SECTION 7.2: KEMPSFORD STUBBS FARM ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

NATURAL FEATURES AND EARLY TREE CLEARANCE

THE CIRCULAR AND RETANGULAR ENCLOSURES
Multi-ditched circular enclosure
Double ditched rectangular enclosure

ENCLOSURES TO THE SOUTH

FIELD DITCHES

LARGER FIELD SYSTEMS

TRACKWAYS

Natural features and early tree clearance

The general soil type was a silty clay loam with small inclusions of gravel. Natural features were filled by very clean silty clay with no gravel content, implying that they predated human activity. This included the fills of tree throw holes and the palaeochannels identified during the evaluation stages of the project, and contrasted with the archaeological features which were filled by grey silty clay with varying proportions of gravel.

The palaeochannels observed during the stripping of eastern parts of the Stubbs Farm site were comparable with those located during archaeological investigation of the Manor Farm site (OAU 1992) to the north and east, and are likely to form parts of the same drainage system (see above).

The tree-throw holes contained material that showed signs of burning. This may be evidence for deliberate land clearance, though it is unclear when this took place. It may be that the land was cleared earlier in the prehistoric period but no other traces of the use of the area during earlier periods remained, possibly indicating use was at most very light and sporadic before the occupation of the ditched enclosures.

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The circular and rectangular enclosures (Figs 7.2.1: Multi-ditched circular enclosure and 7.2.2: Double ditched rectangular enclosure )

The 1995 excavation was aimed at elucidating the chronology and nature of the two multi-ditched enclosures. No archaeological evidence remained to suggest how the two related to one another, and although it is probable that the circular one predated the rectangular, this is by no means certain.

Multi-ditched circular enclosure (Fig. 7.2.1: Multi-ditched circular enclosure )

The circular enclosure measured up to approximately 55 m in diameter externally and 35-40 m internally. It was represented by three concentric ditches, which need not all have been contemporary. The innermost of these ditches (1705 and 1706) had been recut repeatedly and not always on exactly the same alignment. An entrance through all but this innermost set of ditches was seen on the southern side of the enclosure, possibly coincidentally aligned towards the rectangular enclosure. A set of postholes formed a structure (1713) in the centre of the enclosure and an alignment of possible pits (1674, 1695, 1632, 1701) was found set around the north-eastern side of the enclosure concentric to the ditches. The enclosure is tentatively dated to the Iron Age on the basis of the Roman material lying in the tops of the silted up and backfilled ditches coupled with the presence of one sherd of Iron Age pottery.

The innermost ditches (1705, 1706)

The inner ditch forming this enclosure appears to have been the largest, but much of its size is due to the feature having been recut several times, on slightly different alignments. The sequence of these recuts was hard to trace through the hand excavated sections. Around most of the circumference of the enclosure the innermost ditch (1706) was found to be composed of three cuts. This included two shallow cuts, approximately 0.8 m wide and 0.2 m deep with a wide U-shaped profile, and a larger cut 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m deep, also with a U-shaped profile, in the centre. The two most northerly sections showed additional cuts, including what appeared to be a terminus. although unfortunately the ditch was cut by part of the later field system, which destroyed any stratigraphic relationships. A further cut (1705) could be traced around the eastern side of the enclosure on the inner side of 1706. This ditch, which could be distinguished in plan by its pale grey gravel fill, was 1.2 m wide and 0.4 m deep with a broad U-shaped profile. The similarities of this feature and the other cuts making up 1706 made it impossible to trace in any more of its circuit, where its alignment was nearer to that of the others.

Where observable, the sequence of fills was fairly uniform; an initial gravelly slip was overlain by clean clay silting, while a gravelly layer over this may indicate the slighting of bank material. This was overlain by clean clay silt indicating disuse. Second century pottery came from the upper silts of the ditch on the west side of the enclosure, but a single middle Iron Age sherd was found in the lowest silt of the larger cut on the west side during the machine excavation. Very few other finds were retrieved from this enclosure ditch, with only a few fragments of animal bone from the fills of the latest recuts of 1706 and two flints from 1705.

