An Iron Age Settlement - Wessex Archaeology

234 Pages·2012·5 MB·English

An Iron Age Settlement
outside Battlesbury Hillfort, Warminster
and Sites along the Southern Range Road
By Chris Ellis and Andrew B. Powell
An Iron Age Settlement outside
Battlesbury Hillfort, Warminster, and
Sites along the Southern Range Road
by
Chris Ellis and Andrew B. Powell
with John Hawkes

An Iron Age Settlement outside
Battlesbury Hillfort, Warminster, and
Sites along the Southern Range Road
by
Chris Ellis and Andrew B. Powell
with John Hawkes
with contributions by
Michael J.Allen, Phil Andrews,Alistair Barclay,Wendy Carruthers,Alan J. Clapham,
John Crowther, Rachel Every,A.P. Fitzpatrick, Rowena Gale, Jessica M. Grimm,
Ellen Hambleton, Phil Harding, Claire Ingrem, Moira Laidlaw, Stephen Legg,
Matt Leivers, Richard I. Macphail, Jacqueline I. McKinley, Marco Madella,
Mark Maltby, Lorraine Mepham, Pippa Smith, and Chris J. Stevens
and illustrations by S.E. James
Wessex Archaeology Report 22
Wessex Archaeology and Defence Estates 2008
Published 2008 by Wessex Archaeology Ltd
Portway House,Old Sarum Park,Salisbury,SP4 6EB
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/
Copyright © Wessex Archaeology Ltd 2008
All rights reserved
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Edited by Philippa Bradley
Produced by Julie Gardiner
Cover design by Karen Nichols
ISBN 978-1-874350-47-7
Printed by Henry Ling (Dorset Press) Ltd,Dorchester
Cover photographs
Front:Battlesbury Hill and Battlesbury Bowl excavation site from the south-east
Back:Battlesbury Bowl excavation site from the north-east
Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No.287786
Contents
List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii CHAPTER 5:HUMAN REMAINS,
List of Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii by Jacqueline I.McKinley
List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .viii Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Location of the archive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi Taphonomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xii Demographic data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
Skeletal indices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
CHAPTER 1:BATTLESBURY BOWL AND Pathological lesions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
THE SOUTHERN RANGE ROAD Morphological variations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Background to the project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Location,topography,and geology of the
SRR route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 CHAPTER 6:THE ENIVIRONMENTAL
General archaeological background . . . . . . . . . . . .2 EVIDENCE
The history of investigation on the DTE SP . . .2 Faunal remains,by Ellen Hambleton and
The archaeological background of the Mark Maltby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
SRR route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Charred plant remains,by Alan J.Clapham
Aims and objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 with Chris J.Stevens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Mineralised plant remains,
PART A:BATTLESBURY BOWL by Wendy J.Carruthers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
Phytoliths,by Marco Madella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
CHAPTER 2:INTRODUCTION Charcoal,by Rowena Gale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Site location,topography,and geology . . . . . . . . . .9 Land snails,by Michael J.Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Previous investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Soil micromorphology and chemistry,
Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 by Richard I.Macphail and John Crowther . . .125
Evaluation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Excavation and recording methods . . . . . . . . .10 CHAPTER 7:THE BATTLESBURY
Summary of analysis of ‘structured SETTLEMENT:LOCATION,
deposition’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 ORGANISATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Environmental sampling strategy . . . . . . . . . .13 The setting and layout of the Battlesbury
Chronology and phasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Bowl settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Food procurement,production,and processing .134
