Bloody Acre Camp Tortworth Estate Tortworth South Gloucestershire

Home , Castle Ring, Tortworth

Bloody Acre Camp

Tortworth Estate Tortworth

South Gloucestershire

Archaeological Evaluation

for Nicholas Pearson Partnership LLP

on behalf of

Tortworth Estate Company

CA Project: 6443 CA Report: 18049

February 2017

Bloody Acre Camp Tortworth Estate Tortworth South Gloucestershire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 6643 CA Report: 18049

Document Control Grid Revision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for Approved revision by A 25 Peter Busby Richard First Cliff February Young issue Bateman 2018

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ...... 4

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 6

4. METHODOLOGY ...... 6

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6) ...... 7

6. THE FINDS ...... 13

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE ...... 14

8. DISCUSSION ...... 14

9. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 18

10. REFERENCES ...... 18

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 20

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 24

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE ...... 25

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 26

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan showing hillfort earthworks and archaeological features (1:250) Fig. 3 Test pits 17, 18, 22 and 24: photographs Fig. 4 Test pits 28 and 30 and Trenches 32 and 35: photographs Fig. 5 Trench 31: plan, section and photograph (1:20) Fig. 6 Plan of Building 1 (1:75)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Bloody Acre Camp Location: Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire NGR: 369049 191508 Type: Evaluation Date: 2-12 January 2018 Location of Archive: To be deposited with Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Site Code: BAC 17

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2018 at Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire. A total of fifteen test pits and five trenches were excavated within the bounds of Bloody Acre Camp, Scheduled Monument no. 1002483.

The evaluation identified archaeological remains dating to the prehistoric and post-medieval periods within the hillfort. Evidence for Iron Age activity consists of a previously unrecognised rampart and quarry ditch on the southern and eastern edges of the hillfort, and a pit and posthole. No Roman artefacts/features were identified during the excavations. A large square post-medieval building was identified within the hillfort rampart. This structure has been interpreted as a hunting lodge or garden/banqueting house, situated in a prominent location and with a commanding view across the landscape. A limestone cobble surface, on the south and west sides of the building, and a carriageway, to the north of the building, were also identified.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In January 2018 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Nicholas Pearson Partnership LLP on behalf of Tortworth Estate Company on land within Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire (centred at NGR: 369049 191508; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken in response to advice from Historic England and a Conservation Management Plan, produced by the Nicholas Pearson Partnership LLP and Cotswold Archaeology in February 2016 (CA 2016a), which suggested that the management of a tessellated pavement and a potential Roman structure recorded within the Iron Age hillfort known as Bloody Acre Camp, should be informed by a better understanding of their location, character and condition. The historical and cartographic records provide conflicting locations of the pavement and it was proposed that a series of test pits be dug in order to determine its location.

1.2 A detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was prepared by CA (2016b) and approved by Melanie Barge, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Historic England. The fieldwork also followed Standard and guidance: Archaeological field evaluation (CIfA 2014). It was monitored by Melanie Barge, including site visits on 4th and 10th January 2018.

The site 1.3 The site is located within Bloody Acre Camp, Scheduled Monument no. 1002483, a hillfort located within the southern part of Tortworth Estate. It is located between the villages of Tortworth to the north-east, Cromhall to the south and Falfield to the north-west, with the M5 Motorway situated to the west. The site had been woodland, but was cleared of trees immediately prior to the evaluation commencing.

1.4 The hillfort is situated on a prominent spur overlooking the valley of a tributary to the Little Avon River and a monumental lake. The site rises from approximately 35m above Ordnance Datum (AOD) alongside the edge of the monumental lake to approximately 75m AOD within the Scheduled Monument.

1.5 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Black Rock Limestone Subgroup - Dolostone formed during the Carboniferous Period (BGS 2018). The

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

natural substrate encountered during the evaluation comprised decayed and solid limestone, consistent with the mapped deposits.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The following archaeological background is a summary of information provided in the Conservation Management Plan (CA 2016a), which considered the known archaeological and historical resource detailed on the South Gloucestershire Council Historic Environment Record (SGC HER) within the Tortworth Estate.

