Oxoniensia 61

A paper presenting a synthesis of recent work on the Neo and BA periods in the region in the light of new discoveries and changes in archaeological thinking about these periods.

A watching brief during construction work revealed three LBA features including a ring-ditch. Associated finds included mostly LBA pottery with some EBA--MBA and EIA. There are notes on: `The flint' by Tess Durden (28--9); `The pottery'(29--31 & 32--3) and the `Fired clay' (31) both by Alistair J Barclay; `Charred plant remains' by John Letts (33); and `Animal bone' by Sheila Hamilton-Dyer (33).

Reports the discovery of two concentric ring-ditches of a BA barrow. Re-deposited pottery indicates an EBA date, broadly contemporary with the barrow cemetery immediately to the north of the site. The ring-ditches were infilled during the EIA--MIA and pits and ditches were observed during a watching brief in 1989 cut into this deposit. The IA ditches were not seen in enough detail to establish their layout, but the quantity of well-preserved pottery indicates occupation in the vicinity. LIA activity is represented by a pit containing Belgic pottery recovered during the 1993 excavation. The excavation of 24A St Michael's Street in 1985 revealed part of the ditch from a BA barrow. No evidence for funerary activity was found. Worked flint was recovered from the ditch. For the Rex Richards buildings site, there are notes on: `Human bone' by Angela Boyle & Mary Carman (49); `Iron Age and Roman pottery' by Paul Booth (51--4); `Medieval and later pottery' by Lucy Whittingham (54--5); `Worked flint' by Philippa Bradley (55); `Worked stone' by Fiona Roe (55--6); `Copper alloy' by Leigh Allen (56); `Slag' by Chris Salter (56--7); `Animal bone' by Nicola Scott (57). For the 24A St Michael's Street site there are notes on the `Worked flint' by Philippa Bradley (59) and the `Animal bone' by Nicola Scott (59).

Reports an excavation near previous RB material, revealing activity from the late first-century AD to Early Saxon period. Field boundaries, a small second-century AD timber granary and rectangular ?domestic building were succeeded by and early fourth-century stone structure of square plan. Probably of more than one storey, the latter is thought to have been a tower granary. In the early Saxon period a number of ditched enclosures were dug on new alignments, and these were sealed by a dumped silt horizon which may relate to the creation of agricultural plots. The evidence for Roman settlement in Wantage is summarised, and it is concluded that the excavation probably lay to the rear of house-plots which fronted onto the Roman road to Frilford and Alchester. There are specialist reports on: `Coins' by Peter Guest (129--131 & 132--3); `Pottery' by Jane Timby (131 & 134--47) including a note on `The stamped and decorated samian' by Brenda Dickinson (137--8); `Fired-clay loomweights' by Jane Timby (147--8); `Metalwork'(148--51) and `Glass' (151--2) both by Linda Viner; `Stone objects' by Fiona Roe (152--4); `Flint' by Graeme Walker (154); `Building stone' by Fiona Roe (154); Tile, mortar, and wall plaster; `Animal bone' by Mark Maltby (155--63); `Molluscs of economic relevance' by Keith Wilkinson (163); `The local palaeoenvironment' by Jenni Heathcote, Chris Stevens, & Keith Wilkinson (163--71); Appendix 1 provides `Gazetteer entries plotted on Fig. 20' (177) and appendix 2 details `Micromorphology methodology sample description' by Jenni Heathcote (177--9).

The excavations revealed evidence from the twelfth century into the modern period. Environmental analysis showed that the site was open wet pasture during the twelfth century and development began in the early to mid thirteenth century with the construction of two cob buildings. One of these was soon replaced by a building at least partly of stone, and environmental evidence suggested that there was a medicinal herb garden associated with it. Three successive stone buildings subsequently occupied the site into the modern period, the last having been a public house. The second cob building was demolished in the fourteenth century and the land was subsequently cleared, remaining undeveloped until the seventeenth century, when it may have been occupied by a timber-framed house. The medieval development of the area is considered in the context of these results, and those from other excavations in the vicinity. There are reports on: `The medieval and post-medieval pottery' by Catherine Underwood-Keevill (243--51); `Small finds' by Leigh Allen (251--8); `Stone objects' by Fiona Roe (258); `Animal bones' by Bob Wilson (258--60); and `Macroscopic plant remains' by Mark Robinson (260--7).

Records the unlisted Art Deco factory premises.

Reports an important collection of mid-seventeenth-century glass and earthenware containers.