SECTION 2.1.4: CLAYDON
PIKE WARRENS FIELD ISLAND 1
INTRODUCTION
TRENCH 6
Enclosure 2
Structure 1
Other features within E2
Structure 2
Structure 3
Features to the west of Structure 3
Other feautures in Trench 6
TRENCH 2
Enclosure1
TRENCH 9
Double ditched enclosure 150/151
TRENCH 10
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Gravel Island 1 was located approximately 60 m to the south east of Trench
12 and represented the most easterly activity in Warrens Field. Excavation
here focused on Trench 6, but also included three further trenches to
the south (Trenches 2, 9 and 10, Fig. 2.1.2). Trench 6 contained one enclosure
and three structures, plus several gullies, postholes and scoops. A single
enclosure was situated in Trench 2, a double-ditched enclosure was seen
in Trench 9, and an oval pit in Trench 10.
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Trench 6 SU 19335 / 99730
The largest feature in Trench 6 was Enclosure 2. This was formed by ditch
8, creating a subrectangular enclosure located to the north-west of Enclosure
1 (Trench 2). It measured 22 m x 20 m with an internal area of c 440m².
An entrance of 2 m lay on the south-eastern side.
Excavation showed the ditch to be 1.75 - 2.25 m wide and 0.7 - 0.9 m deep.
No evidence of recutting was recognised. A variety of features including
Structure 1 (S 1) lay within the enclosure. Ditch 8 is reasonably concentric
to S 1 except on the south-east side where it swells out as if to accommodate
the structure's entrance and activity round it. The enclosure ditch was
truncated by Structure 2 to the east.
A large quantity of occupation debris was recovered from the enclosure
ditch. The animal bone fragments numbered 220, the majority of which were
not identifiable. Of the remaining bones, 18 were cattle, nine horse,
two sheep and one pig. Five pieces of fired clay were recorded, plus seven
fragments of Droitwich Briquetage (three of fabric 2, four of fabric 1).
An iron knife and two flint flakes complete the small find assemblage
from the ditch. A total of 539 sherds (3.5 kg) of middle Iron Age pottery
was identified, 80% of which were in a coarse Jurassic shelly limestone
fabric, and 10% were sandy wares. The mean sherd weight was 6.4 g, much
lower than the average assemblage weight of 11.6 g. A large proportion
of the pottery came from the upper fill, and may represent some tertiary
infilling from nearby later Structure 2.
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Context 21, a penannular gully, lay within Enclosure 2. It had an internal
diameter of 13 m and a 4.5 m wide entrance on the south-east. The gully
was 0.5 - 0.6 m wide on average, and c 0.3 - 0.46 m deep. Traces of posts
were noticed in several sections of the gully, and a possible slot, 0.15
- 0.25 m wide and 0.14 - 0.19 m deep, was visible on the outer side of
the gully, possibly forming part of the structure. It contained a fill
of sandy loam and was fairly straight in profile on one side. Small limestone
fragments were noted throughout the fill, particularly in the terminals.
Nine fired clay fragments were recovered from the gully, plus one fragment
of briquetage fabric 1, and five of fabric 2. An unidentified piece of
iron and a flint flake were also recorded. The gully produced 315 sherds
of pottery (3.8 kg), with a mean sherd weight of 12.2 g. The animal bone
fragments numbered 82, of which eight were cattle, three horse, one pig
and two sheep.
Two postholes, 128 and 129, were set back c 3 m from the terminals of
the penannular gully (measured from the posthole centre). Posthole 128
was 1.6 m long, 1.3 m wide and 0.4 m deep, posthole 129 was 1.5 m long,
0.6 m wide and 0.4m deep. Projecting towards the entrance from the postholes
were two shallow V-shaped grooves, inclined towards the posts, 0.6 m to
1 m long and 0.1 m to 0.3 m wide. Ten sherds (89 g) of middle Iron Age
pottery were recovered from posthole 128. A single posthole was located
at the southern terminus of gully 21, c 0.4 m diameter and 0.14 m deep.
