Cornish Archaeol 32

Two survey trenches, providing sections through the same lynchet, produced evidence of a complex structural sequence dating from the Roman period. The investigations also yielded important environmental evidence for the area, including the first pollen record. There is an `Appendix: a year in the life of the "Great flat field"' (23-4) composed of a nineteenth-century diary extract from James Stevens. Finally, `Pollen analysis of deposits beneath a Romano-British boundary at Foage, Zennor' by K Crabtree, V Straker & S West (24-8) gives details of the palynological data.

Outlines previous excavation/work in the vicinity, prior to details of work during renovation of the steps. Adam Sharpe details `Work in 1989' (49-53) which consisted of two exploratory trenches. Trench A produced evidence of a possible platform. Although whether it was naturally occurring or deliberately constructed remains uncertain, it is thought that there was some human impact on the area prior to construction of the medieval curtain wall upslope. Slate, pottery and rubble possibly discarded during wall construction had accumulated over this area. A charcoal deposit confirms that the platform was exposed to the elements at some point in time. Trench B, excavated from the western face of the curtain wall towards the main path, produced a layer of disturbed medieval soil with mortar fragments and a stony layer, both thought to stem from the wall construction, but little other sign of human agency. `1990' by Colleen Batey (53-5) details work the following year which uncovered rich dark deposits containing many sherds of imported pottery in layers immediately over the bedrock. Three layers were isolated, layer fifteen, containing stones and some roofing slate, layer sixteen charcoal flecks, some pottery, and a glass fragment, and layer seventeen a deposit of midden like material containing some mammal bone. Environmental sampling, the first to be undertaken on the island, indicated the presence of carbonised grain (no mineralisation) and only two seeds. Interpretation deems layer fifteen redeposited material from adjacent building; layers sixteen and seventeen were less disturbed, producing much imported pot, with the lower apparently being a midden-like development suggesting an adjacent site. The finds section includes details of pottery -- predominantly Roman and post-Roman wares from the Eastern Mediterranean -- and a table presenting other classes of data (glass, copper alloy, and stone) with a finds discussion section. `Comment' by A C Thomas & C M Thorpe (58-60) places the pottery assemblage in the broader context of all Tintagel finds. `Comment' by Leslie Alcock (60-1) discusses a rim-sherd probably from a flat-based dish of D ware, tentatively suggesting that this, along with the glass, may represent the beginning of continental imports circa sixth-century. Scientific analysis of the pottery and examination of the glass and other finds are also reported. Overall, the work on a small area yielded a relatively high amount of evidence and indicated an uninvestigated structure to the north. Given the primary impetus for the work here reported -- namely the refurbishment of steps used by visitors -- it is also cautioned that the archaeology of the island must continue to take precedence over visitor and management considerations.

The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England has completed a survey of the site of the seventeenth-century house and gardens of the Grenville family at Stowe. The investigation has revealed the ground plan of the great house for the first time and made possible the recording of the overall layout and the intricate details of the formal gardens which surrounded the house. Features which indicate the presence of an earlier house and gardens have also been identified.

Reports the discovery in 1992 of what was initially thought to be a Late-Neo-EBA macehead. It has since been more correctly defined as a shafthole adze, unusual for the west of England despite being quarried there. It is thought likely that other `maceheads' on the Cornish SMR may also be adzes. A search of the findspot area produced a few flint flakes and sherds of BA pot. The debate surrounding the function, ceremonial or otherwise, attributable to this class of object remains unresolved though a two-fold explanation, including elements of the practical and ritual, is currently considered feasible.

An update on results from a project undertaken to record earthworks and hedgerows, and carry out large- or small-scale excavations/watching briefs as necessary, along the length of the proposed A30 Indian Queens to Fraddon improvement. Sites along this stretch include the BA Little Gaverigan barrow -- the first major excavation -- which comprised a turf mound, peripheral ditch, and annular stony bank. Highgate segmented ritual enclosure also appears to form part of this ritual landscape and contained a BA cremation/urn and awl. Penhale Round, the second large-scale excavation, revealed a multivallate IA settlement enclosure. Geophysical survey first made known the site's character, also revealing the underlying landscape. The pottery sequence ran from the second or first century BC to the third century AD. Further environmental sampling will be carried out. Halloon Farm field system was detected by magnetometer survey and it is thought that some of the subsequently excavated features represent prehistoric field divisions with fragmentary medieval versions also being present. Mayfield farm cropmark was investigated via three sample trenches and found to represent a pipe trench and assorted faunal and root disturbances. Deep Lane holloway, a possible MEM thoroughfare, and Queens mine also feature.

Reports the chronological and geographical foci of archaeological work in Cornwall and Scilly as revealed by respective sections of the RCHME Excavation Index, the initial phases of which were completed in 1985 (Cornwall) and 1988 (Scilly). The earliest excavation in Cornwall was in 1580 and the earliest on Scilly in 1752. The predominant period seems to be BA. There are details of how to use the NAR and a contact address.

Brief reports on work undertaken c 1992-93.