Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire
Susan Ripper, 2010. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000126. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © University of Leicester Archaeological Services unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Susan
Ripper
Project Officer
University of Leicester Archaeological Services
School of Archaeology and Ancient History
University Road
Leicester
LE1 7RH
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 964
- ALSF Project Number: 3380
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000126
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
Waterlogged human remains were discovered during gravel extraction of a pre-PPG16 permission quarry in Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire in 1996. The collection represented the remains of at least two adult males with one of the skulls including a series of cut marks suggesting some form of either de-fleshing or decapitation. These were dated to cal BC 1040-810 (OxA-6831). Subsequent investigations established that the bones came from a peat deposit within a former channel of the River Soar and a programme of environmental and sediment sampling ensued. Dated samples suggest a profile from the Late Upper Palaeolithic to the late Bronze Age.
As the extraction process continued, further archaeological features were observed. A remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age burnt mound was located on the adjacent riverbank including a shallow mound of fire-cracked stones and charcoal, two hearths, water channels and a timber and wattle lined trough. Immediately adjacent to the mound two parallel rows of oak posts extended across the palaeochannel - perhaps the remains of a bridge or jetty. Animal bones were recovered from the palaeochannel silts including a decapitated horse skull and the remains of butchered cattle and aurochsen. A small quantity of animal bone was also recovered from the trough.
Contents of the On-Line Archive (Specialist Reports)
The on-line archive contains the specialist reports commissioned in 2005-7 in support of the published research report.
Contents
- Animal Bone. Tony Gouldwell.
- Charcoal. Graham Morgan.
- Charred Plant Remains. Angela Monckton.
- Dendrochronological Dating. Robert Howard.
- Documentary Analysis. Paul Courtney.
- Environmental Summaries. Angela Monckton.
- Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry analysis of human bone. Matthew Collins.
- Human Bone. Dr. Jill Cook.
- Insect Remains. David Smith and Emma Tetlow.
- Pollen Analysis of Palaeochannel Sediments. A. G. Brown and J. Hatton.
- Plant Macrofossils. James Greig.
- Radiocarbon Dating. John Meadows, Angela Monckton, Susan Ripper, Alex Bayliss, Chris Bronk Ramsey, Gordon Cook, and Hans van der Plicht.
- Timber. Matt Beamish.
- Pottery. Nicholas J. Cooper.
Non-digital Archive and Publications
In addition to the files contained within the digital archive the ALSF project also produced the following outputs:
| Lectures / Academic Papers |
|---|
| Friends of Donnington Museum, Leicestershire, September 2005 |
| University of Leicester, May 2005 |
| Press Release |
| May 2004; extensive local coverage |
| Radio / TV interview |
| BBC Radio Leicester, May 2004 |
