton, but it seems likely that it carried on to MagioWnium(Fenny Stratford), where interestingly there wasconsiderable blacksmithing activity (Neal, 1987).In conclusion the settlement emerges as the common formof prosperous, well-Romanised Lowland type of village,which was continuously occupied throughout the Romanperiod. The buildings either fronted or stood at an angle tothe road, the new villa site being enclosed by ditches and thevillage must have functioned as a local centre since it hadan outlying settlement at Round Hill. Similar outlying farmsseem to have existed at Blacklands near Kings Sutton.The site was Romanised early in its history, which is notsurprising since the Dobunni were pro-Roman and quicklyadopted Roman ways. Excavation has revealedmetalworking activity in the late 4th century, but there is notenough evidence at present to substantiate a large inchstryhere.FieldwalkingPrehistoric SitesDrayton Park Farm (SP426406)A few prehistoric flake tools were found near the Romansite mentioned last year and it has now been noted that thebanks that sunotmd the farmstead may be Iron Age, malcingthe site a Roman farm placed within an Iron Age one.Lodge Farm (SP373354)A small scatter of Bronze Age arrowheads and scrapers werefound by a member years ago, but not reported. The IronAge camp of Tadmarton Heath and Bronze Age barrows areonly a few field west of this position.59

0)dordshire135 M20 METRESQUARESPOTTERYWEIgHTKEYlI100.-300gra.pmies300 7500s$00-700311111700-9003Ill 900-18003akoxtl'Al\Ny'ruU01.620 40 60 80 /00METRESFig 21. Swalcliffe Lea, "Flat" field. Fieldwalldng on Roman Settlement.Roman sitesGrange Farm, Middle Aston (SP475273)The site finds mentioned last year have been examined byPaul Booth and the site dated to the late Roman period.Round Hill (SP38453935)A sherd of samian bearing graffiti of an owners name(Severus Antoninus) was found in 1997 and this was thecause of more fieldwalking, since this was a rare find for arural site. (See the article on the find in Britannia, 1998.During the process the settlement was found to extend intoanother field and now the pottery scatter covers more than5 ha, of which there are 4 main concentrations. These arealso evidenced by 4 distinct black patches vhich stand outagainst the surrounding red ironstone colouied, clay soil. Alarge amount of pottery was found, with very high valuesfor the squares walked. However the site does not appear tobe high status.Paul Booth of the OAU noted that the pottery covered theentire Roman period with a peak in the late Empire. Greywares, Oxford red and white wares, Oxford, Nene Valleyand Hartshill mortaria, Nene Valley wares, grog wares, plainand decorated samian and black bumishjed wares werefound. Middle Iron Age pottery was also Idiscovered andNeolithic flints nearby. A scatter of Early Roman coins anda Celtic coin was found in 1997.A large number of tegulae and imbrices were found on twoconcentrations and this suggests a double farmstead or asmall hamlet. The Roman village of Lower Lea is only twofields distant and the hillfort, Madmarston Camp, liesbetween the two. The camp was re-used during the late 4thcentury and had several buildings on it, probably as a refugefrom raiders.Swalcliffe Lea, The Flat (SP389385) and Town Ground(SP388383) Results from the Flat (Fig 21) seem to indicatethe presence of at least three activity areas in addition to theexcavated area, which was low on finds. The pottery wasmainly Oxford wares, but there were also Nene Valleywares, Hartshill wares, grog wares, local shell-temperedwares and grey wares. Foreign wares includedCentral-Gaulish samian, Spanish Amphome and Rhinelandwares. Concentrations of iron slag were found in two of theactivity areas and reasonable amounts of limestone slatealso, indicating relatively prosperous buildings. Since theTown Ground (Fig 22) had Medieval house mounds overmost of it, Roman acdvity areas were not apparent, but thespread of these wares did cover the entire site.Williamscot, Kalabergo's Hill (SP483448)This site, mentioned last year, was provisionally labelledF.arly Medieval, since the grey and red ware sherds weresmall and there was little strikingly Roman, but Paul Boothconfirmed that they were indeed Roman as first believed.This was reinforced by the discovery of previouslyunnotic.ed tiny fragments of mortaria. Three fields to thesoutheast lies the disappeared village of Coton, nearChacombe.60

OxfordshireK EY--- LIMIT OF ROMANAND MEDIEVALiz POTTERYHOUSE'I's PLATFORMmsaRopy,'Di§SI TEFARMYARD/77X.40 SO M/IiiiIi111111//77://\\ \ 8 6// T7 /7II 4.-L-_-\//7 \\\N,\\11/"/1/ V 1)1 i 1 / l'14/r..31.,//7e--- 4,3 TREES/.ROADoFig 22. Swalcliffe Lea, "Town Ground". Medieval village.Medieval and Post-MedievalLedwell, The Ashcroft's Field (SP419285)A hachured survey of the field revealed four more houseplatforms and a former road, over which an 18th centuryhouse has been built. In total nine disappeared houses havebeen noted from this shrunken village. One house laste,c1until the 18th century, the rest were reportedly gone by 1377.Somerton Mill (SP488277)NOFAG's 1996 excavation estimated that the first mill onthe site was built by William Fermor sometime between1512-1552. The earliest reference to the mill on a court rollhas now been examined and this shows that the mill was inexistence by 1563, which would seem to confirm thesuspected date.Swalcliffe Lower Lea, Town Ground (SP383383)A hachure(' survey of the field revealed nine possible housemounds (Fig 22) and an old trackway linking the Lower Leato the Upper Lea. Excavations in 1958 on possibly moundnumber 5, revealed a large Medieval house dating from the14th-17th century. The walls were 1 m thick faced withashlar and had two phases of building. An open paved hearth1.5 m square and with moulded footings was surrounded byan uneven clay floor. (See Medieval Britain in 1958)Fieldwalking produced mainly Late Medieval and PostMedieval wares with a few possible earlier types.ReferencesBeesley A; 1841, History of BanburyHingley R; 1989, Rural Settlement in Roman BritainNeal D S; 1987, Excavations at Magiovinium, Buckinghamshire,1978-80, Rees Bucks 29VCH, vol 1, p308OXFORD UNIVERSITY ARCHAEOLOGICALSOCIETYMerton/Wendlebury, The Roman army at AlchesterEberhard Sauer1998 was the third year of our investigation of the Romanmilitary base at Alchester (Fig 23, see Sauer 1998a and b fortrenches 1-8, excavated in the previous campaigns). Thefieldwork in 1998 had three main aims:to establish the extent of the Roman marching camp,to examine a cropmark which suggested that there wasa Roman road parallel to the training ground and the campand61

OxfordshireL LExcavations atAlchester 1996-981-17 = trenchesCD = camp ditchLL = Langford LaneRR = Roman roadTG = training groundshaded area = ancientpavingwhite rectangles etc.= grids covered bygeophysical survey(sources: OUAS &RCHME)to natural deposits, but no traces of a militarystyle ditch could be fotmd. Careful studies ofthe aerial photographs have so far failed toreveal any trace of the north-western campdefences, nor did resistivity survey byLindsey Shepherd in 1996 and Patrick Erwinin 1998 succeed in tracing the continuationof the camp defences in those areas wherethey are not visible on the aerialphotographs. This is both true for thenorth-western section of the camp and for theeastern continuation of the southern campditch, suggesting that the camp may not havebeen completed at all, especially since thereare no obvious geological reasons to explainwhy the north-western sections of the campditch should not show up at all as a cropmarkwhen other sections appear so clearly.Fig 23. Excavations at Alcester, location map.(3) to examine by geophysical survey an enclosure, whichis almost certainly a Roman fort, west of and partiallyunderlying the later town of Alchester.The camp (centre: SP 578 199)Trenches 9 and 10 (Fig 23) were excavated in order toinvestigate the western camp ditch in the atrea where it isclearly discernible on aerial photographs. With Trench 10we also hoped to be able to explain the function of asemicircular feature visible from the air. The results were,however, less decisive than we had heped, and thediscussion of the function of this monument Will be reservedfor the final report. As in Trench 6, excavated in 1997, thecamp ditch had a distinctive V-shaped profile and was quiteshallow (depth 0.85 m below the present surface inTrench 10). After the topsoil had been striPped, the campditch was equally clearly visible in Trench 9. As there wereno doubts about the identification, we only décumented theplanum in Trench 9, but did not excavate the fill of the ditch.Excavation revealed a ditch in Trenches 13 and 17 whichappears originally to have been V-shaped, one side beingdestroyed, presumably by quarrying. This ditch is alsovisible as a cropmark and seems to form the northern part ofthe camp defences. In Trench 14 only the topsoil wasstripped. In Trenches 11 and 12 we hoped to be able to locatethe north-western camp-defences. We excavated them downThe roadA distinctive cropmark suggested that therewas a16straight road between the area wherewe later excavated Trench 15 and a modernstream course south-southeast of it. I wasuncertain whether the road continued in astraight aligmnent east of modern LangfordLane or whether there might be a change indirection. A resistivity survey by PatrickErwin proved the former option to becorrect. With two Trenches (nos. 15 and 16)415 m apart from each other, we exploredthis road discovering a c 8m wide road withthe typical drainage ditches. Pottery from theearly fill of the western ditch along the roadin Trench 15 implies a construction datearound the mid first century. The early date, and the fact thatit is parallel to the camp and the training ground, suggeststhat it was constructed by the army or under militarysupervision (Pekary 1968, 11; 140-142).It seems likely that the stream, today skirted by LangfordLane, flowed further to the east at the time of the Romanarrival; Roman camps were never constructed on an areadivided by a stream. The examination of the molluscansamples will hopefully shed light on the ancient hydrologyof the area. The eastern road ditch, if not just a quarry ditch,is even wide enough to render it conceivable that the streammay have been channelled along the road for some time, butit would be unwise to speculate further before the fullexamination of all evidence. At an as yet unknown date thecourse of the stream must have shifted westwards. Thepaving of the road in the area of Trench 16 (unlikeTrench 15) was removed, implying that it had lost itsfunction earlier. There are three potential explanations forthe abandonment of the south-southeast-wards continuationof the road, which are not mutually exclusive (1). The courseof the stream shifted at an early date, and the narrow stripbetween the Roman road and the present stream would nothave been economic to use for any purpose, and this may bewhy the course of the road shifted as well (2). The62

continuation of the road was exposed to inundation to suchan extent that eventually it could no longer be maintained.(The archaeological layers in Trench 16 are buried beneathc 0.80 m of alluvial sediments and topsoil on average asopposed to only c 0.40 m in Trench 15, giving some idea ofthe extent of flooding.) (3) The road had been intended tobe the main north-south road, bypassing Ot Moor. Thestraight north-south road through Ot Moor may be later.After the latter had been constructed, the earlier Ot Moorbypass degraded to a very minor road. It may still haveformed an access road to some rural settlements in thevicinity of Alchester. It was later abandoned, whereas thelarger quantity of finds from Trench 15 suggests that therewas suburban settlement nearby, and that people living inthe area continued to use the road at least into the fourthcentury.Despite the risk of flooding, which may explain whyAlchester does not survive as a town in the Middle Ages, thearea had by no means been devoid of pre-Roman settlement.The new evidence for Bronze Age and Iron Age activity inthe vicinity of Alchester will be discussed in the final report.Here I single out only one find, dating to the irmnediatepre-Roman period: Mike Whitford discovered a copperalloy coin of Cunobeline, depicting Tiberius (AD 14-37) onthe obverse and a centaur on the reverse (Van Arsdell 1989,2089-1).The fort (SP 570 203)A Roman fort has been identified on the basis of aerialphotographs. A summarised discussion was included in theprevious issue (Sauer 1998a). In the 1998 season a resistivitysurvey by Patrick Erwin (Fig 24) has impressivelyconfirmed that the fort was protected by a double ditch. Hehas also traced a possible earlier course of the Ongle Brook.The present course of this stream has clearly been artificiallystraightened and separates the southwest corner of the fortfrom the rest. As forts, like camps, were never divided bystreams (see above) it has to post-date the construction ofthe fort. Several linear features, probably Roman drainageditches, could be observed as well. The survey has also shedlight on the state of preservation of the Castle Mound, aprobable monumental bath-house, excavated in 1766 andpartially destroyed as a result of stone robbing around 1800.The survey shows clearly that the continuation of the mainwest-east road through Alchester provided a wide accessroad to the building.ReferencesPekary, Th, 1968 Untersuchungen zu den rdmischenReichsstrassen.Sauer, E, 1998a Merton/Wendlebury, The Roman military base atAlchester, SMA 28,70-73.Sauer, E, with Crutchley, S, 1998b Alchester: A Roman fort &parade ground? Current Archaeo1157, 34-37.Van Andell, R D, 1989 Celtic Coinage of Britain.AcknowledgementsThe 1998 campaign was made possible thanks to thegenerosity of the Roman Research Trust and thanks to thevery kind permission of the landowners, Mr and Mrs Baker,OxfordshireMr and Mis Offord, Mr and Mrs Shouler and Mr andMrs Taylor to carry out fieldwork on their property. Offundamental importance was the geophysical survey,directed by Patrick Erwin, to which also Helen Hatchermade a great contribution. Simon Crutchley who hadinitiated the project, continued to offer essentialcontributions. Without Tim Bryars and Chris Green as sitesupervisors, we would have achieved far less, but the otherparticipants were also indispensable; here I can only nameMaricel Acevedo, Annouchka Bayley, Simon Ennever,Penny Goodman, Sarah Hinton, Gail Kennedy-Fagin,Vanda Morton, Matthew Peacock, Mike Saunders, ChrisTaylor, Carole Walton, William Whiteley and Henry Wood.I am also very grateful to Paul Booth, Dr Cathy King, ArthurMacGregor, David Miles, Dr Mark Robinson, Paul Smith,Grahame Soffe and Mike Whitford for their help. ProfessorBarry Cunliffe, Professor Sheppard Frere and Dr MartinHenig have again offered invaluable support.Wendlebury, the Resistivity Survey at Alchester(SP 570203)Patrick ErwinThe geophysical survey was designed with two mainobjectives: (1) to locate the Imown archaeological structuresidentified from aerial photography with accuracy onto aknown grid in order to optimally place the trenches for the1998 campaign. (2) To investigate the area of thedouble-ditched enclosure, situated west of the town ofAlchester with the aim of deriving plans of the knownstructures, locating any features within the set of doubleditches and determining their interrelationship.The site is located on the flood plain of the river Ray, lyingon quaternary alluvium and clay and the Kimmeridge andOxford clays, part of the Jurassic Ancholme group (Sumbler19%). On such strata magnetic and resistivity response isoften variable (Clark 1996; English Heritage 1996).Therefore pilot magnetometry and resistivity surveys werecarried out on several 30 m grids spaced across the site inorder to assess their relative suitability. In most grids themagnetometry failed to resolve any structure; where it did,the resistivity data was without exception clearer. The mainsurvey was therefore carried out using resistivitymeasurements alone. A Geoscan RM15 resistivity meterwith an electrode spacing of 0.5 m was used to take readingsat 1 m spacing over 30 m by 30 m grids.A series of individual grid and small area surveys, coveringa total area of just over one hectare, successfully locatedmost targeted features (Fig 23). This process was helped bynear perfect weather conditions.The survey of the area of the double-ditched enclosure(Fig 24) was hampered by worsening weather and aninitially undiagnosed fault in the equipment; however threehectares of the area were surveyed. The double ditches canbe clearly seen at the southern side and the south-westerncorner of the plot (Fig 24). The fault in the equipment63

modern drain0000000old stream course?......................... ...111.town defence ditc es.......................ALCHESTERFig 24 The resistivity survey of the fort at Alcester.64

unfortunately spoilt the results of the survey of thenorthernmost part of the fort; therefore most of the northerngrids have not been plotted on Fig 24. The western edge ofthese ditches is indistinct on the plot, this may be attributedto either adverse ground conditions or erosion from theincision of the modern stream running along the westernedge of the plot then cutting through the southwest corner.The large lozenge-shaped feature in the centre of the plot isthe Castle Mound. No internal structure can be resolved withany confidence, although an approximate size of 30m by 60m and a west-east orientation can be determined.The major feature in the centre of the plot running east-westis almost certainly a road, referred to in the previous paper,whose westward continuation seems to have been destroyedby the incision of the current stream course. The nature ofthe other linear low resistance structures remains unclear,partially due to the lack of coverage due to equipmentfailure. The eastem double ditch is, of course, part of thetown defences. The other linear features served perhapsdrainage purposes. It is possible that the sinuous and linearfeature west of the Castle Mound follows an ancient streamcourse.ReferencesClark, Ai, 1996 Seeing beneath the soi4 prospecting methods inarchaeology.English Heritage, 1996 Geophysical survey in archaeological fieldevaluation.Sumbler, M G, 1996 British Regional Geology: London andThames Valley.Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Ayes Ditch,earthwork and tribal boundary of the Iron Age(SP 5185 2465/SP 5195 2481)Eberhard SauerOur excavations in autumn 1997 (Sauer 1998) werefollowed by a second campaign in spring 1998. In 1997 wehad neither reached the bottom of Ayes Ditch nor the bottomof the feature, which underlay the parallel bank of theearthwork. Furthermore, we had unexpectedly encountereda human inhumation in the ditch. To complete ourinvestigations, we therefore had to extend Trench 1 (Fig 25)in 1998.The ditchIn 1998 we were able to excavate down to natural groundeverywhere. We reached the bottom of the ditch at 107.16 mabove sea-level (Fig 26). The ditch is cut into the limestonebedrock, and has a flat bottom. To cut a V-shaped ditch intothe exceptionally hard bedrock would have beenexceedingly difficult, even if iron tools had been available,and it would have been more difficult to clean out any siltsubsequently. The difference in height between the presenttop of the bank and the bottom of the ditch amounts to2.90 m. Given the fact that the top of the bank was still usedas a farm track within living memory and presumably hadserved this function since the Roman period, the bank hasbeen levelled and eroded and must originally have beenOxfordshire5 0 52 0.5km1937 1Fig 25. Ayes Ditch, map showing the location ofTrenches 1-3, excavated in 1997-98 and of the trenchesexcavated in 1937higher. The profile of the ditch and bank of Aves Ditch(Fig 26) shows that it is remarkably similar in constructionto the Late Iron Age North Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch(Harden 1937; Fine 1977), the contemporary earthworks atCallow Hill, Wootton (Thomas 1958) and (even thoughperhaps to a lesser degree) to the South Oxfordshire orMongewell Grim's Ditch (Hinchliffe 1976).The burial in the ditchWithin the ditch, 0.30 m above its bottom, we recorded andwith the permission of the Home Office exhumed a humanburial. The remains belong to a 30-35 years old man; thecause of his death could not be established (results ofexamination kindly carried out by Dr Peter Hacking). Hehad been disposed of without grave goods. No pit had beendug to contain his body, but the corpse had been laid on theuneven stony surface of the bottom of the ditch (context 8a),at the time of his burial already partially filled up with stonymaterial eroded from the bank. The body appeals to havebeen covered by a small pile of stones and soil. Curiously,his skull, except for a small piece (displaced and 0.26 mabove the level of the vertebral column) and except for thefragmented jaw, had been removed in antiquity. He had notbeen beheaded and the surviving fragment suggests that theskull had been smashed at the site prior to the removal ofmost of the head or skull. Whether it had been smashed forsuperstitious reasons, out of personal hate or accidentallywhen the ditch may have been partially cleaned out (theskull is always likely to be reached first, if a skeleton is lyingon a horizontal surface), is not easy to decide. It is equallymysterious whether most of the skull was taken away forsuperstitious reasons or whether it was removed duringrecutting the ditch or even carried away by an animal, ifthere was still flesh on the bones. The latter is only an optionif the head had been smashed before. I am inclined to thinkthat we are indeed dealing with superstition, focusing on the65

