Wiltshire Archaeol Natur Hist Mag 100

The re-colonisation of Britain approximately 50,000 years ago has been documented in Wiltshire by the discovery of a distinctive form of hand axe that was found in a brick pit at Fisherton in 1874. Using finds of hand axes since 2002 at Warminster and Pewsey with other previously unpublished implements from former brickworks at Dinton, the article argues that it may be possible to identify this re-emergence of human occupation elsewhere in the Salisbury Avon Valley and to link it with human presence to the west, in the Mendips.

Limited excavation for Channel 4's Time Team, at Beach's Barn, Netheravon, aimed to relocate and re-investigate a Romano-British building excavated in 1894 by William Cunnington III and assess its relationship with a probable corn-drying oven excavated in 1993. The excavation confirmed the presence of a complex site of Iron Age and Romano-British date. Occupation commenced some time in the Middle to Late Iron Age prior to construction of at least one, possibly two, banjo enclosures, which were also associated with settlement. Following a possible hiatus in occupation between the Late Iron Age and early Romano-British period, settlement continued throughout the Romano-British period, culminating in the construction of a substantial Roman building, considered to be a villa, adjacent to the site of the Iron Age enclosures. The status and function of the settlement through time and its relation with other settlements in and around the Avon Valley are discussed.

The paper presents the results of an archaeological excavation of the northern part of a Romano-British linear settlement situated on the highest part of Chapperton Down, along a routeway. A number of ditched enclosures were identified, within which lay a series of structures, some with platform terraces, others with flint walls, and several with clay floors and occupation horizons. The buildings appeared to have had timber-framed superstructures and stone tiled roofs. There is also evidence to suggest buildings of earth-fast timber post construction. A small amount of pitting is evidence, together with large pond-like features. Activities indicated on site include grinding of grain and woodworking, probable dairy and hide production, the use of horse and cattle, and an economy based on mixed farming. Separately authored reports include

Note on a hitherto unknown description of 1789 of the former thirteenth-century vault painitings of Salisbury Cathedral. Written by Richard Gough as part of his programme to record the paintings prior to their destruction by James Wyatt, the description now provides new evidence for the form and content of the original cycle.

list of people for whome coffins were made between 1898 and 1944 by Frederick George Bishop

Short article about the King Oak, a very large and imposing tree in Savernake Forest recorded in various illustrations during the nineteenth century before its deterioration and loss during the twentieth, and on comparative living trees in the forest.

Brief report on investigations in 2005--6 at the find spot of several sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and flint flakes, at the upcast of a badger sett on the western slopes of Overton Hill. The upcast indicated the presence of a significant depth of colluvium. A previous find of Early Neolithic pottery was reported in the same area in 1937, and examination of both assemblages revealed that a decorated rim sherd from the 2006 assemblage was from the same vessel as one from the 1937 assemblage.

Note on the Late Bronze Age North Italian bronze violin-bow fibula found in 1987 at Avebury Down, within the World Heritage Site. The provenance and eventual find-spots of fibula and other Bronze Age finds of exotic origin are discussed.

The author considers evidence for the British Celtic origin of the place-names of Chittoe and Minety, concluding in favour of the first, but against the second, being of Celtic origin.

Description the structure of a farmhouse dated by dendrochronology to the early-fourteenth century, including the use of Arabic numerals by the carpenters, a feature found in a small number of other structures from the same approximate date in central southern England.

On the occasion of the hundredth volume of the journal, the author looks back over its history.

Notes on archaeological investigations carried out in Wiltshire during the year, arranged in alphabetical order by town or parish.