CHAPTER 3:RESULTS Status and society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Early prehistoric finds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Crafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Late Bronze Age/Iron Age features . . . . . . . . . . .17 Regional and local context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Ditches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Post-holes and post-built structures . . . . . . . .25 PART B:THE SOUTHERN RANGE ROAD
Pits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
CHAPTER 8:INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . .139
CHAPTER 4:THE FINDS
Copper alloy objects,by Stephen Legg CHAPTER 9:BATTLESBURY AND
with a contribution by A.P Fitzpatrick . . . . . . . .43 BATTLESBURY BOWL
Iron objects,by Stephen Legg Boreham Farm Bungalow excavation (SRR 95),
with a contribution by A.P.Fitzpatrick . . . . . . . .44 and Battlesbury Spur watching brief (west)
Slag,by Lorraine Mepham and Phil Andrews . . . . .44 (AC 1009),with a contribution
Flint,by Phil Harding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 by Michael J.Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Burnt flint,by Lorraine Mepham . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 South-East of Battlesbury Wood excavation
Worked stone,by Stephen Legg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 (SRR 93) and Battlesbury Spur watching
Coral bead,by Stephen Legg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 brief (east) (AC 1009),with contributions
Shale,by Lorraine Mepham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 by Phil Harding and Michael J.Allen . . . . . . .144
Pottery,by Rachel Every and Lorraine Mepham . . .50 East of Battlesbury Bowl earthwork survey
Fired clay,by Stephen Legg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 (SRR 12) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Worked bone and antler,by Stephen Legg . . . . . . .66 East of Battlesbury Hill strip-and-record
(SRR 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
v
East of Field Barn Watching Brief (AC 1004), Breakheart Hill watching brief (AC 1000),
with contributions by Nicholas Cooke, Breakheart Hill (SRR 80/1),and
Moira Laidlaw,Lorraine Mepham,and Breakheart Bottom strip-and-record
Claire Ingrem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147 (SRR 80/2-4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
North-West of Middle Barn Farm strip-and-
CHAPTER 10:WEST HILL TO KNOOK record (SRR 80/5,087),with contributions
DOWN by Jacqueline I.McKinley,Nicholas Cooke,
North of West Hill Farm earthwork survey Moira Laidlaw and Lorraine Mepham . . . . . . .175
(SRR 23) and watching brief (AC 1001 Vedette Post Four strip-and-record (SRR 89),
and 1002) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 and Tilshead Down excavation (SRR
East of East Hill Cottages Watching Brief 90),earthwork survey (SRR 120) and
(AC 1003) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152 strip-and-record (SRR 116 and 120) . . . . . .182
South of Old Ditch strip-and-record (SRR 76) .153
Willis’s Field Barn excavation (SRR 96), CHAPTER 12:IMBER VALLEY TO
Knook Spur watching brief (AC 1006 and TILSHEAD
1007),and North of Bevin’s Barn strip-and- Horse Down excavation (SRR 124),and
record (SRR 97),with contributions by West and North-West of Golf Crossing
Phil Harding,Rachel Every,Alan J.Clapham, strip-and-record (SRR 123 and 125/127),
Rowena Gale,Michael J.Allen,and with contributions by Lorraine Mepham
Pippa Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 and Moira Laidlaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .184
West of Knook Castle watching brief South of Foxtrot Crossing excavation (SRR 128)
(AC 1005) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163 and strip-and-record (SRR 125/127),with
contributions by Lorraine Mepham,
CHAPTER 11:KNOOK CASTLE TO IMBER Matt Leivers,Moira Laidlaw,and
VALLEY Claire Ingrem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
East of Knook Castle excavation (SRR 86)
and South and East of Knook Castle CHAPTER 13:DISCUSSION
strip-and-record (SRR 41),with contributions Early prehistory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192
by Matt Leivers and Moira Laidlaw . . . . . . . .165 Later prehistory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
East of Quebec Barn excavation (SRR 85) Romano-British and later . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .194
and North-East of Knook Castle strip-and- Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195
record (SRR048,048/2),with contributions