Oxfordshire." "4.107m-110 mAyes Ditch in the Gorse (SP 5185 2465), 1997-1998W = west, E = east, t 1 = trench 1, t 2 = trench 2a = western section, b = central section, c = eastern section1-32 = contexts 1-32 (not all contexts are represented inthis profile; nos. 10, 11, 12, 16 and 32 [and 171 arenatural), 107 m/ 110 m = height above sea-level1m7Aet 113,,, -1 .. .: ....11:0St.ifoltsr - 26' :r.-y:. Pr 0 18-4) - re. -1417107mSAI .1.-......:4:.:.5 r0:-!)Pç',,,, -...;,:j.....i?...s.,.._01,,s,.P, . ,':'..,0! ,--,;-.=1,7(..411'---1.--,', z ' ... well`.... """ 111 .. '' p ., 41; 6......: "0 a . la IP:Ttett. 4.." a 0 e . -....0 419I. ...*ob...... '. ' ' es,.... 5 B-. : . "SAO g:... ...-.;I. . . .... ....--,.. zi.ie,;:: eral.. . . . ''" . .4. r..: .1. 1.38..e.l ......_,.....,... i .01'. i .0 II. . 1 at . fo41eV 0 4 ...e._ 411.,,-4 ____ ' - -..- -.A - - -6 - - ----- - - - 1-7'2.- ;--'... '22."' °S, .0, - ".--; A .. %o. -t;o -:0,6 a. -1- ° '23' 10... fa 0 .. t24;251. --Fig 26. Ayes Ditch, section.66

human head. Had people accidentally disturbed a forgottenhuman burial whilst cleaning out the ditch, then it seemslikely that they either would have put back the remains ofthe skull and stopped digging out of respect or religious fear,or they would have continued and damaged or removedother parts of the anatomy as well. Stratigraphy does notprovide any clear indications for a recut on this level. Thedisposal of the body with the minimum effort and withoutany grave goods suggests in any case that the dead was notloved by those who buried him, whether he was a criminal,a victim of a crime or a social outcast. The location of theburial at a boundary and near a cross-math as well as at thebottom of an the existing ditch of an earthwork raises furtherquestions. There are analogies which suggest thatsuperstition may have played a part in the choice of thelocation as well. Archaeomagnetic dates, taken by PatrickErwin from the deposits beneath and above the burial,suggest that the inhumation dates to the first half of the firstmillennium AD. We hope to be able to obtain radiocarbondates in near future.The bankIn the first season in 1997 we had encountered a feature cutinto the bedrock, underlying Ayes Ditch, which for reasonsof safety then could not be fully explored. The featurebeneath the bank of the earthwork, however, seems to bepart of a ditch around a larger Iron Age enclosure, visiblefrom the air. Simon Crutchley (RCHME) kindly providedaccess to aerial photographs. Archaeomagnetic dates forContext 23 by Patrick Erwin point to a date within the 5thor 4th century BC for the construction of this enclosure. Asection of the surrounding ditch had to be filled in, beforethe bank of Ayes Ditch could be constructed on top of it Wecan thus be certain that the bank cannot have beenconstructed before the fifth century BC at the very earliest.The earliest sediments at the bottom of Ayes Ditch (Context9) appear to date roughly to the turn of the millennium, butthere is some uncertainty about this specific date, and aconstruction of the earthwork in early Roman times cannotbe ruled out on the basis of this date alone.In 1997 we had only sectioned the ditch and the western andcentral parts of the bank. In 1998 we investigated also theeastern side of the bank. In order to save a tree we did notextend the trench eastwards but we were able to excavate aTrench (no. 2) in the same alignment on the other side of thetree. The southern part of Trench 2 contained a furthersection of the 5th/4th century BC enclosure ditch. Thistrench yielded a particularly high quantity of finds. Once thebank was reused as a track, rainwater would havetransported items lost or disposed of along the track into thisdepression. It seems possible that material, eroded into themain ditch, was cleaned out and brought to the other side ofthe bank, from which it could not be washed into the ditch.If traffic in dry weather did not follow the stony bank, butused the softer ground beside it, as can often be observed inantiquity, this would have provided an incentive to fill in theenclosure ditch which would have formed an obstacle, as itruns at a right angle to the bank.OxfordshireThe north end of Ayes DitchIt is unknown whether the northern end of Ayes Ditch issituated in the Gorse, between our trenches 1-2 and 3(Fig 25), or whether hedgerows on banks and causewaysform its continuation northwards to Fritwell. Recentfieldwork did not yield any evidence for its continuationwithin and north of modern Fritwell (Chambers 1993;Morse 1995). With a trench (no. 3) 50m north of the point,up to which the ditch of Aves Ditch can be traced on thesurface (right-angled bend in parish boundary ditch: OS1:2500 map), we hoped to contribute to solving thisquestion. However, no traces of a ditch were observed in thistrench, suggesting that the earthwork ended at the point towhich it is traceable on the ground. Whether thecontinuation northwards along Chilgrove Drive andRaghouse Lane to Fritwell may have formed anothersection, remains open to debate. If so, its course there ismuch more irregular. The North Oxfordshire Grim's Ditchconsists of a series of shorter sections. It is conceivable thatin antiquity the spaces in between the different sections ofGrim's Ditch and possibly also of Ayes Ditch were areas ofimpassable dense woodland or scrub. If Ayes Ditch hadindeed originally been intended to serve as a boundaryearthwork and not as a line of communication, it would havebeen an unnecessary effort to replace an existing naturalbarrier.The function of Ayes DitchFrom the 1998 campaign we have forttmately a largerquantity of stratified pottery than from the 1997 campaign.All finds from the bank and from the bottom of the ditchappear to date to the Iron Age. There is also Iron Age potteryfrom the 1937 excavations of Ayes Ditch (Sauer 1998) 4 kmfurther south and from the surface near the central sectionof the earthwork (Rahtz/Rowley 1984, 4 Fig 3; 155). It isunusual to find significant quantities of pottery in a linearearthwork. Perhaps this indicates that a boundary ditch andtrack alongside it had already existed before the ditch wasdugout deeper and before the rampart was constructed. Thusbroken pottery deposited in the ditch over a longer periodbecame embedded in the rampart. This question couldpotentially be answered in future by excavating anothertrench in the northern parts of the Gorse, between ourTrenches 1-2 and 3, where the ditch is still clearly traceableon the ground, but where there is no sign of a continuationof the rampart. It is conceivable that a section of Ayes Ditchin its first phase is preserved here, though without testing thetheory with the spade, we catmot rule out that the absenceof the rampart in the northernmost section is due toquarrying or levelling.The speed of sedimentation increased in the Roman period.Roman pottery from the ditch-fill as well as from the areato the east of the bank, where in addition a corroded copperalloy coin was found, possibly dating to the fourth century,may suggest that a track followed the earthwork in theRoman period and indeed right to the present day. The depthand the fact that there is only one ditch, definitely disprovesthe theory that it was originally a Roman road (Anon. 1937and Harden 1939,275-276 correctly in contrast to Margary67

Oxfordshire1973, 168 no. 161; Hargreaves et al. 1974 and Chambers1993, 46; 51). It was no property boundary (cf.Rahtz/Rowley 1984,3-5; 155) as it would not make senseto demarcate only one side of an estate. The Roman armydid not normally build linear defenceslbefore the latefirst/early second century AD (Napoli 1997, 47; cf. 1-2;406-407; Filtzinger et al. 1986, 268-270); a time when amilitary earthwork in the area would no lenger have beenuseful. Archaeology anyway pointsi to an earlierconstruction date (Sauer 1998). Earlier Roman linearearthworks were only built for the defence of towns(Hawkes/Crummy 1995).There is now more and more evidence to suggest that AyesDitch formed indeed an Iron Age tribal boundary. The sametheory has been proposed for the South Oxfordshire Grim'sDitch, independently by George Lambrick (1998) and bymyself (Sauer 1998). This earthwork may have cut acrossthe bow of the Thames between Wallingford and Henley(Ray 1991). Such a boundary would hâve served bothsymbolic and practical functions, it woOld have sloweddown raiders, or, in case of an expected attack, it might evenhave formed a manned line of defence, as ia reported in caseof the Angrivarii in Germany (Tacitus, annales 2,19-20). Itseems to emerge now that the western boundary of theCatuvellauni was marked in several sections by earthworks,Ayes Ditch, the South Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch andprobably also by the North Oxfordshire Gnm's Ditch. Thecourse of the latter is much more irregular in contrast to theformer two linear earthworks which are both remarkablystraight. The North Oxfordshire Grim's Diteh has often beeninterpreted as a territorial oppidum of the Dobunni, but theabsence of traces of any dense internal settlement (Copeland1989; Schumer 1999,9-11) and of any defences in the east,the side most likely to be reached first by an enemy, renderthis theory doubtful. Hopefully a comparison of the potterymay allow us to tell whether the three earthworlcs couldbelong to the same phase, or whether the Nerth OxfordshireGrim's Ditch may represent a latei extension ofCatuvellaunian territory beyond the Thames. It might havesurrounded the economic hinterland of laie Iron Age sitessuch as Cassington Mill. Other probable Iron Age sites aresituated at the edge of the territory demarcated by the NorthOxfordshire Grim's Ditch, but little is known about theirchronology (Sutton 1968). The northern section of the tribalboundary may thus have been marked by lAves Ditch andthe North Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch, while the centralsection followed the Thames down to the Seuth OxfordshireGrim's Ditch. It is noteworthy that the three major late IronAge lowland oppida, Cassington Mill, Abingdon and DykeHills at Dorchester are all situated along or 'near the Thamesin the section between the linear earthwolrks. It is widelyaccepted that this section of the Thames!formed a tribalboundary (Lambrick 1998; Miles 1998, 161-17).The excavations at Ayes Ditch add further strength to thistheory and suggest that the river boundary wassupplemented by a complex system of linear defences whichformed the boundary in terrain which was More difficult tocontrol, (1) along the more narrow valley of the meanderingCherwell north of Tackley ford, (2) in the uneven terraincovered later by the medieval Wychwood Forest and (3) inthe southern Chiltem Hills. It is possible that it was a morewidespread custom in Iron Age Britain to mark tribalboundaries with earthworks (Spratt 1989, 14-18; 45-47)than has been thought previously. Ayes Ditch is also anexceptional monument for surveying skills in the Iron Age.So far I have not yet found references to any other Iron Ageearthwork in Britain as straight as Ayes Ditch over acomparable distance. Not even any of the later Iron Ageearthworks which protected Chichester (Bradley 1971), canmatch Ayes Ditch in straigthness.References:Anon. 1937 Aves Ditch, Kirtlington, Oxon., Oxoniensia 2, 1937,202.Bradley R, 1971 A Field Survey of the Chichester Entrendnnents,in Cunliffe, B, Excavations at Fishbourne 1961-1969.1: The Site,17-36.Chambers R A, 1993 The Archaeology of the M40 throughBuckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, 1988-91,Oxoniensia 57, 1992,43-54.Copeland T, 1989 The North Oxfordshire Grim's Ditch: AFieldwork Survey, Oxoniensia 53, 1988, 277-292.Filizinger P, Planck D, Cdmmerer, B (eds.), 1986 Die Römer inBaden-Warttemberg, 3rd cd.Fine D, 1977M Excavation of the North Oxfordshire Grim's Ditchat North Leigh, Oxoniensia 41, 1976,12-16.Harden D B, 1937 Excavations on Grim's Dyke, NorthOxfordshire, Oxoniensia 2,74-92.id., 1939 Romano-British Remains, Roads, VCH Oxfordshire I,271- 281.Hargreaves G H, Parker R P F, Boarder A W F, 1974 Aves Ditch,SMA 4, 10-11.Hawkes C FC, Crummy P, 1995 Colchester Archaeological Report11: Camulodunum 2.Hinchliffe J with Robinson M, 1976 Excavations at Grim's Ditch,Mongewell, Oxoniensia 40, 1975, 122-135.Lambrick G, 1998 Fronder along the Thames, Brit Archaeol 33,12-13.Margary I D, 1973 Roman Roads in Britain, 3rd cd.Miles D, 1998 Conflict and Complexity: The Later Prehistory ofthe Oxford Region, Oxoniensia 62, 1997, 1-19.Morse R, 1995 Fritwell, East Street, SMA 25, 52.Napoli J, 1997Recherchessur lesfortifications liniairesRomaines.Rahtz S, Rowley T, 1984 Middleton Stoney.Ray K, 1991 South Oxfordshire District, SMA 21,80-81.Sauer E, 1998 Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Ayes Ditch, anIron Age linear earthwork. SMA 28,73-75.Schumer B, 1999 Wychwood. The evolution of a woodedlandscape, 2nd cd.Spratt D A, 1989 Linear Earthworks of the Tabular Hills,Northeast Yorkshire.Sutton JE G, 1968 Iron Age Hill-Forts and some other Earthworksin Oxfordshire, Oxaniensia 31, 1966, 28-42.Thomas N, 1958 Excavations at Callow Hill, Glympton andStonesfield, Oxon., Oxoniensia 22, 1957, 11-53.AcknowledgementsThe 1998 campaign was kindly financed by the grants of theAdministrators of the Haverfield Bequest and the Councilfor British Archaeology, for which I am very grateful. I amindebted to Mr and Mrs Norman for allowing us to excavatefor a second season on their land. The excavators cannot allbe mentioned here, but I am particularly grateful to68

Annouchka Bayley, Tim Bryars, Simon Chadwick, JenniferEmmett, Hywel Luff, Emma Smith, Bernd Sprenzel, TerryStopps, Jeffrey Wallis, Carole Walton and WilliamWhiteley; the greatest contribution, however, to the 1998campaign was made by 1VIaricel Acevedo, Patrick Erwin,Simon Heap and Richard Lewis. I would like to thankProfessor Barry Cunliffe, and Dr Martin Henig for their verykind support of the project.Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Archaeomagnetkdating at Ayes Ditch (SP 5185 2465)Patrick ErwinSampling at the Ayes Ditch site was extremely difficult dueto the nature of the sediment (silty clay matrix with 40-50%limestone fragments). However between 10-16 orientedsamples were collected from each of three contexts. Thedirection of remanence from each sample was deterzninedthrough stepsvise altemating field demagnetisation (10steps) with remanence measured using a 2-axis CCLcryogenic magnetometer. Lines were fitted to these data foreach point using the LINEFIND routine of Kent et al.(1983). These directions were then corrected to Meriden(52.43° N, 1.64°W) using Noel and Batt (1990) method viapole.OxfordshireOXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT1996 Building SurveyAbingdon, 35 Ock Street, Oxfordshire (SU 4959 9708)Richard TylerArchaeological investigation, recording and a watchingbrief were carried out at 35 Ock Street, Abingdon, duringthe course of building operations in 1995-96. The form ofthe original building was determined to be a two-storeytimber frame on a stone base and was perhaps built around1700. The plan fonn was a double-pile house with twochimney stacks and a central passage. The roof was of anM-profile originally; the rear half of the M-profile roof wasreplaced with two gables and in the last phase, perhapsaround 1800, the front attic was converted into a full topfloor and the brick front was added to the house. Evidencewas also found for a cellar and a well, while on the adjacentsite four brick-lined grooves were uncovered that wereprobably 18th-century in date.Balscote, Manor Farm, Manor Farm Lane, Oxfordshire(SP 3895 4160)Julian Munby and Richard TylerFor each context a vector average of directions was takenand an a95 calculated. This information was then plotted onto the calibration curve of Batt (1997) and an estimate ofdate made (see table 1). These dates refer to contexts asdescribed by Eberhard Sauer, above.Table 1 Archaeomagnetic dates from Aves Ditch:Context N Dec. Inc. a95 Date Range7a* 6 13.0 65.3 11.6 275-550 AD9 10 -34.5 74.0 5.0 ?250 BC-150 AD? (off curv23 11 15.3 71.8 6.1 500-325 BC* on a level halfway between the modem surface and thebottom of the ditchThe conditions on this site were far from ideal forarchaeomagnetic dating, so some caution must be used inthe interpretation of these dates, however thearchaeomagnetic evidence suggests a Late Iron Age to earlyRoman date for the earliest sedimentation in the "main"Ayes Ditch. The underlying feature is dated to 500-325 BC.ReferencesBatt C M, 1997 The British Archaeomagnetic Calibration Curvean Objective Treatmen4 Archaeometty 39.Kent J T, Briden, J C and Mardia, K V, 1983 Linear and Planarstructure in ordered multivariate data as applied to progressivedemagnetisation of palaeomagnetic retnanence, Geophys. J. R.astr. Soc., 75.Noel M and Batt, CM, 1990A method of correcting geographicallyseparated remanence directions for the purpose of archaeomagneticdating, Geophys. J. Int. 102.The unit undertook a programme of building investigationand photographic survey during July 1996 at Manor Fann,Balscote. The work was carried out in advance of theconversion of the agricultural buildings, both Grade H andunlisted, to residential accommodation. Manor Farm datesfrom the 17th century, at which period it was the main housein the village. The proposal site comprises a complex oftwelve agricultural buildings of varying dates arrangedaround two courtyards adjacent to, and originally formingpart of, the property of the former Manor House. Thecombined barn/stables are Grade II Listed Buildings.The numerous farm buildings are of different periodsalthough most share the traditional ironstone wallingmaterial. It is not possible to ascertain whether the buildingsare 17th century or 18th and 19th century in date because ofthe limited surviving evidence and since, with oneexception, the buildings have been re-roofed with slightmodem softwood roofs. Modern additions have also beendetrimental to the setting of the group of historical buildings,while the association with the manor farmhouse itself hasbeen broken by change of ownership and division of the sitewith a wall.Brackley Gate Lodge, Tusmore Park, Oxfordshire(SP 5648 3155)Robert Kinchin-SmithDuring September 1996 the unit performed a photographicand written record of the early 20th century mock-gothicgate lodge at Brackley Gate, Tusmore Park, in advance ofthe demolition of the lodge and the relocation of the gates69

