| Title: |
Archdeacon Newton Medieval Village Site, County Durham. Archaeological Excavation |
| Series: |
The Archaeological Practice unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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thearcha2-510258_192306.pdf (31 MB)
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
The excavation project was guided by the following overall aims: • To define and identify the nature of archaeological deposits on site, and date these if and where possible, establishing whether the features/deposits represent part of the medieval settlement. A particular focus for the team will be identifying how occupation ceased. • to attempt to characterise the nature of the archaeological sequence and recover as much information as possible about the spatial patterning of features present on the site. • To address the research questions identified in the previous section of this document (see 1.4) • Provide training in archaeological methods and techniques to volunteers wishing to investigate their area’s past, equipping them with the relevant new skills. • Further the understanding of the site and its environment by all members of the community. • Reinforce and develop the volunteers’ existing sense of place and belonging within the area. • To provide a springboard for further community-led initiatives in the field of archaeology. The positioning of the trenches was based on the results of the geophysical survey combined with scrutiny of the surviving earthworks (using the RCHME topographic survey, aerial photography and walkover examination). The scope of work was intended to allow flexibility to follow up promising results and to enable more extensive investigation if the opportunity presented itself. Several of the trenches were set within defined areas wherein the trenches might be extended as deemed appropriate in consultation with the Historic England (HE) Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Durham County Archaeologist in order to further investigate features of interest revealed by the initial trench and answer questions generated. In each case a maximum proportion of extension in relation to the initial trench was specified (an additional 100% in relation to the longer trenches and 200% in relation to the shorter ones). This methodology was deemed necessary in part because neither the geophysical survey nor the earthwork record had identified distinct house sites within the toft enclosures. The area with the well-preserved SMV earthworks known as Village Field is presently subdivided into two fenced field enclosures. Trenches 1a, 1b, 2 and 3 were excavated in the northern field enclosure (Field 1) whilst Trenches 4 and 5 were located in the southern field (2). The excavations were largely successful in characterising occupation across the different parts of the medieval village site. Trench 2 extensively explored the elevated area at the northern end of the site where the location of a chapel mentioned in documentary sources, but revealed no trace of any medieval structures and indeed very little indication of any intensive medieval occupation in this area, the pottery assemblage being very small. It is likely this parcel of ground always lay outside the builtup zone of the village. Only at the southern end of Trench 2 were features revealed, in the form of a ditch with a low bank along its south side, both visible as low earthwork features. The ditch was found to contain a posthole in its base. This ditch and bank (and post fence?) most likely marked the northern boundary of the toft situated immediately to the south, itself probably the northernmost occupation on this side of the village. However the almost complete absence of dating material from these features means an earlier origin cannot be excluded. Trench 3, next to the northern entrance to the present hamlet, was the only area where the remains revealed – two cobbled trackways and an intervening ditch – clearly relate to the more recent periods of the settlement’s occupation. Medieval wares were in a minority here and early modern wares were particularly common, a very different assemblage pattern to that encountered in the other trenches. |
| Author: |
A Rushworth
M Johnstone
A Leigh
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| Publisher: |
Archaeological Practice Ltd
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Archdeacon Newton |
| Country: |
England |
| District: |
Darlington |
| County: |
Darlington |
| County: |
Durham |
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Grid Reference: 425521, 517221 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
thearcha2-510258 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
12 Feb 2024 |