Burnt limestone was noted in it's fill, but no finds were recorded.
Within the area of gully 21 lay a series of postholes and pits none necessary
structurally related to the building. Several of these in fact would have
lain between the outer wall of the structure and the penannular gully
(the wall position conjectured from the posts 128 and 129): features 50,
72, 74, 66 and 70. Features 50 and 74 were postholes, 0.2 - 0.5 m diameter
and 0.08 - 0.12 m deep. Feature 66 was a clay-lined pit, slightly oval
in plan, 0.7 - 0.85 m diameter and 0.34 m deep, with steep sides and a
gently concave base. Two sherds (12 g) of pottery, 23 indeterminate animal
bone fragments, and a single flint flake were recovered from the fill.
Feature 72 appeared to be a pit, or possibly a short stretch of gully,
1.8 m long and 0.4 m wide. It contained 14 indeterminate animal bone fragments,
and three sherds (25 g) of middle Iron Age pottery. Feature 70 was revealed
to be natural.
Within the conjectured structures limits three possible hearths or fire
pits were identified: features 47, 90 and 91. Feature 90 was irregular
in shape 2.28 m by 1.7 m, and 0.36 m deep, it showed heavily burnt clay
on the north and south side and may be interpreted as an oven. Feature
47 was smaller 1 m x 0.4 m and 0.36 m deep. This was more regular and
was intensely burnt down one side. Feature 91 was mostly destroyed by
a modern pipe trench, context 40. The remaining length was 1.4 m and depth
0.42 m. Contemporaneity of the structure and the hearths cannot be shown,
and for feature 90 must be doubted as it would seem to cross the conjectured
wall line. No finds were recovered from the three features.
A dozen postholes predominantly on the west and south sides were excavated
but they did not create a coherent pattern. The cluster of postholes to
the west (contexts 39, 41-46) varied in diameter from 0.23 - 0.6 m, and
were all quite shallow, 0.05-0.12 m deep. To the south postholes 48, 49,
51, 52 and 65 were 0.24 - 0.4 m wide and 0.06 - 0.17 m deep. One further
posthole was seen towards the north-east, context 69, 0.4 x 0.33 m. Two
irregular features and one natural hollow were also present within the
structure area, contexts 20, 67 and 71. A single sherd of pottery was
present in feature 20.
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On the southern edge of ditch 8, adjacent to the enclosure entrance,
were two arcs of gully 36 and 59. The stratigraphic relationship between
the gullies and the enclosure ditch was uncertain, it is possible that
they are contemporary. Gully arc 36 was c 6 m long, 0.25 m wide and 0.19
m deep, gully 59 was of similar dimensions. Context 36 contained six sherds
(25 g) of middle Iron Age pottery, plus a fragment of briquetage, fabric
2. Three briquetage fragments (fabric 2) and 39 sherds (247 g) of pottery
were recovered from gully 59. Towards the entrance of the enclosure another
gully arc was seen, context 56, c 2 m long and 0.22 m deep. No finds were
recovered from the latter gully.
A series of postholes 50, 53, 55, 61-64 lay to the north of gullies 36
and 59 and all lay south of the entrance to S 1. Posthole 75 was seen
to the west of the gullies. They varied in diameter from 0.22 - 0.5 m,
and 0.04 - 0.3 m deep. Three shallow (0.13 - 0.18 m) scoops or possible
pits 54, 57 and 60 also lay in this area but gave no clear signs of purpose.
Context 68 was also seen and represents a natural feature. No finds were
recovered from these features.
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East of enclosure 2 and cutting through the northern terminal, gullies
22 and 37 formed a semicircular arc around Structure 2. The two gullies
were of similar proportions c 0.2 m deep and 0.4 - 0.6 m wide with a circular
diameter of up to 12 m, the south and east sides being completely open.
