012AD05338

Pit

Phasing

The ten sherds of pottery recovered were all later Roman in date, and the feature was believed to be a quarry pit. However, the find of a copper alloy wire heart head pin gives a Middle Saxon date for the infilling of this feature, although this may have derived from the cutting of the ditch 012AD05026. Apart from being sealed by spit 012AD05189, no other stratigraphic relationships were established for this feature.

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

      012AD05189      
             
      012AD05319      
             
    012AD05337 =  012AD05320    
             
      012AD05338      
             
             

Discussion

This was a deep (probable quarry) pit, and only 2 small segments in the south and west were excavated. This is one of at least 15 quarry pits Click for a plan of all the quarry pits in the area   on the western edge of the dry valley, all of which appear to be later Roman in date, cut to extract the white chalk found in this vicinity. The primary fill (012AD05337 and 012AD05320) was a mixed sandy clay loam (Munsell colour 10YR 4/3) and redeposited natural, with over 40% chalk fragment inclusions. This was sealed by 012AD05319, a darker sandy silty loam (Munsell colour 10YR 3/3), with 10% chalk inclusions. Charcoal flecking was noted. The majority of finds were from this fill, although animal bone was scarce throughout.

The pit was cut into natural chalk and hillwash, with an irregular profile. No section was drawn.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

CUT  FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
012AD05338 012AD05319   9 1  
  012AD05320   2 2  
  012AD05337   3 0  

012AD05319 Object Totals by Material and Period

KEY_ID MATERIAL PERIOD No
012AD05319 POTTERY 3-4C
6
  STONE  
3

Context Details

012AD05338 Notes

KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD05319 PIT FILL SUB-RECTANGULAR
200
170
30
 U-SHAPED SOIL LAYER OVERLYING QUARRY PIT 5337/8. PROB. NOT A FEATURE IN ITS OWN RIGHT UNLESS UPPER LAYER OF MANY INTERCUTTING PITS. 10% CHALK WITH CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS
012AD05320 REDEP. NATURAL UNCLEAR
200
170
30
 U-SHAPED REDEPOSITED NATURAL FILL OF QUARRY PIT. CHALK RICH 40%+. WITH CHARCOAL FLECKS.
012AD05337 PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR
170
70
49
 U-SHAPED REDEPOSITED NATURAL FILL OF QUARRY PIT. CHALK RICH 40%+. WITH CHARCOAL FLECKS. THIS NUMBER APPLIES TO EXCAVATED SEG. TRUE DIMENSIONS NOT ESTABLISHED.
012AD05338 PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR
170
70
49
 WIDE U CUT OF QUARRY PIT. THIS NUMBER APPLIES TO EXCAVATED SEG. TRUE DIMENSIONS NOT ESTABLISHED.

Objects

KEY_ID OB PERIOD MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
012AD05319 AA 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AB 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AC 3-4C POTTERY SHERD JB ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AD 3-4C POTTERY SHERD JKNAP ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AF 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AG 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05319 AE   STONE STONE    
1
012AD05319 AH   STONE STONE    
1
012AD05319 AI   STONE STONE   RED CHALK
2
012AD05320 AA 3-4C POTTERY SHERDS   ROMANO-BRITISH
4
012AD05320 AB 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05337 AC MIDDLE SAXON COPPER ALLOY C/A PIN WIRE HEART HEAD  
1
012AD05337 AA 3-4C POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH
1
012AD05337 AB 3-4C POTTERY SHERD J ROMANO-BRITISH
1

Animal Bones

KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT QUANT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
012AD05319 Cattle Pelvis fr 1 0 0 0 1
012AD05320 Cattle Femur D 1 1 0 0 0
012AD05320 Cattle Humerus C 1 1 0 0 1