012AD01005

Compacted Pebble Surface

Phasing

The plan shows the central point of each context allocated to the pebble surfaces (areas indicated in red) and the layers above the surface (in blue).

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

Discussion

The first event in the sequence was the formation of a compacted pebble surface (012AD00551 and 012AD00562). The surface comprised of rounded chalk pebbles (0.5-2cm in diameter) with occasional manganese oxide staining. The suface was patchy in places, with the most compacted area between the two (later) ditches (012AD00766 and 012AD00511). This area was visibly slightly convex in profile and highly manganese oxide stained.

Surface 012AD00995 was located just to the west of 012AD00562, and was neither as compacted nor as worn as the surface to the east. It consisted of chalk pebbles (1-4cm in diameter), exhibiting slight manganese oxide staining. It is probable that this is the western edge of the surface, not so well utilised as the central area, thus less compacted.

A small area (012AD00559) near the northern baulk had a different character. Here were large angular chalk blocks (up to 20cm in diameter), which were much less worn than the surrounding surfaces. Wherever this phenomenon occurs, the larger blocks always appear to be later than the original surfaces, and it is highly likely that these are repairs to the surface. These blocks exhibited slight manganese oxide staining, as well as having very slight traces of a cessy material.

The first of the layers to form on the surface was 012AD00600, a localised, patchy  deposit located just to the north east of surface repair 012AD00559. It was distinctly yellow/green in colour (Munsell 5Y 6/6) and is interpreted as a cess layer, which stained some of the underlying surface. The only diagnostic finds were 4 sherds of later Roman pottery.

The next events were the construction of 2 enclosure ditches, 012AD00766 and 012AD00511. Ditch 012AD00511 was then sealed by the formation of a darker, slightly red (Munsell colour 5YR 3/2) silty loam layer (012AD00561 and 012AD00599). It seems likely that despite the location of the enclosure ditches, the surface remained in use until the formation of this layer, as it directly sealed surface 012AD00562. The latest fill of ditch 012AD00511 also exhibits this reddish tinge, and it is likely that this event marks the end-use of both the surface and the enclosures. Forty-two objects and 127 animal bones were recovered from this layer. Although 21 of the finds were of later Roman potsherds, there were also finds of Niedermendig lava, and particularly a Middle Saxon copper alloy perforated head pin.

A very dark brown (Munsell colour 10YR 2/1) layer (012AD00550) of silty sand then formed over 012AD00561. This was noted only in the north, and was getting deeper as it approached the northern limit of excavation, where the surface was sloping down towards the spring. Only 3 objects were recovered from this layer, one of these being a fragment of Niedermendig lava.

A thick (up to 25cm) dark brown (Munsell colour 10YR 3/2) layer then formed across all of the earlier layers, as well as sealing ditch 012AD00766. The layer contained a 5% chalk inclusion rate, although this varied slightly across its extent. A great number of both objects (223) and animal bones (661) were recovered from this layer. Although many of the objects were potsherds of a later Roman date, a number of finds date the formation of this layer to the Middle Saxon period. These include fragments of at least 2 bone combs, a copper alloy globular head pin, a bone pin with a perforated head, and a copper alloy perforated head pin, with chain, (part of a pin pair). The animal bones were from 11 different species, but were predominantly sheep/goat (296) and cattle bones (280). Wild species were also represented, albeit somewhat sparsely, by badger (only 1, a mandible) and 2 hare bones.

Finally, the whole sequence was sealed by a layer of hillwash, distinguished from the layers below by its lighter colour (Munsell 10YR 4/3) and its higher chalk inclusion rate (20%).

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

012AD00560 Object Totals by Period and Material

012AD00561 Object Totals by Period and Material

012AD00549 Animal Bone Totals by Species

012AD00550 Animal Bone Totals by Species

012AD00560 Animal Bone Totals by Species

012AD00561 Animal Bone Totals by Species

012AD00599 Animal Bone Totals by Species

Context Details

012AD00562 Section and Notes

Material overlying the Surface

Objects By Context

Animal Bone by Context