Current Archaeol 9

Notes on Meso sheep, palaeogenetics, urban mammals, Mucking cereals, X-ray fluorescence for armour, obituary of Maureen Girling.

A waterlogged site had preserved the base of a gate-tower, wooden floors, writing tablets, a needle case; there were also legionary tile stamps. Dark Age levels also present.

A hillfort has been discovered, with human and animal burials (?ritual); Saxon refortification and possible Civil War defences.

Notes on Lindow Man, the ageing of human bones, historic cement (with implications for nuclear waste disposal), a simple bench mark device, dBase III for brooch study, the date of Neanderthal Man, and new dates from the Oxford accelerator.

Over 350 axe-production sites have been identified in the Bowfell-Scafell Pike-Glaramara triangle, and the variations of Group VI are being petrologically defined. Four types of flaking site are recognized, and crude estimates suggest a total production from Langdale of 45 000 to 75 000 (at least) axes.

Excavation of a large area of cropmarks revealed Iron Age and Anglian burials. A chariot burial had wheels stacked upright and five terrets (one with decoration of Snettisham Torc type). Four round barrows contained multiple spearheads (?apotropaic) in the grave fills; five square barrows contained unaccompanied burials; and some square enclosures suggest shrines. Among the Anglian burials, 11 rich graves lay within a square ditch (fine hanging bowl, cauldron with chain, ornaments, etc); 35 other Anglian graves, well furnished. The cemetery lies beside a double dyke that passes other chariot burials further up the valley.

The historical evidence of 8th century sources has been vindicated by the location, at the Redfearn site in Fishergate, of the Anglian settlement. Below the Gilbertine priory were revealed the remains of seven or eight timber halls and two ?roads, together with rubbish pits and environmental evidence. A thriving economy and trade is clear, and a size of 25ha is estimated. Occupation ended in later 9th century. An 11th century parish church (?St Andrew's) preceded the stone one used in the Gilbertine priory.

Summary of results of excavations by Robin Daniels and others on the AS monastery site of St Hilda, with densely packed timber buildings and a ?vallum monasterii containing moulds for high-class decorated metalwork of early 8th century and other small finds. Demolition came well before the known Viking raids. Docks of 12th century belong to the new town of Hartlepool, but were eventually filled in and built over. The landward defensive wall has been found, and in Church Close were substantial remains of med housing (timber structures followed by stone): late 11th to 16th century. The Franciscan friary of 1240 has also been examined.

Examination of the walls on an upland farm indicated five datable systems: Neo, RB, med, post-Dissolution, and 19th century Enclosure.

Notes on 14C dating, archaeomagnetism, lead isotopes, the new series of specialist reports from the Ancient Monuments Laboratory of English Heritage, etc.

Summarizes the stages of development from loosely arranged 6th century Saxon hall and sunken-featured buildings through an enclosed settlement to a 12th century manor house (Furnell's) and village layout, followed by rebuilds and eventual desertion. (See also 88/334, 431 & 632.)

Iron Age remains were followed by cultivation of lazybed type, in turn covered by a Roman villa and adjacent village. Large round houses on stone foundations were laid out in 2nd century within walled compounds. One structure appears to be a bailiff's house with large yard. Does the whole complex represent the villa estate? For other parts of the Raunds landscape project see 88/334, 43l & 752.

Search for the Saxon royal vill of Tanshelf was rewarded by the discovery of a two-cell Saxon church preceded by three phases of burials, one dated in late 7th century AD. This may be the parish church of Tanshelf. Also explored were the Civil War earthworks, and med industrial sites.

Brief account of thirty years' work on the SW corner of the baths insula (piscina, macellum, and underlying fortress). The chronology of the period AD 122-30 which saw the dramatic enlargement of the city still presents problems.