012AD07227

Enclosure Ditch


 
Ditch Details
Length  3194 Maximum Width 76 Maximum Depth 26 Profile U-shaped
Material Culture Number of Objects 78 Number of Animal Bones 61
Environmental       

Phasing

The enclosure was phased to the Middle Saxon period by the finds of 2 Anglian sherds and a fired clay loomweight. Stratigraphically, the ditch cut through ditches 012AD01006, 012AD00881, 012AD00729, 012AD00877 and 012AD00514, as well as pebble surface 012AD00467. It was cut by ditches 012AD00017, 012AD00489, 012AD00721, 012AD00815 and 012AD00817. Unlike the better preserved area to the west, this part of the site did not have deep stratigraphic sequences surviving.

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

      012AD00017     012AD00721    012AD00489    012AD00815    012AD00817        
                               
      012AD00031   =  012AD00533  =        012AD00724          
                               
  012AD00466                             
                               
      012AD00032   =  012AD00534  =        012AD00725          
                       012AD07227        
                               
                               
      012AD00467        012AD00881    012AD00729   012AD00877   012AD00514   012AD01006

Discussion

While believed to have been a single entity during the excavation phase, a number of factors point to this being 2 different events. The first of these is that this enclosure has a different morphology to most of the other enclosures in the area, in that rather than remaining gently curvilinear (as it is in the west), a sharp eastwards turn is taken, into a straight , shallow segment. Had this morphology been repeated to the north, it would have indicated an entrance into the enclosure, but no evidence for this was found. Rather, a definite entrance was noted in the south-west, between segments 012AD00725 and 012AD00534.

The different character of the ditch is continued in its fills, with the straight, east-west oriented segment containing a lighter (10YR 4/3 to 10YR 5/3) sandy loam with 10% chalk inclusions. Only two finds were recovered from this section. The curvilinear, north-south oriented segment contained a darker (10YR 4/2 to 10YR 3/2) sandy loam with 5% or less chalk inclusions. The fills in the curvilinear segment also contained a high density of objects and animal bones. As usual in area 12AD, the majority of diagnostic material was of later Roman pottery (43%), with only 3 finds of a definite Anglian date (2 potsherds and a fragment of fired clay loomweight). The most frequent animal species was sheep/goat (51%), followed by cattle (30%) and then pig (5%).

The north-south segment of the ditch was cut into hillwash containing 30% chalk inclusions, generally with a wide-U profile (slighly V-shaped in places). The east-west segment was cut into chalk natural, and was very shallow, with a flat-based U profile.

An earlier phase of this ditch was seen only in the extreme southern terminus, where 1.4 metres of ditch (012AD00729) remained, before being cut away by the construction of this phase. This short segment contained only 4 sherds of later Roman pottery and a single sheep/goat mandible. The fill was a sandy clay loam (Munsell 10YR 4/2) with less than 5% chalk inclusions. Slight daub and charcoal flecking was noted. The ditch was cut into hillwash, and had a wide-U profile.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

MASTER CUT  FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
012AD07227 012AD00032 012AD00031   1 1  
  012AD00466   0 0  
  012AD00534 012AD00533   30 30  
  012AD00725 012AD00724   47 30  
  012AD00729 012AD00728 4 1

012AD00533 Object Totals by Period and Material

KEY_ID MATERIAL PERIOD No
012AD00533 CHARCOAL  
2
  DAUB  
4
  FIRED CLAY ANGLIAN
1
  POTTERY 2-4C
5
  POTTERY 3-4C
12
  POTTERY 4C
2
  POTTERY ANGLIAN
1

012AD00724 Object Totals by Period and Material

KEY_ID MATERIAL PERIOD No
012AD00724 CHARCOAL  
3
  COPPER ALLOY ANGLIAN?
1
  DAUB ANGLIAN
1
  DAUB  
9
  GLASS ROMAN?
1
  IRON  
2
  POTTERY 2-4C
2
  POTTERY 2C
1
  POTTERY 3-4C
10
  POTTERY 4C
1
  POTTERY ANGLIAN
1
  STONE  
12

012AD00533 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
012AD00533 Cattle
9
  Domestic fowl
1
  Domestic goose
1
  Hare spp.
1
  Horse
1
  Pig
3
  Sheep
3
  Sheep/Goat
11

