Speed, G. P. (2001). Red House Park, Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment. Northern Archaeological Associates.

Title:

Red House Park, Adwick-le-Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment

Number of Pages:

Biblio Note

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Publication Type:

Report

Abstract:

A programme of archaeological monitoring and sample excavation was undertaken during the topsoil stripping of two short access roads, a works compound and two construction corridors for a foul water sewer and a surface water sewer associated with the Red Houses Park development. Several human burials dating from the Romano-British period had previously been discovered immediately to the south of the project area. Geophysical surveys of the two pipeline corridors were carried out in advance of the construction works, and revealed the likely presence of buried ditches forming parts of an earlier field system of probable Romano-British date, together with paired ditches forming trackways. An enclosure possibly containing evidence of more intensive activity lay in the area crossed by one of the proposed access roads and the works compound. The design of the access road and works compound areas was altered so as to avoid as far as possible areas of archaeological features. The archaeological monitoring confirmed the presence of the earlier field ditches, but did not recover any artefacts from which they could be more accurately dated. The geophysical monitoring confirmed the presence of the earlier field ditches, but did not recover any artefacts from which they could be more accurately dated. The geophysical survey showed the works compound area to be crossed by a pair of parallel ditches forming a trackway. Upon excavation the fill of one of these ditches produced sherds of Romano-British pottery of 3rd or 4th century date. The in-filled ditch had subsequently been cut by a Viking burial containing the poorly preserved skeleton of a woman who was at least 33-45 years old at the time of her death, possibly older. The grave had been disturbed by modern ploughing, but surviving grave goods buried with the skeleton included parts of a badly damage copper-alloy bowl, two copper-alloy oval 'tortoise' brooches and fragments of an iron knife and key. Several other metal objects were associated with mineralised fabrics forming parts of the woman's clothing. The oval 'tortoise' brooches were an important find, since only three pairs had previously been recorded from England. The style of these objects was uniquely Viking in origin, and they were likely have been produced during the period AD c.860-950. Since there was no evidence that this style of brooch was ever adopted by Anglo-Saxon women, it was likely that the burial at Aldwick-le-Street was of a Scandinavian woman. The textile fragments also pointed to a distinctive Scandinavian form of dress. This burial was considered to be a discovery of national as well as regional importance. [Au(abr)]

Author:

Greg P Speed

Publisher:

Northern Archaeological Associates

Year of Publication:

2001

Locations:

Country:

England

Subjects / Periods:

4th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)

Note:

Date Of Issue From: 2001 Date Of Coverage From: 01 Date Of Coverage To: 01 Editorial Expansion: Site name: RED HOUSE PARK, ADWICK-LE-STREET, DONCASTER
Study area: 2.66ha
Investigation type: Post-determination/Research
District: Doncaster
Monument: [finds]. Prehistoric, INHUMATION. Early Medieval (410-1066), [finds]. Roman (AD43-410), [finds]. Early Medieval (410-1066), DITCH. Undated, ANIMAL REMAINS. Undated, DITCH. Roman (AD43-410), [finds]. Medieval (1066-1540)
Ngr: SE52900930
Parish:
Postcode: DN6 7TX

Source:

BIAB (Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))

Created Date:

18 Jan 2009