Surrey Archaeological Collections 92

Archaeological excavations alongside the river Wandle in Wallington produced evidence of the environmental history and human exploitation of the area. The recovery of a large assemblage of struck flint provided information on the nature of the prehistoric activities represented, while a detailed environmental archaeological programme permitted an examination of both the local sediment successions and thus an opportunity to reconstruct the environmental history of the site. The site revealed a complex sedimentary sequence deposited in riverine conditions, commencing during the early Holocene (from c 10,000 years before present) and continuing through the late Holocene ( last c 3000 years). Large flint nodules were washed by the river onto the site where they were procured and worked by Mesolithic and Bronze Age communities. Potentially usable nodules had been tested, and suitable pieces completely reduced, while the majority of useful flakes and blades had been removed for use elsewhere. Small numbers of retouched pieces, such as scrapers and piercers, indicate that domestic activities took place nearby. By the Saxon period the site had begun to stabilise, although it remained marshy and probably peripheral to habitation. Two pits from this period were excavated, one of which contained an antler pick. A small quantity of cereal grain also suggests that cultivated land lay in the vicinity of the site. During the nineteenth century a mill race was dug across the site, redirecting water from the river Wandle, which resulted in episodic flooding. Includes an online supplement and separately authored contributions on

The History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey was begun in the 1760s by Owen Manning (1721--1801), vicar of Godalming, and completed in three volumes by William Bray (1736--1832) of Shere, between 1801 and 1814. The prefaces to each volume and papers of those closely associated with the project testify to the support given to the editors by a national network of antiquaries and the industry, patience and accuracy that ensured the book's value for local historical research. The paper, drawing on the archive materials of Manning and Bray, the antiquary Richard Gough (1731--1809), and the printer, John Nichols (1745--1826), charts the research and production of the county history. Includes

The report brings together an excavation and two observations on three tenements backing onto the western and southern slopes of Reigate Castle. On all three sites there is evidence for construction of the castle's defences in the form of large amounts of dumped sand overlying medieval material. It is argued from this that the castle slopes may have been free from domestic buildings until the castle ceased to have any military significance. An excavation at 12--14 London Road also uncovered the remains of a building dating from the mid-seventeenth century, which was demolished during the eighteenth century. Both archaeological and documentary evidence suggest that this was the first building on the site. Among the finds from London Road was a glass wine bottle containing urine and bent pins, which is identified as a witch bottle. Includes an online supplement.

Excavation undertaken at Long Grove Road, Epsom in 2003 revealed evidence of Middle to Late Bronze Age features including ditches, pits and other, amorphous, features. It is thought that the more irregular features may represent tree and scrub clearance in the early prehistoric period. The ditches are likely indications of agricultural features, such as droveways and fields, imposed on this cleared landscape in the Later Bronze Age. Several postholes were identified within the fields, which may be the remains of internal fences, possibly for stock control. Nearby settlement may also be suggested by a pit containing pottery and worked flint. Includes separately authored contributions on

An excavation at Skerne Road, Kingston upon Thames, identified the presence of three phases of Roman occupation in an area where Roman finds had been identified in the nineteenth century. Several pre-Flavian pits and a gully were recorded. Two third-century quarry pits were also identified which had been utilised subsequently for the disposal of rubbish. While a wide spectrum of domestic refuse was represented within these pits, certain assemblages recovered were unusual. High concentrations of both roof and box-flue tiles dating to the mid-first to second centuries AD were recovered, deposited with pottery dating to the third century. This may indicate the presence of a first- to second-century building in the vicinity of the site possibly demolished or altered in the third century. Partially articulated cattle and horse skeletons were also recovered from one of the quarry pits. An alignment of postholes of probable third-century date was identified, while a fourth-century arable deposit suggested continuity of activity in the area for most of the Roman period. Includes an online supplement, and separately authored contributions on

The article outlines the results of fieldwork undertaken between 2001 and 2005 at the Palaeolithic site of Rookery Farm, Lower Kingswood. The work comprised annual fieldwalking with test pitting in summer 2002 followed by excavation in 2003--4. The work produced nearly 400 flint artefacts of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic date. These artefacts mainly comprise handaxes and waste flakes (débitage), and it is suggested that although the majority of the artefacts resemble material recovered from earlier investigations of the site which have been compared with Farnham Terrace B material, artefacts are also present which are distinctive in both technology and post-depositional weathering and are comparable to Farnham Terrace A and Terrace C material. Excavation demonstrated that those artefacts not within the plough-soil exist within a loessy clay layer under the plough-soil and resting on Clay-with-flints, and it is concluded that there is evidence for multi-period deposition on the site during the Palaeolithic. There is also a brief summary of recently recovered Palaeolithic finds from the general area, and some comments on previous work at the site.

Note on two caches of Late Bronze Age copper-alloy ingot fragments found by a metal-detectorist in 1985, one on the western margins of Biggin Hill in Kent and the other close to Paygate Cottage on Botley Hill in Surrey, some 3km to the south-southwest. With the exception of one or two very fragmentary pieces, neither appeared to have contained any finished or fragmentary tools, weapons or ornaments.

Note describing two examples of evidence indicating the use of resin to repair Romano-British vessels in antiquity: one of an Alice Holt/Farnham ware cordoned jar dated c AD 43--80, sherds of which were recovered during a fieldwalking survey on land at Manor Farm on the outskirts of Guildford; and one of a beaker or small jar of micaceous London Ware, recovered during excavation of the King William IV site at 19 High Street, Ewell.

Notes on archaeological investigations and chance finds in Surrey and the boroughs of southwest Greater London during 2004; entries are grouped by borough or unitary authority.