| Abstract: |
Half a dozen Bronze Age specialists contribute short articles on recent findings, with linking editorial text. John Barrett defines a 'post Deverel-Rimbury tradition' in pottery of 11th to 9th centuries BC, and notes an increased concern with decoration from 8th to 5th centuries; as a result much traditional 'Early Iron Age' settlement is seen to begin earlier and last longer than once thought. In Andrew Fleming's Dartmoor Reaves project, excavations on Holne Moor have revealed a very substantial stone house preceded by a smaller timber one and followed by a very small stone ?herdsman's hut. The presumed 'henge' at Thwing, described by Terry Manby, proved on excavation to be of Later BA date and more like a hillfort in function, with box rampart, outer and inner ditch with opposed entrances, and massive central building. Two sites in Cranborne Chase - South Lodge Camp and Down Farm - are under exploration by John Barrett, Richard Bradley and Martin Green to throw much new light on Deverel-Rimbury settlement. At Billingborough Peter Chowne has excavated a four-phase site, starting with a 12th century bc enclosure and ending in later 1st millennium BC with a field system replacing the earlier enclosures. Several other authors make short statements on specific details, and the editorial matter includes plans of the Black Patch settlement. |