by Phil Harding,Rachel Every,Alistair Barclay, Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
and Alan J.Clapham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167 Appendix:Pottery fabric types . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .211
vi
List of Figures
Chapter 1 Chapter 7
Figure 1.1 Battlesbury and the Southern Range Figure 7.1 Selected later prehistoric sites referred
Road to in text
Chapter 2 Chapter 8
Figure 2.1 The location of the Battlesbury Bowl Figure 8.1 Stages 1 and 2 mitigation sites along
excavation site the Southern Range Road
Chapter 3
Figure 3.1 The site,showing feature groups Chapter 9
Figure 3.2 Feature group 1 Figure 9.1 Boreham Farm Bungalow (SRR 95)
Figure 3.3 Feature group 2 Figure 9.2 South-east of Battlesbury Wood
Figure 3.4 Feature group 3 (SRR 93)
Figure 3.5 Feature group 4 Figure 9.3 East of Field Barn (AC 1004)
Figure 3.6 Sections 4019 and 4105 of phase 1/2
ditch 4043 Chapter 10
Figure 3.7 Roundhouse 6159 Figure 10.1 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96/AC 1006)
Figure 3.8 Hearth pits in roundhouse 6159 Figure 10.2 Willis’s Field Barn pottery (SRR 96)
Figure 3.9 Finds distributions in roundhouse 6159
Figure 3.10 Square and sub-rectangular structures
4041 and 4013 Chapter 11
Figure 3.11 Phase 1/2 pit 4612,4704,and 4993 Figure 11.1 South and East of Knook Castle
Figure 3.12 Phase 3 pit 4223 with inhumation (SRR 41) pottery
burials Figure 11.2 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85) and
Figure 3.13 Phase 3 pit 4332 with inhumation sections of pit 12001 and ditch 6007
burial Figure 11.3 North-east of Knook Castle (SRR SRR
Figure 3.14 Phase 3 rectangular pit 4196 48) section through upper part of shaft
Figure 3.15 Phase 3 pits 5358 and 4598 48007
Figure 3.16 Phase 4 pit 4320 with inhumation Figure 11.4 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85) pottery
burial Figure 11.5 North-east of Knook Castle (SRR 48)
Fengate Ware jar
Chapter 4 Figure 11.6 North-west of Middle Barn Farm (SRR
Figure 4.1 Copper alloy objects 80/5) plan and section of ring ditch
Figure 4.2 Iron objects 80126,showing position of grave 80042
Figure 4.3 Stone objects (1–11) Figure 11.7 Burials in grave 80042 and 80113
Figure 4.4 Stone objects (12–17),coral bead (18), Figure 11.8 North-west of Middle Barn Farm (SRR
and shale armlet fragment (19) 80/5) pottery
Figure 4.5 Pottery (1–23) Figure 11.9 North-west of Middle Barn Farm (SRR
Figure 4.6 Pottery (24–43) 80/5) worked bone and antler objects
Figure 4.7 Pottery (44–58)
Figure 4.8 Fired clay objects Chapter 12
Figure 4.9 Worked bone and antler objects Figure 12.1 Horse Down (SRR 125/127) site plan
Figure 12.2 North-west of Golf Crossing (SRR 124,
Chapter 6 125/127) detail of skeleton 12578 in
Figure 6.1 Mandible wear stages for ditch 12621 and section through ditch
sheep/goat,cattle and pig 12621
Figure 12.3 Horse Down (SRR 125/127) pottery
vii
List of Plates
Chapter 2 Chapter 4
Plate 2.1 Battlesbury Hill and Battlesbury Bowl Plate 4.1 Selection of worked bone and antler
excavation site from the south-west objects
Plate 2.2 Early stage of cleaning the northern part of Chapter 5
the site Plate 5.1 Fragment of parietal vault showing
puncture marks from canid gnawing
Chapter 3 Plate 5.2 Worn,crenulated ends of human long
Plate 3.1 Neolithic flint axe from pit 4332 bone shafts indicative of canid gnawing
Plate 3.2 Animal skulls in top of ditch 4043 Plate 5.3 Phase 3 skeleton 4345:bones of right
Plate 3.3 Pits of FG 3 shoulder
Plate 3.4 Sub-rectangular pit 5318 under excavation Plate 5.4 Phase 3 skeleton 4345:osteoarthritis in
Plate 3.5 Details of pit fillings right 1st carpo-metacarpal joint
Plate 3.6 Skeletons in pits 4223 and 4332 and
articulated foot bones in pit 4332 Chapter 12
Plate 12.1 Animal bone in ditch 12525
List of Tables
Chapter 2 Chapter 5
Table 2.1 Features containing ‘structured Table 5.1 Summary of human remains by phase
deposition’by phase and feature group and feature group
Table 2.2 Radiocarbon dating results Table 5.2 Range and mean stature estimations
Table 5.3 Platymeric and platycnemic indices
Chapter 3 ranges and means
Table 3.1 Post-holes by feature group and phase Table 5.4 Comparative indices joint lesions
Table 3.2 Summary of square and sub-
rectangular structures Chapter 6
Table 3.3 Pit distribution,by feature group and Table 6.1 NISP counts by phase for hand
phase recovered assemblage
Table 3.4 LBA/IA pit shapes by phase Table 6.2 NISP counts by phase for sieved
