West Heslerton: Anglian Settlement: Structural CatalogueWest Heslerton: Anglian Settlement: Structural Catalogue

012AA00251

Latrine

Phasing

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

Discussion

The general lack of latrines and associated cess pits, particularly in the Early Anglo-Saxon period is problematic, a situation not resolved by the discovery of occasional coprolites in Grubenhäuser at Heslerton and elsewhere. The very lack of obvious cess pits has been used in the argument that 'night soiling' must play an important role in the disposal of material culture evidence in the form of domestic rubbish. Certainly some of the Grubenhäuser did contain cess deposits, however, the distribution and scale of these deposits was very limited. This structure represents one of only two that can be readily classified as latrines, comprising a four post structure over a pit with an associated larger settling pit. This structural arrangement which closely matches the Victorian 'earth closets' in its arrangement is paralled in area 11AB (011AB00539). Despite the limited dating evidence it is most likely that this feature derives from the Middle-Saxon occupation and that given the survival of at least one of the post-pipes visible in the fills that the structure decayed in situ. Its situation on the eastern edge of the settlement cutting through earlier boundary features is remote from the occupation core as one might expect. The relatively low frequency of animal bone and other refuse in this feature indicates an entirely different filling regime that that of the Grubenhäuser. The detailed examination of the plant macro-fossil evidence derived through floatation and examination of the flot residues by Wendy Carruthers is of considerable importance.

Although no diagnostic material was recovered from this cess pit, its similarity in form and structure to the Site 11AB example allows us to suggest that this is also Middle Saxon in date. The pit was cut through ditches 012AA00062, 012AA07169 and 012AA07170.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

MASTER	CUT	FILL	VOLUME	OBJECTS	AN BONE	DENSITY
LATRINE	012AA00145	012AA00105		9	14
	012AA00152	012AA00151		1	1
	012AA00164	012AA00163
	012AA00166	012AA00165
	012AA00247	012AA00208		3
	012AA00250	012AA00249
	012AA00251	012AA00090		12	15
	(=012AA00160)	012AA00132		4	5

Object Totals by Material

012AA00090 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID	PERIOD	MATERIAL	No
012AA00090	ROMAN	POTTERY	1
	ROMAN?	IRON	1
	Unassigned	CHARCOAL	4
	Unassigned	IRON	2
	Unassigned	SNAIL	1
	Unassigned	STONE	3

012AA00105 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID	PERIOD	MATERIAL	No
012AA00105	4TH CENTURY	POTTERY	1
	ROMAN	SLAG	1
	Unassigned	FIRED CLAY	1
	Unassigned	IRON	1
	Unassigned	STONE	4
	Unassigned	WORKED STONE?	1

012AA00132 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID	PERIOD	MATERIAL	No
012AA00132	4TH CENTURY	POTTERY	2
	ANGLIAN?	UNFIRED CLAY	1
	Unassigned	STONE	1

012AA00151 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID	PERIOD	MATERIAL	No
012AA00151	Unassigned	STONE	1

012AA00208 Object Totals by Material

KEY_ID	PERIOD	MATERIAL	No
012AA00208	ROMAN	SLAG	1
	Unassigned	COPPER ALLOY	2

Animal Bone Totals by Species

012AA00090 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID	SPECIES	No
012AA00090	Cattle	2
	Sheep	5
	Sheep/goat	8

012AA00105 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID	SPECIES	No
012AA00105	Cattle	2
	Pig	3
	Sheep	3
	Sheep/goat	6

012AA00132 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID	SPECIES	No
012AA00132	Cattle	1
	Horse	1
	Pig	2
	Sheep	1

012AA00151 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID	SPECIES	No
012AA00151	Sheep	1

Structural Details

012AA00145 Section and Notes

012AA00145 North/West Facing Section

012AA00145 South/East Facing Section

012AA00145 South/West Facing Section

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AA00105 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
105

90

20
U-SHAPED FILL OF PIT. MAY BE LOWER PART OF PIT 90/251 RATHER THAN A SEPARATE EVENT BUT WAS ISSUED CUT NO.145.AS YET UNESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

