011AD07152

Well    Well 011AD00012 (fully excavated)


 
Well Details
Length   150 Maximum Width  150 Maximum Depth  43 Profile Flat based U
Material Culture Number of Objects  79 Number of Animal Bones  70
Environmental       

Phasing

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram


Dendrochronological date of 724AD

Discussion

 A well in the south of area 11AD, on the south edge of the spring. The well was sealed by over a metre of deposit comprised of degraded chalk in a mixed clay and organic matrix. A degraded chalk layer rich in organic inclusions with chalk gravel and animal bone sealed the well. The well initially appeared as a rectangular area of sandy gravel containing a high concentration of animal bone (011AD00011). The removal of this layer uncovered the water-logged timbers of the structure.

The four timbers (011AD00050) lining the well were planks of oak, approximately 90 cms long, 40cms wide and 8cm thick. A 3cm thick layer of silty sand containing small fragments of decayed wood lay immediately above the timbers, possibly indicating another course of timbers but more likely to be the result of the decay of the four recovered planks. The well was simply constructed with over-lapping timbers at the corners and no evidence of retaining timbers. The good preservation of the wood enabled a dendrochronological date to be obtained for the felling of the tree, in October of the year 724AD.

The south half of the well was excavated down to the base before the north half was also removed. The section, below, is a schematic based on the available information and sketches, as no section was drawn when the well was half sectioned (see Well 011AD00012 (half-sectioned)). The base of the well was marked by a series of thin lenses of white and yellow sand interspersed with organic material (not issued with a separate context number). These thin layers are indicative of this type of well; a shallow spring well where the water gathers and moves around the base depositing thin layers of sand and silt.

Two main fills were distinguished within the timbers. The initial fill (011AD00018) was of peaty-clay with chalk blocks up to 10-15cms in size. The fill, approximately 25cms deep, contained animal bone and fragments of water-logged wood. The upper fill (011AD00017) was of sandy gravel with a high concentration of animal bone. Further removal of fill 011AD00011 around the outside of the timbers revealed large blocks of chalk packing (011AD00051). These blocks may have formed a surface around the well to allow easy access and to prevent the water becoming soiled. It is also possible that the whole well was housed in a structure although no evidence of a building was recovered.

The fills within the timber lining (011AD00017 and 011AD00018) contained few finds. The packing (011AD00051) yielded material of many dates, from Prehistoric flints through to a Modern lead washer. The timbers lining the well may not have been the first and it is likely the well may have had previous phases, possibly not all of them timber-lined. The layer sealing the well (011AD00011) also contained finds of varying date and a human bone vertabrae. An end date for the well is problematic considering the breadth of dates obtained from the finds.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

MASTER CUT  FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
 011AD07152
011AD00012 (=011AD00052)
011AD00011
    9 + 3  21 + 2  
   
011AD00017
    1  9  
   
011AD00018
    1  5  
   
011AD00050
        
   
011AD00051
    65  33  

Object Totals by Material

011AD00011 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AD00011 PREHISTORIC FLINT
2
  Unassigned HUMAN BONE
1
  Unassigned IRON
1
  Unassigned SHELL
1
  Unassigned STONE
1
  ANGLIAN UTILISED STONE
2
  ANGLIAN WORKED STONE
1

011AD00017 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AD00017 Unassigned STONE
1

011AD00018 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AD00018 Unassigned CHARCOAL
1

011AD00051 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AD00051 POST MEDIEVAL COPPER ALLOY
1
  Unassigned FIRED CLAY
1
  PREHISTORIC FLINT
3
  Unassigned IRON
10
  MODERN LEAD
1
  ANGLIAN POTTERY
1
  ROMAN POTTERY
4
  Unassigned SHELL
1
  Unassigned SNAIL
1
  Unassigned STONE
39
  Unassigned UNFIRED CLAY
1
  ANGLIAN UTILISED STONE
1
  Unassigned WORKED STONE
1

011AD00052 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011AD00052 ROMAN POTTERY
2
  Unassigned STONE
1

Animal Bone Totals by Species

011AD00011 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AD00011 Cattle
14
  Dog
1
  Horse
2
  Pig
1
  Sheep/Goat
3

