Table Of Content

Brean Down excavations 1983-1987 EnglishCtHeritage Archaeological Report no 15 Brean Down excavations 1983-1987 Martin Bell with major contributions by M Allen, A Clark, K Crabtree, JEvans, JFoster, R Harrison, SJohnson, A KJones, BLevitan, RMacphail, CO'Mahoney, SNeedham, JERobinson, SRoss, ASaville,VStraker, AWalker, D Williams, A Woodward Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England 1990 Artefactdistributionsandactivityareasin Unit5b 54 Contents Structure95 54 Theareaoutsidethestructures 60 Listofillustrations viii Structure59 60 Listoftables x Comparisonof thestructuresandconclusions 62 Microfichecontents xi Colourmicrofichecontents xii 5 Late BronzeAgeoccupation,Unit4 63 Acknowledgements xv Thestratigraphy 63 Excavationand sieving 63 A Siteinvestigations 1 FeaturesatthebaseofContext16 63 InterpretationofContexts26,55,and276 63 1 Introduction to the site, research methods, and FeatureswithinContext16 66 stratigraphy 1 Findsand theirdistributioninUnit4 70 Topography 1 Conclusions 71 Superficialgeology 1 NaturalhistoryandarchaeologyofBrean Down 1 6 The sub-Roman cemetery and Iron Age to The historyofarchaeologicalworkon thesandcliff..3 medievalstratigraphy 73 Goldbraceletdiscoveryin 1983 6 Thestratigraphy 73 Survey, Easter1984 6 Excavation of the cemetery and the human bone Coastalretreat 7 evidencebyBruceLevitan 74 Excavations1985-6 and theirresearchobjectives 8 Datingandconclusions 77 Researchmethodsinthe maintrench1985 9 IronAge and medievalsmallfinds 80 Furtherexcavation1986 14 Settlementpattern 82 Augerandsoil pitsurvey 15 Thestratigraphicsequenceandsections 15 7 The post-medieval period byMartin BellandCathy Structureofthereport 18 O'Mahoney 84 Relationship between the text, illustrations, and Thestratigraphy 84 archive 18 Post-medievalpottery 84 Otherfinds 84 2 BeakerandearlieractivityinUnits 8aand7 19 Artefactdistributions 86 DescriptionofUnit8a 19 Conclusionsand historicalevidence 89 ExcavationandsievingofUnit8a 19 FeaturesinUnit8a 19 8 The auger survey, soil pits, and intertidal ArtefactdistributioninUnit8a 23 archaeology 90 Unit7: the 'Beakersand' 23 Introduction 90 Beakeractivityconclusions 24 TheaugersurveybyKeith Crabtree 90 The stratigraphy, as evidenced from the auger 3 Early/middle BronzeAge,Unit6 28 survey 92 The stratigraphy 28 Thesoil pits 94 ExcavationandsievingofUnits6aand6b 28 SoilPitII 94 FeaturesinUnit6a: Contexts285-7 28 SoilPitIII 94 Structure57 28 SoilPitXII 96 Apossibleearlierstructure, Context181 31 SoilPitIV • 96 SedimentarysequencepostdatingStructure57...31 SoilPit1 99 InterpretationofStructure57 32 SoilPitV 99 Dating, artefactdistributions, andactivityareas 34 SoilPitVI 101 Intertidalarchaeology 103 4 Middle BronzeAgestructuresinUnit5b 37 SoilPitVII 103 Thestratigraphy 37 Intertidalpeat 103 Excavationandsieving 37 Otheraspectsoftheintertidalzone 104 Structure59 39 Correlationandconclusions 104 FeaturesbelowthefloorofStructure59 39 Contextsrelatingto Structure59 41 B The BronzeAgeculturalevidence 107 Structure95 42 FeaturesbelowthefloorofStructure95 43 9 Scientific dating 107 Contextscontemporarywiththefloor 45 RadiocarbondatingbyJillWalker 107 Gullies 49 Measurementtechnique 107 ContextssouthofStructure95 50 Pretreatment 107 SedimentspostdatingStructure95 50 Chemicalprocessing 107 Discussion and interpretation of the structures in Counting 107 Unit5b 51 Estimationoferrors 107 Structure95 51 Calibration 107 Structure59 52 Interpretationofthedata Ill ThedateofUnit5b 54 Conclusions Ill VI Comments on the radiocarbon dates by Martin Potteryspindlewhorl 158 Stoneobject 158 Bell 112 Conclusions 113 Shaleobjects 159 ArchaeomagneticmeasurementsbyAnthonyClark 113 X-ray fluorescence analysis of the shale objects by Hearth(Context134)in Structure95, Unit5b ... 