Gully 37 appeared to have been recut on its northern side, and gully 22
was later in the sequence. Both phases could be seen to truncate E 2.
Gully 22 contained 31 animal bone fragments, of which only three could
be identified (sheep and cattle). A total of 151 sherds (635 g) of pottery
was recovered, 75% of the weight consisted of calcareous fabrics, and
25% were sandy wares. Small finds included four pieces of fired clay,
three briquetage fragments (one of fabric 1, two of fabric 2), and an
iron fragment. Gully 37 contained 89 animal bone fragments, the majority
of which were again unidentifiable. Of the 78 sherds (318 g) of pottery,
71 % were calcareous fabrics, the remainder were sandy (calculated by
weight). Two pieces of fired clay were also recorded, including an oven
fragment, plus two briquetage fragments, fabric 2.
Protruding into the bottom of the topsoil in the north-east of this area
was a spread of limestone rubble obviously much disturbed by ploughing.
It overlay in part gully 37 but was predominantly confined within the
area of the gullies. The rubble was associated with soil layer 111 which
certainly sealed gully 37, and ran within 0.1 m of gully 22. Layer 111
contained 58 sherds (212 g) of pottery, sandy wares accounted just over
half (116 g) of this assemblage, indicating the latest middle Iron Age
activity on the island. Two pieces of fired clay were also recorded in
this layer, and a briquetage fragment (fabric 2). A quern fragment of
old Red Sandstone was also recorded (**to be updated when stone is reviewed),
located above the northern terminal of gully 37. The spread appears to
indicate some form of surface or levelling that has survived best where
it has settled in the tops of features.
Within the area of the gullies lay three circular clay-lined pits, 109
and 120 on the north side and 103 on the east. Pit 109 was the largest,
0.7 m wide and 0.17 m deep, and contained a large amount of burnt limestone.
Pit 120 was located to the east, slightly more shallow than 109, it measured
0.63 wide and 0.1 m deep. Pit 103 was the deepest (0.23 m) and 0.5 m wide.
A circular arrangement was formed by postholes 82, 106, 114, 115, 121,
122, 124, 126, 134 and 139. These posts would have formed a structure
just under 7 m diameter. They varied in size, most appeared to have some
degree of limestone packing, often burnt, and at least five were recorded
as having steep sides and a flat base (139, 134, 115, 121, 122). The average
diameter was 0.5 m and 0.3 m deep. Clay-lined pit 103 was also located
on this line, suggesting that it was not contemporary with the structure.
The centre of this circle was north of the centre of gullies 22 and 37.
Small quantities of pottery were recovered from five of the postholes
(contexts 82, 106, 121, 122, 134), amounting to 33 sherds (105 g). A fired
clay loomweight and iron fragment were also recorded in posthole 126.
A number of other pits and postholes were situated within the area of
the enclosure. Most were located outside of the structural posts, and
clustered in the east. At least eight postholes were visible (79, 81,
107, 123, 130, 131, 133 and 136), greatly varying in size from 0.3 - 0.88
m in diameter and 0.1 - 0.4 m deep. Few finds were recovered from these
postholes, comprising three animal bone fragments, three sherds (23 g)
of pottery, and one briquetage fragment, fabric 2. Three possible pits
were noted, contexts 58, 135 and 137. Pit 58 (0.4 x 0.04 m) contained
part of a disarticulated cattle skeleton, represented predominately by
foot bones. Pit 135 was less certainly identified, c 1 m x 0.8 m x 0.66
m; context 127 was steep sided and flat bottomed, 0.74 x 0.66 m, with
a single small sherd of pottery.
A series of natural hollows, 138, 125 and 119 were located within this
enclosure, single sherds of pottery were recovered from the latter two.
