entity,order,description,nested_within
Burnt Mound 6,11,"A Chalcolithic burnt mound in the Principal palaeochannel, which was defined by a burnt stone and a shallow hollow (position of trough) that contained some in-situ wattling.  ",
Mesolithic alluvium,4,"Mineragenic sediment in the Principal palaeochannel that contained much organic material, formed by both colluvial and alluvial deposition. This was probably broadly contemporary with, and part of the same alluvial phase across the site as, the Mesolithic/Neolithic alluvium, the Mesolithic overbank alluvium, and the infilling of the Backwater channel. This alluvial phase separated the Mesolithic from the Neolithic activity.",
Stabilised land surface,1,"Thin layer in the Grid-square area representing the development of soils, on a stabilised horizon, on top of the Basal sands and gravels. Probably initially pre-dated the formation of the Mesolithic organic deposit, but continued to be current as it formed. A palimpsest of human activity occurred at this level, including a huge, in situ, assemblage of flaked lithic materials and features that were cut/formed at this horizon.",
Mesolithic overbank alluvium,,"Mineragenic sediment in the Grid-square area that sealed the Stabilised land surface. Contained amounts of cultural lithic material, although most of this was probably in a secondary context and related to activity taking place prior to the deposition of the alluvium. Broadly contemporary with the Mesolithic alluvium, Mesolithic/Neolithic alluvium, and the infilling of the Backwater channel. This alluvial phase separated the Mesolithic from the Neolithic activity.",
Mesolithic organic deposit,3,"The initial layers of sedimentation infilling the Principal palaeochannel, including organic and inorganic episodes of deposition. Rich in deposits of wood and other palaeoenvironmental evidence, notably beaver activity (lodge and dam) and good evidence for humans, including flaked lithics and woodworking.",
Backwater channel,15,"Channel, cut off at the base of the slope down from Terrace 2, in the eastern part of the Grid-square area. Damp ground, but probably not generally active by the time human activity was detected at the site. Features were cut through the geological deposits at base of the channel, and its alluvial sediments contained large amounts of flaked lithic materials. The alluvium was probably broadly contemporary with, and part of the same alluvial phase across the site as, the Mesolithic alluvium, the Mesolithic/Neolithic alluvium, and the Mesolithic overbank alluvium. Features, radiocarbon dated to the Neolithic period, cut into the top of these sediments.",
Mesolithic/Neolithic alluvium,,"Alluvial phase, leading to the accumulation of organic-rich sediment in the Principal palaeochannel. Included many large oak trunks/boughs, probably deposited by various flooding episodes. Probably broadly contemporary with the Mesolithic alluvium, Mesolithic overbank alluvium, and the infilling of the Backwater channel. This alluvial phase separated the Mesolithic from the Neolithic activity.",
Colluvium,17,"Colluvial deposits, deriving form Terrace 2, in the Grid-square area, infilling/sealing parts of the Backwater channel, particularly where the slope was steeper and more abrupt, in the north-east of the site.",
Earlier Neolithic organic deposit,5,"Highly organic, low-energy phase of accumulation in the Principal palaeochannel. Much palaeoenvironmental evidence, including that relating to the start of an Elm Decline. Associated with a wooden platform and other stake-built structures, and the structured deposition of lithic and wooden artefacts, and materials.",
Earlier Neolithic alluvium,6,"Highly organic alluvial phase of deposition in the Principal palaeochannel, associated with the end of the Elm Decline and the structured deposition of lithic and wooden artefacts.",
Later Neolithic organic deposit,7,"Highly organic, low-energy phase of accumulation in the Principal palaeochannel. Much paleoenvironmental evidence, including the suggestion that alder trees were colonising a carr, in the infilled channel. Some structured deposition continued and burnt-mound activity started to occur.",
Chalcolithic alluvium,8,"Alluvial phase of deposition in the Principal palaeochannel and, probably, some overbank alluviation sealing the earliest burnt mound. Burnt mound activity continued.",
Bronze Age alluvium,,"Phase of alluviation possibly from an active channel further to the west on the floodplain (formation of Terrace 4?). Sealed the Chalcolithic alluvium and one of the Bronze Age burnt mounds, and formed mounds adjacent to the Principal palaeochannel.",