Wordshireand piers. Brackley Gate Lodge was built in 1906, althoughit is not clear when the gates themselves v1.ere erected. Thegates are first recorded ma form recognisable as those extantin 1920. Brackley Gate, located on the A43 Brackley toOxford road, formed the principal entrance to TusmorePark. There were four stone gate piers, all of rusticatedmasonry. The pair flanldng the main glates each had amoulded capstone, a sculpted crouched lion bearing anheraldic shield. The outer piers flanking the pedestrian sidegates were capped with globe finials.The Lodge itself was built of squared rubble stonework, withashlar detailing and internal brick walls. The windows,chimneys and gable tops were in the Jacobean gothic stylewith ovolo window mouldings and gable kneelerssurmounted by balls. The plan was square and consisted offour principal rooms arranged on a central passageway withfour service rooms in a lean-to at the rear. One room had alarge stone fireplace and the front (bed?) room had anoctagonal projecting window bay, but othérwise there werefew internal features of note. The interior had been heavilyrenovated in the post-war period. This renovation hadincluded the partial removal of original floors, the dry-liningof most rooms, minor alterations suchl as blocking offireplaces when central heating was inserted, and theinsertion of a bathroom.Oxford, Paisley House, 436 Abingdon Road,Oxfordshire (SP 5172 0380)Rob Kinchin-SmithAs a condition of consent to demolish this unique mid19th century Grade II listed paper house, the unit wascommissioned to carry out a full survey of the buildingfabric. The building had been abandoned in 1987 and haddeteriorated to the point of collapse. This survey, carried outduring April and May 1996, revealed the building to havebeen constructed in at least nine separate phases, all of whichdated between 1844 and 1875. The first Phase was formedby a two-storey building with two roorns either side of acentral stairwell. This primary phase ,,N,fas roofed withcardboard and asphalt while its walls were clad externallywith tarred fibreboard. Plain fibreboard was used for theinternal cladding and interior partitions. Close study andanalysis of the secondary phases revealed a fascinatingsequence of further experiments using pager and card and,in total, the building contained two distinct types of paperroof and five different types of paper or card wall cladding.The house was constructed by Oxford's first non-conformistAlderman and second dissenting Mayor, the ec,centricpaper-maker John Towle (1796-1885) and is an example ofmid 19th-century experimental building technology. Theconstruction of the house was set against a backgroundnon-conformism, radical politics, 'ton versus gown'disputes and the building of Brunel's broad-gauge railwayto Oxford. Towle built his house par4 to obstruct therailway, but this was not his sole purpose and he livedcomfortably in the house until his death in 1885. The housewas subsequently purchased by the Turner family who livedin it until 1987. For purportedly insubstantial structuresTowle's houses were surprisingly long-lived and reportedto be wami and dry and able to withstand bouts of flooding.Paper-built structures seem to have had a brief period ofpopularity from c 1775 to 1840 and the greatestconcentration of identified buildings with paper-coveredroofs occurs in Oxfordshire, a county known for itspaper-making. The fashion declined rapidly once thetechnology and materials became obsolete.Tadmarton, Preedy's Farm, Oxfordshire (SP 3920 3808)Richard Tyler and Julian MunbyThe unit carried out an investigation and photographicsurvey in June 1996 on a group of Grade II listed agriculturalbuildings at Preedy's Farm, Tadmarton. The work wascarried out in advance of the conversion of the buildings intodomestic accommodation. The site lies to the north of thevillage which retains much of its 16th and 17th-centurycharacter. The agricultural buildings are grouped aroundthree sides of a courtyard to the north-west of Preedy'sFarmhouse.The first building, the barn, dating to c 1800, forms thesouth- western side of the courtyard. It comprises four baysand has walls of coursed ironstone with ashlar jambs to theopposed entrances in the south-west and north-e,ast walls.The second building, located opposite the farm house, is theearliest with a date of c 1700 and comprises stables dovecoteand barn. The earliest section, the eastern end, had been usedas stables and hayloft, the central part as a dovecote andstables and the western end as a small barn. The thirdbuilding is a shelter shed with adjoining hovel that forms thenorth-east boundary of the courtyard; ils roof survives invery poor condition. A number of later additions wererecorded, including an early 20th century iron shelterabutting the third building, and 20th century lean-losattached to the south-east and the north-east of the firstbuilding, the barn. One of the lean-tos was constructed ofbrick and corrugated iron/asbestos, and the other waswooden.Woodstock, High Lodge, Blenheim Park, Oxfordshire(SP 4303 1557)Rob Kinchin-SmithDuring 1996 the unit undertook an archaeological watchingbrief and photographic survey of High Lodge in advance ofthe refurbislunent of the Grade H Listed Building forresidential use. The original medieval High Lodge, whichwas destroyed during the Civil War, is thought to be locatedcloser to the old palace; no trace of the medieval Lodge wasfound during fieldwork. After the Civil Wars, StraightsLodge was developed into a new High Lodge and wasgreatly enlarged during the early 18th century and used as aresidence by the Marlboroughs during the construction ofBlenheim Palace. 'Capability' Brown probably rebuilt the70

east wing of High Lodge in a heavily gothic style during hisremodelling of the park in c 1764. It is probable that thepresent structure originated as a new wing which was addedin 1706 to the now demolished former Straights Lodge. Theoriginal Straights Lodge was probably demolished inc 1764. The building was allowed to deteriorate during the20th century and the wings were divided off into houses,probably for estate workers. The programme of renovationand refurbishment started in 1996. A watching brief wasmaintained during the excavation of the swimming pool andno archaeological deposits were noted.The present building has a central three-storey core, flankedby two-storey wings to the north and south. Subsidiarysingle storeys have been added to the west of the north andsouth wings. There is a projecting three-storey bay in thecentre of the façade and a walled courtyard to the west Ingeneral, the central core and north and south wings appearedcontemporary; even down to the principal oak beams andjoists on the first and second floors; the joists are located intothe principal beams with half dovetailed lap joints withhoused shoulders.Woodstock, Manor Farm outbuildings, Oxfordshire(SP 4424 1706)Richard TylerThe unit undertook a programme of archaeologicalrecording during April to October 1996 at Manor Farm,Woodstock. The work was carried out on a group of GradeII isted outbuildings at the Farm prior to their conversion toresidential use. The range of baildings surveyed included adovecote, earth closet, granary, stable block and single barn.Although the range is associated with the 13th centuryPraunce's Place, a building with a spurious link to the BlackPrince, the buildings as a group reveal techniques typical ofagricultural buildings constructed in the 17th and 18thcenturies. The west gable of the granary appears to havebelonged to a 16th or 17th century wing of the palace whichwas destroyed by fire in the 19th century. The dovecote isthought to have an early post-medieval date.1997 Building surveyFreeland, Church of St Mary the Virgin (SP 414 127)Julian MunbyThe unit was asked to record the vestry and boiler room ofthe Church of St Mary's, Freeland, in August 1997, prior toits partial demolition for a conversion into an amenity room.Pearson, one of the most important architects of the GothicRevival period, designed the buildings in the 19th centuryand it is likely that the parts of the church affected by theconversion were part of the original building. A detailedphotographic record was made of all features that were tobe destroyed.1998 Building surveyAbingdon Abbey, Rectified photographic survey(SU 4999 9700 - 5000 9705)Kate NewellOxfordshireThe unit was commissioned to undertake a limitedarchaeological investigation of the surviving domesticbuildings of Abingdon Abbey. The work was limited to thesouthem elevation of the buildings on Thames Street and theLong Gallery and the eastern elevation of the Checker,where a repointing project was plarmed. The DownlandPartnership carried out a rectified photographic survey ofthe elevations which the OAU used, with architects'drawings, to create an interpretative overlay showing allobserved archaeological features. A number of historicphotographs were of help in understanding some of thechanges tbat have taken place.The Thames Street buildings are believed originally to havefunctioned as the Abbey's bakehouse and granary. Theywere later converted to use as a bridewell and subsequentlyas residential buildings. Due to these functional changes theoriginal nature of the buildings has been lost but presumablythe primary building was quite plain with fewer and smallerwindows with timber lintels. The current windows aremostly of 20th century date but historic photographs showthat they replaced a variety of wooden casements, nonemedieval in style. Changes in the walling material and rooflines suggest various phases of activity.The Long Gallery is thought to have be,en the Abbey'sguesthouse. In the 16th century it was converted to abrewery and continued in use for this purpose until 1895.This industrial use had a great impact on the historic fabricof the building, as can be seen from photographs of 1896,however most of these interventions have been repaired ina sympathetic trimmer. The building retains many originalfeatures such as the upper floor windows. The historicphotographs provide evidence for a demolished buildingand associated lean-to which originally ran north-south atthe east end of the Long Gallery. Evidence visible on theChecker elevation also suggests a demolished lean-tobuilding.The Checker and the Long Gallery are scheduled ancientmonuments, the Checker Hall is Grade I listed and theCurator's house and office is Grade II listed. The CheckerHall (formerly the Exchequer) dates from the 13th centuryand is a square stone building with buttresses at each cornerwhich suggest a further storey that has been lost. Thechamber was divided into two during alterations in the 14thcentury. The building is believed to have been used by theTreasury of the Abbey as a business office and later as adomestic building. Abbot Vincent (1121-1130) probablybuilt the complex of buildings along Thames Street,consisting of a bakehouse, brewhouse and granary. TheBakehouse continued functioning until 1637. Only theeastern end survives and is currently in use as the Curator's71

OxfordshireHouse, Friends of Abingdon Office and the UnicornTheatre.into a modem manhole. All of the pottery recovered datedfrom the mid 19th century to the 20th century.Ewelme, the School and Schoolmaster's House(SU 6460 9138)Richard Tyler and John DaltonThe unit carried out a programme of archaeologicalrecording at the School and Schoolmaster's House, Ewelme,in advance of, and during, refurbis/unent. The work tookplace between October 1996 and June 1998 and comprisedthree phases of recording. The first phase recorded workrelated to the refurbislunent of the Schoolmaster's House.The second phase related to the alteration of, and extensionto, the School House. The third phase consisted of a limitedamount of opening-up worlcs and an archaeologicalwatching brief.The church, almshouse and school at Ewelme were foundedby Alice, the granddaughter of Geoffrey Chaucer, born inEwelme in 1406, and her husband, William de la Pole, Dukeof Suffolk. The school was completed in c 1450 and isconstructed entirely of brick. This early use of brick forbuildings of such a scale and function at Ewelme is notable.The Grade I listed Schoolmaster's House is thought to datefrom 1444 when it was constructed to provideaccommodation for the chaplain of the almshouses, whoalso served the school.The construction details of an early 19th-century staircasein the Schoolmaster's House were recorded before itsremoval. Its removal revealed elements of a medievalframing within the north- east wall of the hallway at groundfloor level. 'Three medieval style floor joists were seen in thefirst floor landing but no other evidence for the originalarrangement of the upper floor was revealed, apart from thewindow opening. The medieval partition walls observed onboth floors show that the building was divided and thefirst-floor door suggests access to another room.Details of a previously unknown and well-preserved16th century painted timber stud partition wall at first floorlevel were revealed . Two phases of painting were identified.The design and its similarity to other paintings inOxfordshire points to a local trend in domestic paintingtowards the end of the 16th century although there weretraces of an earlier phase below. The wall painting wasrecorded and then concealed behind protective boarding.The watching brief revealed traces of an early floorimmediately below the location of the relmoved staircase,and a modern drainage culvert to the north-least of the SchoolHouse. Externally, the watching brief revealed made groundwhich was identified across the footpftnt for the newbuilding. This material sealed modern services and a smallbrick culvert, which was constructed mostly of modemhouse brick, although it featured some Older bricks at itsbase. It contained a dark, humic material With inclusions ofglazed, transfer-printed white china. The cnlvert fed directlyHenley-on-Thames, boundary wall at Christ ChurchUnited Reformed Church, Reading Road (SU 7616 8231)Julian MunbyThe unit carried out a programme of archaeologicalrecording on a listed boundary wall at an early 20th centurychurch in Henley-on-'Thames in November 1998. The wallis Grade II listed and was carefully dismantled and rebuilt ashort distance to the west, still facing Reading Road. Thework on the wall was part of a wider development at thechurch, also involving the demolition of several smaller laterstructures to the rear. The wall is constructed ofmachine-made red bricks, the construction and age of whichis similar to the church bricks and therefore the wall can beassumed to date from around 1907, like the church.Oxford, The Warden's Barn, New CollegeJulian MuribyThe Warden's barn at New College is a fine medievalbuilding, the function of which has not been fullyunderstood. Standing outside the College until joined by abridge in 1676, the barn originally seems to have compriseda 'barn' or food store at the west end, a stable in the middle,and a guest chamber (later a brewhouse) at the east end.Examination of the structure, and especially the roof andfloor carpentry, has clarified the extent of medieval fabricand added some information on original divisions, includingrecognition of the extent of the stable hayloft.The College was founded in 1380, occupied formally in1386, while the site of the cloister and barn was not acquireduntil 1388-89 and so the barn is likely to date from the early15th century. There is little agreement about the function ordivisions of the barn and the later alterations and divisionshave obscured the original (or early) layout. On the groundfloor the barn is divided into just four sections (the east sideof the main eastern passage is a modem brick wall). At eachend is an entry passage and adjacent spac,e, and in the middleare two substantial rooms; all, apart from the easternmost,appear to have been originally open to the roof. The roof isa fine example of a crown-post roof of oak, with crown postsrising from each tiebeam to the collars, and pairs of bracessupporting the collar purlin that runs the length of the roofand gives support to the common rafter couples. It is (likethe similar roof over the Long Room) strongly built withlarge oak timbers. The roof bays do not always coincide withthe room divisions below, but where the partitions risethrough the building the underside of the tiebeams havemortices to receive the timber wallposts, and this providesthe fundamental evidence about the disposition of theinterior of the barn.72

Oxford, Former LMS Station, Rewley Road(SP 5062 0629)Rob Kinchin-SmithThe former LMS station at Oxford was surveyed by the unitduring 1997 to 1998 to inform decisions being taken as toits future. It was confirmed from documentary sources thatthe building was constructed in 1851 by the engineers Fox,Henderson and Co. engineers of the Crystal Palace, thenbeing erected to house the Great Exhibition. The buildingbrief specifically required that the station replicated thestructure and appearance of the Crystal Palace, ostensiblyfor reasons of cost and speed of erection but apparently alsofor publicity purposes during a period of intense railwayrivalry and unprecedented demand for railway travel toLondon.Examination of the remaining part of the structure itself hasrevealed that while both the concourse and side wings areprimary, and still contain large amounts of the original ironand timber components, virtually every one of the primaryiron or wooden elements is very slightly different from itscounterpart in the London building. Some of the elementsare different because the layout of the elements had beenchanged but often the differences appear to designed toavoid features patented by Paxton. The building is thereforevery instructive in indicating which features of the GreatExhibition design were Fox and Hendelson's and whichwere Paxton's. The survey has also revealed design flawsintroduced by the process of adapting standardisedcomponents. This applies most especially to the originaldesign of the roof. Both the concourse/train shed and the sidewings have been shown to have originally been roofed withPaxton-type ridge and furrow roofing which failed veryearly in the building's life. In replacing these roofs, twodifferent solutions were applied to the problem of providinglarge-span roofs while retaining the top-light which theoriginal layout demanded.As it evolved to meet the needs of the railway and thetravelling public, the building appeats to have been modifiedseveral times in some areas during the first sixty-odd yearsof its life. The fact that the building ceased to be a publicrailway station in 1951 and has subsequently been put to avariety of ephemeral uses has meant that far more of thehistoric fabric survives than might have been the case in aworking station. As a result the building's archaeology issubstantially intact albeit ma very fragile state. It is expectedthat further significant information concerning the station'sorigin remains to be discovered, in particular concerning thenature and original appearance of the external walls and thebuilding's historic colour schemes. Although 80% of thebuilding's structure was removed prior to 1969, theremaining section, which includes the station concourse andoffices, has remained substantially intact since 1888. Theside wings therefore still retain much of the extravagantassemblages of stores, lamp rooms, offices and waitingrooms, once so typical of railway stations. The building hadfour waiting rooms although the station had only oneplatform which served a line that soon settled into anOxfordshireexistence as a secondary cross-country mute after the initialburst of excursion tauffic.Shipiake, Crowsiey Park House (SU 7280 7988)Julian MunbyThe unit were commissioned to undertake a programme ofarchaeological recording in April 1998 on Crowsley ParkHouse and associated buildings near Shiplake in southOxfordshire. Crowsley Park House is an early 18th centurystructure, formerly surrounded by a deer park, with acollection of associated buildings to its south-west Amongthese buildings is a three-sided stable court, a ruined cottage,a kennel, donkey well and barn. Refurbishment work tosome of these structures, as well as the construction of aconservatory adjoining the house, allowed a programme ofarchaeological building recording to be undertaken on theareas affected before and during the works.South Stoke, Manor Farm (SU 59908365)Jonathan Gill and Julian MunbyThe unit carried out a programme of archaeologicalrecording on the Grade II listed Manor Farm house, SouthStoke, in April and May 1998, before and during internaland external refurbislunent on the farmhouse. Manor Farmhouse is located at the heart of the village of South Stoke,immediately adjacent to the Church of St Andrew, and wasconstructed on the site of Eynsham Abbey's Manor House,which is known to have existed by the mid 14th century.Current refurbistunent works have allowed a programme ofphotographic and archaeological building tecording. Theexisting house has undergone many phases since its initialconstruction, probably in the 16th century, and the recordingaction was partly intended to determine the phasing of thebuilding although the restoration was less intrusive than hadbeen originally envisaged.The existing house appears to have been built onto an earlywing at the south-west corner. The quoins present within thesouth wall indicate that the building was originally freestanding. The building appears to have been timber-framedon a flint base and of 16th century origin. The main block atthe centre of the house was added, probably in two phases,during the late 16th and 17th centuries; the evidence is thechange of roof line although this is not conclusive. Furtherextensions were probably built in the 17th or 18th centuryto the east, in the 18th century to the west and other smallerstructures between the 18th and 20th centuries.Fieldwork 1998Abingdon, 75 Ock Street (SU 4934 9704)Sean CookThe unit carried out a field evaluation in October 1998 atEnock's coal yard, 75 Ock Street in Abingdon, in respect of73

Oxfordshirea planning application for a residential development. Thesite was located to the west of the medieval town ditch andoutside the limits of the 12th century town /although the siteis part of the area developed in the later medieval period. Aprevious OAU excavation in 1994 at 83-88 Gck Street foundevidence that plots were first laid out along this street in the12th century and confirmed that during die 13th and 14thcenturies there were buildings of stone or !timber on stonefootings along the street frontage (Roberts 4997).Archaeological deposits were found throughout but wereconcentrated within the southern half of the site, frontingOck Street. Trench 1 contained a probable 12th centuryhorizon overlain by a wall, a well and a yard surface. Thesefeatures, indicative of settlement, were seUled by 13th and14th century occupation deposits. Further evidence ofoccupation, comprising a ditch, a pit, two lines of postholesand two gullies, was found in the centre of the site. One ofthe gullies contained 14th century pottery. Thearchaeological features on the site were arvered by a thickhomogeneous layer which appeared to represent a latemedieval and post-medieval soil accumulation. The lack ofarchaeological features within this layer i suggestive of agarden soil. A similar cultivation layer was identified duringa watching brief at 99a Ock Street (see below).The evaluation results indicated that development of thisarea began earlier than had previouslyli been thought,probably in the 12th century. Significant evidence for a13th century tenement building was found in the southemhalf of the site which was overlain by occupation layers ofthe later 13th or 14th centuries. These layerS contained largeand well-preserved assemblages of artefacts and animalbone.ReferenceM. Roberts, Excavations at Mr Warrick's Arms Hotel and theCrown Public House, 83-88, Ock Street, Abingdon, OxoniensiaLXII 1997, 163-178School, which is in Bostock Road and adjoins thedevelopment site to the north and north-west.ReferenceM. Roberts, Excavations at Mr Warrick's Arms Hotel and theCrown Public House, 83-88, Ock Street, Abingdon, Oxoniensiaum 1997, 163-178Bampton, Cheyne Lane (SP 3142 0305)John DaltonIn November 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief atCheyne Lane, Bampton, during the construction of a singlenew dwelling, with a garage and associated services. Thedevelopment site had previously been occupied by a joineryworks and a builder's yard and the ground surface wascovered in material from their recent demolition. Thewatching brief identified two small tree-holes in thesouth-west of the garage footings and another in the northeastcorner. Further tree-holes were identified within thearea of the house development. A substantial pit was alsorecorded which contained a considerable amount of bottleglass, white china and red brick fragments. This featureprobably represented quaffying for high quality gravel,possibly in the late 19th or early 20th century.Bampton, New Sports Pavffion (SP 3200 0266)John DaltonIn August 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief atBampton Recreation Ground during the construction of anew sports pavilion. The development site lies adjacent to aseries of cropmarks, including an irregular enclosure,apparent double- ditched on the east side, and a nuraber oflinear features. No archaeological features or deposits wereencountered during the watching brief and no finds wereretrieved.Abingdon, 99a Ock Street (SU 4926 9701)John DaltonIn September 1998 the unit carried out a Watching brief at99a Ock Street, Abingdon following the demolition of thebuildings comprising the builder's yard which previouslyoccupied the site. The site was to be developed with theconstruction of five flats with associated services, storageand car parking. An excavation at 83-88 Ock Street in 1994had found structures dating from the 13th and 14th centuries(Roberts 1997), and an evaluation at 75 Oôk Street in 1998had located evidence for medieval occupation sealed belowa late medieval and post-medieval accumulation of gardensoil (see above). The watching brief recorded a medieval andpost-medieval cultivation layer which contained 18th and19th century finds which probably resulted from disturbancecaused by construction and demolition for the builder'syard. A relatively modern dump feature was/observed whichcontained material from the construction of the CarswellBanbury, Cherwell Centre (SP 4585 4050)Sean CookThe unit carried out a field evaluation in December 1998 ata site to the rear of the Cherwell Centre on land adjacent toGeorge Street and Cherwell Street on behalf of Healey andBaker. The redevelopment area lay to the south of modernBanbury and in the centre of the historic town, on a site thathad been occupied by the Hunts Edmunds Brewery andlow-status terraced housing, since the 19th century. Theevaluation consisted of six machine-excavated trenches,each approximately 15 m long and 1.60 m wide. Two of thetrenches were located in the car park in the west part of thesite and the remaining four trenches were positioned in thegrassed area to the east. The only potentially significantarchaeological deposits were found in the south of the carpark area and consisted of two possible features which wereoverlain by dump layers of probable medieval date. It ispossible that the dump layers are associated with the13th century expansion of the town. Under the grassed area74