012AA00145 PIT CUT OVATE
150

110

25
U-SHAPED CUT OF PIT 105. DISTINGUISHABLE 20CM BELOW SURFACE OF LARGER PIT 90.

012AA00152 Section and Notes

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AA00151	POST HOLE FILL	ROUND	17	20	49	U-SHAPED	FILL OF DEEP POST HOLE CUT INTO BASE OF PIT 90/251. VERY SLIGHT STONE CONTENT -5% OF SMALL CHALK PEBBLES. CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. NO FINDS.
012AA00152	POST HOLE CUT	ROUND	17	20	49	VERT.SIDE V.BASE	CUT OF DEEP POST HLE CUT INTO BASE OF PIT 90/251. POSS. PART OF LATRINE STRUCTURE.

012AA00164 Section and Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AA00163 POST HOLE FILL ROUND
11

24

40
U-SHAPED FILL OF DEEP PH IN BASE OF PIT 90. NO FINDS. CHARCOAL INCL. RELATIVELY STONE FREE MATRIX -5%

012AA00164 POST HOLE CUT ROUND
11

24

40
VERT.SIDE V.BASE CUT OF DEEP PH IN BASE OF PIT 90. PART OF POSS. LATRINE STRUCTURE.

012AA00166 Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AA00165 POST HOLE FILL ROUND
36

33

50
U-SHAPED FILLOF DEEP LARGE PH IN BASE OF PIT 90. CONSISTED OF MIXED FILL - DARK SANDY LOAM AND LIGHT LOAMY CLAY.

012AA00166 POST HOLE CUT ROUND
36

33

50
VERT.SIDE F.BASE CUT OF DEEP LARGE PH IN BASE OF PIT 90. PART OF POSS. LATRINE STRUCTURE.

012AA00247 Section and Notes

012AA00247 North/West Facing Section

012AA00247 South/West Facing Section

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AA00208 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
42

60

25
U-SHAPED CESS FILL OF PIT. CONTAINED BONE AND BROKEN BRONZE PIN. LOW STONE MATRIX 5%. MUCH OF FILL SAVED AS ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE.

012AA00247 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
66

37

25
FLAT BASED U CUT OF CESS PIT. CUT THROUGH HILLWASH AND DEGRADING CHALK - REDEPOSITED NATURAL?

012AA00250 Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES

012AA00249 POST HOLE FILL OVATE
13

10

35
U-SHAPED FILL OF PH/STAKEHOLE IN BASE OF 251. VERY PLASTIC AND CLAYEY FILL WITH LITTLE STONE.

012AA00250 POST HOLE CUT OVATE
13

10

35
VERT.SIDE V.BASE CUT OF PH/STAKEHOLE IN BASE OF 251. CUT AT ANGLE AN VERY THIN AND DEEP - DRIVEN IN?

012AA00251 Section and Notes

012AA00251 North/East Facing Section

012AA00251 North/West Facing Section

012AA00251 South/East Facing Section

012AA00251 South/West Facing Section

KEY_ID	TYPE	SHAPE	L	B	D	PROFILE	NOTES
012AA00090	PIT FILL	SUB-CIRCULAR	274	190	10	U-SHAPED	PIT FILL. 15% CHALK INCL. CHARCOAL AND DAUB FLECKS.CONTAINS MASSIVE QUERN FRAGS IRON BONE AND BURNT BONE. AS YET UNDETERMINED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS
012AA00132	LAYER	OVATE	100	62	32	U-SHAPED	ISSUED AS THE LOWER FILL OF PIT 90 WHEN 105 BECAME DISTINGUISHABLE. 9CM BELOW SURFACE OF PIT. CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. SEALS CESS LAYER 208.
012AA00160	PIT CUT	OVATE	274	190	40	U-SHAPED	CUT OF PIT. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER FEATURES NOT YET KNOWN.
012AA00251	PIT CUT	SUB-CIRCULAR	274	190	40	U-SHAPED	CUT OF PIT 90. FINAL STRATIGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS UNCLEAR.

