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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Introduction (Fig. 2.1.18 Plan of island 1)

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

Enclosure 2 (Fig. 2.1.19: Enclosure 2 and structure 1 )

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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Structure 1 (Fig. 2.1.20: Structure 1)

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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Other features within E 2 (Fig. 2.1.19: Enclosure 2 and structure 1 )

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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Structure 2 (Fig. 2.1.21: Structure 2)

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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Structure 3 (Fig. 2.1.20: Structure 3)

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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Features to the west of Structure 3 (Fig. 2.1.18: Plan of island 1 )

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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Other features in Trench 6 (Fig. 2.1.18: Plan of island 1 )

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

Enclosure 1 (Fig. 2.1.22: Enclosure 1)

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

Double ditched enclosure 150/151 (Fig. 2.1.23: Trench 9)

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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Trench 10 SU 19254 99685 (Fig. 2.1.2: Trench plan of Warrens Field)

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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