The Assendelver Polders, 20 km west-north-west of Amsterdam (fig. 1), consist of some 2000 ha of ... more The Assendelver Polders, 20 km west-north-west of Amsterdam (fig. 1), consist of some 2000 ha of typically flat Dutch polder landscape, treeless and cut by hundreds of drainage ditches, primarily in use for grazing. Observations by amateur archaeologists and a few small excavations have shown that the area was relatively densely populated during the period 2150 bp to 1750 bp. There were also indications for occupation around 2500 bp. The site discussed in this paper dates to this earlier period, the Early Iron Age. Until recently, circumstances were good for the preservation of organic remains owing to the high water table of the peat which covers large parts of the polders. Wooden posts, representing structural elements, were regularly retrieved by amateurs, as well as occasional lengths of wattle-work. These favourable conditions were, however, brought to an end in connexion with changes in the allotment scheme, implemented between 1970 and 1978. The organic remains became acutely...
The findings are outlined from the excavation of a later Bronze Age settlement located well '... more The findings are outlined from the excavation of a later Bronze Age settlement located well 'inland' ' respectively, 5 and 7km away from the Ouse and Cam River Valleys, and 6km back from the fen-edge at Longstanton, where it straddled the flanks of a gravel ridge running across the Cambridgeshire clay plain. While the site offers few major insights concerning the periods settlement generally, it nevertheless reflects upon a number of crucial themes: the nature/chronology of heavy land colonisation and when its pioneering occurred, the key role of water provisioning and, due to localised depositional survival, middening dynamics. As regards the latter, the site generated one of the regions largest later Bronze Age ceramic assemblages and, through waterlogged preservation of its deep-cut pit-wells, yielded an important group of wooden artefacts and other finds.
The physical remoteness of the site and its extreme unattractiveness, compounded by mud, ooze, ri... more The physical remoteness of the site and its extreme unattractiveness, compounded by mud, ooze, rising water, and all too attentive clegs (small horseflies), only served to enhance the morale of the party. Under such conditions concentration on the job was the only way out. '
Vegetable ' Although wood must have been extensively used for handles, shafts, bows and other pur... more Vegetable ' Although wood must have been extensively used for handles, shafts, bows and other purposes, disappointingly little was found in the way of finished objects, owing no doubt in part to the soft condition in which it survived. '
The Early Iron Age enclosures and associated sites on Sutton Common on the western edge of the Hu... more The Early Iron Age enclosures and associated sites on Sutton Common on the western edge of the Humberhead Levels contain an exceptional variety of archaeological data of importance not only to the region but for the study of later prehistory in the British Isles. Few other later prehistoric British sites outside the East Anglian fens and the Somerset Levels have thus far produced the quantity and quality of organically preserved archaeological materials that have been found, despite the small scale of the investigations to date. The excavations have provided an opportunity to integrate a variety of environmental analyses, of wood, pollen, beetles, waterlogged and carbonised plant remains, and of soil micromorphology, to address archaeological questions about the character, use, and environment of this Early Iron Age marsh fort. The site is comprised of a timber palisaded enclosure and a succeeding multivallate enclosure linked to a smaller enclosure by a timber alignment across a pa...
The 11,000-year old lake-edge archaeological site of Star Carr in the Vale of Pickering of North ... more The 11,000-year old lake-edge archaeological site of Star Carr in the Vale of Pickering of North Yorkshire is one of the most famous Mesolithic sites in Europe, and one of the earliest, dated to the period of climatic warming that immediately followed the final termination of the last ice age. One of the main reasons for this international importance is
This interim report is principally concerned with waterlogged lower ditch deposits of the Etton c... more This interim report is principally concerned with waterlogged lower ditch deposits of the Etton causewayed enclosure. The site is situated near the eastern edge of the Maxey complex of cropmarks, and owes its remarkable preservation to a high local water table and a blanket deposit of clayey alluvium which has protected the archaeological deposits from plough-damage. The description of the causewayed enclosure includes interim discussions of woodworking, the use of cattle as draught animals, and outlines of the environmental succession. Short statements on pottery and other finds are also included. Brief mention is also made of the earlier (Phase I) and later (Phase II) Neolithic sites at Etton Woodgate, immediately to the west of the causewayed enclosure. These sites, which were also partially waterlogged, were discovered during a watching brief of topsoil-removal work in the adjacent quarry. Etton Woodgate II produced very early evidence for textiles and for possible charcoal manu...
Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence... more Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence of boundary works of later prehistoric and Roman date running along the edge of a former course of the river Great Ouse. The most significant of these were two successive pit alignments constructed in the early-mid 1st millennium BC. One alignment ran along the very edge of the channel and was waterlogged over much of its length; upon excavation producing a rich assemblage of worked wood, including hedging debris. Broader discussion on the social context of pit alignments as boundary systems is offered.