The interpretation of context 117 was uncertain, but this may have been
a natural feature, it measured c 1.9 m in length and 0.37 m deep, and
also contained a single small sherd. Another possible hollow, context
100, was discovered near the entrance to the house site. It measured 1.95
x 1.05 x 0.06 - 0.31, and contained a small amount of occupation debris,
comprising seven sherds (23 g) of pottery including one sherd of Palaeozoic
limestone tempered B1. Two possible gullies were also seen in this area,
contexts 101 and 110, possibly restricting the entrance area. Gully 101
contained 17 sherds (48 g) of pottery, one animal bone fragment and an
identified iron object. Seven sherds (23 g) of pottery and five animal
bones were recovered from gully 100.
Pit 116 was located close to the northern terminal of the structure. It
had been truncated by gully 37 and is therefore not believed to be contemporary
with the structure. The pit was oval in plan with very steep sides, 0.8
x 0.7 m wide, and 0.79 m deep. It contained stone and burnt material in
the fill, and three animal bone fragments.
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Five metres north of S 2 and north-east of enclosure 2 lay three connecting
gullies 80, 83 and 97. Gully 83 connected the penannular gully 97 to the
semicircular arc, 80, to the south. The profile of gully 80 varied in
profile to quite broad and shallow on the southern side ( up to c 0.6
m wide and 0.12 m deep) to more narrow and deeper on the north and north-west
sides (c 0.35 m wide and 0.2 m deep). Gully 83 was consistently wider
and deeper, 0.65 x 0.36 m. Both 83 and 97 had been cut through by the
post-medieval boundary features 84 and 140. Part of a loomweight was recorded
in gully 97, along with four fragments of briquetage (mostly fabric 3),
a piece of fired clay and 44 animal bone fragments, most of which could
not be identified. The middle Iron Age pottery from gully 97 amounted
to 95 sherds (537 g), approximately 25% of which were sandy wares. Gully
83 contained 129 animal bone fragments, which were again mostly unidentifiable,
and three sherds (29 g) of pottery. From gully 80 a single piece of fired
clay and three animal bone fragments were recovered, plus 64 sherds (338
g) of eroded middle Iron Age pottery.
Gully 97 was interrupted on the south-east side by a 4 m gap and had an
internal diameter of 9 m. The gully itself varied from 0.3 m to 0.9 m
wide and c 0.28 m deep with a clean homogeneous fill, one recut was evident.
Two postholes, 142 and 143, were set back c 2 m from the entrance may
be interpreted as entrance posts, although they were relatively slight
with diameters between 0.3 m to 0.4 m and a depth of 0.15 m. A scatter
of postholes of no regular pattern was also enclosed within the area of
the gully (141, 144, 145, 147 and 148), these were mostly seen in the
entranceway to the structure, and were of similar dimensions to 142 and
143, with the exception of 148 which was slightly broader. A single sherd
of middle Iron Age pottery was recovered from posthole 147. In the interior
of the structure posthole 141 measured 0.45 x 0.14 m, and possible posthole
146 was slightly more shallow, 0.05 m. Posthole 98 (not shown in plan)
was recorded cut by the southern part of gully 97, and was also truncated
by ditch 140.
The semicircular arc, 80, was smaller in diameter, 6.5 m, and was open
to the north and east sides. No evidence of recutting was seen in the
gully. A spread of postholes lay north-east of the gully and a shallow
pit 88 lay just within. The postholes (85, 92 - 96) varied in diameter
from 0.3 - 0.5 m, and 0.18 - 0.28 m in depth, all showed some evidence
of stone-packing, a fragment of animal bone was recovered from context
95. Evidence of burning was seen in pit 88, including charcoal and burnt
limestone. It measured 0.9 x 0.7 x 0.22 m and contained a single sherd
of pottery.
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Two features west of Structure 3 deserve mention. These both had similarities
with the hearths or fire pits (47, 90, 91) within the area of Structure
1. Both were irregular in plan, context 112 measuring 1.9 m x 1 m, and
context 113 measuring 4.5 x 1.5 m. In parallel to context 47, this latter
pit had signs of intense burning down one side with the remaining fill
being comparatively clean. This burning was concentrated in the west,
and no trace of burning was seen in the eastern part of this feature.