to the east, the evaluation picked up the remains of largebrick and concrete structures which almost certainlyrepresent the below ground remains of the former brewerybuildings and terraced houses. These were set in alluvialdeposits which are undated.Banbury, Manor Road, Old Grimsbury (SP 464 416)Alan HardyIn July 1998, the unit excavated a post-medieval houseplatfomi and its environs in advance of development. A fullanalysis of the excavation results is yet to be undertaken.Slight evidence of late neolithic occupation of the area wasrevealed, in the form of two small pits and a possible fieldboundary ditch. The main phase of occupation began in the12th century, with evidence of field ditches, possibletrackway gullies and associated features. In the 13th centurythe area appeared to be unoccupied and under the plough fora short period, after which a platform was raised, possiblyto alleviate flooding. Stone footings of a possiblerectangular farmhouse and associated barn were found, anda deep stone-lined well. By the 17th century the platformwas in me as an agricultural yard, the buildings having beendemolished. The extant Manor Farm, probably of17th century construction, situated east of the site, mayrepresent the successor to the earlier building.Burford St John, The Church of St John (SP 4370 3350)John DaltonIn April 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief at theChurch of St John during the excavation of a trench for anew drain round the northem side of the church. The churchis located inunediately to the east of the manor house andnorth-west of Manor farm. The church was originallyNorman but was heavily restored between 1860 and 1861during which time the octagonal tower and the south porchwere added. Two deposits, namely topsoil overlying agraveyard soil, were recorded during the watching brief. Thelower deposit contained mortar and sandstone whichprobably relate to the 19th century building work on thechurch.Bicester Fields Farm (SP 5920 2220)EvaluationPaul MurrayThe OAU carried out a field evaluation in June 1998 onbehalf of Westbury Homes Ltd on a development site on thesouth-eastern periphery of Bicester. The site lies on OxfordClay, was laid down to semi-improved grassland area andcovered about 33 ha in area. The remains of a medieval andpost-medieval agricultural landscape in the form of ridgeand furrow were clearly visible. This was aligned mostly onan east-west or north-east to south-west orientation and waslocated within most of the trenches.OxfordshireThe evaluation revealed evidence of prehistoric activity,primarily in the fonn of ditches and gullies that formed partof a rectangular enclosure and associated features. Apossible circular feature was also revealed within theinterior of the enclosure. The pottery recovered from thesefeatures indicated a date range of the middle to late Iron Age.Possible evidence for metalworking was uncovered. Thesite as a whole appears to have been occupied only duringthis period. The archaeological features were locaWd in thesouth-eastem part of the development site. The enclosedsettlement occupied c 1 ha and the finds indicated aconsiderable density of featuresExcavationAnne Marie CromartyDuring the sununer of 1998 the unit carried out an open areaexcavation of the mid to late Iron Age (M-LIA) settlementenclosure revealed in the evaluation. Two adjoining areas,totalling some 14700 sq m, were stripped. Samples of thefeatures revealed were excavated by hand. An extensiveprogramme of environmental sampling was carried out. Asthe evaluation had identified evidence for metalworkingsamples were also taken to test for this.This programme of work confirmed and expanded theresults of the evaluation, revealing the complete plan of asubstantial, rectilinear ditched enclosure of middle to lateIron Age date, with very little evidence of earlier or lateractivity. There is some slight evidence for a Roman fieldsystem. A small gully towards the south of the site yieldedfifty struck flints of Mesolithic date. No other features coulddefinitely be dated to the earlier prehistoric period, thoughone pit yielding a single flint may also have been early.Some of the many gullies surrounding the enclosure predatethe middle to late Iron Age activity.The majority of the features belong to the main occupationof the site. Althoug,h little vertical stratigraphy existed onthe site, sufficient information was retrieved to suggest thatthe enclosure had at least two phases. It would appear thatthe construction of the phase 2 enclosure occurred very soonafter the first small rectangular enclosure. The northern andeastern sides of the early enclosure were deliberately infilledand the structures contained within the larger phase 2enclosure built over them. The phase 2 enclosure wasenlarged shortly after its construction with a ditched annexadded to the western side. No confirmation of more than oneperiod of occupation has so far been obtained by analysis ofthe finds. The pottery from two, phases is presentlyindistinguishable indicating that the occupation wasrelatively short-lived.The remains of a single roundhouse were identified at thecentre of the main part of the phase 2 enclosure, with anentrance porch facing the south-east, opposite the onlyidentified entrance to the enclosure. This entrance took theform of a causeway constructed by dumping stone into theditch. A possible small annular gully was identified in thesouth-west corner of this part of the main enclosure,75

Oxfordshireassociated with two postholes and a pit This was the onlyother structure identified within either part of the enclosure.Another small annular gully, which was found immediatelyoutside the western annex with associated pits, is interpretedas a stack-ring. It seems that it was reused later as a dumpingground for domestic and metalworking waste. No structureswere identified in the annex, suggesting that this part of thesettlement had a different function from the main enclosure.Activity was not restricted to the interior of the enclosure.However, most features of Iron Age date were located closeby, within an area defined by smaller land boundaries. Theseboundaries consisted of gullies and small ditches which hadbeen recut several times, suggesting that they representedlong-lived boundaries. There was also some suggestion thatthe surrounding area might have been divided into a systemof enclosures possibly for stock management. Few of theseshallow linear features yielded any dating material, but itwas clear from their stratigraphic relationships that they didnot relate to a single phase. Several of the later gullies appearto have defined a field system, probably of Roman date. Asingle feature interpreted as a waterhole may be related tothis phase.Little evidence of cere,a1 cultivation was found among thesparse chaffed plant remains from the site. This takentogether with the abundance of animal bone and theevidence for stock control, in the form of a system of landboundaries surrounding the enclosure, may indicate that themain economic basis of the site was pastoralism.The finds retrieved from the site included not only large,important assemblages of animal bone and pottery, but alsofired clay, worked stone and ironworking waste. Theworked stone was found on the initial examination toinclude two hammer stones, a pebble-hammer, a flake whichhad probably been used as an anvil and two saddle quemsor rubber fragments. One of the quern fragments wasidentified as of May Hill sandstone. The source of this rockis some 89 km from the site in the north-west corner ofGloucestershire and may give an indication of trade links.The fired clay included Droitwich briquetage, which hasoften been found associated with querns of May Hillsandstone, adding further support to this idea. Themetalworking debris from the site in conjunction with theanvil fragment suggests that smithing was carried out on thesite. The finds may indicate a fairly high status site, incontrast to contemporary sites known in the area. A lowstatus rural site such as Slade Farm to the north of Bicester(Hughes and Jones in prep.), the Oxford Road site south ofBicester (Mould 1996), or site D outside Alchester to thewest of the current site (Booth et al. forthcoming), are moretypical of the area during the late Iron Age. Thesesettlements were unenclosed and lacked the indications ofhigh status, such as long distance trade and metalworking,found at Bicester Fields Farm.ReferencesMould, C, 1996 An Archaeological excavation at Oxford Road,Bicester, Oxfordshire, Oxoniensia LXI, 65-108Booth, P, Evans, J and Hiller, J, forthcoming Excavations in theextramural settlement of Roman Alchester, Oxfordshire, 1991Charlton-on-Otmoor, West View Farm (SP 5615 1587)John DaltonIn November 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief atWest View Farm, Charlton-on-Otmoor. The developmentsite was located within the historic core of the medievalsettlement but no archaeological features were seen and nofinds were retrieved.Chesterton, land adjacent to the Red Cow Public House(SP 5605 2139)John DaltonIn July 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief at a plotadjacent to the Red Cow Public House, Chesterton, duringthe excavation of footings prior to the construction of ahouse. No archaeological features were identified butdisturbance was identified associated with the landscapingof the beer garden and the use of the site as a bottle dump.All finds, including the glass, dated from the 19th and 20thcenturies.Ducklington Gill Mill (SP 4379 2071)Bryan MatthewsThe unit returned to the Ducklington Gill Mill quarryextraction site for a further season of watching brief duringthe autumn and winter of 1998. Numerous deposits andfeatures, associated with the Roman small town wereidentified. These included four inhumations, two of whichwere associated i.vith an industrial area. Extensive quarrypits and Roman field systems were also recorded, as was aformer watercourse. A further phase of watching briefcontinues into 1999.Faringdon, Romney House (SU 2871 9552)John DaltonIn August 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief at landto the rear of Romney House, Faringdon, during theconstruction of a single dwelling with associated services,garaging and access. The development site was consideredto possibly lie outside the medieval town. No archaeologicalfeatures were recorded during the watching brief and nofmds were retrieved.Goring, Thames Bank (SU 597 819)EvaluationRob JohnsDuring February 1998 the unit carried out a field evaluationat Thames Bank, Goring, in respect of a planning application76

for a residential development. The evaluation revealed thatthe site had been severely landscaped prior to, and possiblyin association with, the construction of the present building,now partially demolished. The footings of the building werefound to be constructed on top of the natural chalk and theground level had subsequently been made up to a depth ofsome 1.4 m above the natural chalk. To the south of the sitea layer of sand was encountered, surviving beneath the madeground deposits. A ditch aligned approximately east by westcut through the top of this sand and was dated by a singlesherd to the middle or late Saxon period. This date mustremain tentative without further evidence.Watching BriefJohn DaltonIn April 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief during theconversion of a former residential home for the elderly intoseparate residential apartments. A ditch, which was alignedapproximately east-west and which had been seen duringthe evaluation (see above) was identified. The ditch did notcontain any datable material to confirm a Saxon date. Otherfeatures identified during the watching brief were eithercontemporary with, or later than, the present building.Little Rollright, Manor Farm (SP 3048 3120)Charlie NewmanIn March 1998 the unit carried a watching brief at LittleRollright during the erection of a teleconununications mast,other ancillary antennae, an equipment cabin and temporaryservice access. The development site was locatedapproximately 1 km to the east of the Rollright Stones. Itwas considered possible that archaeological activity couldextend along the ridgeway to the development site but noarchaeological deposits were observed during the watchingbrief.Over Worton, Worton House (SP 4321 2914)John DaltonIn August 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief atWorton House, Over Worton, during the construction of anew tennis court within the existing walled garden. WortonHouse is located either on the site of, or in close proximityto, the location of an earlier medieval manor house. A seriesof earthworks to the north of the house and to the east of thechurch may be the surviving remnants of a part of themedieval settlement that contracted from the 15th centuryonwards.Oxford, Head ington, ACE Centre, Nuffield OrthopaedicCentre (SP 5478 0658)John DaltonIn May and June 1998 the unit carried out a watching briefat the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre for the excavation of aOxfordshireservice trench prior to the relocation of the ACE Centre. Thewatching brief was further to an OAU evaluation inSeptember 1997 which had revealed a sequence ofploughsoils and concrete rubble (SMA 28, 1998, 86-7). Thewatching brief encountered no cut features but recorded adeposit of ploughsoil that probably represents post-Romancultivation. Abraded sherds of Roman pottery, whichindicate some Roman activity in the area, were recovered,in addition to fmds dating from the 17th to 20th centuries,.Oxford, 2 Bardwell Road, Wychwood School(SP 5130 0780)John DaltonIn August and September 1998 the unit carried out awatching brief at Wychwood School, Bardwell Road in thenorth of Oxford, during the construction of a four-storeyextension to the existing school with a substantial basementand services. The site was under gra.ss with stepped accessto the basement of the existing school building. A dump ofVictorian brick, tile and china, probably associated with thebuilding of the school was found in one service trench, butotherwise no archaeological features or deposits wereidentified.Oxford, Becket Street Carpark (SP 5054 0615)John DaltonThe unit carried out a watching brief in April and May 1998at Becket Street, Oxford, during the construction of a newRailtrack car park. The site was covered by a general spreadof post-1850 landfill which in places had a depth greater than2m. The deposits probably relate to the build-up of the areaprior to the advent of the railway. No archaeological featureswere identified.Oxford, Centre for Islamic Studies, King's Mill Lane(SP 5275 0650)John DaltonThe unit undertook a watching brief in October 1998 at thesite of the proposed Centre for Islamic Studies. The schemeconsisted of geotechnical pits excavated in the vicinity ofthe rugby pitch at Magdalen College. During the medievalperiod the site lay within the holdings of ICing's Mill, aDomesday mill which belonged to the Hospital of St Johnuntil the Dissolution when it was passed to MagdalenCollege. Research suggested that the area of thedevelopment had been unoccupied and given over to pasturefor much of the medieval and post-medieval periods. Thisview was supported by the evidence of the watching briefwhich encountered no archaeological features andrecovered no finds.77

OxfordshireOxford, 36 Cornmarket (SP 5125 0637)Paul BoothA salvage recording exercise was carried out by OAU afterthe discovery of a masonry feature beneath the basementfloor of 36 Cornmarket Street during remodelling of thebuilding by Messrs ICnowles. The feature consisted of thesouth-west corner of a probable pier, set in a steep-sidedfoundation trench cut at least 1.4 m into the natural sand andgravel. The pier was of mortared ragstone with ashlar quoinsof oolitic limestone and had minimum dimensions of 1 meast-west by 0.4 m north-south. It survived to a height ofalmost 2.5 m above the base of the foundation cut, just belowthe concrete basement floor. The only dating evidence fromthe backfill of the foundation trench was a single fragmentof medieval tile. This and the character of the masonry couldbe consistent with a date as early as the 13th century. Theexact context of the structure is uncertain, but it was mostprobably associated with the vicinity of the medieval northgate and attached buildings, which included the prisonknown as The Bocardo. It may be the same structure as thatrevealed during building work in 1906 and then interpretedas the south-west corner of The Bocardo (J Munby perscomm).Eight trenches were excavated between the standingbuildings. Made ground deposits covered most of the site.Only in one trench was it absent. Rubbish pits and animalburials representing farm activity pre.sent were two trenches.Archaeological features were only found within threetrenches. These ranged in date from the post-medievalperiod to the 20th century. A single sherd of 15th centurypottery was found in one pit but otherwise all features relatedto activity in and around Eastwyke Dairy farm.Oxford, 1-2 Folly Bridge, Abingdon Road (SP 5143 0550)John DaltonIn August and September 1998 the unit carried out awatching brief at 1-2 Folly Bridge in advance of theconstruction of a new riverside restaurant, gallery andresidential accommodation. The original 1 lth centurybridge was rebuilt in 1825 at the same time as a majorredevelopment of the riverside facilities. The foundationand service trenches for the new development did notpenetrate below substantial makeup layers deposited on theisland since the 19th century and nothing dating before the19th century was found.Oxford, Cowley, New Pallet Area (SP 5584 0374)Bryan MatthewsIn July 1998 the unit carried out a field evaluation to the eastof the Rover Integrated Logistics Centre, Cowley, within thefootprint of a new pallet park area, on behalf of the RoverGroup Ltd. The evaluation revealed areas of substantialmodern disturbance, including a possible railwayembankment ditch. The railway sidings were constructed inthe 1930s and the finds from the backfill were early 20thcentury in date. A large irregular pit contained moderndebris including aircraft air cylinders and hydraulicequipment which is likely to be refuse associated withaircraft manufacture at Cowley during the 1930s and 1940s.A former cultivation level was identified but a singleabraded medieval sherd of pottery cannot be considered assecure dating evidence.Oxford, Eastwyke Farm, Abingdon Road (SP 5171 0492)Greg PughThe unit carried out a field evaluation in June 1998 atEastwyke Farm, Oxford, in respect of a planning applicationfor an hotel development. The site was situated on area ofovergrown land occupied by derelict farm buildings. Thename `Eastwyke' suggested an early settlement andtherefore possible archaeological significance. The term`wyke' can be interpreted as a dairy farm or as an earlytrading settlement. The land had belonged to AbingdonAbbey during the medieval period and had been acquired byUniversity College in 1511. Tenants included brewers,clerics and clergy.Oxford, Godstow Weir (SP 484 091)John DaltonDuring 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief at GodstowWeir during the demolition and removal of the existing weirand the construction of a more substantial weir structure.The weir was probably constructed during the 1885widening of the navigation chatmel. The erosion of the riverbank has produced chance finds from the 12th centuryabbey, particularly human bones. The watching brief,however, identified deposits only relating to the weir and itsconstruction.Oxford, Horspath, St Giles Church (SP 5720 0480)John DaltonIn May 1998 the unit undertook a watching brief at St GilesChurch, Horspath, in respect of a development proposal fornew drainage around the south side of the church. Thechurch dates from the 12th century with improvementsbeing added until the 19th century. The watching brieffollowed on from an earlier OAU watching brief for a newFrench drain on the north side of the church in 1992 (SMA23, 1993, 71). The 1998 watching brief revealed noarchaeological features and no fmds were retrieved.Oxford, Lincoln College, Phase 3: The Kitchen Project(SP 5140 0630)Ben FordThe unit has been involved in aspects of the refurbishmentof the College since 1997 and there have been a series of78

watching briefs at the college. During late November andearly December 1998 the OAU carriecl out a field evaluationwhich identified archaeological deposits that were recordedup to 3 m below existing ground levels. These depositsincluded a number of floor surfaces with associated hearthsand occupation deposits from the 10th and 1 lth centuries; amedieval pit and other probable medieval dump deposits;internal and extemal surfaces, along with substantiallimestone foundation deposits relating to the extantmedieval kitchen; and an haled, but intact, post-medievalbrick-vaulted cellar. Victorian and later foundationstruncated all archaeological horizons where they wereencountered. Associated service runs and modem levelswere no more than 1 m deep.The next phase, an excavation for the new wine cellar, iscurrently underway at the College and a full report for thisand the preceding evaluation will be published.Oxford, Litdemore Hospital (SP 5306 0205)Dan HicksThe unit carried out a field evaluation at Littlemore Hospitalin February 1998 on behalf of Laing Homes. The evaluationrevealed that the site was relatively undisturbed by theconstruction of the hospital in 1843 and its subsequentexpansion and use. Previous archaeological investigationsat Littlemore Hospital had uncovered evidence ofRomano-British activity and medieval agriculture but onlytwo post-medieval pits and six modern service trencheswere uncovered in the three trenches.Oxford, Mansfield College, Proposed Institute forAmerican Studies (SP 068 516)Paul BoothA small area approximately 30 m x 15 m was examined bythe unit on behalf of Oxford University SurveyorsDepartment in advance of construction work. The site liesimmediately east of an extant north-south element of theCivil War earthwork defences of Oxford, the ditch of whichlay partly within the site and was sectioned. A shallow slotparallel to the ditch edge and some 4 m east of it may havealso have been of 17th century date.The rest of the site contained Roman features, belonging toa settlement of 2nd-4th century date. At the east edge of thesite was a sequence of 2nd century north-south ditches.Roughly parallel ditch alignments some 14 m further westwere of later Roman date. Between these two aligmnentswere postholes and short lengths of gullies which mayindicate the site of a rectilinear timber structure also of mid3rd-4th century date. Other scattered features, mostly of mid3rd-4th century date, occurred across the site. The findssuggest a relatively low status rural settlement. Associatedcarbonised plant remains were particularly well-preserved,however, and in one late Roman ditch fill included peas aswell as grain.OxfordshireOxford, New College Sports Ground, St Cross Road(SP 5200 0690)John DaltonThe unit undertook a watching brief during the middle andlatter part of 1998 at New College Sports Ground in advanceof a development proposal for new student accommodationthat included the demolition of five houses. Thedevelopment area was known to be located on the city'sCivil War defences, which were constructed c 1642 fromearlier medieval defences, and which were still visible in thislocation on the Ordnance Survey map of 1875. The watchingbrief revealed that the foundations of the demolishedbuildings, although invasive, had not obliterated evidencefor the ditch and that its width and depth could still beestablished. The ditch was c 6m wide and was filled by twodeposits which contained post-medieval finds and otherfinds dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. No traces ofthe intemal rampart were observed. It is likely that the fillswere dumped into the ditch at a relatively recent date tocomplete the levelling process begun by silting.Oxford, Nuffield Press Evaluation and Building survey(SP 548 046)Jeff Muir and Kate NewellFieldworkThe unit were asked to undertake an evaluation and buildingsurvey ahead of development on the site of the Manor Houseof Temple Cowley, Oxford (NGR SP 548 046) (Fig 27).Substantial sub-surface remains, including cellars, wereknown to exist on the site and were likely to be impacted bythe development In addition, the back wall of the manorhouse which had been retained and incorporated into theNuffield Press buildings was to be demolished.Phase 1 (13th-15th centuries)Although 11th-century pottery was recovered from the site,the first recognisable phase of activity seems to have begunsome time during the 13th century (Fig 27). There was nodefinite evidence for masonry structures during this periodbut there was a certain amount of circumstantial evidencewhich points toward their likely existence. The majority offeatures ascribed to this phase clustered around the site ofthe later 17th century manor house. At the southem end ofTrench 12 a group of four sub-circular pits was revealed(12/101, 12/84, 12/103 and 12/123). The pits were all filledwith a similar mixture of limestone cobbles and mortar richdeposits and three out of four contained pottery dated to the13th century. The fourth contained a single sherd of an1 lth century ware which was thought to be residual. Theapparently deliberate spacing of the pits might suggest thatthey were used as post-pits to hold timber uprights, but if sono coherent structural plan was discernible. Whatever theirfunction it sms clear that the pits were backftlled withmaterial relating to the construction or repair of a nearbymasonry structure.79

