Untitled - Council for British Archaeology

1 114Two 4-post structures were found in the E half of the site. Both had pitsfor massive posts and one was enclosed by lengths of gully possibly due to theproximity of hut No.3.Also present within the inner enclosure were a number of "bath shapedfeatures" of uncertain use. There were no archaeological features in the areabetween the inner and outer ditches apart from the gravel banks around theditches. Perhaps this space was used for keeping animals in overnight.The SE entrance to the enclosure seems originally to have consisted ofa break in the ditches, with the terminals of the inner ditch inturned. Twopost holes near the terminals of the inner ditch may have been for a gatewayRunning from the outer entrance were two "antennae ditches" about 17m. long.The rectangular compound to the S was a later addition which replaced the"antennae ditches" and a trackway ran along the outside of this compound. Thetrackway turned to enter the enclosure, and its flanking ditches continuing tothe centre of the enclosure. A ,N entrance to the enclosure was created byfilling in the enclosure ditches with gravel causeways. In the final phase ofthe site a metalled surface was put on the trackway covering the roadside ditchesin some places and a gravel causeway across the compound ditch linked thecompound and the roadway.Running across the entrance through the outer enclosure ditch were twoblocking ditches and the inner entrance had been blocked by a single ditch.After a period of slow silting these ditches had been deliberately filled andthe metalled road surface ran over the top of them. The site can perhaps beseen as a pastoral summer encampment on the floodplain and these blockingditches represent periods when the site was unoccupied. So far there ismolluscan evidence that the site suffered flooding before the enclosure wasconstructed and after it was abandoned, but there is no evidence yet as towhether it was inundated during the period of use. The enclosure ditches wereonly about a metre deep and the gravel from them had been upcast on both sidesso the site does not seem to have had a defensive function.Examination of a peat sample from one of the ditches for seeds and insectshas shown that grassland and mixed scrub were present. The woody speciesincluded field maple (Acer campestre) which normally only occurs in longestablished woodland or scrub. Seeds were also found from purging buckthorn(Rhamus catharticus) guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) hazel (Corylus avellana)blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), elder (Sambucus nigra) and hawthorn (Crataegus sp).There are few seeds of grassland plants but the beetles include manyspecimens of Phyllopertha horticola, which has larvae that live on roots ingrassland, and many dung beetles of the genus Aphodius. Perhaps the site wasin an area of grassland in a woodland clearing. The finding of two beaver'steeth in the ditches adds to the impression that the site was in a wet and woodedareaA pilot study by Bob Wilson of more controlled sampling was undertaken toascertain the distribution of bones over the whole site to compare recoverywith normally collected bone samples. For various reasons it was not possibleto intensively sieve sample the site but the results show that bone densities,while variable, are concentrated in the central occupation area and to someextent around the main trackway entrance to the enclosure.In 1978 it is hoped to finish the excavation of the interior of the innerenclosure and investigate the compound to the S.KIDLINGTON, Moat Cottage - Richard ChambersAt Moat Cottage, Kidlington (PRN 9219; centred on SP 488137) trialexcavationsby the local historical society under the direction of R.A. Chambers