Feature 112 showed traces of burning at the top of the feature. A possible
oval pit, context 149, appeared to be associated. A small fragment of
Droitwich briquetage, fired clay and of pottery came from the top of context
113 reconfirming its approximate contemporaneity with the other features
on the island.
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To the immediate south of burnt features 112 and 113 was possible pit
86. This feature was circular in plan, 0.6 m wide and 0.11 m deep, and
contained traces of burnt limestone in its fill. To the east was natural
hollow 118. To the south of enclosure 2 a hollow was recorded, context
132, which contained 26 animal bone fragments, four were identified as
horse. This feature may not be contemporary with the middle Iron Age settlement.
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Trench 2 SU 19365 / 99675
Situated in the south-east of Island 1, ditch 6 formed a rectangular
enclosure c 25 m x 22 m with an internal area of c 260m² (15 x 17.5
m). An entrance causeway 3 m wide lay on the east side.
Excavation showed two major cuttings of the ditch: the initial smaller
cut with surviving width of 1 m and depth of 0.75 m, and a later larger
cut having a depth of 1 m and a width of between 2 m and 3 m. This later
cut consistently reduced the enclosure's internal area. The interior contained
no archaeological features but the entrance was marked by a series of
possibly paved postholes, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 32, 33, 34 and 35, these
varied in diameter from 0.28 - 0.52 m diameter and 0.15 - 0.28 m deep.
Two further postholes 28 and 30 lay inside the enclosure on the north-east
side. A small quantity of animal bone was recovered from posthole 35.
Few finds were recovered from the enclosure suggesting that it was not
primarily utilised for occupation. Ditch 6 contained 65 g of redeposited
middle Iron Age pottery, just over half of which was composed of sand
and shell gritted wares, plus 69 g of Roman pottery, suggesting a late
Iron Age / early Roman date. A total of 155 animal bone fragments were
recovered, 116 of which could not be identified, 19 were cattle, 13 sheep,
four horse, two dog and one pig. A phosphate transect east to west across
the enclosure showed a concentration outside the feature to the east.
The form of the enclosure has more similarities with the phase 2 enclosures
in Warrens Field, E 3 and E 8. The presence of Roman pottery from the
ditch also suggests that Enclosure 1 is contemporary with the phase 2
use of the area. The ditch obviously survived as a hollow until quite
recent times (in contrast to the middle Iron Age features) given the amounts
of post-medieval debris in the top layer of silt.
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Trench 9 SU 19295 99682
A small exploratory trench was placed over the faint cropmark trace of
a rectangular enclosure situated c 40 m west of Enclosure 1 and c 20 m
south-west of Enclosure 2.
Further salvage observation showed it to be a double ditched enclosure
without entrance gaps. The outer ditch context 150 (average width 1.4
m, and depth 0.54 m) formed an internal area of c 610 m2 (26.5 m x 23
m). Two meters inside this and parallel to it lay gully context 151, a
much more slight feature (c 0.8 m wide and 0.34 m deep), forming an internal
area c 380 m2 (21 m x 18 m).
The date and function of this enclosure remain obscure, and no pottery
was recovered from the ditches. Its position and orientation within the
modern field system suggests that it predates it, but the presence of
semi-decayed wood in the top layers of ditch 150, well above the water
table, suggest it must be of comparatively recent origin.
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On the west edge of Island 1 where the Roman trackway crossed through
the lower lying area that divides Island 1 and Island 2, a trench was
excavated in an attempt to retrieve environmental samples from the ditches.
However, no waterlogged material survived within these ditches, contexts
166 and 167. The ditches had been overlaid by two layers of stone and
gravel hardcore (contexts 170 and 171), and then by a layer of silt (context
169).
At this level an oval pit, context 160, was found (not shown in plan).
It contained 29 fragments of animal bone, and had been overlaid by the
trackway surface.
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