Trench/ali ,64Trends /Jadcoon Building12121iss/Trench 11Trench /2 /Trench.//iiBuilding EBuilding D1.0Building ABuilding BasitpdBuilding CTrend. 9Phase 1 (13th - 15th century)Phase lic15th - 1811s century)Phase ill ( lath - 20th cennuy)0 Fig. I - »ends location pi= gmd pimsbyg10m

A fifth pit in nearby Trench 11(11/133) was also filled i,vithmortar and limestone rubble. Although it was square ratherthan circular and deeper than the other pits the very closesimilarity of fills suggest that the pits were all contemporary,even though the square pit contained a single sherd of lateSaxon pottery.The upper fill of pit 11/133 was truncated by the shallowwall slot 11/100 which formed part of a rectangular structure(Building E). The full extent of the structure is unknown asit appeared to be cut away to the south by the constructionof the 17th century manor house (Building A). Enoughsurvived however to suggest that it had an approximateeast-west orientation with an entrance half way down itsnorthern wall.To the north in Trench 5 a large, steep sided pit (5/1) layimmediately to the north of a length of curved ditch (5/3).Although the trench was too narrow to be certain the ditchappeared to respect the pit and curve around it The fill ofthe ditch contained a certain amount of limestone rubble andwas generally reminiscent of a robber trench. A few metresto the north-west a narrow linear feature was revealed withinTrench 7(7/10). The feature appears to have been some sortof linear barrier or boundary. Inunediately to the north ofthat were three shallow linear features which are probablybest interpreted as truncated garden features (7/4, 7/6 and7/8).A masonry wall 6/29 in the western end of Trench 6probably belonged to this period also. The wall was part ofa long rectangular structure (Building D) which was firstlocated with certainty on the Cowley Parish Enclosure Mapof 1853. The backfill of the construction trench, however,contained a single sherd of 13th century pottery.Phase 2 (15th-18th centuries)During the 15th and 16th centuries activity seems to havebeen relatively limited (Fig 27). An occasional pit was dugto the north of the manor (6/89) but in general the arearemained undisturbed allowing a thick layer of soil to buildup. During the 17th century the manor house wasconstructed or remodelled into the basic form whichsurvived until modern times. It is probable that the largecapped drains located in Trench 4 were constructed aheadof the manor house. Although the backfill of the drainscontained a minimal amount of 1 lth century pottery, thereis no evidence that a structure requiring such large drainsoccupied the site before the 17th century.Phase 3 (18th-20th centuries)It was clear from stratigraphic considerations thatBuilding B was not part of the original 17th century manorbut was built some time between the end of the 17th centuryand 1853 when it appeared on the OS 1st edition map. Theextent and evolution of modern buildings around the manorwas established using map regression analysis and theresults are described in the full client report (OAU 1998). Itis sufficient to note here that the excavations added little tothe documentary research.OxfordshireBuilding SurveyThe manor house of Temple Cowley was demolished in1957 after it was deemed to be structurally unsound.Historic photographs of c 1938 show the building heavilyshored and it appears to have been derelict for some timebefore its final demolition. Part of the rear, northern wall ofthe manor house survived and was incorporated into modemindustrial buildings. As part of the current investigations thiswall was recorded before its demolition.Historic photographs, drawings and a 1954 survey of thebuilding provided evidence for the demolished buildingwhich was built of limestone, with ashlar to the elevationsand rubble facing elsewhere; it had a stone slate roof. Thefront elevation was largely symmetrical with a centraldoorway flanked by two bay windows to the ground floor,two projecting chimney stacks and two gables breaking theroof line. The building was of two stories, with two levelsof attics and three cellar areas. From the interpretation of thedocumentary sources it appears that the building was ofseveral phases of construction, characterised by differentroof and floor levels. A 'phase I' building was identified asa three-unit plan of hall-house or derived type. Thesubsequent additions to the building possibly representedthree further phases of construction. However, due to thenature of the surviving evidence the phasing of the additionscould not be conclusively argued or securely dated.From the examination of the fabric of the surviving manorhouse wall a series of features, such as blocked windows,doors and scars of former returning walls, could beobserved. The previously external stone architraves of threewindows had been retained within the modem indusnialbuildings. The features could be cross-referenced with the1954 survey of the building. During the demolition of thewall a watching brief was carried out and some pieces ofworked stone were recovered from the walling. 'These piecesappeared post-medieval in date and were not found in situin the wall. However, stone window jambe and sills wererecorded in situ before demolition. In addition, during theexcavation two areas of cellars were partially excavated andrecorded.ConclusionsThe front façade of the manor house, shown in documentarysources, suggests a 17th century date. However, the 'phaseI' three-unit plan building may have had medieval origins.The excavation yielded sufficient evidence to indicate thatthe site had been occupied in one form or another since the13th century. Certain aspects of the evidence point towardsthe early construction of masonry buildings and the robbedoutline of one such building was located (Building E).Oxford, Rewley Road Fire Station (SP 5072 0637)John DaltonIn January 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief atRewley Road Fire Station on a development proposalcomprising service trenches and minor external installations81

Oxfordshireto the rear of the fire station. The watching brief was part ofa larger project which included an OAU field evaluation inBewley Road in 1993 and 1994 (SMA 25, 1995,58-9) anda watching brief on the proposed Said Business Schoolimmediately to the west in 1997 (SMA 28, 1998, 88) and acurrent watching brief on the Persimmon housingdevelopment immediately to the north. The site wasoccupied by the Cistercian Bewley Abbey from itsfoundation in 1280 until the Dissolution. Subsequently,much of the site had been occupied by gardens until theconstruction of the railway in the 19th century. At this timemuch of the surrounding ground was raised by 1 m to 13 musing dumped material. The watching brief recorded onlytwo deposits which consisted of an upper layer of reinforcedconcrete with a depth of 0.6 m with an underlying mixeddeposit of grey and black clinker and gravel which containedpieces of modem house brick. Both layers are probablyassociated with the post-1850 build-up of the site in advanceof the tailway construction.Oxford, Salter's Boatyard, Abingdon Road(SP 5144 0550)John DaltonIn October and November 1998 the unit carried out awatching brief at Salter's Boatyard, which has been used asa boat yard since c 1858. This work follows on from theOAU evaluation of the site in November 1997 (SMA 28,1998, 88). The evaluation had located the remains of abuilding dating from the 19th century or later, which waspossibly associated with the 19di century timber wharf.Finds dating from the 12th century through to the 20thcentury were retrieved in the watching brief, but all of themedieval material was found in 19th or 20th centurydeposits of made ground and therefore did not necessarilyderive from the site itself.Oxford, 37a St Giles (SP 5107 0680)Charlie NewmanThe unit carried out a field evaluation at 37a St Giles inJanuary 1998 on behalf of Oxford University Press. The sitewas located on the west side of St Giles, in a block oftenements established in the 12th and 13th centuries, and tothe east of the Workhouse constructed in 1772, the site ofwhich is now occupied by Wellington Square (Salter 1969).The evaluation revealed a series of medieval pits, a medievallinear feature and a large feature internreted as a gravelextraction pit. The small pottery assemblage, in combinationwith stratigraphic evidence, suggests that some of themedieval features could date from as early as the 1 lthcentury, but most are likely to be of 13th century date orlater. The range of medieval finds and features is similar tothat found at other sites in the vicinity and is typical of therange of features expected to the rear of medieval suburbanburgage plots. The medieval features were sealed below aseries of medieval and post-medieval cultivation soiLs,indicating that this part of the site was primarily occupiedby fields or gardens during these later periods.ReferenceSalter, H E, 1969 Survey of medieval Oxford,!!, OxfordHistoricalSociety 20Oxford, St Hugh's College (SP 450 207)Sean CookIn June 1998 the unit conducted an evaluation at St Hugh'sCollege on behalf of the college authorities. Trial trencheswere positioned in an area to the rear of The Lawns, 87Banbury Road, and to the rear of houses in Canterbury Road.The evaluation revealed no significant archaeologicaldeposits within the area of the proposed new development.The only recognisable archaeological deposit was a layer offormer ploughsoil which contained a small number of ftndsindicating cultivation during the medieval period.Oxford, Sadder Library (SP1100 6550)Dan PooreThe excavations at Sadder Library were carried out duringApril, May and June 1998 following an earlier evaluation(SMA 28, 1998, 88). The site is located on the second gravelterrace just north-west of the north gate of the medievalwalled city of Oxford. Documentary evidence identified thatthe excavation area lay within the precinct of the Palace ofBeaumont, founded in c 1132 by Henry I, and granted to theCarmelite Whitefriars in 1318.A circular ditch measuring up to 35m across was found and,although no dating evidence was recovered, it is thoug,htlikely to be a Bronze Age barrow ditch. A very small stretchof another ditch of identical profile and fill types was alsoseen, and was also undated. A Bronze Age barrow cemeteryis lmown to lie under this' part of Oxford (for example inUniversity Parks, St Michael's Street and Logic Lane).Cutting into the fills of the ditch and the natural gravel, andtruncated by a ploughsoil, was a series of circular pits. Theywere very regular and all of a similar size and depth, beingon average 0.70 m deep and 13 m in diameter. Theyappeared to be arranged in rows, aligned roughly east-west.Spot dating of the pottery suggests an 1 lth to 12th centurydate for these features, which are being tentativelyinterpreted as tree planting pits.A large robber trench measuring up to 2 m wide was foundnirming east-west for 15 m. Its depth varied significantly,from 0.4 m to 1.8 m. Masonry only survived in the deepestpart of the trench, and consisted of limestone rubble. Seenat approximately 5 m intervals along the northern edge ofthe trench, and cut at right angles to it, were a series of sixshort robber trenches, measuring on average 1.8 m wide and2.2 m long. Again, depths varied, but some masonrysurvived in two trenches.. These were interpreted as therobbing of buttresses, and were assumed to be contemporary82

with the main east-west trench. The two buttresses furthestto the west (one robbed and one in situ) extended beyondthe southern limit of the excavation. These two buttressesimply a continuation of the main wall line and suggest asubstantial building, aligned east-west and at least 25 mlong. Spotdating of pottery found within the mortar of thesurviving masonry suggests that the structure formed part ofthe Friary rather than the Palace.Another large robber trench was excavated to the east of thebuilding, running north-south, and was nearly 2.5 m wideand over 2m deep. Its depth may partly be explained by thediscovery of a heavily truncated pit, cutting the naturalgeology at its base. The fills of this pit may have beenrecognised as a 'soft spot' which the original builders haveattempted to remove; a similar situation probably accountsfor the depth of the robbing of the building. Pottery from thepit has been provisionally dated to the late llth century,while the fills of the robber trench date to the 13th-14thcenturies. These dates, combined with historic mapevidence, suggests that this may be the robber trench for theeastern wall of the precinct of Beaumont Palace.A number of stone-lined features were found and appearedto be associated with the terraces fronting onto BeaumontStreet and St John Street, both built in the early 19th century.They included cellars, privies and cisterns.Oxford, The Queen's College, Provost's Garden(SP 1745 6365)Sean CookThe unit carried out a field evaluation in January 1998 atThe Queen's College, within the Provost's Garden inadvance of a proposed new library building. Four trencheswere excavated within the Garden. One trench at thesouthern end of the site, contained significantarchaeological deposits dating to the Saxo-Norman period.These consisted of a roughly constructed gravel surface andan associated pit which contained metalworking slag datedto the lOth century; there was also a single posthole probablylate Saxon in date. The deposits seem to indicate a yardsurface and associated pits rather than structures, althoughthe large posthole may indicate the existence of a substantialstructure at this period. The fragments of slag would seemto indicate that metalworking possibly took placesomewhere within the evaluation area.Other features consisted of pits dating to the late llth, early13th and late 14th centuries. A 13th century occupationdeposit was also identified. There was some evidence oflater post-medieval pit digging. Medieval andpost-medieval pits were identified in the three other tenchesand one contained a large post-medieval pit that had anestimated width of 4 m and was therefore only partiallyexcavated to a depth of 2 m. The purpose of the pits isunclear although it is suggested that gravel extractionconnected with local building is very likely. Some recentdisturbance-s were recorded which appear to have beenOxfordshireassociated with the construction of an Anderson shelter in1939.Oxford, 16 Turf Street (SP 5140 0640)John DaltonThe unit carried out a watching brief in June 1998 at 16 TurlStreet in respect of a proposal for the alteration andimprovement of restaurant kitchens. The development sitelay inunediately to the south of a 13th century city wallwhich runs apprmdmately east-west across the northern sideof the site. It was therefore considered possible that thekitchen development could impact upon any survivingelements of the city wall and any associated structures.Modem concrete and rubble was found to overlay a mixedlayer of backfill which contained sherds that all dated to the17th and 18th centuries in addition to clay pipe fragmentsand glass of the saine date. The rubble in the layer couldpossibly represent demolition from the city wall and datefrom when the owners of plots on the north side of ShipStreet broke through the city wall in order to extend theirproperties. However, the individual limestone pieces wereintact and not fragmentary and this, coupled with thepresence of domestic finds, may suggest that the rubblerepresents the remains of lean-to structures, built up againstthe south face of the wall. A similar situation had beenencountered during an OAU evaluation at 18 Broad Streetin 1994 where in situ foundations were interpreted as lean-tostructures against the north face of the wall (SMA 25, 1995,53-5). The limited 17th to 18th century date range for thefinds may simply be a reflection of the limited depth of theexcavations.South Newington Church (SP 408 333)Granville LawsThe unit carried out an evaluation in January 1998 at theChurch of St Peter Ad Vincula at South Newington. Thechurch is late Norman and is located to the north of thevillage and to the east of the Manor House. The evaluationtrenches were limited in extent, but no archaeologicalfeature,s or deposits were observed and no finds wereretrieved.Sutton Courtenay, Appleford Sidings(centred SU 522 962)Paul BoothFurther to evaluation work in 1993 (SMA 24, 1994,33-36)and 1997 (SMA 28, 1998, 85) the OAU carried out arec.ording action in 1997 and 1998 after topsoil strippingover some 14 ha of potential gravel extraction in the ARC(now Hanson) pit at Sutton Courtenay, on behalf of theowner. The area examined includes almost all of thatevaluated in 1997, with the exception of the possible BronzeAge cemetery (ibid) which lies just to the south, and thesouthern part of the area evaluated in 1993. In addition, areas83

Wordshirefurther east, between the access road to Hill Farm andHartwright House and the railway line, have also beenexamined. Overall worldng was from west to east.A small amount of pottery indicates activity from the earliestBronze Age (from c 2250 BC onwards), but the earliestfeatures that can be identified at present are of middleBronze Age date. These appear to take the form of a roughlyrectilinear system of field boundaries, defined by ditchesaligned roughly north-south and east-west, concentrating inthe western part of the area examined. A number of waterholes were associated with these feattnes. Dating evidencewas generally sparse, which is important for understandingwhy so few of the linear feattues encountered in evaluationtrenches were datable, but was sufficient to indicate that thefield system was of middle Bronze Age date. The associatedpottery included a particularly significant group ofdecorated Globular Urns of this date. The volume of BronzeAge pottery is sufficient to suggest that some, probablydomestic, activity took place within or very close to thepresent limits of the site. No structural features wereidentified, however.There is no clear evidence for Iron Age activity on the site.The Bronze Age field system was, however, overlain by anot dissimilar system of Roman date. This consisted of fieldboundary ditches on a very similar alignment, withassociated trackways, the principal one of which was locatedin the western part of the site running approximatelynorth-south through the entire area. The alignment of theRoman features suggests a connection with the ditchedenclosure in the northern part of the proposed extractionarea, examined in the 1993 evaluation. Most of the (verysmall) assemblage of Roman pottery appears to be oflst-2nd century AD date, which is also consistent with thedating of the enclosure. At the extreme eastern end of thesite adjacent to the railway line a small sub-square ditchedenclosure contained an early Roman cremation burial.Some 1400 sherds of pottery were recovered from the 1997and 1998 work. The majority of this material is of BronzeAge date. About 150 pieces of struck flint have beenrecovered, with rather larger quantities of burnt flint. Acomplete saddle quern, presumably of Bronze Age date, wasrecovered during the 1998 work. Other artefact types occuronly in very small quantities. Significant environmentalevidence has also been recovered, but has yet to be assessedin detail.Wallingford, Institute of Hydrology (SP 6160 8953)John DaltonThe unit undertook a watching brief in October 1998 at theInstitute of Hydrology, Wallingford, during the constructionof two new buildings and extensions to existing buildings.A cropmark ring ditch and an enclosure are located just tothe east of the Institute, and form part of an extensive seriesof prehistoric archaeological complexes in the immediatevicinity. The groundworks were undertaken on part of thesite which is directly opposite the cropmark ring ditch andthe area was intensely monitored but no archaeologicaldeposits were encountered here or elsewhere in the watchingbrief area. Two possible alluvial deposits were identifiedwhich may indicate separate periods of flooding. It may bepossible, therefore, that further archaeological deposits aresealed beneath the alluvium.Wantage, Fawler Copse, Kingston Lisle (SU 3206 8791)John DaltonIn August and September 1998 the unit carried out awatching brief at Fawler Copse during the demolition of theexisting dwelling and the construction of a new house,garage and swimming pool. The place name Fawlerindicates a tessellated pavement and the development arealies on a Saxon boundary between Uffington and KingstonLisle mentioned in a 10th century charter and is adocumented Saxon holy place. The site lies to the west ofFawler Copse and to the south-east of Fawler manor. Anyarchaeological traces had either been obscured or destroyedby the heavy disturbance associated with previousconstruction on the site.Wantage, St Peter and St Paul Church, Church Street(SU 3969 8791)John DaltonIn February 1998 the unit carried out a watching brief at theChurch of Saints Peter and Paul during the excavation of adrainage trench rtmning north from the church, through thechurchyard, to join the main drain in the cloisters. Thepresent church dates mainly from the 13th to 15th century.Two churches stood in the churchyard in the 16th century,one of which was small and was used as a school. Thisbuilding was demolished in 1850. Two deposits, neither ofwhich contained artefacts, were observed in the watchingbrief. A small quantity of human charnel was disturbed inthe drainage trench and in the manhole excavation at thenorthern end of the trench and this was later reburied. Noother archaeological deposits were encountered.Witney, land west of Whitey (SP 3584 1000)Andrew MayesThe unit carried out a field evaluation in March 1998 on landwest of Witney Way in Witney in respect of a planningapplication for a housing development by Tay Homes. Thesite was located on an area of waste ground to the rear of 66High Street and coveted 0.45 ha. Six evaluation trencheswere excavated. The evaluation revealed a small number offeatures of probable post-medieval date. These comprised alarge pit or waterhole in one trench and two postholes inanother trench. A fragment from a relatively modernwooden stake was found associated with one of thepostholes. The postholes possibly formed a boundary fencealigned north by south. The deposits in the large pit were84