Wooden Structure 3,,"Wooden Structure 3 (group 70340) was defined by a tight (1.3 x 0.85 m) cluster of 11 pieces of wood. These included five in-situ stakes (76127-9, 76143, and 76192). Structure difficult to categorise but may have formed a rack or setting associated with Wooden Structure 2.",Earlier Neolithic organic deposit
Basal sands and gravels,0,Geological substrate comprising fast-flowing fluvial deposits that probably accumulated during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene epochs. Pre-dated any archaeological evidence for human activity at the site,
Burnt Mound 2,12,"An earlier Bronze Age burnt mound located immediately east of the Principal palaeochannel. Defined by a thin spread of burnt stone and charcoal and a pit, denoting the position of a trough. Also associated with two postholes relating to a structure erected above the trough.  ",
Burnt Mound 5,10,"A Late Neolithic burnt mound on the western side of the Principal palaeochannel, comprising an oval area of apparent burning and a pit, probably denoting the position of a trough. ",
Burnt Mound 3,14,"An earlier Bronze Age burnt mound located on the western edge of the Principal palaeochannel. It was defined by a heavily eroded spread of burnt stone and charcoal, which was associated with two pits, denoting the positions of troughs.",
Palisaded enclosure,,"A group of postholes and pits in Parcel 32, which probably form the remains of a later Bronze Age palisaded enclosure.",
House 1,,Earlier Bronze Age post-built roundhouse in Parcel 9. This had a c 4.7m diameter and employed a single post-ring in its design.,
Four-post structure 21N,,Four-post structure in Parcel 21N. Possibly contemporary with pit 21099,
Building 3,,The partial remains of an early medieval timber building. Only the north-western corner of this building is identifiable. It probably pre-dates Building 2.,Early medieval settlement
Medieval boundaries,,Medieval ditches in Parcel 32 dating to between the late tenth and fourteenth centuries,
Post-medieval enclosure,,"Boundary ditches, and other features, associated with eighteenth- and nineteenth-century enclosure in Parcels 5, 9, 20, 21, 42, and at Stainton West",
Bronze Age/Iron Age alluvium,16,Prolonged phase of mineragenic alluviation. Final filling of the channel; sealed later burnt mounds; and overlay the Grid-square area and Backwater channel.,
Wooden Structure 2,,"Wooden Structure 2 (group 70467) was aligned approximately south-west/north-east, and survived for 6 m within the palaeochannel. It formed a fence, comprising 30 individual pieces of wood, constructed from at least 13 stakes (or sails), six of which (76228, 76266, 76217, 76218, 76270, and 76269) remained embedded in the palaeochannel deposits, whilst the others had been displaced, lying at more horizontal attitudes within the Earlier Neolithic organic deposit. These provided evidence that the fence had collapsed when this was still forming. 
It is possible that that Wooden Structures 1 and 2 were actually one continuous, or semi-continuous, fence stretching across the full width of the channel. 

",Earlier Neolithic organic deposit
Structure 2,,"A group of features confined within an area of 4 x 3 m, which could constitute the remains of a small Mesolithic encampment, or even a dwelling. This structure was broadly contemporary with Structure 1, although not necessarily in use at the same time, and formed elements of the earliest Mesolithic encampment in the Grid-square area. The remains lay beneath a midden (Lithic Entities 18 and 19), and it possible that some of the lithics (in Lithic Entity 19) related to its use.",
Wooden Structure 1,,"Wooden Structure 1 (group 70264) was revealed on the eastern side of the channel, and comprised 20 pieces of wood. Ten (76015 and 76028-36) formed an approximately north/south line of vertical, in-situ stakes, 1.7 m in length, and seemingly following the edge of the channel. The other ten pieces lay in a horizontal attitude to the west of this stakeline. Eight (75906-9 and 75912-15) were parallel to each other, orientated approximately east/west, whilst the two other pieces (75910-11) were perpendicular, following the same alignment as the fence. These latter pieces perhaps formed a short structure leading from the fence to the centre of the channel.

It is possible that that Wooden Structures 1 and 2 were actually one continuous, or semi-continuous, fence stretching across the full width of the channel. 
