Wiltshire Archaeol Natur Hist Mag 94

Documents an excavation intended to reconcile apparent discrepancies that had been identified between the original 1930's excavation report and the diary of W E V Young, the excavation foreman at the time. Although all features had been previously examined, the article reports that the new dig resulted in both important new finds (a large group of lithics, including nine arrowheads, part of a copper alloy awl and in situ amphibian bones) and new insights into the nature of the Sanctuary's construction. The article also re-evaluates the evidence from the original excavation in the light of the findings from the current project. Includes separately authored reports on:

noting bones found in a post hole are identified as having come from a toad

-- some 852 sherds were found, mostly dating from the medieval and post-medieval periods

Reports that ten sunken-featured buildings, a possible post-built structure and isolated pits and postholes were located during an excavation at the site. A wide range of finds were recovered from the sunken-featured buildings, including a bone pin made from walrus ivory. Documents a series of four radiocarbon dates, which produced a range of between AD 430--990, and which place the site firmly in the Middle Saxon period. One slightly earlier building dates from the fifth to the late-seventh century AD. The settlement is 150 metres to the south-west of a Saxon cemetery, which was dated to the fifth century when it was excavated in the 1970's. Includes separately authored reports on:

over 3,000 bones from a wide variety of species were recovered. Ovicaprid, cattle and pig bones dominate the varied assemblage, most of which was excavated from the Saxon sunken-featured buildings

This paper employs criteria used for determining whether a place functions as a town, in this discussion on seventeenth-century Marlborough. The settlement's urban characteristics, including concentration of population, marketing and trade, corporate government, complex social structure and influence over its surrounding area, are all explored, and its status and importance are assessed. Employs mostly historical evidence.

Reports a Middle Bronze Age linear cremation cemetery discovered during excavation of a small flint cairn. Nine cremation burials are described, one furnished with grave goods: an awl and four beads. Two collared urns and the remains of a Beaker vessel were recovered. The site is compared to another cemetery discovered in 1933 and situated only 0.45km away.

Documents the history and archaeology of the site. Argues that there is not enough evidence to consider the mound to be Neolithic in origin and that in the absence of data to the contrary, the site should be considered as a medieval construction.

Summarises an archaeological evaluation and partial excavation, which revealed Neolithic pottery and flints. Includes separately authored reports on:

twenty-one pieces of worked flint were recovered, including a pressure-flaked triangular arrowhead in good condition

Documents the discovery of two cone-shaped objects believed to be examples of Romano-British tegula mammata. An alternative interpretation is considered, namely that the cones are actually acid bottle bungs dating to c. AD 1850. However, it is concluded that the former interpretation is more probable.

Reports on the relocation and re-excavation of a barrow that was originally excavated in 1840. A geophysical survey re-identified the position of the barrow. The barrow was determined to have been Bronze Age, approximately eight metres in diameter, and encircled by two ring-ditches. Burials were found in the ditches and evidence was discovered suggesting that the mound originally had a central interment. During the early medieval period, the central burial appears to have been replaced by an early medieval interment of a high status female in an iron bound coffin.

Various summaries of the archaeological work that was undertaken in the county during the course of the year. Reports are listed alphabetically by location.