waterlaid suggesting that it may have functioned as a wellor waterhole for livestock. Dating evidence suggested apost-medieval date for this feature and the postholes.Residual medieval pottery was also recovered from thesetrenches. The trenches were otherwise devoid ofarchaeological features and finds.Yarnton, Floodplain 1998 (SP 468 108)Gill Hey and Christopher BellDuring late spring and early summer 1998 the unitundertook five areas of excavation and a watching brief onthe floodplain at Yamton, Oxfordshire (Fig 28). This workwas funded by English Heritage. The three main areas ofexcavation (Sites 9, 10 and 21) were placed to examineprehistoric activity within and adjacent to palaeochannels(Fig 29). Important environmental evidence was recoveredfrom the channels and from deeper features containingwaterlogged remains. Two further trenches (4c and 44) weresited in areas where no archaeological features were foundin the 1993 evaluation (Hey 1994), in order to assess theeffectiveness of the 2% sampling strategy that was used. Awatching brief (4e) was undertaken over one hectare torecord the character and density of scattered archaeologicalfeatures.Site 9A broad palaeochannel crossed the southem part of the sitefrom west to east and a substantial limestone causeway,35 m long and 5 m wide, was unexpectedly revealed acrossit. Wooden posts and fallen horizontal timbers which layalong the edges of this structure (preserved in situ by thewaterlogged conditions) appeared to represent the remnantof a wooden hand rail (Fig 30). A row of smaller woodenstakes were found beneath the causeway. It remainsuncertain whether these stakes were part of a structure whichpredated the stone surface, or were marker posts associatedwith its construction. A bronze spearhead and an awl withsome animal bone were found beneath the causeway and adense scatter of animal bone lay over the surface. Aprovisional mid to late Bronze Age date is assigned to thisstructure.A narrow sand and gravel causeway was subsequently laidalong the middle of the earlier structure where the stones hadbecome worn, and this later trackway continued for somedistance beyond the north bank of the channel. Further rowsof wooden uprights, c 0.10 - 0.15 min diameter, were foundextending across the channel on either side of the causewayand a scatter of animal bone was recovered from the surfaceof the channel silts.Several pits were located on the north bank of the channelcontaining burnt stone and animal bone, including a red deerantler with a wom tine; well-preserved organic remainswere found in some, including the base of a bark container.Romano-British field-boundary ditches crossed thenorthern part of the site, and at right angles lay a double rowof alluvium-filled postholes/slots, traced over a distance ofOxfordshire23 m. These features could be Iron Age or Roman in dateand associated with the field boundaries, but their precisefunction remains unclear.Site 10A section of the same channel was exposed in Site 10, 100mto the west of Site 9. A cambered gravel causeway crossedthe channel here, and what appeared to be the remnant of acrude brushwood trackway, represented by a linearconcentration of roundwood debris and small verticalstakes. A group of larger wooden uprights lay west of thecauseway, similar in character to those on Site 9. A pitcontaining burnt stone and decorated Beaker pottery and acremation burial were among the small number of featuresinvestigated on the north bank of the channel.Site 21Site 21 was located in the north-west corner of Field 12 overa shallow channel which would have flowed into the mainchannel examined in Sites 9 and 10. On the north bank ofthe channel a sub-rectangular pit packed with bumt stoneand a waterhole were found in addition to smaller featuresfilled with burnt material. A further waterhole was locatedin the very bottom of the palaeocharmel, dug when theshallow channel was seasonally. dry. Preservation within thisfeature was excellent and a wooden bowl or small troughand a log ladder were recovered in addition to an importantassemblage of woodworking debris of presumed BronzeAge date. The only non-organic finds were a red deer jawand a fox skull, suggesting the non-utilitarian purpose of thisdeposit. Another gravel causeway ran obliquely across thebottom of the channel, possibly associated with twoclay-filled ditches.Sites 4e and 44Sites 4e and 44 were situated on gravel islands on either sideof the main palaeochannel. No archaeological features weredetected in this area in the evaluation. An oval post-builtstructure, c 5 m x 43 m, was discovered at the north end ofSite 4e and number of pits and postholes in the adjacent areaproduced a small quantity of Bronze Age pottery andfragments of cylindrical clay loomweights. Well-preservedorganic deposits, including dung beetles, came from anadjacent waterhole. A further light scatter of pits andpostholes lay towards the southern end of the trench.Only two features were found on Site 44, a cremation and asmall pit, both of which were situated on the southem bankof the palaeochannel.Observation area 4eSeveral large pits containing Bronze Age pottery, burntstone and charred plant remains were discovered duringobservation work, but no concentrations of features werefound. Roman field-boundary ditches ran across this area.ReferenceHey, G, 1994 Yamton-Cassington evaluation, SMA 24,49-5285

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VVESSEX ARCHAEOLOGYUtley Lock, Oxford (SP 4526 2036).Archaeological divingDavid ParhamWe were commissioned by The Environment Agency tocarry out an inspection of the Lock at Iffley on the RiverThames in cormection with engineering works concernedwith riverbank protection. The aim of these operations wasto record a section of river revetment adjacent to theup-stream entrance to the old lock cut. The Old Lock maydate back to c 1630 and is a Listed Building.In the course of the archaeological inspection, a serie,s ofmeasured sketches were drawn to identify some of therelationships between timbers and surrounding stonework.The majority of the timbers upstream of the Old Lock werethin vertical planks butted edge to edge, probably to formshuttering for the gravel/concrete behind. In addition, therewas a series of eroded piles in front of, but not connected to,the shuttering. These piles may have been mooring orrubbing posts. Neither the shuttering nor the piles were ofarchaeological interest.Immediately upstream of the Old Lock apron there was ac 5 m section of vertical timberwork against the bank. Thetimberwork comprised:- one set of substantial vertical planks butted edge toedge immediately against the bank, including at least onemajor pile (`King post') that had been jointed to ahorizontal timber which is now absent;Oxfordshirethe stonework of the sides of the apron and may thereforepre-date the stone sides. The timber floor was partiallyobscured by rubbish and silt. The apron floor wascomparable (though by no means identical) with the firstphase of the head apron recorded at Monkey Marsh Lock.Although it is not possible to date the features observed froma simple inspection, it seems likely that both the sidestructure and the apron floor may date to the 18th century,though it is possible that some of the timbers are of earlierdate. Both the timber floor and the timber side structureappear to be integral elements of the Old Lock.Worsham Quarry, Burford Road, Asthall(SP 2958 1028).Roland J C SmithEvah4ationIn June 1998 we were commissioned by T.T.L. to undertakean archaeological field evaluation at land adjacent toWorsham Quarry, Asthall, in advance of a proposedextension to the existing quarry. The site lies between anAnglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery recorded during theexcavation of the existing quarry and Asthall Barrow some600m to the west, which is a high status Anglo-Saxon burialmound and Scheduled Monument.The site, totalling c 2 ha, was investigated by 15machine-dug trenches, totalling 675 m2 or 2% of the totalsite area. Only one archaeological feature, an undated quarrypit, probably used for the ad hoc extraction of limestone forwalling or building, was recorded during the evaluation. Noevidence for any Saxon activity was identified.- one set of once substantial but badly eroded verticalplanks sticking out of the bed riverward of the first set;- a major horizontal timber bolted back to the King postwith remnants of planks attached to its back face andsome indications of planking on its front face. Theremnant planks appeared to coincide with the erodedvertical planks protruding from the bed;- various other timbers and piles.The timbers appeared to indicate at least two phases ofconstruction. The timber structure survived to over 2 m inheight and was partially obscured by collapsing stoneworkand rubble, rubbish and silt.Within the Old Lock Cut, the timber floor of the head apronsurvived in a relatively coherent state. The timberworkincluded two mitre cill beams jointed to a centrallongitudinal beam, transverse beams, remnants oflongitudinal planking, remnants of vertical planksprotecting the head of the apron, the base plates whichsupported the lock gates, and various forms of stonepacking. All the timberwork appeared to pass underneath89

IndexIndexNOTE: References in italics denote illustrations.A421 31,35A428 West Haddon bypass 26Abingdon, Oxonprehistoriç Spring Road Cemetery 29-30,30Roman: 64 Bath Street 30-1; oppidum 68; Spring RoadCemetery 29-30, 30; Waste Court, Abingdon School 31Saxon; Spring Road Cemetery 29-30,30medieval: Abbey 71-2, 78; Ock Street 73-4; Penlon Factory,1Ftadley Road 39; Spring Rond Cemetery 29-30, 30; ThamesStreet 71post-medieval; Ock Street 69,74Carswell School 74Pavlova Works, Colwell Drive 39Spring Road Cemetery 29-30,30acromegaly 8-9Alchester, OxonBronze and Iron Age activity 63; Site D 76Castle Mound 63,64Roman military base 61-3,62 fort 6263,64; 64; marching camp61-262 resistivity survey 62, 63, 64, 65; road 61, 62, 62-3,64,65Alexander the Magnificent, bishop of Lincoln 40Alfred, King of the West Saxons 44Alfred's Casde, Ashbury, Oxon 44-53, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52late Bronze/early Iron Age occupation 47, 48, 49-50, 50, 51Roman building 48-50, 49, 50, 51, 53post-Roman occupation 48,51contour survey 45, 51enclosure to north 44,50-1interior 44, 45, 45, 47-50, 49, 50main rampart ditch 45, 46, 47, 51, 52rampart 44, 45, 46, 47, 51,52Anderson shelter, Oxford 83Angrivarii 68animal burialsBarton-le-Clay, Beds (Iron Age and undated) 1Oxford (undated) 78Yamton, Oxon (Bronze Age, fox skull) 85antlersGayhurst, Bucks (in burial) 20,20Harrold, Beds (pick) 2Yamton, Oxon (worn tine) 85archaeomagnetic dating, Ayes Ditch, Oxon 67,69arrowheads, flintbarbed and tanged: Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24; SuttonWick, Oxon 39Bronze Age, unspecified type; Lodge Farm, Oxon 59leaf shaped; Houghton Regis, Beds 12Asbhury, Oxon see Alfred's CasdeAshdown, battle of (AD871) 44Ashdown House, Oxon 44Ashton, Nhants; Ashton Manor moated site 24Asthall, Oxon; Worsham Quarry, Burford Rond 89Aubrey, John 44Aubrey family of Boarstall, Bucks 14Avcs Ditdi, Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Oxon 65-9,65,66enclosure predating 67function 67-8awl, Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon 85axes, stoneMesolithic flint tranchet, Caddington, Beds 10,11Neolithic polished, Sutton Wick, Oxon 38-9polished, Abingdon, Oxon 29quarizite cobble, Sutton Wick, Oxon 38roughout flint, Stewartby, Beds 6B4031 Finmere Diversion, Oxon 31-5,33-4badge, medieval; London Cheapside 9Balscote, Oxon; Manor Farm, 17th/19th-century farm buildings 69Bampton, OxonCheyne Lane; 19thnOth-century gravel quarrying 74The Grange; 19th-century dumping 39Recreation Ground, new Sports Pavilion 74Banbury, OxonNeolithic; Manor Road, Old Grimsbury 75Saxo-Norman; Casde Precincts 40, 41, 42medieval and post-medieval 40,41,42; Bridge Street 40, 41, 42;canal and river-side 40, 41, 42; Castle Precincts 40, 41, 42;Cherwell Centre 74-5; Manor Road, Old Grimsbury 75; MillLane 40, 41, 42; Tooley's Boatyard 40,42Barford St John, Oxon; church of St John 75bark container, prehistoric; Yamton, Oxon 85barley, hulled, late Iron Age/RomanAbingdon, Oxon 31Finmere, Oxon 32barnsmedieval: Banbury, Oxon 75; Biggleswade, Beds 1post-medieval: Shiplake, Oxon 73; Tadmarton, Oxon 70;Woodstock, Oxon 71barrow cemetery, Bronze Age; Gayhurst, Bucks 17, 19-20,19,20Barton-le-Clay, Beds; The Bury, Iron Age to post-medieval 1bath-house, monumental Roman; Castle Mound, Alchester, Oxon63,64Bedfordshire 1-14County Archaeology Service organization 1Beesley, Alfred 53beedes, Bronze Age dung Yamton, Oxon 85belt, medieval pigskin leather, Billington Hill, Beds 7Berkshire Downs; Bronze/Iron Age enclosures 51Bicester, OxonIron Age: Bicester Fields Farm 75-6; Oxford Road site 76; SladeFarm 76medieval; ridge and furrow, Bicester Fields Farm 75The Old Courthouse and Police Station, Church Street 39Bidwell, Beds 12Biggleswade, Beds; Greene King Brewery 1Billington Hill, Beds 7-9inhumations 8-9medieval buclde plate 7, 9, 9pottery 7, 8, 13blacksmithing see metalworkingblade cores, Neolithic flint; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39blades, flintMesolithic; Houghton Regis & Chalton, Beds 12Neolithic; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39Neolithic/Bronze Age; Caddington, Beds 10Blenheim Park, Woodstock, Oxon; High Lodge 70-1Boarstall Tower, Bucks 14, /5, 16bone, animal (see also individual species and animal burials)Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon (deliberate deposit) 85Iron Age: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 51; Bicester, Oxon 76; HartingRoad, Beds 10; Thrupp, Oxon 30Roman: Harling Road, Beds 10; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56Saxon; Harrold, Beds 290

medieval: Abingdon, Oxon 74; Somerton, Oxon 43post-medieval: Bill ington Hill, Beds 7; Marlow, Bucks 14unspecified: Sandy, Beds 4; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38bone, human (see also charnel; inhumations)medieval disarticulated; Clattercote Priory, Oxon 42bottles, 17th/18th-century glassBillington Hill, Beds ("onion" or "shaft and globe") 7Marlow, Bucks 14boundaries (see also field systems and under ditches)Ayes Ditch as tribal 68Dray's Ditches 6inhumations on 67post-medieval field-; Witney, Oxon 44bowl, Bronze Age wooden; Yamton, Oxon 85bracelets, Roman copper alloy; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56Bracldey Gate Lodge, Tusmore Park, Oxon 69-70brew-houses and breweriesAbingdon, Oxon 71Banbury, Oxon 75Biggleswade, Beds 1Oxford 72Wooburn, Bucks 22Woodstock, Oxon undated 40brickRoman, in medieval kiln construction; Dunstable, Beds 915th-century building; Ewelme, Oxon 72Victorian; Oxford 77brickearth extraction; Caddington, Beds 10,11Brigstock, Nhants; Latham Road, Saxon and post-medieval 24briquetage, Droitwich; Bicester, Oxon 76Bromham, Beds; St Owen's Church 1brooches, Roman copper alloyAbingdon, Oxon 29,30Alfred's Castle, Oxon 47Brown, Lancelot 'Capability' 70-1Budcinghamshire 14-23County Archaeology Service organization 14buckle plate, medieval copper alloy-, Billington Hill, Beds 7, 9,9building materials (see also individual types)post-medieval; Ashton, Nhants 24buildings, unspecifiedRoman; Alfred's C,astle, Oxon 48-50, 49,50, 53medieval: Banbury, Oxon 40,42; Northampton 25; Oxford 39,80,81post-medieval: Banbury, Oxon 42; Northampton 25; Oxford 80,81; Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29burial mound, princely Saxon; Taplow, Bucks 23Caddington, Beds; Chaul End, prehistoric, medieval, post-medieval10,11Callow Hill, Wootton, Oxon 65carbonised materialBronze Age: Gayhurst, Bucks 17; Yamton, Oxon 85Iron Age: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 50; Bicester, Oxon 76; Finmere,Oxon 32Roman: Abingdon, Oxon 31; Finmere, Oxon 32; Oxford 79carpentry, structurallate medieval; Oxford 72post-medieval: Blenheim Park, Oxon 70-1; Ewelme, Oxon 72Cassington Mill, Oxon; oppidum 68castle, Saxo-Norman; Banbury 40,41, 42initial timber and earthwork phase 40cattle bones; large deposit in barrow ditch, Gayhurst, Bucks 20Catuvellauni 68Indexcauseways, prehistoric stone and gravel; Yarnton, Oxon 85, 87,88cellars, post-medieval; Oxford 79,83cemeteries (see also churchyards)Bronze Age barrow; Gayhurst, Bucks 17, 19-20, /9, 20late Iron Age cremation; Harrold, Beds 2,3Roman; Abingdon, Oxon 30-1cerealslate Iron Age/Roman: Abingdon, Oxon 31; Finmere, Oxon 32Roman; Oxford 79cess pit, 17th-century; Marlow, Bucks 14Chanctonbury, Sussex; Roman temple 51charcoallate Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 10Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56Charlton-on-Otmoor, OxonGrange Cottage 42West View Farm 76Chaucer, Alice (later de la Pole, Duche.% of Suffolk) 72Chesterton, Oxon; land adjacent to Red Cow Public House 76Chetwode, Bucks; St Mary and St Nicholas Church 21Chichester, W Sussex late Iron Age defensive earthworks 68Chipping Warden, Nhants; prehistoric flints 24chopping tools, flint; Caddington, Beds 10Church Brampton, Nhants; Northamptonshire County Golf a ub 24churchesme,dieval: Barford St John, Oxon 75; Chetwode, Bucks 21;Edlesborough, Bucks 14; Oxford 78; Radstone, Nhants 25-6;Simpson, Milton Keynes, Bucks 22; South Newington, Oxon83post-medieval; Freeland, Oxon 71undated: Bromham, Beds 1; Poddington, Beds 2-3churchyardsmedieval: Edlesborough, Bucks 14; Olney, Bucics 22post-medieval: High Wycombe, Bucks 21; Sherington, Bucksundated; Wantage, Oxoncisterns, 19th-century; Oxford 83Civil War defencesBanbury, Oxon 42Oxford 79Clattercote Priory, Oxon; medieval buildings 42clay, burntlate Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 10Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 55,56-7medieval; Caddington, Beds 10,11clay objects, fired (see also clay pipes)Iron Age: Bicester, Oxon 76; Finmere, Oxon (perforated plate)32unspecified: Billington Hill, Beds 8; Sandy, Beds 4clay pipesBillington Hill, Beds 7Marlow, Bucks 14Oxford 83Claydon House, Bucks 16Cliveden, Bucks 16coinsCelticCunobelin: Alchester, Oxon 63; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 59Dobtumic silver quarter stater, Swaldiffe lga, Oxon 56unspecified; Round Hill, Oxon 60RomanConstantine, Constantius, Honorius, Theodosius; SwalcliffeLea, Oxon 57,58unspecified: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 48, 53,55, 57; Ayes Ditch,Oxon 67; Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 55, 57;91