011AD00017 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AD00017 Cattle
6
  Pig
1
  Sheep/Goat
2

011AD00018 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AD00018 Cattle
3
  Sheep/Goat
2

011AD00051 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AD00051 Cattle
13
  Horse
6
  Pig
2
  Sheep/Goat
12

011AD00052 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
011AD00052 Pig
1
  Sheep/Goat
1

Context Details

011AD00012 (= 011AD00052) Section and Notes

 KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
011AD00011 WELL FILL SQUARE
0
0
0
 No entry UPPER FILL OF WELL (CUT 12). FILL OF BLUE/GREY CLAY. NO DIMENSIONS MUNSELL ETC RECORDED IN CONTEXT BOOK.
011AD00012 WELL CUT SQUARE
150
150
0
 No entry CUT OF WELL TO SE OF PRESENT SPRING. = TO 52 (2ND CUT NO. ISSUED IN ERROR). CUT INTO CHALK NATURAL. 1ST FILL-TIMBER STRUCTURE 50. NO DIMENSIONS REC.
011AD00017 WELL FILL SQUARE
0
0
15
 No entry FILL OF WELL (CUT 12). LOOSE GREY SANDY FILL WITH c.50% CHALK INCLUSIONS UP TO 2CM DIAM. BUT OCC. LARGER. FINDS OF WATER-LOGGED WOOD AND BONE.
011AD00018 WELL FILL SQUARE
0
0
0
 No entry LOWER FILL(CUT 12). ORGANIC FILL PEAT-LIKE IN PLACES. BAND OF CHALK PEBBLES c. 10CM FROM SURFACE MAY INDICATE STABILISATION LAYER. WATER-LOGGED WOOD+BONE.
011AD00050 WELL FILL No entry
0
0
0
 No entry TIMBER STRUCTURE IN WELL (CUT 12). FOUR WATER-LOGGED TIMBERS PACKED BY CHALK (CTX 51).
011AD00051 WELL FILL ROUND
150
150
0
 No entry PACKING OF WELL (CUT 12). LARGE CHALK STONES UP TO 40CM IN LENGTH USED TO PACK TIMBER STRUCTURE 50. SEE PHOTOGRAPHS IN CTX 50.
011AD00052 No Entry No entry
0
0
0
 No entry EQUAL TO CTX NO. 12. NUMBER ISSUED IN ERROR.

Objects By Context

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
011AD00011 AE PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AD00011 AG PREHISTORIC FLINT FLINT FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00011 AF Unassigned HUMAN BONE BONE VERTEBRAE  
3
011AD00011 AA Unassigned IRON IRON CLEAT    
1
011AD00011 AB Unassigned SHELL SHELL   OYSTER
1
011AD00011 AH Unassigned STONE STONE    
4
011AD00011 AC ANGLIAN UTILISED STONE LAVA NIEDERMENDIG  
15
011AD00011 AD ANGLIAN UTILISED STONE LAVA NIEDERMENDIG  
20
011AD00011 AE ANGLIAN WORKED STONE LAVA NIEDERMENDIG QUERN FRAG
1
011AD00017 AA Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00018 AA Unassigned CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
011AD00051 AJ POST MEDIEVAL COPPER ALLOY C/A BINDING    
1
011AD00051 AT Unassigned FIRED CLAY FIRED CLAY    
1
011AD00051 AY PREHISTORIC FLINT CORE    
1
011AD00051 BQ PREHISTORIC FLINT FLAKE    
1
011AD00051 BV Unassigned FLINT BURNT FLINT    
1
011AD00051 AA Unassigned IRON IRON OBJECT    
2
011AD00051 AG Unassigned IRON IRON FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00051 AK Unassigned IRON IRON NAIL    
1
011AD00051 AM Unassigned IRON IRON FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00051 AV Unassigned IRON IRON FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00051 BD Unassigned IRON IRON OBJECT    
1
011AD00051 BG Unassigned IRON IRON OBJECT KNIFE?  
1
011AD00051 BH Unassigned IRON IRON FLAKE    
1
011AD00051 BK Unassigned IRON IRON FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00051 CJ Unassigned IRON IRON NAIL?    
1
011AD00051 AC MODERN LEAD LEAD WASHER    
1
011AD00051 CA ANGLIAN POTTERY SHERD   ANGLIAN III
1
011AD00051 AN ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMAN
1
011AD00051 BF ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AD00051 BX ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   SAMIAN
1
011AD00051 CC ROMAN POTTERY SHERD BASE? ROMAN
1
011AD00051 BC Unassigned SHELL SHELL FRAGMENT    
1
011AD00051 AD Unassigned SNAIL SNAIL SAMPLE    
1
011AD00051 AE Unassigned STONE STONE   WHITE SANDSTONE
1
011AD00051 AF Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AH Unassigned STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
011AD00051 AI Unassigned STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
011AD00051 AL Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AO Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AP Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AQ Unassigned STONE STONE   LIMESTONE
1
011AD00051 AR Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AS Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AU Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AZ Unassigned STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
011AD00051 BA Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BB Unassigned STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
011AD00051 BE Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AD00051 BI Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BJ Unassigned STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
011AD00051 BL Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AD00051 BM Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BN Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BO Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AD00051 BP Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BR Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BS Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BT Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BU Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AD00051 BW Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 BY Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AD00051 BZ Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 CB Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 CD Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 CE Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 CF Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AD00051 CG Unassigned STONE STONE   SANDSTONE
1
011AD00051 CH Unassigned STONE STONE   IRONSTONE
1
011AD00051 CI Unassigned STONE PEBBLE    
1
011AD00051 CK Unassigned STONE STONE    
8
011AD00051 CL Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 CM Unassigned STONE STONE    
1
011AD00051 AW Unassigned UNFIRED CLAY UNFIRED CLAY    
1
011AD00051 AX ANGLIAN UTILISED STONE LAVA NIEDERMENDIG  
1
011AD00051 AB Unassigned WORKED STONE STONE LIMESTONE QUERN FRAG?
1
011AD00052 AA ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   HUNTCLIFF
1
011AD00052 AC ROMAN POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
011AD00052 AB Unassigned STONE STONE    
2