Prehistoric (pre AD 43) 2.2 There is limited evidence for pre-Iron Age (pre-700 BC) prehistoric activity within the environs of the site and this is confined to the find spots of worked flint tools, including a Neolithic hand axe, found at Falfield to the north-west, and an assemblage of prehistoric flint tools found at Tortworth (exact location of the find spot is not known).

2.3 The site is located within the south-eastern part of Bloody Acre Camp Scheduled Monument (List entry 1002483), which represents a small Iron Age multivallate hillfort. The Scheduled Monument is located on a prominent spur overlooking a valley and comprises an irregularly shaped enclosure defined by steep natural scarps to the east and south-east, and a sequence of banks and ditches to the north, west and south-west. It covers an area of approximately 7.7ha.

Roman (AD 43 – AD 410) 2.4 Within the south-eastern side of the hillfort, a tessellated pavement is thought to have been discovered in 1768. The pavement is said to have measured approximately 5.4m by 4.5m and has been interpreted as a potential Romano British villa or temple (Bristol Archaeological Research Group 1969). The Roman activity at the hillfort is supposedly further evidenced by the quantities of pottery retrieved from the area over the years, including a box of bagged pottery reportedly found in trial trenches on or near the camp in 1966 (location not known).

2.5 The discovery of the tessellated pavement is mentioned by Rudder in 1779, who assigned a Roman date to Bloody Acre Camp due to ‘some coins which have been found and from a tessellated pavement sometime since discovered there, about

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

eighteen feet long and fifteen broad, composed of small cubical bricks or stones of various colours set together with a small cement’ (Rudder 1779; Conder 1909- 1911).

2.6 Within the surroundings of the hillfort there is a long history of discovery of Roman artefacts, with Roman coins and pottery reported from the hillside immediately south-east of the site where vineyard terraces are located (Rudder 1779; Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club 1865) and further pottery find supposedly in trial trenches at or near the camp in 1966. These finds however are most likely associated with the Roman period activity across the area rather than indicative of an earlier origin of the vineyard terraces.

Post Medieval (AD1539 – 1800) 2.7 Sir Robert Ducie, who descended from an ancient family of Ducies of Staffordshire, was Lord Mayor of London in 1631 and was created a baronet by Charles I in 1629. In the early 17th century, Sir Robert acquired several estates in Gloucestershire, including, in 1610 (Historic England N/D) or in 1620 (Tortworth Estate Company N/D), the manors of Cromhall, Tortworth, Abbots and Cromhall Lygon. Sir Robert was succeeded by his two sons, Richard and then William. Following William’s death, the manor passed to Matthew Ducie Moreton, from another branch of the Staffordshire Ducie family. In 1720, Matthew was created Lord Ducie, Baron of Moreton and his son became 1st Baron Ducie of Tortworth (Tortworth Estate Company N/D).

2.8 In 1661, William Ducie obtained a licence to enclose Tortworth and Cromhall parks, with the Tortworth Park located to the north-east and the Cromhall Park located across the majority of the present Tortworth Court Park.

2.9 The estate as it would have been during the post-medieval period is depicted on two estate maps dating to 1760, a map of the Manor of Cromhall Abbots and a map of the Manor of Tortworth.

2.10 Although not shown on any of the manorial maps, the vineyard terraces to the south of Bloody Acre Camp and immediately south of the current site are mentioned in the early 19th century to have been in existence since c. 1750. The terraces were described in the 19th century to be preserved as dry stone masonry walls (Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club 1865) and in places, these are still recognisable.

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The aims and objectives of the evaluation were to determine the location of the tessellated pavement recorded in the 18th and 19th century, and any related Roman structure should one have existed, and record its condition. The works also sought to characterise as far as possible any other archaeological deposits and/or features present.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork initially comprised the excavation of 30 test pits each measuring 1m by 1m in plan (TP 1 to 30), in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). However, after a site meeting on 4th January 2017 and with the agreement Melanie Barge, Test Pits 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 23 and 26 were omitted from the scheme of works and Test Pits 8, and 9 and 15 were incorporated in to Trenches 33 and 32. In addition, five new 1m wide hand dug trenches of varying lengths (T 31 to 35) were added to investigate the newly identified southern rampart of the hillfort and a building in the north-western corner of the site. The test pits were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual.

