| Abstract: |
A monitored topsoil strip was carried out in advance of the formation of a borrow-pit at Land at Loak Farm, Bankfoot. This monitored topsoil strip was undertaken within two conjoined areas, with the eastern area being designated for a concrete plant, asphalt plant and stocking area, and the western area being designated for the borrow pit and wash-plant. Cropmarks identified from aerial photographs suggested that there was a prehistoric pit-alignment (NO03SE69) within the eastern area consisting of at least seven pits, and that there were a further two prehistoric pit alignments (NO03SE 36 and NO03SE 53) located immediately to the south of the proposed development area. There were features identified within both the eastern and the western areas. These consisted of seven roundhouses, eight four-post structures, two six-post structures, two ring-ditches, an oval post-built structure, a lightweight post-built structure, a post and post-trench structure, and numerous isolated pits and groups of pits. All of these features indicate an extensive settlement of later prehistoric (Iron Age) date. A number of finds were recovered from these features. These consisted of burnt animal bone, prehistoric pottery, a saddle quern and two possible saddle-querns, two possible hammer-stones, two pierced stones (possibly loom weights), a grinding stone, a piece of worked stone, and a number of pieces of iron slag. This would indicate that a number of activities were taking place on the site including small scale iron smelting, the grinding of grain-crops, and possibly weaving. All of these finds are consistent with the later prehistoric date indicated by the type of feature uncovered. |