Animal Bone by Context

KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT QUANT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
011AD00011 CATTLE Atlas
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE Calcaneum
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE Horncore
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE M/C D
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE M/T br
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE M/T P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE M/T P
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE N.Cuboid
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE Occiput
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 CATTLE Radius P
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE Radius P
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE Scapula
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE Tibia D
2
1
0
0
1
011AD00011 CATTLE Ulna
1
1
0
0
1
011AD00011 DOG Tibia br
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 HORSE M/T P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 HORSE Tibia P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 PIG Ulna
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 SHEEP/GOAT Femur br
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00011 SHEEP/GOAT Humerus D
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00011 SHEEP/GOAT Radius br
2
1
0
0
1
011AD00017 CATTLE Femur P
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00017 CATTLE Femur P
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00017 CATTLE Horncore
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00017 CATTLE Humerus D
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00017 CATTLE Pelvis
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00017 CATTLE Phalanx 3
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00017 PIG LM3
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00017 SHEEP/GOAT Mandible
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00017 SHEEP/GOAT Tibia D
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00018 CATTLE Horncore
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00018 CATTLE Radius P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00018 CATTLE Scapula
1
1
0
1
0
011AD00018 SHEEP/GOAT Ld4
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00018 SHEEP/GOAT M/T br
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Calcaneum
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Calcaneum
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Calcaneum
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 CATTLE M/C P
1
0
0
1
0
011AD00051 CATTLE M/C P
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 CATTLE M/T P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Phalanx 1
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Phalanx 1
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Phalanx 3
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Radius P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Tibia D
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Tibia D
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 CATTLE Tibia D
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 HORSE Astragalus
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 HORSE Calcaneum
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 HORSE M/C C
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 HORSE M/podial
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 HORSE Phalanx 3
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 HORSE Phalanx 3
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 PIG Humerus D
1
0
0
1
0
011AD00051 PIG Tibia D
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Astragalus
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Atlas
1
0
0
1
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Calcaneum
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Calcaneum
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Calcaneum
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Calcaneum
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Humerus br
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Mand fr
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Radius P
1
1
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Scapula
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Tibia D
1
0
0
0
1
011AD00051 SHEEP/GOAT Tibia D
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00052 PIG Tibia P
1
0
0
0
0
011AD00052 SHEEP/GOAT Mand fr
1
0
0
0
0