Pages tagged with "Mesolithic"

Stonehenge World Heritage Site

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:45:01 +0000

For many years Wessex Archaeology has undertaken important research in the area around Stonehenge now designated as a World Heritage Site. Our current work includes a vital role in the development of proposals for the improvement of the road (A303) which passes through the middle of the site.

Holywells Park

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:38:19 +0000

The Background

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded Ipswich Borough Council a project planning grant to pay for the investigations needed before work can begin to restore Holywells Park. Wessex Archaeology has been excavating a number of trial trenches to see if there are old surfaces and structures hidden under the ground which can tell us more about the history of the park.

External links: Heritage Lottery Fund, Ipswich Borough Council Tourism

View an online exhibition of this site by downloading the pdf below

Blenheim Palace Estate

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:41:36 +0000

Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site Management Plan -

Download the pdf below to view the Online Exhibition

Heathrow Terminal 5

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:19:38 +0000

Holding text

Archaeology at Harlington

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:54:12 +0000

Site location Major development projects in West London, such as Terminal 5 at Heathrow and the recent M25 widening, continue to require that staple of construction - gravel. The sheer scale of these developments and of the gravel quarries themselves continues to change the natural and historic landscape east and west of the M25 - on the border between Greater London and East Berkshire.

The historic settlements, such as Harlington, are now virtually islands between the quarries and modern infrastructure. Over the last five years, Wessex Archaeology has been working at the quarry owned by CEMEX UK LTD. Initial evaluation showed that there were enough archaeological features to warrant a full excavation. The excavation begins with the mechanical removal of topsoil. This reveals the archaeological features beneath. These are then mapped using state of the art laser survey equipment, known as a Total Station. The archaeologists then have an instant plan of the site and can work out the best way to excavate. The resulting excavations revealed that the archaeological features ranged in date from the Neolithic (Stone Age 4000 – 2400 BC) to post-medieval (1500-1799 AD) periods.

The Neolithic (4000 – 2400 BC)

Neolithic Mortlake PotteryNeolithic Worked and Polished Flint The earliest archaeological remains discovered on the site came from the Middle Neolithic. There were several pits. These contained large fragments of a type of Neolithic pottery known as Mortlake Ware. Some also contained worked flint tools, including fragments of polished stone axes. In some cases the pottery and flint appears to have been deliberately placed in these small and often shallow pits, perhaps as part of a ceremony or ritual This apparent pattern in the selection and deposition of these objects in an identical manner is interesting and, conceivably, ceremonial.

The Bronze Age (2400 - 700 BC)

Few features could be certainly dated to this period but it seems likely that a field system dates toExcavating the waterhole this time. From about 1500 BC field systems began to appear all along the Thames Valley and the fields at Harlington may well be part of this pattern.

Waterholes also become more frequent. They were at least 1.5m deep and digging them would have been a sizeable task to undertake, using only antler picks! Like the ditches, they suggest a more permanent level of settlement. The waterhole from this period is the most striking example found during the excavations and contained a large amount of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age pottery, including some decorated finewares.

The feature also produced a large amount of charcoal and grain. This evidence, all of it domestic waste, suggests that although no buildings or dwellings have been found, there must have been some nearby. It may be that any evidence of a settlement lay beneath the M4.

Roman (AD 43 - 410)

Interestingly there were no archaeological remains from the Roman period. This might imply that the site went out of use after the Early Iron Age. The reason for this however remains unclear.

Site plan of Saxon and Medieval features

Early Saxon to Medieval (AD 410 – 1499)

Once again there are clear traces of ancient field systems and waterholes. One of the waterholes contained a large amount of butchered animal bone, so it is likely that food was being prepared nearby. A well was also found, this was smaller than the waterholes, with much steeper sides, but of the same depth. Archaeologists found the first clear evidence of a building. A series of postholes form a roughly rectangular building 9m by 10m in size. It is on the same alignment as the surrounding fields. Although there is no pottery to date the building, environmental sampling produced rye. The rye crop was first introduced to northern Britain in the Roman times, but was not widely grown until the Saxons introduced it as a main crop.

Four graves were also discovered. Because of the soil conditions no bones from the burials survived, but two of the graves contained sets of glass and amber beads.

frontback A special find was the discovery of a Saxon penny. TSaxon glass beadshe coin was issued by King Ælfred between AD 871 and 875. The image on the front is the less common ‘ELFRED REX’, whilst the reverse bears the name of a moneyer called Wine, who struck coins for several of the Saxon kings of the time, and is known to have minted coins in Canterbury. Coins of Ælfred the Great are rare finds.

The ‘missing prehistory’ of West Malling and Leybourne

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:19:33 +0000

Stripping the site The construction of the West Malling and Leybourne Bypass, which bWorked flint toolsegan in May 2005, was the catalyst for some exciting archaeological discoveries.

The new road crosses the ancient manors of Malling and Leybourne, place-names that first appeared in a mid-10th century charter. As well as Leybourne Castle, traces of medieval fishponds, mills and water systems still survive. It was likely that there would be medieval remains to investigate but little was known about earlier periods; and prehistory seemed to be missing.

Initial research and investigations along the proposed route by Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Archaeology South East began to Bronze Age Spearheadreveal the first evidence for the prehistoric, Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods. Drawing on the results of their work, seven excavations were undertaken by Wessex Archaeology in March and April. These began to reveal the hidden history, and especially the prehistory, of the area.

The earliest finds were flint tools dating to the Mesolithic (8500-4000 BC), Neolithic (4000-2400 BC) and Bronze Age (2400-700 BC). They included an arrowhead and a fragment of a tranchet axe. These finds and Neolithic and Bronze Age pottery were scattered across most of the excavation areas showing that the landscape had been lived in for thousands of years.