012AD00724 Animal Bone Totals by Species

KEY_ID SPECIES No
012AD00724 Cattle
9
  Domestic goose
1
  Horse
1
  Pig
2
  Sheep
7
  Sheep/Goat
10

Context Details

012AD00032 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD00031 SLOT FILL LINEAR
1402
34
5
 U-SHAPED ONE ANIMAL BONE FOUND IN EXCAVATED SEGMENT (110 CM LONG). CHALK INCLUSIONS <10% 025 TO 3 CM IN DIAMETER.
012AD00032 SLOT CUT LINEAR
1402
34
15
 U-SHAPED CUT INTO WHITE CHALK NATURAL. ON THE GROUND IT APPEARS AS IF THIS SLOT IS CUT BY AT LEAST 3 OTHERS (SEE NOTES). PLOUGH TRUNCATED AND IRREGULAR BASE.
012AD00466 DITCH FILL LINEAR SEG.
93
20
10
 IRREGULAR PALE DITCH FILL IN 31/32. PEBBLE SURFACE 467 LAY IN THE CUT OF THE DITCH AND WAS SEALED BY 466 IN SOME PLACES. DAUB FLECKS. NO CHARCOAL/FINDS. 10% CHALK

012AD00534 Sections and Notes


 
KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD00533 DITCH FILL LINEAR
815
76
26
 U-SHAPED DITCH FILL. DAUB AND CHARCOAL FLECKING.5% CHALK INCLUSIONS < 10CM. CHARCOAL TWIG BONE POTTERY FOUND.
012AD00534 DITCH CUT LINEAR
815
76
26
 U-SHAPED DITCH CUT. CUT INTO HILLWASH OF 30% CHALK INCLUSIONS. MIDDLE OF 3 DOUBLE SLOTS/DITCH AND SLOT RUNNING OF CHALK. NO RELATIONSHIP WITH 681/2 FOUND.

012AD00725 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD00724 DITCH FILL CURVILINEAR
1990
64
14
 U-SHAPED DITCH FILL. IRON RING GLASS POT CHARCOAL AND BONE FOUND.5% CHALK INCLUSIONS < 7CMS. SOME DAUB AND CHARCOAL FLECKING. MAY RELATE TO 533/4.
012AD00725 DITCH CUT CURVILINEAR
1990
64
14
 U-SHAPED DITCH CUT. CUT INTO HILLWASH OF 30% CHALK INCLUSIONS AT S END CUT INTO CHALK AND PLOUGH TRUNCATED AT S END. RELATIONS NOT ASCERTAINED WITH 778 16 659.

012AD00729 Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD00728 SLOT FILL LINEAR
141
75
16
 U-SHAPED SLOT FILL. LITTLE DAUB AN CHARCOAL FLECKING. BONE FOUND. < 5% CHALK INCLUSIONS < 5CMS. CUT BY SLOT 724/5 VERY LITTLE OF 728/9 REMAINS.
012AD00729 SLOT CUT LINEAR
141
75
16
 U-SHAPED SLOT CUT. CUT INTO HILLWASH OF 30% CHALK INCLUSIONS. CUT BY 724/5 SLOT AND ONLY BUTT OF 728/9 REMAINS. ALSO CUT INTO SURFACE 384.