The middle and outermost ditches (1707, 1708)

Beyond these innermost ditches were two further concentric ditches (1707 and 1708). These features were fairly similar and had not been recut as the innermost one had. The middle ditch (1707) lay around 0.25-0.6 m beyond the innermost ditch and was represented by a single cut with a U-shaped profile, 1m wide and 0.3 m deep. The outermost ditch (1708) lay up to 0.5 m beyond this and also had a U-shaped profile. It was slightly smaller than the middle ditch at 0.8m wide and 0.15 m deep. Both ditches had very similar fills; friable, mid brown silty clay with gravel, which yielded some pottery sherds of 2nd century AD date from sections to the west and south. These two ditches appeared to merge in the north-eastern and southern parts of the circuit, although this may have been a result of plough damage. A section through these features in the north-east showed that the features were in fact separate, but ploughing had blurred their edges. Another section through the southern sector failed to reveal any relationship, but it is possible that these two ditches were contemporary. Unfortunately, a deep plough scar had destroyed the stratigraphy in this area.

Entrances

It was not entirely clear where the entrance or entrances to the enclosure were located. It may have varied with the successive renovations, as represented by the recutting of the innermost ditch. A well-defined terminus to 1705 (1556) may indicate the entrance at one time was orientated to the SSE. It has been suggested that this terminus was contemporary with a corresponding terminus 4m away (cut 1543; Fig. 7.2.1). This is unlikely though, as one of the sections through 1705 clearly shows that it cut 1706, but 1706 cut the section of ditch supposed to form the opposed half of this entrance.

A further terminus of ditch 1706 is evident at the south of the enclosure around 12.5 m further west of the well defined terminus to 1705 (cut 1641). The later field boundary ditch (1709) cutting through the enclosure immediately to the west of this terminus has destroyed the other half of this entrance, but a fairly narrow opening, perhaps only around 2m wide is indicated. Despite its narrowness this is likely to have been associated with the enclosure at its most fully developed. A 2 m wide entrance through the middle ditch (1707) corresponded to this one exactly. A third entrance was formed by the opposed terminals of the outermost ditch (1708), which lay c 10 m apart on the same orientation.

A single circular posthole (1629) lay between 1706 and 1707, in line with the western termini of these entrances and probably represented some sort of structure associated with the entrance (Fig. 7.2.1). This posthole was 0.42 m in diameter and 0.25 m deep and contained a deposit of friable mid grey brown sandy silt with a fairly low percentage of gravel inclusions (1630), surrounded by another similar deposit with a somewhat higher percentage of gravel (1631), which may represent a postpipe and packing. Several fragments of animal bone were the only finds recovered from this feature.

The excavated area did not quite include the northern extent of the enclosure, so entrances on that side are less certain. The ditch terminus (1484; Fig. 7.2.1) observed as being part of 1706 in one of the northern sections may have represented another entrance in this area, but it is impossible to say whether it was contemporary with, or replaced any of the southern entrances.

The interior

Six postholes (1713) lay at the centre of this enclosure. These postholes (1594, 1597, 1600, 1602 and 1661) averaged 0.3 m wide and 0.25 m deep with a U-shaped profile (Fig. 7.2.1). All were filled with deposits of mid grey brown silty clay with gravel and no finds were recovered from any of these features. The large 18th century ditch which cut east-west across the centre of the enclosure may have destroyed other similar features, but enough survived to very tentatively suggest a structure. Postholes 1602, 1600 and 1597 may represent three corners of a rectangular structure 3 m x 5 m, the fourth having been destroyed by the later ditch, but this identification is very uncertain.

Along the eastern edges of the interior an alignment of probable pits (1712) was located, lying concentric with the circular gullies, 3-4m distant. One well defined pit, 1632, was found on excavation to be 1 m wide and 0.8 m deep with a flat-bottomed U-shaped profile. This feature appeared to have silted up slowly over a considerable period of time, with the accumulation of numerous layers of silty clay overlying an initial layer of sand, probably representing initial erosion from the sides. No finds were recovered from any of these fills to give any hint of the date or function. The remaining features (1674, 1695, 1701, 1676 and 1704) in this group were shallower and somewhat less regular in plan and profile (Fig. 7.2.1). They may have been plough damaged shallow pits or possibly tree-throw holes. All had fills very similar to the tree-throw pits observed on the rest of the site but had rather more regular cuts, of a broad and shallow U profile; any irregularity in the pits could be ascribed to the deep ploughing as most of these features had been very badly affected.

A medieval or later horseshoe was found in the material ploughed out in the centre of the enclosure.