Perhaps the most exciting find was a Bronze Age spearhead, which was found by one of the local metal detectorists who worked closely with the excavation team.

Loom weightsBut the most significant discoveries belonged to the Iron Age, and give us a picture of the area as farmland with a settlement nearby. Excavation revealed the boundaries of fields and possible stock enclosures, each approximately 50m square, which had been remodelled time and again while in use. No buildings were found, but the quantity and condition of the pottery, cattle bone and burnt stone indicate that the settlement itself lay just outside the excavation area and would not be affected by the construction of the road.

On another part of the by-pass route a small enclosure, 35m by 45m, was discovered. This contained a wealth of evidence for industrial activity; an impressive collection of triangular loomweights and tools including a sickle and a knife. The burial of an infant was also found. Here too the settlement itself lay outside the line of the road and in this case, partly below the present A228.

Medieval baker's ovenSickle and knife blades Both areas continued in use into the early Romano-British period (AD 43-410). Traces of an Anglo-Saxon (410-1066) sunken-featured building and a boundary ditch were also found. There were new discoveries too which add to our picture of the site in the medieval period, notably a 13th century bakery with a thick spread of raked-out ashes still in place by the stone base of the oven.

The results of the excavation are still being analysed. But it is clear that the investigations by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Archaeology South East and Wessex Archaeology, overseen by Kent County Council, have already made a significant addition to the history, and especially the missing prehistory, of the West Malling and Leybourne area.

Langstone Harbour, Portsmouth

admin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:13:58 +0000

Not all of Wessex Archaeology’s projects involve digging through solid ground. One of our most unusual projects was at Langstone Harbour near Portsmouth, where our archaeologists worked for seven years in deep mud and treacherous tides.

The team found remains which dated back to the 8,500BC at the Harbour – described by one archaeologist as “a mysterious backwater – at high tide a great, almost land-locked lagoon of salt water, at low tide an expanse of grey mud.”

The work was important as the small islands within Langstone Harbour are eroding rapidly and the remains had to be recorded and interpreted before the sea washed them away forever. The unusual conditions made things easier as well as harder: many flints and pieces of pottery were found on the foreshore as erosion of the islands by the sea exposed them.

Their work completely rewrote the history of the area. They showed for the first time that Langstone was not a harbour at all in prehistoric times, but an area of open grassland and woods where people came to collect flint for making into tools, to hunt animals and to graze sheep and cattle. By the Iron Age (700BC) the sea began gradually seeping in and this allowed people to make salt and farm oysters. Their finds included Neolithic waterlogged trees dating to 3,000BC, pieces of Bronze Age pottery (c1,200BC) and a medieval harpoon (c AD 1300).

By Saxon times (5th century AD) the harbour was fully formed and boats were used to cross it. During recent survey work by the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology a Saxon boat was found in the muds and our team – Dr Mike Allen and Dr Julie Gardiner – was filmed for the Past Finders TV Programme examining it and discussing the archaeology of the area.

Langstone was a dangerous place to work, with fast running tides that sneak in from behind the small islands in the harbour and cut off the unwary from shore. Strict safety measures had to be observed at all times by our team, who carried ropes and flares. Their caution paid off as no one came to any harm.

Our staff were part of a team that included maritime archaeologists from Southampton University and the Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, and geographers from Portsmouth University. The team, which also included local fisherman Arthur Mack, carried out underwater surveys and searches as well land excavation.

Those interested in learning more about this excavation should look at :

Our Changing Landscape; an intertidal survey of Langstone Harbour,Hampshire

by Allen.M.J. and Gardiner, J. 2000.

York, Council for British Archaeology (CBA) Research Report 124 - £32 from

Council for British Archaeology

Bowes Morrell House

111 Walmgate

YORK

YO19WA

Tel (01904) 671417

Innova Park

admin — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:37:57 +0000

Recording the archaeological investigationsWessex Archaeology was commissioned by Teesland Development Company, Kennet Properties and the London Borough of Enfield to undertake a series of archaeological investigations at the former Rammey Marsh Sewage Treatment Works, Enfield, London.

The archaeological investigations were required as part of the planning consent for the construction of industrial units in the north and small business properties in the south of the former sewage works, now known respectively as Innova Park and Innova Science Park

The area of the former Sewage Works covers some 61 hectares situated on low-lying land to the west of the present course of the River Lea, which forms the boundary between the county of Essex and the Greater London Borough of Enfield.

The map to the right shows the location of the Innova Parks.

Practical Archaeology Course 2004

admin — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:03:10 +0000

Find out about what happened during our 2005 course!

From 13th to 17th and again from 20th to 24th September Wessex Archaeology will be running two Practical Archaeology Training Courses on Cranborne Chase. We will be keeping a Dig Diary on the web-site, so every day there will be a chance for you to have an update on how the excavation is progressing. Some days there will be video clips too, so you will be able to watch the investigations as they unfold.

The site is likely to be very interesting – probably iron age. Log on to see what features and finds have been uncovered by the students. Each day there will be a talk or workshop – get a taste of what’s been happening. Most important, this is a training dig, so we hope you will be able to find out how the students are getting on – what they’ve found, how they feel (apart form backache!) and what the experience means to them.

THe site before excavation began

M6 Toll Road

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:15:38 +0000

Archaeologists have completed a series of excavations in advance of the building of Britain's first toll motorway: the M6 Toll around Birmingham.

For further information about the M6 Toll, visit the CAMBBA website at http://www.m6toll.co.uk/

More information will be available here as the project progresses.