IndexWantage, Oxon 43Edward I penny; Abingdon, Oxon 30Cold Harbour Barn, Nhants; Roman pottery 24Collingwood, R.G. 53, 58, 59Colt-Hoare, R. 44cooking platform, late Iron Age/Roman; Finmere, Oxon 32copper alloy objects see bracelets; brooches; buckle plate;rings; spearheadcores, flintMesolithic: Caddington, Beds 10,11; Edeway, Houghton Regis,Beds 12; Pegsdon Shillington, Beds 12Neolithic; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38, 39unspecified; Caddington, Beds 10Cotton, MA. 44counters, Roman bone; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 56County Archaeology Services organization 1, 14Courteenhall, Nhants; Grange Park, Iron Age, Roman and Saxon23Cowley, Oxonmedieval: 159 Oxford Rond 30; Rover Integrated LogisticsCentre 78medieval/post-medieval; Temple Cowley Manor House 79, 80,81cremationsprehistoric: Harrold, Beds 2,3; Yamton, Oxon 85Beaker period; Yamton, Oxon 85Bronze Age: Gayhurst, Bucks, in barrows 17, 19, 20, 20;Wellingborough, Nhants 23Iron Age: Sandy, Beds 4; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Roman: Abingdon, Oxon 30-1; Sandy, Beds 4; SuttonCourtenay, Oxon 84; Towcester, Nhants 26crenellation licence, Boarstall Tower, Bucks 16crossroads burials 67crypt, medieval church; Simpson, Milton Keynes, Bucks 22Crystal Palace, London 73culvert, 1901/20th-century brick; Ewelme, Oxon 72Danesfield Camp, Upper Wittington, Bucks; hillfort 21daub, late Iron Age/Roman; Harting Road, Beds 10Daventry, Nhants; Abbey Centre 24deer, red (see also antlers)Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon 85defences (see also walls, city)Iron Age see Aven DitchRoman: Alchester, Oxon (double ditches) 64,65; Stotfold, Beds(ditch) 6; Towcester, Nhants 26Civil War: Banbury, Oxon 42; Oxford 79Denchworth, Oxon; Village Cross 39dendrochronology; Boarstall Tower, Bucks 16dice, Roman bone; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56ditchesNeolithic; Banbury, Oxon (field boundary) 75Bronze Age: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 47; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon(field boundary) 84Iron Age: Bicester, Oxon (boundary) 75,76; Sandy, Beds 4;Stagsden, Beds 6; Stotfold, Beds (boundary) 6; UpperWittington, Bucks 21; Wellingborough, Nhants 23late Iron Age/early Roman: Finmere, Oxon 31-2, 31, 33-4, 35;Harting Road, Beds 10; Piddington, Nhants (possiblymilitary) 27,27; Sandy, Beds (including boundaries) 4Roman: Alchester, Oxon (double, defensive) 63, 64, 65,(drainage) 63; Gosford and Water Eaton, Oxon 39; HarlingRoad, Beds 10; Oxford 79; Sandy, Bed.s 4; Stagsden, Beds 6;Stotfold, Beds (boundary and defensive)6; Towcester, Nhants(defensive) 26; Wantage, Oxon 43, (boundary) 43; Upton,Oxon 43Saxon: Goring, Oxon 76-7; Wantage, Oxon (linear) 43;Winwick, Nhants (linear) 26; Yamton, Oxon (field boundary)85Saxo-Norman; Banbury, Oxon (defensive) 40medieval: Abingion, Oxon 39, 74; Banbury, Oxon (field) 75;Banbury, Oxon (town boundary) 42; Daventry, Nhants 24;Kettering, Nhants 25; Oxford 80,81; Potterspury, Nhants 25;Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29; Wannington, Nhants 26;Winwick, Nhants 26; Wollaston, Nhants 26post-medieval: Barton-le-Clay, Beds (garden) 1; Gosford andWater Eaton, Oxon (drainage) 39; Marston Moretaine, Beds(boundary) 2; Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, Bucks(1902- century) 21; Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon (roadside) 43;Taplow, Bucks 23; Towcester, Nhants (Civil War defensive)26; Wimvick, Nhants 26; Wollaston, Nhants 26undated: Courteenhall, Nhants 23; Hook Norton, Oxon 43;Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29diving, archaeological; Iffley Lock, Oxon 89Dobunni 59,68dog burial, Roman; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 54,56Dorchester-on-Thames, OxonAnglo-Saxon See 40Dyke Hills oppidum 68dovecotes, 17th/18th-nturyTadmarton, Oxon 70Woodstock, Oxon 71drainspost-medieval: Oxford 80, 81; Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29undated; Woodstock, Oxon 40Dray's Ditches, Streatley, Beds 6Drayton Park Farm, Oxon; Iron Age banks 59Droitwich briquetage; Bicester, Oxon 76droveway, late Iron Age; Salford, Beds 3-4Ducklington, Oxon; Gill Mill Roman site 76dung beetles, Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon 85Dunstable, Beds158 High Street South; medieval ovens 936 Kingsway; medieval and post-medieval pottery 9Market Square 1Dyke Hills, Dorchester, Oxon 68earth dose4 Woodstock, Oxon 71Edeway, Houghton Regis, Beds; Mesolithic flintwork 12Edgehill Project 53Edlesborough, Bucks; St Mary's Church 14education; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 44,53Edworth, Beds; Toplers Hill, Iron Age/Roman enclosures 1Elstow Brook, Beds 6enclosuresprehistoric, Berkshire Downs 44, 51, (see also Alfred's Castle)Iron Age: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 44,50-1; Aven Ditch 67;Bicester, Oxon 75,76; Courteenhall, Nhants 23; Drayton ParkFarm, Oxon (banked) 59; Edworth, Beds 1; Gayhurst, Bucks17; Stagsden, Beds (ditched settlement) 4, 5, 5; Stewartby,Beds 6; Wellingborough, Nhants (agricultural) 23Roman: Alchester, Oxon (military) 62, 63, 64; Edworth, Beds1; Sutton Widr., Oxon 35-9, 36, 37; Towcester, Nhants 26;Wantage, Oxon 43; West Hagboume, Oxon 42-3late Saxon/earlier medieval; Wannington, Nhants 26environmental samples (see also individual types); Stewartby,Beds 6Ewelme, Oxon; School and Schoolmaster's House, medieval 72Exhibition, Great (1851) 7392

Faringdon, Oxon; Romney House 76farm buildings, post-medievalBalscote, Oxon 69Tadmarton, Oxon 70Woodstock, Oxon 71farmhouse, medieval; Banbury, Oxon 75farmsteads, late Iron Age and RomanAlfred's Castle, Oxon 53Drayton Park Farm, Oxon 59Sandy, Beds 4features, unspecifiedMesolithic; Sandy, Beds 4early Bronze Age; Sandy, Beds 4post-medieval; Oxford 78fenceline, Iron Age; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Fermor, William, of Somerton Mill, Oxon 61field systemsprehistoric: Ashdown Estate, Oxon 44; Berkshire Downs 44middle Bronze Age; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84Iron Age; Courteenhall, Nhants 23Roman: Bicester, Oxon 75; Ducklington, Oxon 76; SuttonCourtenay, Oxon 84file, iron; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Fineshade Abbey, Nhants; iron smelting furnace 25Finmere, Oxon; Gravel Farm and Foxley Fields Farm, late IronAge/Romanfarmstead 31-5,33-4flakes, flintNeolithic; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39bon Age; Bicester, Oxon 76undated; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38flint, workedMesolithic: Bicester, Oxon 75; Caddington, Beds 10,11;Chipping Warden, Nhants 24; Edeway, Houghton Regis,Beds 12; Harting Road, Beds 10; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39;Taplow, Bucks 23Neolithic: Caddington, Beds 10,11; Chipping Warden, Nhants24; Harling Road, Beds 10; Houghton Regis, Beds 12; Luton,Beds 7; Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds 12, 12, 13; Round Hill,Oxon 60; Sutton Wick, Oxon 35-6,38-9 Witney, Oxon 44Bronze Age: Caddington, Beds 10; Houghton Regis, Beds 12;Luton, Beds 7; Pegsclon & Shillington, Beds 12,12,13; SuttonCourtenay, Oxon 84unspecified prehistoric: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Harrold, Beds 2;Houghton Regis, Beds 12; Sandy, Beds 4; Stewartby, Beds 6late/post-medieval; Caddington, Beds 10,11undated: Great Barford, Beds 1; Thrupp, Oxon 30flints, fire fracturez]Caddington, Beds 10,11Houghton Regis, Beds 12Luton, Beds 7Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds 1213Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84forcing pits; Cliveden, Bucks 16Ford, Bucks; Moreton Farm 21forges, Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54, 55, 57-8, 58, 59fort, Roman; Alchizter, Oxon 6263,64 64foundation deposit, Roman (infant burial); Wantage, Oxon 43Fox, Henderson and Co engineers 73fox skull, Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon 85Freeland, Oxon; church of St Mary the Virgin 71Fritwell, Oxon; Ayes Ditch 67furnaces, RomanFineshade Abbey, Nhants 25Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 59Indexgardens and garden featuresmedieval; Oxford 80,81post-medieval: Barton-le-Clay, Beds 1; Boarstall Tower, Bucks16; Cliveden, Bucks 16; Kettering, Nhants 25; Pavenham,Beds 2; Stowe, Bucks 17,18; Taplow, Bucks 23Gayhurst Quarry, Bucks; Bronze and Iron Age activity 17, 19-20,19,20geophysical surveysaaydon House, Bucks 16Edworth, Beds 1Stagsden, Beds 4West Haddon, Nhants 26geotechnical pits, Oxford 77Germany 68glassRoman, Alfred's Castle, Oxon: vessel 48; window 48,53post-medieval, unspecified type; Oxford 83glasshouse footings; aiveden, Bucks 16Goodbum, Roger 58Goring, Oxon; Thames Bank, Saxon ditch 76-7Gosford and Water Eaton, Oxon; North Oxford Park and Ride,Roman and post-medieval ditches 39granariesAbingdon Abbey, Oxon 71Woodstock, Oxon 71Granborough, Bucks 14graves (see also mausoleum; vault)Bronze Age plank-lined; Gayhurst, Bucks 17, 19, 20, 20medieval, with chalk cut recess; Edle,sborough, Bucks 14Great Barford, Beds; Bronze and Iron Ages, Saxo-Norman andmedieval 1-2green, village; Granborough, Bucks 14Grim's DitchNorth Oxfordshire 65, 67, 68South Oxfordshire or Mongewell 65,68gulliesprehistorig Taplow, Bucks 23Iron Age; Bicester, Oxon 75-6Roman: Oxford 79; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54,56; Wantage,Oxon 43medieval: Abingdon, Oxon 74; Wollaston, Nhants 26post-medieval; Wollaston, Nhants 26undated; Abingdon, Oxon 29hall, Saxo-Norman; Marston Moretaine, Beds 2hammer stonesIron Age; Bicester, Oxon 76undated flint and quartzite; Sutton Wick, Oxon 39Harling Road, Beds; late Iron Age/Roman ditches, prehistoric flints9Harrold, Beds; land off Meadway, ring ditch, Saxon settlement 2,3Harwell, OxonBlewbury pipeline 42-3Roman site near Zulu Farm 42Haynes, Bed.s; Old Vicarage 6-7hearthslate Iron Age/Roman: Finmere, Oxon (pit) 32 34, 35; HarlingRoad, Beds (hearth stone) 10Roman: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 48, 50; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54,55, 56, 57-8, 58, 59late Saxon; Oxford 79medieval: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 51; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 61hedgelines, medieval; Caddington, Beds 10,11Henley-on-Thames, Oxon; Christ Church United Reformed93

IndexChurch, Reading Road 72High Wycombe, Bucks; All Saints Churchyard 21hillforts see Alfred's Castle; Danesfield Camp; Liddington;Madmarston Camp; Segsbury Camphobnails, Roman; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 47hollowaysBillington Hill, Beds 7Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, Bucks 21Hook Norton, Oxon; Rope Way, undated ditches 43horse bonesIron Age; Wellingborough, Maras (associated with humanremains) 2317th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7Houghton Regis, BedsEdeway 12Houghton Park 12Mill Road 12house platforms and moundsmedieval; Ledwell, Oxon 61; Swaleliffe Lea, Oxon 61,61undated; Granborough, Bucks 14hut, Roman round; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 59hypocausts; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 55, 56, 57, 59icehouses, 19th-nturyMaidenhead, Bucks 21RAF Medmenham, Upper Wittington, Bucks 21ice-wedge polygons, fossil; Finmere, Oxon 31,32Iffley Lock, Oxon 89imbriceg Round Hill, Oxon 60inhumationsearly prehistoric; Harrold, Beds (in ring ditch) 2,3Bronze AgeGayhurst, Bucks (in barrows) 17, 19-20,20Wellingborough, Nhants (crouched) 23Iron Age; Wellingborough, Nhants, (crouched) 23, (in pits,associated with horse bones) 23RomanAbingdon, Oxon 31Alfred's Castle, Oxon (infant) 48Aven Ditch (with smashed skull) 65,67Duddington, Oxon 76Gayhurst, Bucks (decapitated) 20Towcester, Nhants (including decapitated) 26Wantage, Oxon (infant, foundation deposit) 43medieval; Edlesborough, Bucks (chalk cut head recess) 14undated; Billington Hill, Beds (with acromegaly) 8-9kennel, 18th-century; Crowsley Park House, Shiplake, Oxon 73Kettering, Nhants; The Rectory, medieval ditch and soil 25kilos (see also ovens)late Iron Age/Roman; Finmere, Oxon 32medieval: Dunstable, Beds 9; Potterspury, Nhants (pottery) 25Kings Sutton, Nhants; Blacklands Roman site 59Kingston Lisle, Oxon; Fawler Copse 84kitchen, medieval; Oxford 79knives, flintBronze Age piano-convex Gayhurst, Bucks 20,20undated; Sutton Wick, Oxon 39ladder, Bronze Age log; Yamton, Oxon 85lead shot; Marlow, Bucks 14Leafield Reservoir, Oxon 43Ledwell, Oxon; The Ashcroft's Field, house platforms 61Liddington hillfort, Swindon 47Lincoln, See of 40Lipscombe, G.; History of Buckinghamshire 14,15Little Rollright, Oxon; Manor Farm 77lock, canal; Iffley Lock, Oxford 89lock, Roman spring Bill ington Hill, Beds 7Lodge Farm, Oxon; Bronze Age flints 59London; medieval budde plate and badge 9loomweightsBronze Age cylindrical clay; Yamton, Oxon 85Iron Age; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Luton, Bedsallotment survey (Lewsey Farm, New Bedford Road, RoundGreen, Stockwood Park, Toddington Road, Wigmore Lane,Wigmore Valley Park); Neolithic/Bronze Age flints 7Limbury; medieval pottery and pegtile 7Willow Way; late Iron Age/early Roman 7lynchets, medieval; Caddington, Beds 10,11Lysons, Rev. D and S.44Maddle Farm, Berkshire Downs; Roman villa 51Madmarston Camp, Oxon (hillfort); 4th-century re-use 60magnetometry surveysAlcster Roman base, Oxon 63Alfred's Castle, Oxon 44,47Maidenhead, Bucks; Berry Hill Icehouse 21maltings, post-medieval; Biggleswade, Beds 1manor houses (see also Ashton; Princes Risborough; Sulgrave;Temple Cowley) Boarstall, Bucks 14, /5, 16IVtarlow, Budcs; Marlow Brewery, High Street 14Marston Moretaine, Beds; Church End Lower School,Saxo-Norman hall,late/post-medieval sawpit 2mausoleum, pst-medieval; High Wycombe, Bucks 21May Hill Sandstone saddle quern; Bicester, Oxon 76Medmenham RAF station, Upper Wittington, Bucks; Iron Age,medieval, post-medieval 21Merton/Wendlebury, Oxon see Alchestermetal detectorists, Northamptonshire 24metalworking (see also forges; furnaces; hearth.s; slag)Iron Age: Bicester, Oxon 75, 76; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54, 55, 57-8, 58, 59microliths; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39midden deposit, medieval; Thrupp, Oxon 30Middle Aston, Oxon; Grange Farm, late Roman finds 60Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Oxon see Aven Ditchmillsmedieval; Banbury, Oxon 40,42post-medieval: Little Woolstone, Milton Keynes, Bucks 20-1;Somerton Mill, Oxon 61Milton Keynes, BucksLittle Woolstone, Mill Lane; mill lent 20-1Loughton, Leys Road; medieval pit 20Shenley Brook End; ridge and furrow 22Shenley Church End, Oalchill Road; holloway 21Simpson, St Thomas' Church nmoated sitesAshton Manor, Nhants 24Banbury, Oxon 40,42molluscan sample, Roman; Alchester, Oxon 62monastic buildingsAbingdon Abbey, Oxon 71-2Clattercote Priory, Oxon 42Daventry, Nhants 24Oxford 82-394

mosaics, RomanStowe, Bucks 17Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54, 55, 56, 57nails, Roman roof-; Alfred's Castle, OxonNational Archaeology Day (1998) 44, 53NorthamptonSaxon: Marefair 25; Moat House Hotel 25medieval: Bridge Street 25; Marefair 25; Moat House Hotel 25;Pike Lane 25post-medieval: King Street 25; Pike Lane 25Northamptonshire 23-9Norwich; medieval buckle plate 9oak fragments, Roman; Abingdon, Oxon 31Old Stratford, Nhants; Towcester Road 23Olney, Bucks; St Peter and St Paul's churchyard 22oppida 68Abingdon, Oxon 68Cassington Mill, Oxon 68Dyke Hills, Oxon 68OPUS signinumAlfred's Castle, Oxon 48Wantage, Oxon 43Ordnance Survey of Banbury, 19th-century 40Ot Moor, Oxon 63Otney, Oxon see Sutton Wickovens (see also furnaces; kilns)Roman malting; Towcester, Nhantsmedieval; Dunstable, Beds 9Over Worton, Oxon; Worton House, medieval earthworks 77ox boneslate Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 1017th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7OxfordBronze Age; barrow ditch, Sadder Library site 82Roman: Headington, ACE Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre77; Mansfield College, rural settlement 79Saxon: Lincoln College 78-9; The Queen's College 83medieval: Beaumont Palace 82-3; Becket St 39; Bocardo(prison) 78; city wall 83; 36 Cornmarket 78; Cowley, RoverIntegrated Logistics Centre 78; Horspath, St Giles Church 78;King's Mill 77; Lincoln College 78-9; New College 72; TheQueen's College 83; Sadder Library site 82-3; 37a St Giles82; St Hugh's College 82; St Thomas High Street 39; Salter'sBoatyard, Abingdon Road 82; Temple Cowley Manor House79, 80, 81; Whitefriars' Friary 82-3post-medieval: 2 Barnwell Road, Wychwood School 77; BecketSt 39,77; 18 Broad Street 83; Civil War defences 79;Eastwyke Farm, Abingdon Road 78; 1-2 Folly Bridge 78;Godstow Weir 78; Headington, ACE Centre, NuffieldOrthopaedic Centre 77; Littlemore Hospital 79; MansfieldCollege 79; New College Sports Ground, St Cross Road 79;Paisley House, 436 Abingdon Road; paper house 70; TheQueen's College 83; Red Ox Ditch 39; Rewley Road, FireStation 81-2; Rewley Road, Former LMS Station 73; Salter'sBoatyard, Abingdon Road 82; Temple Cowley Manor House79, 80, 81other sites: Centre for Islamic Studies, King's Mill lane 77;Church Street 39; Nuffield Press 79, 80, 81; St Frideswide'sBridge, Botley Road 40Oxfordshire 29-89oyster shells, late Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 10Indexpainting, wall-Roman; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 48, 5316th-century; Ewelme, Oxon 72palaeochannelsGayhurst, Bucks 17Sandy, Beds 4Yamton, Oxon 85, 86, 87palisade, Saxo-Norman defensive; Banbury, Oxon 40paper building; Oxford 79pathologyacromegaly; Billington Hill, Beds 8-9Pon's Disease; Towcester, Nhants 26paths, gardenBoarstall Tower, Bucks 16Stowe, Bucks 17Pavenham, Beds; Walled Garden 2Paxton, Sir Joseph 73Pearson, John Loughborough 71peas, Roman carbonised; Oxford 79peat deposits, prehistoric and Roman; Sandy, Beds 4pebble-hammer, Iron Age; Bicester, Oxon 76Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds; prehistoric flints, Iron Age, Romanand medieval material 11-la 12,13pegtile see under tilesphotography, aerialAlfred's Castle, Oxon 44Ayes Ditch, Oxon 67Edworth, Beds 1Sandy, Beds 4Piddington Roman villa, Nhants 27, 27, 28pre-villa features 27, 27piercers, flint Caddington, Beds 10pig bonesBronze Age; Gayhurst, Bucks (foreleg in barrow) 19late Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 1017th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7pila, Roman; Wantage, Oxon 43pinsearly Iron Age swan's neck; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 50Roman bone hair-; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 48piscina, medieval; Chetwode, Bucics 21pits (see also cess pit; quarry pits; saw pit)prehistoric: Gayhurst, Bucks (alignment) 17; Yamton, Oxon 85Neolithic: Banbury, Oxon 75; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Beaker cremation; Yamton, Oxon 85Bronze Age: Great Barford, Beds 1-Z Wellingborough, NhantsYamton, Oxon 85Iron Age: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 50,50; Barton- le-Clay, Beds1; Sandy, Beds 4; Upper Wittington, Bucks 21;Wellingborough, Nhants 23early Iron Age: Alfred's Casde, Oxon 47,49-50; Great Barford,Beds 1-2late Iron Age: Courteenhall, Nhants 23; Finmere, Oxon 3235;Salford, Beds 4; Sandy, Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 6Roman: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 49-50; Finmere, Oxon 32,35;Sandy, Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 6; Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon43; Wantage, Oxon 43Saxon: Brigstock, Nhants 24; Harrold, Beds 23; NorthamptonOxford 83; Stewartby, Beds 6medieval: Abingdon, Oxon 39,74; Daventry, Nhants 24;Marston Moretaine, Beds Z Milton Keynes, Bucks 20;Northampton 25; Oxford 79, 80, 81, 82, 83; Potterspury,Nhants 25; Wollaston, Nhants 26post-medieval: Bampton, Oxon (quany) 74; Brigstock, NhantsOxford 79, 80, 81, 83; Shenley Church End, MiltonKeynes, Bucks; Sutton Wick, Oxon 37,37; Witney, Oxon95