Field ditches

Two 2nd century field ditches cut across the round enclosure (Fig. 7.2.1). A slight gully (1710) 0.8 m wide and 0.2 m deep with a broad and shallow U-shaped profile, was aligned east-west. A larger ditch (1709) 1.3 m wide and 0.4 m deep with a U-shaped profile, entered the circular enclosure through the southern entrance and cut 1710 roughly in the centre of the circular enclosure. 1709 then turned to follow the east-west line of 1710.

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Double ditched rectangular enclosure (Fig. 7.2.2:Double ditched rectangular enclosure)

The rectangular enclosure measured 53 x 42 m externally, and was formed of two parallel ditches (1274, 1273). An entrance through both ditches was seen on the eastern side, and two parallel gullies (1284, 1285) subdivided its interior. The enclosure ditches were cut away by a large north-south field ditch (1275) to the west.

Inner ditch

The inner ditch (1273) had two cuts visible in section around the north-east, north, north-west and southern sides. The earlier cuts were 0.5 m deep and 1.7 m wide and V-shape in profile. They formed a ditch which had completely filled in before the later cut was excavated. The later cut was 1.5 m wide and 0.6 m deep. The fills of the ditch suggested that once the sides had stabilised, it had slowly silted up. In the north-east side of the enclosure, a considerable quantity of domestic debris had been dumped in the ditch, including 250 sherds of pottery dated early 2nd to mid 3rd century. A gravelly layer was seen in the top of the ditch and probably represents the slighting of the bank by ploughing. The gravelly layer was overlain by clean silts, suggesting abandonment of the site.

Outer ditch

The outer ditch (1274) had only one cut visible in section around most of its circumference. Two cuts were visible where the ditch turned to run along the alignment of the (later) north-south field ditch (1275) and along the south side of the enclosure. The initial cuts were slight at only 0.8 m wide and 0.3 m deep. They appeared to have completely filled up before being cut away by the later ditch. The later ditch was 1.2 m wide and 0.5 m deep and V-shaped in profile.

The fills of the ditch suggested a similar pattern to that of the inner ditch - a period of stabilisation followed by slow silting, and the bank material subsequently pushed into the ditch. The site was left as the slight earthwork hollow and filled slowly with clean silt. A considerable quantity of domestic material was dumped into the earthwork along the northern side. This dump included a coin and almost 500 sherds of pottery.

Bank

The fills of the inner and outer ditches had gravelly layers in their upper fills. Judging by the way these tipped into the ditches from the area between it is likely that a gravel bank, formed from the spoil from the initial cutting of the ditches, lay between them. Modern ploughing had removed evidence of this. A baulk of ploughsoil was left on the west side of the enclosure but no gravelly material was present in the modern ploughsoil.

Gate (Fig. 7.2.3: Plan of enclosure gateway)

A group of postholes was concentrated around the terminals of the inner and outer ditches which formed the entrance and may have represented a gate (1289). The postholes ranged in size from 0.2 to 0.4 m in diameter and were up to 0.3 m deep. One posthole (1420) lay to the north of the entrance area.

Outside the inner enclosure ditch were two pairs of postholes, one pair each side of the entrance. One of each pair (1387, 1391) were large, 0.4m diameter, while the others (1389, 1181) were smaller at around half the size. Three postholes lay inside the inner entrance on the edge of the ditch. One posthole (1012) lay to the north of the entrance and two, (1382, 1385) lay to the south. It is likely that this arrangement formed a timber gateway structure around the inner enclosure.

One large posthole 1380 lay between the gate and the gullies (1284, 1285) subdividing the interior of the enclosure.

Inner gullies

Two roughly parallel gullies ran east-west for 18-21 m, subdividing the interior of the enclosure. The northern (1284) was 1m wide and 0.2 m deep, and the southern (1285) was 0.7 m wide and 0.1 m deep. The profiles of these gullies were not clear as they had been extensively truncated by deep ploughing. A north-south gully (1288) lay at the east end of these features. It was 0.62 m wide, 0.32 m deep and ran for 10 m. As it was slightly deeper the profile was observed as U shaped with a flat bottom. It contained metalworking slag and 2nd-century pottery.

A slightly curving gully (1714) was present in the northern half of the rectangular enclosure, running for c 10 m.. It was 0.57 m wide and 0.23 m deep with a U profile. No finds were recovered from the fills of the gully and it was badly plough damaged.

