1100239. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Kentwood Farm Phase 2, Wokingham, Berkshire

Series:

Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report series

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Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1100239

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2017a). The location of the excavation area was informed by the results of the archaeological evaluation. The excavation area initially measured 22m by 22m but following initial stripping and excavation, three extensions to the excavation area, in the form of machine-dug trenches of up to a maximum of 8m each in length, were excavated to investigate archaeological features that appeared to extend beyond the initially stripped area. Fieldwork commenced with the removal, under close archaeological supervision, of topsoil and subsoil from the excavation area, using a mechanical excavator with a toothless grading bucket. The archaeological features thus exposed were hand-excavated to the bottom of archaeological stratigraphy. All deposits were assessed for their environmental potential. Eight deposits considered to have potential for characterising the earlier phases of activity were retained. Excavation, targeted a small number of features identified during an earlier evaluation, and revealed a sequence of Late Iron Age and Roman enclosure ditches, with several pits. There was evidence of extensive truncation across the site, with very limited survival of internal or structural features, and ditches often survived to shallow depths. Three distinct phases of ditch construction were identified on the basis of stratigraphic relationships, although the pottery associated with the two later Roman phases permitted little chronological distinction between them. The earliest ditched features partly described a small settlement enclosure of circular plan, although not all of the ditch circuit had survived. Pottery within the fills of these ditches was of Late Iron Age to late first century AD date. No contemporary features of this date survived within the area bounded by Period 2 ditches, and very little evidence was found of internal structures. In common with many smaller settlements within the region, this site displayed clear evidence of continuity between the Late Iron Age and Roman periods. The earliest phase of ditched enclosure was replaced in the second century AD by one of rectilinear plan, which cut the earlier ditch on its north-east side. The character of the fills of the later ditch suggested that it enclosed a domestic settlement, although no internal features were identified. A group of pits located within the south-west of the excavation area were also of this phase, and may represent refuse pits external to the later rectilinear enclosure. A later curvilinear feature cut the rectilinear ditch, and partly reflected the course of the earliest enclosure. This appeared to represent a further Roman phase of ditched enclosure of second to later third-century AD date. Small assemblages of animal bone and plant macrofossils provided limited evidence regarding the farming economy and environment associated with the settlement.

Author:

J Whelan

Publisher:

Cotswold Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2017

Locations:

District:	Wokingham
County:	Berkshire
Country:	England
Parish:	Wokingham

Grid Reference: 481761, 169987 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

EXCAVATION (Event)

DITCH (Monument Type England)

LATE IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

DITCH (Monument Type England)

ROMAN DITCH (Tag)

PIT (Monument Type England)

ROMAN PIT (Tag)

PIT (Monument Type England)

LATE IRON AGE PIT (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:	cotswold2-509446
Report id:	779035_1

Note:

This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

12 Oct 2022