",Earlier Neolithic organic deposit
Burnt Mound 1,9,"Burnt Mound 1 was identified on the eastern bank of the Principal palaeochannel, at the southern end of the site. It comprised a sub-circular c 9 m-diameter spread of fire-cracked stone and charcoal, and a pit at its centre probably denotes the position of a trough. This burnt mound dates to the Late Neolithic period.",
Burnt Mound 4,13,"An earlier Bronze Age burnt mound on the western side of the Principal palaeochannel defined by a triangular spread of burnt and fire-cracked stone, and charcoal. Lay above a tree-throw and was associated with two pits, denoting the positions of successive troughs, and a stakehole and posthole relating to an ephemeral structure",
Structure 1,,A Mesolithic structure (dwelling) associated with the earliest encampment in the Grid-square area. Defined by a small collection of features and lithics (including Lithic Entity 21). The remains probably define an insubstantial tent-like or bivouac-type structure,
Structure 3,,"A Late Mesolithic structure (dwelling), with a c 4m diameter, defined by a relatively clear area of lithic finds and a small collection of features.",
Structures 4 and 5,,"Two overlapping Mesolithic structures (dwellings) in the Grid-square area, defined by a group of stakeholes and hearth/pit arrangement, and Lithic Entities 1 and 3.",
Structure 6,,Mesolithic structure (dwelling) in the western part of the Grid-square area defined by distinct lithic signature and small collection of features,
House 2,,Earlier Bronze Age post-built roundhouse in Parcel 9. This had a c 4.6m diameter and employed a single post-ring in its design. This house was also provisioned with a porch and contained posts in its interior relating to fixtures/fittings.,
Bronze Age field system,,"Two fairly substantial intercutting ditches (21096 and 21378) in Parcel 21N may relate to land division or enclosure dating to the middle centuries of the second millennium BC. One of these ditches (21378) continued beyond Parcel 21N, and was recorded as ditch 50081 at Hadrian's Wall/Knockupworth. It was evident that this latter ditch was visible as an earthwork in the Roman period, as it had been used as a drain serving Hadrian?s Wall.",
House 3,,"An arcing scatter of 19 postholes (collectively grouped as House 3) in Parcel 21,seemingly related to two successive Chalcolithic/earlier Bronze Age post-built structures (3A and 3B) with fairly pronounced oval-shaped plans. The earlier measured 8m long, and the later measured c 6.6 x 5.4m.",
Burnt mound activity,,A collection of hearths and pits/troughs to the west of the Principal palaeochannel at Stainton West. These are scattered amongst the burnt mounds and probably relate to associated burnt-mound activity,
Segmented ditch,,"A short section of segmented ditch in Parcel 41, which dates to the Bronze Age.",
House 5,,"A Bronze Age post-built roundhouse in Parcel 42, which employed a double post-ring in its design. This had a c 9.2m diameter and was associated with a drip gully. It seems to have been replaced by Bronze Age Houses 4 and 5.",
House 6,,"A Bronze Age post-built roundhouse in Parcel 42, with a c 9.5m diameter, which employed a double post-ring in its design and had an exterior drip gully. The house contained a central hearth and was provisioned with a large timber porch. This house was probably contemporary with House 4. Houses 4 and 6 replaced House 5.",
House 4,,"A Bronze Age post-built roundhouse, in Parcel 42, with a c 9.4m diameter, which employed a double post-ring in its design and had an exterior drip gully. The house contained a central hearth and was provisioned with a timber porch. This house was probably contemporary with House 6. Houses 4 and 6 replaced House 5.",
Fish trap,,"A V-shaped formation of unworked wood in the Principal palaeochannel, which possible formed a fish trap. This may represent the the first 'Neolithic' structure at Stainton West. ",Earlier Neolithic organic deposit
Four-post structure 32,,Four-post structure in Parcel 32. This was possibly contemporary with an adjacent later Bronze Age palisaded enclosure. This structure may have burnt down.,
Hadrian's Wall,,"The Turf Wall and Stone Wall (grp 50137), Vallum (grp 51005), North Mound (grp 50076), and Marginal Mound (contexts 51052-5) forming elements of the Roman frontier excavated at Knockupworth. The frontier also incorporated a Bronze Age boundary (50081), which was reused as a drain during the Roman period.",
Sweat lodge,,"A ring-gully at Stainton West, associated with a hearth and two postholes. The structure probably related to the use of the burnt mounds at the site and is interpreted as a sweat lodge/sauna.",
Building 2,,"A rectangular early medieval timber building, measuring c 6.9 x 3m, which was defined by a group of postholes and a gully. It is also apparent that this building was modified/repaired on several occassions. This formed one building within a larger early medieval settlement that contained at least five timber buildings",Early medieval settlement
Building 4,,"A rectangular early medieval timber building, measuring c 3.7m wide by at least 9.1m long, which was defined by a group of postholes. This formed one building within a larger early medieval settlement that contained at least five timber buildings",Early medieval settlement
Building 5,,"A rectangular early medieval timber building, measuring c 4.2m wide and at least c 8.4m long, which was defined by a group of postholes. The wall lines showed evidence of repair/refurbishment. This formed one building within a larger early medieval settlement that contained at least five timber buildings",Early medieval settlement
Building 1,,"A rectangular early medieval timber building, measuring c 6.3 x 3m, which was defined by a group of postholes. This formed one building within a larger early medieval settlement that contained at least five timber buildings",Early medieval settlement
Early medieval settlement,,"An agglomerated early medieval settlement in Parcel 42, which contain at least five rectangular timber buildings (Buildings 1-5; grps 42283, 42283, 42281, 42544, and 42541), as well as additional pits and postholes. This settlement dates to the eighth/ninth century AD.",