Title: |
Investigation of the effect of rabbit burrowing at the site of Swavesey Priory, Swavesey, Cambridgeshire |
Series: |
Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge) unpublished report series
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Little is known about Swavesey Priory, which was a small monastic house founded soon after the Conquest by Count Alan of Brittany and given to the Benedictine Abbey of Saints Sergius and Bacchus at Angers in France. In the 14th century its ownership passed to the Carthusian Priory at Coventry, after which it seems to have largely been reduced to the status of a rectory and manor until the Dissolution. Machine excavation followed by limited hand excavation revealed an area of possible medieval floor/hearth and probable pits (not excavated), truncated by ditches and pits of late medieval date. Probable post-Dissolution evidence was represented by ditches and dumped deposits; later features include a brick drain of 18th century date. Rabbit burrowing was evident across much of the excavated area, although was most notable where the sandy natural was exposed and/or on the edges of features. Some 'historic' burrows had silted up naturally while voids and tunnels elsewhere were investigated and then infilled prior to backfilling. Despite the limited nature of the archaeological investigation, the work has demonstrated that, while the rabbit disturbance was extensive, the area was not as eroded or unstable as had been feared. As well as enabling the field to be returned to grazing that will aid the long term preservation of the site, this project has shown that well-stratified deposits and associated finds assemblages survive within this part of the scheduled area. |
Author: |
Rachel Clarke
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Publisher: |
Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge)
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Cambridgeshire Historic Environment Record (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2013
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Locations: |
Site: |
St Andrews Church |
County: |
Cambridgeshire |
District: |
South Cambridgeshire |
Parish: |
SWAVESEY |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 536262, 269429 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
oxfordar3-144742 |
OBIB: |
report number 1391 |
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Note: |
A4 paper bound
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |