Council for British Archaeology Research Reports

The Lancaster conference was concerned with evidence for topography, vegetation, soils, fauna, climate and ancient monuments of the prehistoric and early historic periods. E E Evans (1-5) introduced the concept of a "pluvial" zone (to include Ireland), and stressed the enduring effects of early human interaction with upland environments. J A Taylor (6-19) illustrated from Welsh evidence the importance of meso- and microclimatic variations (arising from altitude, aspect, etc.) within the Highland zone and stressed the local or regional ecosystematic approach. D F Ball (20-27) described the major processes affecting Highland Zone soils and concluded that human interference had only increased inherent trends, not initiated them. R T Smith (27-37) presented methodological problems and case studies of the kinds of degradation of soil brought about by pastoralism, as well as arable cultivation, in W Yorkshire. The nine soil profiles cited by J C C Romans and L Robertson (37-9) provide an evolutionary sequence Early Neo-RB. Management of deer economies in prehistoric Britain was R E Chaplin's topic (40-42) with particular reference to their likely environmental effects. Pam Evans (43-8) interpreted Mesolithic settlement patterns in terms of the food and habitat needs of the aurochs, and attributed the eventual adoption of Atlantic economies to the loss through rising sealevels of the rich W seaboard grazing. P Mellars (49-56) suggested that Mesolithic man perhaps deliberately burnt tree cover to encourage spectacular increases in deer population. However, I G Simmons (57-63) took the view that, although Meso man manipulated his environment to some extent, the effect was small compared with that of later peoples. Neo-BA landscape changes in N Ireland were treated by A G Smith (64-74), who suggested cattle-barking as a factor in the elm decline, noted forest recovery at c 2600 bc, and considered upland peat formation. W Pennington's absolute pollen diagrams for NW England (74-86) provided evidence for widespead clearance of upland forest c 3100 bc around the Neo axe factories, and for cereal cultivation on coastal sites, with consequent degeneration of soils. Judith Turner's three-dimensional pollen evidence from Ayrshire (86-95) enabled her to locate fairly precisely the actual area of land cleared; shifting cultivation in BA times was succeeded by major clearance after ad 415. Turning to mollusca, P J Spencer's analysis (96-103) of coastal deposits in Cornwall and the Orkneys revealed the former presence of woodland, destroyed partly by human clearance, occasionally by sand-encroachment. J B Stevenson (104-8) examined the complex effects of differential land use on the survival of archaeological evidence, illustrating from Perthshire the distinction between "discovery potential" and "survival value". D R Wilson (108-11) stressed the value of air photography in revealing highland zone sites, especially in remote areas where traditional fieldwork is unrealistically slow. W H Manning (112-16) showed how important were local supplies of grain to Roman forts even in the Highland Zone. L Alcock (117-22) raised the problem of interpreting the Dinas Powys animal bones in the light of documentary sources, but R E Chaplin (123) pointed out the difficulty of correctly interpreting selective bone samples. Finally, F Lynch (124-7), turning the topic round, showed how often prehistoric man chose particularly beautiful landscapes in which to build his monuments. G W Dimbleby (127-9) summed up the conference, stressing how frequently speakers had shown man as an important influence on the landscape even if he was not always demonstrably the initiator of ecological change.

'It becomes increasingly evident that churches more than any other structure are likely to advance the understanding of settlement histories . . . (this) volume presents a number of specific studies to illustrate the variety of techniques and approaches now to be found in British church archaeology'. H M Taylor (3-9) examines the logical foundations for constructing the architectural history of any period, explaining the particular problems of Anglo-Saxon churches. A section on organization of church archaeology (10-17) contains the editors' description of the network of Diocesan Archaeological Consultants formed to improve communication between church authorities and archaeologists; and short contributions on Danish, German and Dutch organization come respectively from O Olsen, G Fehring and H Halbertsma. Part 3 (18-27) treats the documentary background, with L A S Butler and D Owen explaining the types of evidence available and their use by the archaeologist. Part 4 (28-64) is on approach and techniques, with papers on individual churches by R Cramp (Jarrow), J G Hurst (Wharram Percy) and S Knight (Upleatham), while P A Rahtz considers the wealth of information found in churchyards, and the dangers to which it is subject. K A & W Rodwell discuss the problems of investigating churches in current use, from local politics and sensitivities through practical problems like the display of research results. A D Phillips describes the recording of the York Minster rescue excavations, advocating the use of 9cm x 12 film with monorail camera and the indirect application of a Cartesian coordinate system. P A Rahtz's second contribution is on the 'total archaeology' being applied to Deerhurst church and village. Martin Biddle (65-71) on the widening horizons discusses continuity of site and settlement, the origins of churchyard burial, and structural problems. The Reverend Henry Stapleton offers a postscript.

SO 871299. Excavation revealed new evidence of the relationships between the structural components of the E end. Many burials (some earlier than the first definable stone structure) were found both inside and outside the structures. Other features may be associated with monastic buildings beyond the E end. Some Roman pottery and building material, together with a fragment of a Saxon wheel-cross head, was also found and a C14 date centred on late 7th century obtained. A preliminary account is also given of new finds and features in other parts of the church complex including Roman ?tile kilns near Odda's Chapel.

Revised and reset edition of a standard work with new material reflecting the results of research since 1969. The main features of the previous editions are retained: glossaries, list of stratified groups, instructions for drawing pottery, and examples of types of vessel and decoration.

Presents a survey of churches in the Diocese of Chelmsford, particularly in the Archdeaconry of Colchester, designed to illuminate the problems and potentials of church archaeology - the study of the whole historic fabric and environment of ecclesiastical buildings. The survey reveals in detail for the first time the very serious extent of the numerous destructive agencies at work on our churches, graveyards, monuments, furnishings and fittings; it is urged that this destruction be drastically reduced and that proper provision for recording the evidence be made where destruction cannot be avoided. Case studies are presented and a gazetteer of the 220 parish churches and church sites in the Archdeaconry of Colchester follows.

Papers given at a seminar in London at Easter 1974 which 'aimed to cover the methods and main areas of burial (regional, chronological, and special) and, more important, the methods being used to study the material'. John Collis (1-13) provides a context by surveying pre-Roman burial rites in NW Europe; these were quite varied apart from an area of cremation burials extending from central Rhine to E England. A variety of rites is also seen in Italy, in Glenys Davies' summary (13-19) although she identifies certain trends up to the time of Augustus. The use of a quantitative approach is urged by Rick Jones (20-5) since attributes from large numbers of graves cannot be handled otherwise. The specific case of Owslebury is treated by Collis (26-34); here seventy burials have been excavated at the fringes of and scattered through a small rural settlement of EIA-RB date. The realm of theory and belief as expressed in RB pagan burials is discussed by Jock Macdonald (35-8). Malcolm Todd (39-43) provides a brief survey of burials among the Free Germans 100 BC-AD 300, and notes the type and level of Roman influence. R Reece (44-5) has studied two Latin texts throwing light on burial customs. The significance of 'plaster' burials for the recognition of Christian cemeteries is C J S Green's subject (46-53), while Philip Rahtz discusses the problems of Late Roman cemeteries in Britain into 5th century and beyond, with particular reference to Cannington.