Table 3.5 Pit depths and volumes by pit shape assemblage
Table 6.3 Relative abundance of main domestic
Chapter 4 species by phase
Table 4.1 Distribution of slag by period and by Table 6.4 Relative abundance of main domestic
feature group species by feature type
Table 4.2 Summary of worked flint Table 6.5 Relative abundance of main domestic
Table 4.3 Distribution of burnt flint by period species by feature group
and by feature group Table 6.6 Minimum numbers counts for the main
Table 4.4 Iron Age pottery fabric totals skeletal elements in domestic
Table 4.5 Vessel form by fabric species
Table 4.6 Range of rim diameters by vessel type Table 6.7 Samples analysed for charred plant
Table 4.7 Decoration by fabric remains by phase and feature type
Table 4.8 Decoration by vessel form Table 6.8 Charred remains from phase 1/2
Table 4.9 Surface treatment by fabric Table 6.9 Distribution of crops within each phase
Table 4.10 Surface treatment by vessel form Table 6.10 Charred plant remains from phase 3
Table 4.11 Fabric types by ceramic phase Table 6.11 Common names and habitat
Table 4.12 Vessel form by ceramic phase preferences of the non-cultivated
Table 4.13 Pottery distribution by ditch and species
feature group
viii
Table 6.12 Percentage abundance of non-culivated Table 9.6 East of Field Barn Farm (AC 1004):
taxa Roman pottery fabrics
Table 6.13 Mineralised plant remains from phase Table 9.7 East of Field Barn Farm (AC 1004):
1/2 ditch 4043 animal bone from Romano-British
Table 6.14 Mineralised plant remains from phase contexts
1/2 pits,and post-holes
Table 6.15 Mineralised plant remains from phase 3 Chapter 10
pits Table 10.1 East of East Hill Cottages (AC 1003):
Table 6.16 Summary of mineralised plant pottery fabrics
assemblages from East Chisenbury and Table 10.2 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96):all finds
Battlesbury,and Potterne by context
Table 6.17 Comparison of charred and mineralised Table 10.3 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96):flint by
remains of purging flax and henbane context
Table 6.18 Anatomical characteristics of wheat and Table 10.4 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96):pottery
barley husk silica skeletons fabric totals
Table 6.19 Absolute counts and relative Table 10.5 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96):charred
frequencies of opaline silica skeletons plant remains
from pit 5358 Table 10.6 Willis’s Field Barn (SRR 96):land
Table 6.20 Relative frequencies of opaline silica molluscs from Middle Bronze Age ditch
versus other materials in the samples 6004,and assessment of shells from the
from pit 5358 recut
Table 6.21 Summary of charcoal from selected
features Chapter 11
Table 6.22 Land mollusc data from ditch 4043 Table 11.1 Knook Castle and East of Knook
Table 6.23 Land mollusc data from phase 1/2 and Castle (SRR 41):worked flint
3 pits and post-hole 4299 Table 11.2 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85):finds
Table 6.24 Iron Age hilltop sites with totals by feature
freshwater/obligatory marsh species Table 11.3 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85):flint by
Table 6.25 Soil micromorphology thin sections context
Table 6.26 Chemical and magnetic properties of Table 11.4 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85):pottery
micromorphology samples analysed totals by fabric type
Table 6.27 Pearson’s product moment correlation Table 11.5 North-East of Knook Castle (SRR 48):
coefficients $ (r) for relationships pottery fabrics
between the soil properties analysed Table 11.6 East of Quebec Barn (SRR 85):charred
Table 6.28 Microfacies types plant remains from pit 1201
Table 11.7 North-west of Middle Barn Farm (SRR
Chapter 8 80/5):summary of human bone
Table 8.1 Stages 1 and 2 mitigation sites along
the Southern Range Road Chapter 12
Table 12.1 North-west of Golf Crossing
Chapter 9 (SRR125/127):summary of human
Table 9.1 Boreham Farm Bungalow (SRR 95):all bone
finds by feature Table 12.2 Horse Down (SRR 124):finds totals by
Table 9.2 Boreham Farm Bungalow (SRR 95): feature
molluscs from channel 5023 Table 12.3 South of Foxtrot Crossing (SRR 128):
Table 9.3 South-east of Battlesbury Wood (SRR finds totals by feature
93):finds totals by feature Table 12.4 South of Foxtrot Crossing (SRR
Table 9.4 South-east of Battlesbury Wood (SRR 125/127):worked flint
93):assessment of molluscs from Table 12.5 South of Foxtrot Crossing
palaeochannel 4017 (SRR125/127):animal bone
Table 9.5 East of Field Barn Farm (AC 1004):
coins
ix