Objects By Context

KEY_ID	OB	PERIOD	MATERIAL	TYPE	SUB_TYPE	CLASS	No
012AA00090	AA	Unassigned	STONE	STONE		RED CHALK	1
012AA00090	AB	Unassigned	CHARCOAL	CHARCOAL SAMPLE			1
012AA00090	AC	Unassigned	SNAIL	SNAIL SAMPLE			10
012AA00090	AD	Unassigned	STONE	STONE		IRONSTONE	1
012AA00090	AE	Unassigned	STONE	STONE		RED CHALK	1
012AA00090	AF	Unassigned	IRON	IRON PIN			1
012AA00090	AG	ROMAN?	IRON	IRON KEY	NON-FE DEC.		1
012AA00090	AH	Unassigned	CHARCOAL	CHARCOAL SAMPLE			1
012AA00090	AI	Unassigned	CHARCOAL	CHARCOAL SAMPLE			1
012AA00090	AJ	Unassigned	IRON	IRON FRAGMENT			1
012AA00090	AK	Unassigned	CHARCOAL	CHARCOAL SAMPLE			1
012AA00090	AL	ROMAN	POTTERY	SHERD			1
012AA00105	AA	Unassigned	WORKED STONE?	STONE	RED SANDSTONE	QUERN FRAG?	1
012AA00105	AB	Unassigned	FIRED CLAY	FIRED CLAY FRAG			1
012AA00105	AC	4TH CENTURY	POTTERY	SHERD		ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AA00105	AD	Unassigned	STONE	PEBBLE			1
012AA00105	AE	Unassigned	STONE	PEBBLE			1
012AA00105	AF	Unassigned	STONE	STONE		LIMESTONE	1
012AA00105	AG	ROMAN	SLAG	SLAG FRAGMENT			1
012AA00105	AH	Unassigned	IRON	IRON OBJECT			1
012AA00105	AI	Unassigned	STONE	STONE BLOCK		SANDSTONE	1
012AA00132	AA	4TH CENTURY	POTTERY	SHERD		ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AA00132	AB	Unassigned	STONE	PEBBLE			1
012AA00132	AC	4TH CENTURY	POTTERY	SHERD		ROMANO-BRITISH	1
012AA00132	AD	ANGLIAN?	UNFIRED CLAY	UNFIRED CLAY			4
012AA00151	AA	Unassigned	STONE	STONE		RED CHALK	3
012AA00208	AA	Unassigned	COPPER ALLOY	C/A PIN?			2
012AA00208	AB	Unassigned	COPPER ALLOY	C/A PIN FRAGMENT			1
012AA00208	AC	ROMAN	SLAG	SLAG			1

Animal Bone By Context

KEY_ID	SPECIES	ELEMENT	QUANT	CHEW	BURN	BUTCH	FBRK
012AA00090	SHEEP	Phalanx 1	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP	Calcaneum	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Femur P	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Mand fr	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	LM3	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Mandible	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00090	SHEEP	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP	M/C P	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	CATTLE	Skull fr	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Scapula	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP	Astragalus	1	0	0	1	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	Mandible	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00090	SHEEP/GOAT	LM3	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00090	CATTLE	M/T P	1	1	0	0	0
012AA00105	PIG	Phalanx 1	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	CATTLE	Phalanx 2	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Phalanx 3	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Phalanx 3	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Skull fr	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	PIG	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Phalanx 2	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Astragalus	1	0	1	0	0
012AA00105	CATTLE	Astragalus	1	1	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP/GOAT	Mand fr	1	0	0	1	0
012AA00105	SHEEP	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	SHEEP	M/C C	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00105	PIG	Fibula	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00105	SHEEP	M/T P	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00132	CATTLE	Phalanx 1	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00132	SHEEP	Mandible	1	1	0	0	0
012AA00132	PIG	Humerus P	1	0	0	0	1
012AA00132	PIG	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00132	HORSE	Tooth	1	0	0	0	0
012AA00151	SHEEP	Mandible	1	0	0	0	0

Environmental Data

Key_Id	Soil vol/l	Flot vol/ml	Charcoal	Comments
012AA00208	10	8	1	Min. Sambucus & Carex: 'cess': Rubus fruticosus: sev. cereals incl. barley
012AA00090 012AA00105 012AA00132	30	64	3	Min. Carex: Thlaspi: Cheno 7 Brassica: upper fill of cess pit: carex: cf. Agrostemma: sev. cereals: incl. barley: Polygonum aviculare: rye: tuber: wheat: 4mm legume: 2mm legume