114 MichaelHeyworth 160 Sediment column from Soil Pit VI, north Bone objects 160 section 114 Pins 160 Awls ...160 10 Bell BeakerpotterybyRichardHarrison 117 Gougesand'chisels' 162 Catalogueofsherds 117 Smoothers 162 Primarycontexts 117 Miscellaneousboneobjects 162 Secondarycontexts 119 Briquetageobjects 165 Conclusions 119 Pedestals 165 A note on the petrology of two Beaker sherds by Evaporationtrays 169 DavidWilliams 120 Conclusions 170 PetrologicalexaminationofBronze Age briquetage 11 The BronzeAgepotterybyAnnWoodward .... 121 byDavidWilliams 173 Introduction 121 Analysis ofbriquetagefragments byJohnEvans 173 FabricsbyDavidWilliamsandAnnWoodward 121 Fired clayobjects 174 Macroscopicdescriptions 121 Possibleloomweightfragments 174 Microscopicdescriptions 122 Slabs 174 Biconical vesselslargelyfrom Unit6 123 Miscellaneousfired clayobjects 175 Assemblagecharacteristics 124 GeologicalspecimensbyRegBradshaw 175 Trevisker-relatedvesselsfrom Unit5b 126 Context112, withinStructure95 126 C Environmentalandeconomicevidence 176 Context53, aboveStructure95 129 Context112, withinStructure95 129 15 Physical and chemical characteristics of the Othercontexts 129 stratigraphybySheilaMRoss 176 Unit5a 131 Introduction 176 Assemblagecharacteristics 131 Analyticalmethods 176 The plainwareassemblagefrom Unit4 133 Resultsofstratigraphicanalyses 176 VesselsinFabric481 from Context16 133 Particlesize analysisofthesediments 176 Vessels in Fabric 481 from features at the base of Formsofcarboninthe sediments 179 Context16 137 Forms of iron and phosphorus in the Vessels in Fabric 481 from features within Context sediments 179 ChemicalanalysisofUnit 5b 182 16 137 1983finds ofFabric481 137 Structure95 182 Vessels in fabrics other than 481 from Context Structure59 183 16 138 Assemblagecharacteristics 138 16 Soil history and micromorphology byRichard I Fragmentation 140 Macphail 187 Formandfunction 140 Introduction 187 Distributioninrelationtostructuresandfeatures 144 Samplesandmethods 187 Results 187 12 BronzeAgemetalwork 146 Discussion 187 The gold bracelets and Class Bl bracelets in Britain The Pleistocenedeposits 187 byStuartNeedham 146 Post-glacial soil formation and Beaker CopperalloyobjectsbyJenniferFoster 150 occupation 188 Gold-colouredmetalspheres 151 ColluvialdepositsofUnits8aand6 191 AnalysisbyDuncanHook 151 The early Bronze Age occupation deposits, Unit 6a 193 13 The flintandchertartefactsbyAlanSaville.... 152 MiddleBronzeAge, Units5band5a 194 Rawmaterial 152 Late BronzeAge, Unit4 195 Technology 152 IronAge to Romancolluvium, Unit4a 196 Contextand typology 152 Conclusions 196 Unit8a 154 Unit7 154 17 Magnetic susceptibilitybyMichaelJAllen 197 Unit6 156 Introduction 197 Unit5b 156 Materialsand methods 197 Unit4 156 Sampling 197 Modern, residual, and unstratifiedmaterial 157 Stratigraphicsequence 197 Conclusions 157 Unit5b, Context53 198 Results 198 14 OtherBronze AgeartefactsbyJenniferFoster..158 Programme1:stratigraphy 198 Introduction 158 Programme2:Unit5b 201 vu Comparison 201 22 Mollusca andotherzoologicalevidence 246 Summary 202 Non-marine Mollusca by Martin Bell and Su Johnson 246 18 Pollen analysis, diatoms, ostracods, and the Introductionandaims 246 foreshore peat 203 Methods 246 Pollen analysis of the foreshore peat by Keith Themolluscansequenceonthesandcliff 247 Crabtree 203 Molluscafrom SoilPitVI 249 Macroscopic plant remains from the foreshore peat MarineMolluscabySuJohnson 250 byVanessa Straker 205 Introduction 250 DiscussionbyKeithCrabtree 206 Variationin the shell shapeofNucellalapillus ... 