| Title: |
Early Medieval Charcoal Pits and Early Post-medieval Brick Kilns at Nayland Road, Great Horkesley, Essex |
| Series: |
Oxford Archaeology (Cambridge) unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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oxfordar3-421565_1.pdf (5 MB)
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Download
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
Between the 15th March and 29th April 2021, Oxford Archaeology East (OA East) undertook an archaeological excavation at Nayland Road, Great Horkesley, Essex. In total, c.2ha was investigated by three areas of excavation (Areas 1-3) within a 9.5ha development area surrounding Horkesley Manor. The excavation areas revealed charcoal-rich pits amongst other discrete features determined to be natural tree throws. These pits are interpreted as the truncated remains of pit kilns excavated for the production of charcoal in Cestrewald. This was an ancient woodland which stretched across Horkesley during the early medieval period before it was transformed into heathland through deforestation, probably in part by repeated charcoal making campaigns. Oak charcoal from three pits was radiocarbon dated to the 12th-13th century AD. Two heavily truncated intercutting Suffolk-type brick kilns were also revealed in Area 3, brick samples from which indicate an early post-medieval date. This was confirmed by the results of two radiocarbon assays, both centred on the 16th century. An almost entirely truncated kiln of wholly different design was excavated in Area 2 which was similar in form to a 17th century tile kiln excavated at nearby Stanway. This kiln was also radiocarbon dated to the 16th century. Inspection of historical maps dating back to 1777 demonstrated that the development site lay in an area heavily involved in brick (and possibly tile) production, and the associated extraction of clay, from the 15th to 19th centuries. These two episodes of industrial activity are significant additions to the archaeological record of Great Horkesley and contribute to wider discussions into early medieval charcoal-making techniques and the early history of brick and tile making in the parish. |
| Author: |
Graeme Clarke
A Haskins
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| Publisher: |
Oxford Archaeology
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| Year of Publication: |
2021
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Great Horkesley |
| District: |
Colchester |
| County: |
Essex |
| Country: |
England |
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Grid Reference: 598269, 229407 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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UNCERTAIN
(Historic England Periods)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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EARLY MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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UNCERTAIN TREE THROW
(Tag)
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ANIMAL REMAINS
(Object England)
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POST MEDIEVAL BRICK
(Tag)
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PIT
(Monument Type England)
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EXCAVATION
(Event)
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MEDIEVAL PIT
(Tag)
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BRICK KILN
(Monument Type England)
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TILE KILN
(Monument Type England)
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POST MEDIEVAL PIT
(Tag)
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POST MEDIEVAL DITCH
(Tag)
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DITCH
(Monument Type England)
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EARLY MEDIEVAL ANIMAL REMAINS
(Tag)
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POST MEDIEVAL TILE KILN
(Tag)
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BRICK
(Object England)
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TREE THROW
(Monument Type England)
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POST MEDIEVAL BRICK KILN
(Tag)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
oxfordar3-421565 |
| Report id: |
OAE report 2532 |
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| Note: |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
14 Jul 2022 |