Objects By Context

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
012AD00031 AA 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AD 2-4C POTTERY SHERD BK?  
1
012AD00533 AE 3-4C POTTERY SHERD    
1
012AD00533 AF 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AG ANGLIAN FIRED CLAY LOOMWEIGHT    
1
012AD00533 AH   CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
012AD00533 AI ANGLIAN POTTERY SHERD   ANGLIAN GTW
1
012AD00533 AJ 2-4C POTTERY SHERD CLSD  
1
012AD00533 AK 2-4C POTTERY SHERD CLSD  
1
012AD00533 AL 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AM 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AN 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AO 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AP 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AQ 4C POTTERY SHERD BK?  
1
012AD00533 AR 3-4C POTTERY SHERD JCUR ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AS 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AT 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00533 AU 3-4C POTTERY SHERDS JKNAP ROMANO-BRITISH
2
012AD00533 AV 4C POTTERY SHERD CLSD  
1
012AD00533 AW 2-4C POTTERY SHERD BD  
1
012AD00533 AX 2-4C POTTERY SHERD J  
1
012AD00533 AY   CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
012AD00533 AZ   DAUB DAUB    
2
012AD00533 BA   DAUB DAUB    
4
012AD00533 BB   DAUB DAUB    
5
012AD00533 BC   DAUB DAUB    
3
012AD00533 BD 3-4C BARBARA ROM POT    
0
012AD00724 AA   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 AB   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 AC   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 AD   CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
012AD00724 AF 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 AG   STONE PEBBLE    
1
012AD00724 AH   STONE PEBBLE    
1
012AD00724 AI 3-4C POTTERY SHERD    
1
012AD00724 AJ 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 AK 2-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 AN   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 AO   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 AP ROMAN? GLASS GLASS SHERD CLEAR TURQUOISE  
1
012AD00724 AQ 2C POTTERY SHERD BD SAMIAN
1
012AD00724 AR   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 AS   STONE STONE    
1
012AD00724 AT ANGLIAN POTTERY SHERD   ANGLIAN III
1
012AD00724 AU   IRON IRON RING    
1
012AD00724 AV   IRON IRON FRAGMENT    
1
012AD00724 AW   CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
012AD00724 AX   CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE    
1
012AD00724 AY   DAUB DAUB    
4
012AD00724 AZ   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BA   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BB   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BC   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BD   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BE   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 BF   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BG   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BH   DAUB DAUB    
1
012AD00724 BI 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 BJ 3-4C POTTERY SHERDS   ROMANO-BRITISH
2
012AD00724 BK 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 BL 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 BM 3-4C POTTERY SHERDS J ROMANO-BRITISH
2
012AD00724 BN 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 BO 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD00724 BP 2-4C POTTERY SHERD J  
1
012AD00724 BQ   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 BR   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 BS ANGLIAN? COPPER ALLOY C/A SHEET FRAG PERFORATED  
1
012AD00724 BT   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
1
012AD00724 BU 4C POTTERY SHERD JBK  
1
012AD00729 AA 3-4C POTTERY SHERD 1
012AD00729 AB 3-4C POTTERY SHERD ROMANO-BRITISH 1
012AD00729 AC 3-4C POTTERY SHERD ROMANO-BRITISH 1
012AD00729 AD 3-4C POTTERY SHERD ROMANO-BRITISH 1

Animal Bone by Context

KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT QUANT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
012AD00031 Cattle Astragalus 1 1 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Horncore 1 0 0 1 0
012AD00533 Cattle Horncore 1 0 0 1 0
012AD00533 Cattle Ld4 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Ld4 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Phalanx 2 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Phalanx 3 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Radius D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Radius P 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Cattle Skull fr 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Domestic fowl Femur C 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Domestic goose Ulna 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00533 Hare spp. M/T C 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Horse M/C D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Pig Femur D 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00533 Pig Femur P 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00533 Pig Phalanx 1 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep Horncore 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep Humerus D 1 1 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep Ld4 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Femur br 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat M/T br 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Mand fr 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Mandible 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Mandible 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat N.Cuboid 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Pelvis fr 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Phalanx 1 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Phalanx 1 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Tibia br 1 1 0 0 1
012AD00533 Sheep/Goat Tibia D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00535 Sheep Radius P 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Calcaneum 1 1 0 0 1
012AD00724 Cattle Mand fr 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle N.Cuboid 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Phalanx 1 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Phalanx 2 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Phalanx 3 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Radius D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Tibia P 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Cattle Ulna 1 1 0 0 0
012AD00724 Domestic goose Coracoid 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00724 Horse Pelvis fr 1 0 0 1 0
012AD00724 Pig L Canine 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Pig Radius C 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep Humerus D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep Humerus D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep Humerus D 1 0 0 1 0
012AD00724 Sheep M/C C 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep M/C P 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00724 Sheep M/T C 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep Phalanx 1 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Axis 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Calcaneum 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Humerus P 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Mandible 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Pelvis 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Pelvis fr 1 0 0 0 1
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Scapula 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Scapula 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Scapula 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00724 Sheep/Goat Tibia D 1 0 0 0 0
012AD00729 Sheep/Goat Mandible 1 0 0 0 0