251 Pollen analysis of sandcliff samples and marine silts Discussion 251 byKeithCrabtree 206 Noteson otherzoologicalevidencebyMartin Bell 252 Thesandcliff 206 Barnacles 252 Themarinesilts 207 Crabs 252 DiatomsbyKeithCrabtree 207 Birds'eggs 252 OstracodsbyEricRobinson 208 Sandcliffsequence 208 D 23Conclusions 253 SoilPitVI 209 Post-depositionalprocesses 253 19 CharredplantmacrofossilsbyVanessa Straker 211 Theculturalsequenceandits dating 253 Charcoalfromtheburiedsoil(Unit8a) 211 Settlementpattern 255 Otherplantmacrofossils 211 Burialpractice 255 Cultivatedplants 213 Palaeoenvironment 257 Wildplants 213 Palaeoeconomy 260 ArchaeologicalResourceManagement 262 Unit8a 216 Unit7 216 Summary/Resume/Zusammenfassung 264 Unit6b 216 Unit6a 217 Bibliography 268 Unit6a 217 Index 275 Unit5b 217 Unit4 218 Plantimpressionsinbriquetage 218 Discussion 219 20 ThevertebrateremainsbyBruceLevitan 220 Introduction 220 iThePleistocenematerial 221 iiThe'Beakersand' andbasalpalaeosoldeposits 221 iiiComparisonofthe depositsin the middleandearly BronzeAge structures 221 Generalcomparisonbetweenthestructures ....223 Relative frequencies ofcattle, sheep, andpig ... 225 ivThecharacterofthelateBronzeAge deposits... 233 The majormammals 233 Distributionofbones 233 Othermammals 235 Otheranimals 235 v Ageing, butchery, and measurements: Units 4-8 236 Cattleandsheep: summary 237 viEcological considerations 237 viiHumanbonesfrom BronzeAge contexts 238 viiiIntrusionsanddisturbances 238 Conclusions 239 21 Coprolites and faecal concretions byAndrew KG Jones 242 Introduction 242 Results 242 Discussion 245 Coprolites 245 Possible coprolites 245 Amorphousconcretions 245 Conclusions 245 Vlll List of illustrations Fig34 Plan of structures in Unit 5b and cut features at the base of Unit 5b Fig 1 Location map: (a) in relation to southern Fig 35 Structure 59 Britain; (b) in relation to Mendip, the Somerset Fig 36 Plan of Structure 59 Levels, and post-glacial sediments Fig 37 Sections relating to Structure 59 Fig2 View of the sandcliff from the sea, May 1959 Fig 38 Plan of Structure 95 Fig 3 Brean Down relict landscape Fig 39 Sections relating to Structure 95 Fig 4 Sandcliff section 1954-9 reproduced from Fig 40 Structure 95 from the south-east during the ApSimon etal1961 early stages of excavation Fig 5 The gold bracelets insitu, 6 May 1983 Fig 41 Structure 95 showing wall trench, storm- Fig 6 Section a-b of the irregular sandcliff face water gully, hearth, and terrace wall drawn in 1984 Fig 42 Plan of the wall trench of Structure 95 Fig 7 Section c-d of the irregular sandcliff face Fig 43 Wall trench (139) of Structure 95 showing drawn in 1984 silty clay patches Fig 8 Section drawing exercise, Easter 1984, stones Fig 44 Sections of the stormwater gully and terrace ofFeatureG(Structure57)overlainby Unit5bsurface fill of Structure 95 Fig 9 Plan of the sandcliff showing coastal retreat Fig 45 Hypothetical reconstruction of Structure 95 and the relative positions of the sections in 1955-60 in cross-section and 1985 Fig 46 Unit 5b structures: distribution of (a) pottery Fig 10 Plan showing the progress of the excavation (for the distribution of different fabrics see Fig 102b) and the areas of each stratigraphic unit excavated in and (b) briquetage plan and on Sections 13and 14 Fig 47 Unit 5b structures: distribution of (a) bone Fig 11 View of the excavation trench from Brean and metal artefacts and (b) flint and stone artefacts Down Fig 48 Unit 5b structures: distribution of (a) copro Fig 12 Three-dimensional artefact recording: (a) the lites and (b) bones method of artefact measurement and (b) the format Fig 49 Unit 5b structures: distribution of (a) marine of data on the computer archive Mollusca and (b) hearth debris Fig13 Surveyofthe sandcliffshowingcontours and Fig50 Reconstruction drawingofthe structuresand excavated areas activities in Unit 5b Fig 14 Location of the chief sections Fig51 Plan of Unit4: (a) features at the base of Unit Fig 15 The main section, 1985 4; (b) the surface of Unit 4 Fig 16 Section of the sandcliff north of the main Fig 52 Sections of features in Unit 4 trench Fig 53 Plans of the northern part of Unit 4: (a) the Fig 17 Section 16 excavated in 1985 at 23m on the base of the unit; (b) surface of the unit after the A-axis removal of 0.1m Fig 18 Sections 13 and 21 excavated in 1985at 10m Fig 54 Ditch (88)section from west and 998.7m respectively on the A-axis Fig 55 Unit 4, Structure 50 Fig 19 Contour plans showing the areas of Units 8a Fig 56 Structure 50 at an early stage of excavation and 7 excavated Fig 57 Structure 50 after removal of smaller stones Fig 20 (a) Plan of Unit 8a; (b) artefact distributions in Fig 58 The north part of the excavation trench Unit 8a; (c)section of gully 191 showing the surface of Unit 4 in plan and Units 4a Fig 21 Basal palaeosol Unit 8a under excavation and above in section showing possible gully 191 Fig 59 Plan of Unit 4a showing positions of Fig 22 Possible cultivation marks on the surface of overlying sub-Roman burials in the main (1985) Unit 8a excavation trench and Trench IX (1986) Fig 23 Sandcliff section showing the distribution of Fig60 Sub-Romanburialsin thenorthernendofthe Beaker pottery in all contexts main excavation trench (1985) and Trench IX (1986) Fig 24 Section showing basal palaeosol (Unit 8a) Fig 61 Infant burial 3with stone grave lining round overlain by sand (Unit 7) and colluvium (Unit 6) feet Fig25 Palaeosol(Unit8a)exposedin theforeground Fig 62 Skeleton 4 in Soil Pit VIIon the beach and in the background at Fig 63 Plan of (a) skeleton8, (b) skeleton 7and wall the base of the sandcliff sequence to north, and (c)thelargebouldercoveringskeleton7 Fig 26 Plan of Unit 6 Fig 64 Skeleton 7 Fig 27 Sections 5, 120, and 59 Fig 65 Distribution plots of human bones not Fig 28 Plan of Structure 57 associated with specific skeletons Fig 29 Structure 57 from the west Fig 66 Artefacts of probable Roman to early Fig 30 Structure 57 from the east showing possible medieval date earlier Structure 181and the deep sounding Fig 67 Post-medieval pottery nos 1-15 Fig 31 Artefact distributions (a) from the floor level Fig 68 Spanish oil jars 16and 17 of Structure 57 and (b) from Unit 6 contexts Fig 69 Post-medieval small finds postdating Structure 57 Fig 70 Artefact distributions: (a) prehistoric pottery Fig 32 The excavation of Structures 59 (left) and 95 in Units l^la with key to pottery fabrics; (b) (right) in Unit 5b sixteenth- and seventeenth-century pottery; (c) later Fig 33 Contoured plan of the surface of Unit 5b sixteenth- to twentieth-century pottery