Index84-5; Wollaston, Nhants 26undated: Courteenhall, Nhants 23; Oxford 78; Worsham Quarry,Asthall, Oxon 89plaster, wallRoman: Alfred's Castle, Oxon (saine painted) 48,53; HarlingRoad, Beds 10; Wantage, Oxon 4317th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7platforms, medieval/post-medieval buildingBanbury, Oxon 75Caddington, Beds 10,11Poddington, Beds; Church of St Mary the Virgin 2-3Pole (nehe Chaucer), Alice de la 72Pole, William de la (1396-1450, 1st Duke of Suffolk) 72pondshen Age; Wellingborough, Nhants 23post-medieval: Shepley Church End, Milton Keynes, Bucks 21;Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29post-built structuresprehistoric oval; Yamton, Oxon 85Saxon; Harrold, Beds 2,3undated, possibly Roman; Sutton Wick, Oxon 36,36-7post-holesBronze Age: Great Barford, Beds 1-2; Yamton, Oxon 85Iron Age: Alfred's Casde, Oxon 47, 50; Finmere, Oxon 32; GreatBarford, Beds 1-2; Salford, Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 6;Stewartby, Beds 6; Thrupp, Oxon 30,31; Wellingborough,Nhants 23; Yarnton, Oxon 85unspecified prehistoric; Taplow, Bucks 23Roman: Finmere, Oxon 32, Hailing Road, Beds 10; Oxford 79;Stagsden, Beds 6; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 54,56; Yarnton,Oxon 85Saxon: Oxford 83; Stewartby, Beds 6medieval; Abingdon, Oxon 74post-medieval; Witney, Oxon 84undated: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon 43;Stewartby, Beds 6; Sutton Wick, Oxon 36-7post-pits, late Saxon/earlier medieval; Warmington, Nhants 26pot-boiler stones, late Iron Age/RomanFinmere, Oxon 32Harling Road, Beds 10potter's stamp of Genitor, Les Martres de Veyre; Swalcliffe Lea,Oxon 56Potterspury, Nhants; High Street, medieval Idln 25potteryNeolithic; Abingdon, Oxon 29Beaker, decorated; Yamton, Oxon 85Bronze Ageearly/middle; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84late: Alfred's Castle, Oxon 47,49; Taplow, Bucks 23Collared Urns: Gayhurst, Bucks 20,20; Harrold, Beds 2;Sutton Wick, Oxon 36,38Globular Ums; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84unspecified: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Yamton, Oxon 85lion Ageearly: Alfred's C.astle, Oxon 47,49; Caddington, Beds 10,11middle: Bicester, Oxon 75,76; Round Hill, Oxon 60; Thrupp,Oxon 30late: Alfred's Casde, Oxon 44,51; Bicester, Oxon 75,76;Billington, Beds 13; Caddington, Beds 10,11; Finmere,Oxon 31, 32, 35; Harling Road, Beds 10; Luton, Beds 7;Salford, Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 6; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 59Belgic; Fimnere, Oxon 31, 32, 35globular bowl; Tbmpp, Oxon 30globular jars, beaded; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 51hand-made; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 50incised, possibly Chinnor-Wandlebury; Alfred's Castle, Oxon51shell tempered: Harling Road, Beds 10; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon56unspecified: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 44,51; Ayes Ditch, Oxon 67; Barton-le-Clay, Beds 1;Houghton Regis, Beds 12; Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds 12,12,13; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Romanamphorae, Spanish; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 60black burnished: Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon56grey wares: Cold Harbour Barn, Nhants 24; RainsboroughCamp, Nhants 24; Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swaldiffe Lea,Oxon 60grog wares: Ccdd Harbour Barn, Nhants 24; RainsboroughCamp, Nhants 24; Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swaldiffe Lea,Oxon 60Hartshill: Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 60mortaria: Round Hill, Oxon 60; Williamscot, Oxon 60Nene Valley: Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24; Round Hill,Oxon 60; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 60Oxford: Cold Harbour Barn, Nhants 24; Rainsborough Camp,Nhants 24; Round Hill, Oxon 60; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 60Rhineland; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 60samian: Harling Road, Beds 10; Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds12; Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24; Round Hill, Oxon 60,(Central-Gaulish) Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 60; (inscribed'Severus Antoninus') Round Hill, Oxon 60Savemake; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56Severn Valley; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 56shell tempered: Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24; SwalcliffeLea, Oxon 60unspecified: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Alchester, Oxon 62;Alfred's Casde, Oxon 44, 48,51; Ashton, Nhants 24; AyesDitch, Oxon 67; Billington, Beds 7, 8, 13; Blewbury, Oxon43; Caddington, Beds 10,11; Cold Harbour Barn, Nhants24; Finmere, Oxon 32; Harling Road, Beds 10; Harwell,Oxon 42; Houghton Regis, Beds 12; Luton, Beds 7; Oxford77; Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds 12, 12, 13; Pytchley,Nhants 25; Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24; Round Hill,Oxon 60; Stagsden, Beds 6; Stewartby, Beds 6; SuttonCourtenay, Oxon 84; Sutton Wick, Oxon 37; SwaldiffeLea, Oxon 56, 59, 60, 60; Upper Sundon, Beds 13; Wantage,Oxon 43; West Hagboume, Oxon 43; Williamscot, Oxon60Saxonearly: Billington Hill, Beds (hand-made) 7; Finmere, Oxon 35early/middle: Brigstock, Nhants 24; Courteenhall, Nhants 23;Harrold, Beds 2; Northampton 25late/Saxo-Norman: Banbury, Oxon 42, Great Barford, Beds 1;Oxford 79,81St Neots; Billington Hill, Beds 7unspecified: Abingdon, Oxon 29; Houghton Regis, Beds 12;Wantage, Oxon 43medieval: Abingdon, Oxon 74; Ashton, Nhants 24; Banbury,Oxon 42; Billington, Beds 13; Billington Hill, Beds 7;Caddington, Beds 10,11; Cowley, Oxon 30; Dunstable, Beds9; Great Barford, Beds 1; Harting Road, Beds 10; Luton, Beds7; Oxford 39, 78, 79, 82, 83; Pegsdon & Shillington, Beds 12,12,13; Potterspury, Nhants 25; Somerton, Oxon 43; SulgraveManor, Nhants 29; Swalcliffe Lest, Oxon 58,61; Thrupp,Oxon 30; Upper Sundon, Beds 12-13; Upper Wittington,Bucks 21; WiMey, Oxon 85post-medieval: Ashton, Nhants 24; Banbury, Oxon 42,Billington Hill, Beds, C17th 7,8; Brigstock, Nhants 24;Caddington, Beds 10,11; Dunstable, Beds 9; Harling Road,96

Beds 10; Houghton Regis, Beds 12; Marlow, Bucks 14;Oxford 77,83; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 58,61; Upper Sundon,Bed.s 13Pott's Disease; Towcester, Nhants 26Princes Risborough Manor House, Bucks 16prison, medieval; Oxford Bocardo 78privies, post-medievalOxford 83Woodstock, Oxon 71projectile points, microlith; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38Pnous fragments, Roman; Abingdon, Oxon 31Puddlehill, Beds 12Pugin, Augustus Welby Northmore 21Pugin, Edward Welby 21pyre debris, Bronze Age; Gayhurst, Bucks 19Pytchley, Nhants: Pytchley Golf Club, Roman pottery 25quarry piLsRoman; Ducklington, Oxon 76medieval: Northampton 25; Oxford 82post-medieval: Bampton, Oxon 74; Stewartby, Beds 6; SuttonWick, Oxon 37, 37, 38undated; Worsham Quarry, Asthall, Oxon 89quartzite tools; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39quay, post-medieval; Banbury, Oxon 42quernsBronze Age saddle; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84Iron Age saddle; Bicester, Oxon 76Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 56undated; Houghton Regis, Beds 12radar, ground-penetratingAlfred's Castle, Oxon 44,51Banbury, Oxon 40Radstone, Nhants; St Lawrence's Church 25-6Rainsboroug,h Camp, Nhants; flints and Roman pottery 24resistivity surveysAlchester, Oxon 62 63, 64, 65Boarstall Tower, Bucks 16revetments18th-century timber, Iffley Lock, Oxon 89undated cobble and ironstone; Winwick, Nhants 26Richmond, Ian 58ridge and furrowBicester, Oxon 75Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes, Bucks 22Stewartby, Beds 6ring ditches (see also barrow cemetery)early prehistoric-, Harrold, Beds 23rings, Roman copper alloy; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 56roads, RomanAlchester, Oxon 61,62, 62-3, 64, 65Edworth, Beds (Baldock to Godmanchester) 1Finmere, Oxon (Alcester to Towcester) 35Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon (Tiddington to Kings Sutton) 59robber trenchs, medieval; Oxford 80, 81, 82-3roofs (see also under files)late medieval crown-post, Oxford 72medieval/post-medieval, Radstone, Nhants 25-6post-medieval, Oxford: glass and iron 73; paper-covered 70Rothschild family 16Round Hill, Oxon; Roman settlement 53, 59, 60roundhousesBicester, Oxon 75Edworth, Beds 1Stags:len, Beds 4,5IndexSalford, BedsWhitsundoles Farm, late Iron Age trackway and settlement 3-4Sandy, BedsBecks Land, Iron Age settlement 4Ivel Farm, late Iron Age/Roman settlement 4sarsen stones, Alfred's Castle, Oxon 44, 48, 50in rampart 45, 46, 51, 52saw pit, late/early post-medieval; Marston Moretaine, Beds 2sawmill, 18th-century; West Wycombe, Bucks 16-17scrapers, flintCaddington, Beds 10Lodge Farm, Oxon 59Rainsborough Camp, Nhants 24Sutton Wick, Oxon 38,39sculpture base; King George's Column, Stowe, Bucks 17,18Sea Eagle bones, 17th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7seal, 17dt-century wine bottle; Billington Hill, Beds 7seeds, Roman; Abingdon, Oxon 31Seeley guide to Stowe, Bucks 17Segsbury Camp, Oxon; hillfort 45, 47, 50setdementsIron Age: Salford, Beds 4; Sandy, Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 4-6,5; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Roman: Oxford (rural) 79; Round Hill, Oxon 53, 59; Sandy,Beds 4; Stagsden, Beds 4-6,5; West Haddon, Nhants 26early/middle Saxon; Harrold, Beds 2,3late Saxon/earlier medieval; Warmington, Nhants 26pre-17th-century; Granborough, Bucks 14sheep boneslate Iron Age/Roman; Harling Road, Beds 1017th-century; Billington Hill, Beds 7shelter shed, post-medieval; Tadmarton, Oxon 70Sherington, Bucks; St Laud's Churchyard 22Shiplake, Oxon; Crowsley Park House 73Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxon; Shaven Crown Hotel, medievaldeposits 43shot, lead; Marlow, Bucks 14slculls, humanprehistoric: Alfred's Castle, Oxon (cut) 49; Aves Ditch(smashed) 65,67undated: Thrupp, Oxon 30Slade Farm, Bicester, Oxon; late Iron Age rural site 76slag, ironRoman:1Fineshade Abbey, Nhants 25; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 57,59,60Saxo-Norman; Oxford 83slates, Roman limestone (see also tiles)Cold Harbour Barn, Nhants 24Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 60slots, wallIron Age/Roman; Yamton, Oxon 85late Saxon/earlier medieval; Warmington, Nhants 26medieval: Oxford 80,81; Wannington, Nhants 26snails, land, possibly Roman; Sutton Wick, Oxon 38Somertcm, OxonDovecote Farm, medieval and post-medieval 43Somerton Mill 61South Newington, Oxon; church of St Peter ad Vincula 83South Stoke, Oxon; Manor Farm 73spearhead, Bronze Age copper alloy; Yamton, Oxon 85,87stablesmedieval; Oxford 7297

Indexpost-medieval: Crowsley Park House, Oxon 73; Tadmarton,Oxon 70; Woodstock, Oxon 71stack-ring, Iron Age; Bicester, Oxon 76Stagsden, Beds; Golf Course, Iron Age and Roman settlements 4-6,5staircase, 19th-century; Ewelme, Oxon 72stake-holes, undatedOxford 39Sutton Wick, Oxon (possibly Roman) 36-7stakes from Iron Age trackway; Thrupp, Oxon 30,31Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxon; 27 High Street, Roman and postmedieval43Starveall Farm, Wilts; Roman villa 51Stewartby, Beds; "Millennium" Country Park, Iron Age to postmedievalactivity 6stokehole, Roman hypocaust; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 57stone, prehistoric worked (see also flint, worked; quartzite tools;and individual types of artefact)Bicester, Oxon 76Harrold, Beds 2Sutton Wick, Oxon 38stones, burnt and heat-fractured (see also flints, fire-fractured;pot-boiler stones)prehistorig Yamton, Oxon 85late Iron Age/Roman; Finmere, Oxon 32Stotfold, Beds; Groveland Way, Bronze Age to Saxon 6Stowe, Bucks; landscape gardems, King George's Column 17,18Streatley, Beds; Bramingham Lane 6Sulgrave Manor, Nhants; post-medieval features 29sunken buildings, early/middle Saxon; Harold, Beds 2,3surfaces, metalledlate Iron Age/early Roman: Stagsden, Beds 6; Stewartby, Beds6Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 53, 54, 56Saxo-Norman; Oxford 83medieval: Abingdon, Oxon 74; Banbury, Oxon 42; Caddington,Beds 10, 11; Somerton, Oxon 43post-medieval: Caddington, Beds 10,11; Marston Moretaine,Beds 2; Somercote, Oxon 43; Sulgrave Manor, Nhants 29surveying skills, Iron Age 68Sutton Courtenay, Oxon; Appleford Sidings, middle Bronze Ageand Roman 83-4Sutton Wick, Sutton Courtenay, Oxon; Area C, Bronze Age,Roman, post-medieval 35-9, 36, 37Swaldiffe Lea, OxonRoman: Blakelands Field villa site 53-9,54,55, 58,(1st-centurybuilding) 54, 55, 56, (3rd/4th-century building)54, 55,56-8,(late 4th-century industrial phase) 57-8,58; The Flatsettlement site 60, 60; Roman village 58-9medieval village, Town Ground 58-9, 60, 61, 61Tacitus, Cornelius, on Germany 68Tadmarton, Oxon; Preedy's Farm 70Taplow, BucksSaxon burial mound 23Taplow Court, prehistoric and post-medieval 22-3tegulaePegsdon Common, Beds 13Round Hill, Oxon 60temple, possible Roman; Alfred's Castle, Oxon 51Temple Cowley Manor House, Oxford 79, 80, 81tenements, medievalAbingdon, Oxon 74Oxford 39tesserae; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon 54, 55, 56, 57Theed, Thomas 7Thomborough, Bucks; Roman mosaic pavement 17Thrupp, near Radley, Oxon; Iron Age trackway, medieval middendeposit 30,31tiles (see also slates)Romanbox-; Wantage, Oxon 43hypocaus4 Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 55,57roofing: Alfred's Castle, Oxon (stone) 48; Round Hill, Oxon60; Swaldiffe Lea, Oxon (stone) 57; Wantage, Oxon(ceramic and stone) 43unspecified: Finmere, Oxon 32; Harling Road, Beds 10;Perdon Shillington, Beds 12medievalpeg: }lading Road, Beds 10; Luton, Beds 7yellow glazed; Dunstable, Beds (yellow glazed) 9unspecified: Barton-le-Clay, Beds 1; Harling Road, Beds 10;Oxford 78post-medieval: Barton-le-Clay, Beds 1; Pavenham, Beds 2;Oxford 77timbercarbonised, Bronze Age; Gayhurst, Bucks 17waterlogged: Bronze Age, Yamton, Oxon 85,87; late-/earlypost-medieval, Marston Moretaine, Beds 2timber framed buildings15th-century; Ewelme, Oxon 7216th-century; South Stoke, Oxon 7317th/18th-century: Abingdon, Oxon 69; Princes Risborough,Bucks 16dmber structures (see also post-built structures; timber framedbuildings)Roman: Oxford 79; Towcester, Nhants 26Saxon/medieval; Warmington, Nhants 2618th-century; Iffley Lock, Oxon 89Total Station swrvey, Alfred's Castle, Oxon 45,51Towcester, NhantsSponne School 26Water Lane Roman site 266 and 8 Watling Street 23Tower Hill, Oxon 51Towle, John 70trackwaysprehistoric: Berkshire Downs 44; Yamton, Oxon (brushwood)85Iron Age: Aven Ditch, bank reused as 65,67; Courteenhall,Nhants 23; Salford, Beds 3-4; Sandy, Beds 4; Thrupp Oxon30,31Roman: Sandy, Beds 4; Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84; Wantage,Oxon 43medieval: Banbury, Oxon 75; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 61,61post-medieval; Marston Moretaine, Beds 2trade, middle/late Iron Age 76treesprehistoric removal pits; Sutton Wick, Oxon 36,38medieval planting pits; Oxford 82undated tree holes; Bampton, Oxon 74Tusmore Park, Oxon; Brackley Gate Lodge 69-70Uffington C.asde, Oxon 47Upper Heyford, Oxon see Aven DitchUpper Sundon, Beds; field-walking 12-13Upper Wittington, Bucks; Iron Age, medieval, post-medieval 21vault, burial; High Wycombe, Bucks 2198

villas, Roman see under Alfred's Castle; Maddle Fann;Piddington; Starveall Farm; Swalcliffe Lea; WantagevillagesRoman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 58-9medieval shrunken and deserted: Ledwell, Oxon 61; OverWorton, Oxon 77; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 61,61; Winwick,Nhants 26Vincent, Abbot of Abingdon (1121-1130) 71Wallingford, Oxon; Institute of Hydrology 84wall, post-medieval city; Oxford 83Wantage, OxonRoman villa, off Stockholm Way/Denchworth Road 43Saxon: Alfred's capital 44; 78 Mill Street 43Fawler Copse, Kingston Lisle 84St Peter and St Paul churchyard 84Warmington, NhantsSaxo-Norman settlement; Manor House 26medieval; Chapel Street 26watercoursesIron Age; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Roman; Ducklington, Oxon 76waterholes (see also wells)Bronze Age: Sutton Courtenay, Oxon 84; Yamton, Oxon 85Roman; Bicester, Oxon 76post-medieval; Witney, Oxon 84-5waterlogged deposits (see also timber)medieval; Banbury, Oxon 40,42post-medieval sawdust; Marston Moretaine, Beds 2Weathercock Hill, Berks 44, 51Webster, Graham 58weed se,eds, Iron Age/Roman carbonised; Finmere, Oxon 32wells (see also waterholes)medieval; Abingdon, Oxon 7418th-century donkey; Crowsley Park House, Oxon 73Wellingborough, NhantsIndexWilby Way, Bronze and Iron Age site 23Wendlebury, Oxon see AlchesterWessex Hillforts Geophysical Survey Project 44West Haddon, Nhants; Roman, Saxon, medieval settlement 26West Hagbourne, Oxon; Roman enclosure 42-3West Wycombe, Bucks; 18th-century sawmill 16-17wheat, Roman; Abingdon, Oxon 31wheelwrighting, Roman; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 59Williamsoot, Oxon; Kalabergo's Hill Roman site 60Winwick, Nhants; Saxon, medieval, post-medieval 26Witney, OxonDowns Road, Neolithic and post-medieval 44land west of Witney Way, post-medieval 84-5Wollaston, Nhants; Scott Bader site, medieval and post-medieval26Wooburn, Bucics; Royal Stag Worlcs 22wooden objects (see also timber)Bronze Age; Yamton, Oxon 85woodland clearance, prehistoric; Sutton Wick, Oxon 36,38Woodstock, OxonFletcher's House 40High Lodge, Blenheim Park 70-1Manor Farm outbuildings 71Praunce's Place 71woodworkingBronze Age debris; Yamton, Oxon 85Iron Age tools; Wellingborough, Nhants 23Wootton, Oxon; Callow Hill earthworks 65Worsham Quarry, Oxon 89yard, Roman cobbled; Swalcliffe Lea, Oxon 53, 54, 56Yamton, OxonBronze Age causeways and features, IA/Roman field boundaries85,86-8palaeochannels 85, 86,87