All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system... more All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi�ed, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Edited for the Institute by:
Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence... more Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence of boundary works of later prehistoric and Roman date running along the edge of a former course of the river Great Ouse. The most significant of these were two successive pit alignments constructed in the early-mid 1st millennium BC. One alignment ran along the very edge of the channel and was waterlogged over much of its length; upon excavation producing a rich assemblage of worked wood, including hedging debris. Broader discussion on the social context of pit alignments as boundary systems is offered.
As part of the excavations at Star Carr in the summer of 2007 a ‘block’ sample of organic peat fr... more As part of the excavations at Star Carr in the summer of 2007 a ‘block’ sample of organic peat from the archaeologically rich lake edge deposits was removed for micro-excavation in the laboratory. The main aim was to compare the recovery of material and level of detail between on site excavation and excavation in the laboratory. The techniques employed aimed
Excavation at Pegler Way has extended the evidence of medieval burgage plot boundaries recovered ... more Excavation at Pegler Way has extended the evidence of medieval burgage plot boundaries recovered from an adjacent site on the Crawley High Street Relief Road and added more evidence of the local disposal of iron-working waste, although again the primary working site has not been identified. A rare find of a wooden scutching knife suggests flax processing. The site appears to have been used only for a short span, from the late 12th to the 14th century. By Stephen Hammond
This may well be linked to the propensity for the bark of waterlogged wood to turn a silver-grey ... more This may well be linked to the propensity for the bark of waterlogged wood to turn a silver-grey colour as it dries, appearing to look like birch to the naked eye. However, it should be noted that the birch tree uncovered again in 2007 (Figure 3.9) was examined using techniques described in Chapter 15 and identified as birch by Allan Hall. Results by Area Clark's area of which is unmodified, it seems likely that the majority of the material represents the gradual build-up of small-diameter roundwood that probably derived from trees growing at the lake edge. Whilst much of the deposit may have been generated through natural processes (small branches falling from trees), anthropogenic processes may also have been involved given the presence of chop and tear on several pieces of roundwood. This may have included the deliberate clearance of fresh growth in order to improve access through the trees or the maintenance and harvesting of coppice (Chapter 28). Furthermore, the presence of charred and culturally modified material, including wooden artefacts, probably also reflects woodworking tasks that were being undertaken along the lake edge.
The Assendelver Polders, 20 km west-north-west of Amsterdam (fig. 1), consist of some 2000 ha of ... more The Assendelver Polders, 20 km west-north-west of Amsterdam (fig. 1), consist of some 2000 ha of typically flat Dutch polder landscape, treeless and cut by hundreds of drainage ditches, primarily in use for grazing. Observations by amateur archaeologists and a few small excavations have shown that the area was relatively densely populated during the period 2150 bp to 1750 bp. There were also indications for occupation around 2500 bp. The site discussed in this paper dates to this earlier period, the Early Iron Age. Until recently, circumstances were good for the preservation of organic remains owing to the high water table of the peat which covers large parts of the polders. Wooden posts, representing structural elements, were regularly retrieved by amateurs, as well as occasional lengths of wattle-work. These favourable conditions were, however, brought to an end in connexion with changes in the allotment scheme, implemented between 1970 and 1978. The organic remains became acutely...
The findings are outlined from the excavation of a later Bronze Age settlement located well '... more The findings are outlined from the excavation of a later Bronze Age settlement located well 'inland' ' respectively, 5 and 7km away from the Ouse and Cam River Valleys, and 6km back from the fen-edge at Longstanton, where it straddled the flanks of a gravel ridge running across the Cambridgeshire clay plain. While the site offers few major insights concerning the periods settlement generally, it nevertheless reflects upon a number of crucial themes: the nature/chronology of heavy land colonisation and when its pioneering occurred, the key role of water provisioning and, due to localised depositional survival, middening dynamics. As regards the latter, the site generated one of the regions largest later Bronze Age ceramic assemblages and, through waterlogged preservation of its deep-cut pit-wells, yielded an important group of wooden artefacts and other finds.
The physical remoteness of the site and its extreme unattractiveness, compounded by mud, ooze, ri... more The physical remoteness of the site and its extreme unattractiveness, compounded by mud, ooze, rising water, and all too attentive clegs (small horseflies), only served to enhance the morale of the party. Under such conditions concentration on the job was the only way out. '
Vegetable ' Although wood must have been extensively used for handles, shafts, bows and other pur... more Vegetable ' Although wood must have been extensively used for handles, shafts, bows and other purposes, disappointingly little was found in the way of finished objects, owing no doubt in part to the soft condition in which it survived. '
The Early Iron Age enclosures and associated sites on Sutton Common on the western edge of the Hu... more The Early Iron Age enclosures and associated sites on Sutton Common on the western edge of the Humberhead Levels contain an exceptional variety of archaeological data of importance not only to the region but for the study of later prehistory in the British Isles. Few other later prehistoric British sites outside the East Anglian fens and the Somerset Levels have thus far produced the quantity and quality of organically preserved archaeological materials that have been found, despite the small scale of the investigations to date. The excavations have provided an opportunity to integrate a variety of environmental analyses, of wood, pollen, beetles, waterlogged and carbonised plant remains, and of soil micromorphology, to address archaeological questions about the character, use, and environment of this Early Iron Age marsh fort. The site is comprised of a timber palisaded enclosure and a succeeding multivallate enclosure linked to a smaller enclosure by a timber alignment across a pa...