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Enclosures to the south (Fig. 7.2.2: Double ditched rectangular enclosure )

Immediately to the south of the rectangular enclosure was a semi-circular gully (1280). It was 0.5 m wide and 0.35 m deep with vertical sides and a flat base. Its northern end began c 0.3 m from the southern side of 1274, and its profile suggested that it was a palisade trench designed to hold upright timbers. To the west of this gully lay a large pit (1410), 2.3 m across and 0.86 m deep.

Two parallel gullies (1281 and 1282) ran east-west to the south of 1280, on the same alignment at the main rectangular enclosure. They were 0.8 m wide and 0.3 m deep with a U shaped profile, and formed an enclosure (c 26 x 15 m) with an entrance to the east. An extra gully 1402 had been cut into the E end of 1282, reducing the entrance width to 10 m. Within this enclosure were 1287, a 10 m length of shallow gully, and 1283 a structure formed of four postholes. 1287 was 0.57m wide and 0.23m deep.

To the south-east of the enclosure formed by 1281 and 1282 was a short length of shallow gully (1286), 0.4 m long and 0.1 m wide with a wide U-shaped profile.

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Field ditches

Along the western boundary of the excavated area were a series of linear ditches, probably belonging to a larger field system shown in aerial photos, dating approximately to the 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD. Half way down the western side of the rectangular enclosure the north-south field ditches (1275, 1277) changed direction slightly, and this area seems to have been a nodal point where several sets of field enclosures met.

It is likely that the earliest component of this nodal point was formed by a NNW-SSE gully (1277) 0.8 m wide and 0.32 m deep and of rounded U shaped profile, traced for a distance of 10 m from the north-west corner of the trench. A similarly aligned gully (1279), 0.6 m wide and 0.1 m deep, was seen further to the south and may have been a continuation, but a larger ditch (1276), 1m wide and 0.44m deep, cut both of these gullies. The latest cut of this feature turned to run east-west. Three cuts (1222, 1217 and 1220) were present in the section dug through the east-west component of this feature while only one (1048) was seen in the northern terminal, cutting though earlier gully 1277.

The large north-south ditch 1275 (1.6 m wide, 0.4 m deep) had three visible major cuts but only the latest cuts were visible in section. These cut the outer ditch of the rectangular enclosure 1274, although both features were probably broadly contemporary. A shallow gully (1278) was aligned parallel to 1275 and terminated before 1276, suggesting that it was part of the Roman field system.

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Larger field system

Running throughout the Stubbs Farm site and the surrounding evaluation areas were a series of linear ditches and gullies that appeared to form part of major field boundaries. Dating evidence was sparse but generally indicated a 2nd to 3rd century date. Many of the undated boundaries may, however, be much later, although they were not aligned with known post-medieval field systems as shown on enclosure maps.

Most of the large ditches were filled by a light grey silt clay, while smaller features were filled with a lightish brown silt clay. The profile of all of the ditches was U- shaped and generally steep-sided.

The earliest elements in the field system appeared to be the circular enclosure at Stubbs farm and a curving ditch which may be a similar, larger, enclosure at Manor Farm. The latter ditch, which was located in the westernmost field was cut by one of the linear Roman ditches, and may have been of Iron Age or early Roman date. A single sherd of Iron Age pottery was recovered from ploughsoil in the trench that cut the feature.

Of the more probable Roman field system, there were three main ditches running roughly north-south through the evaluation areas. The eastern ditch (1.5 m wide, 0.5 m deep) bifurcated at two points while the central ditch continued as one feature. The western ditch had several recuts where it was examined, and was associated not only with the Stubbs Farm rectangular enclosure, but also possibly with a similar feature to the north at Manor Farm, measuring 50 m wide and over 100 m long (no north side was located by trenching). To the south this ditch appeared to curve around to the east, and either cut or was cut by the central ditch. Between the western and eastern ditches were several sets of smaller ditches that subdivided the larger fields.

Several NW-SE ditches were also recorded to the east of the main field system.

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Trackways

A pair of parallel ditches dated as Roman on the ceramic evidence was aligned ENE-WSW at Manor Farm. They may have represented a trackway leading off to the east from the central north-south ditch. The southern ditch terminated where the ground became wetter due to the old stream courses. At Stubbs Farm, another probable trackway led west from this central ditch, joining up with the NNW-SSE trackway close to the stone built rectangular building in the Multi-Agg quarry extension site. Parts of another possible trackway running north-south were exposed in the east of the Manor Farm evaluation area but no dating evidence was recovered.

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