The 11,000-year old lake-edge archaeological site of Star Carr in the Vale of Pickering of North ... more The 11,000-year old lake-edge archaeological site of Star Carr in the Vale of Pickering of North Yorkshire is one of the most famous Mesolithic sites in Europe, and one of the earliest, dated to the period of climatic warming that immediately followed the final termination of the last ice age. One of the main reasons for this international importance is
This interim report is principally concerned with waterlogged lower ditch deposits of the Etton c... more This interim report is principally concerned with waterlogged lower ditch deposits of the Etton causewayed enclosure. The site is situated near the eastern edge of the Maxey complex of cropmarks, and owes its remarkable preservation to a high local water table and a blanket deposit of clayey alluvium which has protected the archaeological deposits from plough-damage. The description of the causewayed enclosure includes interim discussions of woodworking, the use of cattle as draught animals, and outlines of the environmental succession. Short statements on pottery and other finds are also included. Brief mention is also made of the earlier (Phase I) and later (Phase II) Neolithic sites at Etton Woodgate, immediately to the west of the causewayed enclosure. These sites, which were also partially waterlogged, were discovered during a watching brief of topsoil-removal work in the adjacent quarry. Etton Woodgate II produced very early evidence for textiles and for possible charcoal manu...
Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence... more Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence of boundary works of later prehistoric and Roman date running along the edge of a former course of the river Great Ouse. The most significant of these were two successive pit alignments constructed in the early-mid 1st millennium BC. One alignment ran along the very edge of the channel and was waterlogged over much of its length; upon excavation producing a rich assemblage of worked wood, including hedging debris. Broader discussion on the social context of pit alignments as boundary systems is offered.
All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system... more All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi�ed, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. Edited for the Institute by:
Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence... more Excavations at a deeply alluviated site near St Ives, Cambridgeshire, revealed a complex sequence of boundary works of later prehistoric and Roman date running along the edge of a former course of the river Great Ouse. The most significant of these were two successive pit alignments constructed in the early-mid 1st millennium BC. One alignment ran along the very edge of the channel and was waterlogged over much of its length; upon excavation producing a rich assemblage of worked wood, including hedging debris. Broader discussion on the social context of pit alignments as boundary systems is offered.
As part of the excavations at Star Carr in the summer of 2007 a ‘block’ sample of organic peat fr... more As part of the excavations at Star Carr in the summer of 2007 a ‘block’ sample of organic peat from the archaeologically rich lake edge deposits was removed for micro-excavation in the laboratory. The main aim was to compare the recovery of material and level of detail between on site excavation and excavation in the laboratory. The techniques employed aimed
Excavation at Pegler Way has extended the evidence of medieval burgage plot boundaries recovered ... more Excavation at Pegler Way has extended the evidence of medieval burgage plot boundaries recovered from an adjacent site on the Crawley High Street Relief Road and added more evidence of the local disposal of iron-working waste, although again the primary working site has not been identified. A rare find of a wooden scutching knife suggests flax processing. The site appears to have been used only for a short span, from the late 12th to the 14th century. By Stephen Hammond
This may well be linked to the propensity for the bark of waterlogged wood to turn a silver-grey ... more This may well be linked to the propensity for the bark of waterlogged wood to turn a silver-grey colour as it dries, appearing to look like birch to the naked eye. However, it should be noted that the birch tree uncovered again in 2007 (Figure 3.9) was examined using techniques described in Chapter 15 and identified as birch by Allan Hall. Results by Area Clark's area of which is unmodified, it seems likely that the majority of the material represents the gradual build-up of small-diameter roundwood that probably derived from trees growing at the lake edge. Whilst much of the deposit may have been generated through natural processes (small branches falling from trees), anthropogenic processes may also have been involved given the presence of chop and tear on several pieces of roundwood. This may have included the deliberate clearance of fresh growth in order to improve access through the trees or the maintenance and harvesting of coppice (Chapter 28). Furthermore, the presence of charred and culturally modified material, including wooden artefacts, probably also reflects woodworking tasks that were being undertaken along the lake edge.
Uploads
Papers by Maisie Taylor