4.2 All trenches were excavated by hand to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual. All identifiable structures were left in situ, with the exception of the hillfort rampart in Trench 31 which was hand excavated.

4.3 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites and no deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

4.4 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6)

5.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts, finds and biological evidence are to be found in Appendices A, B and C respectively.

5.2 A broadly similar stratigraphic sequence was recorded across the site. The natural substrate, which was encountered between 0.22m and 0.54m below present ground level (bpgl), comprised light yellow brown limestone and limestone brash. The natural substrate in the west of the site had a sharp flat interface with the overlying stoney dark brown clay silt soil (402/1002/1802/1902/2002/2102/2802/2902/3002) it was typically between 0.12m and 0.21m thick and was interpreted as relict plough soil. The relict plough soil in the west of the site and the archaeological deposits, structures and features encountered in the east were sealed by a dark brown humic clay silt topsoil, typically between 0.07m and 0.40m thick, which formed during the time the site was a plantation forest.

5.3 No archaeological features or deposits were identified in Test Pits 4, 10, 19, 21 and 29. Test Pits 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 23 and 26 were omitted from the scheme of works and Test Pits 8, and 9 and 15 were incorporated in to Trenches 33 and 32 respectively, with the agreement of Melanie Barge.

Test Pit 12 (Figs 2 and 6) 5.4 The unexcavated and undated cobble surface 1202, consisting of angular limestone cobbles, was encountered immediately below a thin layer of topsoil. The cobbles formed a tightly-packed flat, irregular layer approximately 0.16m thick. As some of the cobbles protruded through the topsoil it was possible to identify the full extent of the surface within the site (see Fig. 2 for location and extent).

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Test Pit 17 (Figs 2 and 3) 5.5 Test Pit 17 was located just to the south of a low north-west/south-east orientated earthwork interpreted as the northern rampart of the hillfort (Fig. 2). In this test pit a 0.15m thick layer of light brown yellow limestone gravel (1702) was identified between the natural substrate of solid limestone and the topsoil. It was identical in composition to the southern rampart 3108 seen in Trench 31, and given the trenches location, this deposit is probably part of the northern rampart.

Test Pit 18 (Figs 2 and 3) 5.6 Located in the eastern half of Test Pit 18 was irregular north/south orientated ditch 1805. It cut the relict plough soil 1802 and its location on the eastern side of a row of plantation conifers strongly suggests it is a modern drainage ditch.

Trench 20 (Figs 2 and 6) 5.7 A 0.14m thick, angular limestone cobble surface, 2004, was identified lying between the natural substrate and the topsoil. To the south of the surface lay plough soil 1802 with which the surface had no identifiable relationship. The surface was identical to cobble surface 1202 in Test Pit 12 and must represent a continuation of this surface.

Test Pit 22 (Figs 2 and 3) 5.8 At the base of Test Pit 22 was a dark brown silt relict soil (2203), sealing the natural limestone. It was undated, but very similar to layer 2403 in Test Pit 24. Sealing layer 2203 was dump 2202, which was 0.23m thick and consisted of grey brown clay silt with frequent included limestone pebbles to cobbles. It was similar to dump 2402 in Test Pit 24. On the surface of the dump was an extremely large flat limestone boulder, which dipped slightly to the south. Both the boulder and dump 2202 were sealed by topsoil 2201.

Test Pit 24 (Figs 2 and 3) 5.9 In the base of Test Pit 24, cutting into the solid limestone, was a north-west/south- east orientated, vertical sided cut, 2405. Within the trench this feature was at least 0.55m long and 0.22m wide by 0.22m deep and was filled by a single dark grey brown fill, 2404. This was very similar to relict soil 2403 and contained five sherds of pottery dated to the Late Iron Age. This feature has been interpreted as the northern side of a quarry pit as it is comparable with a north facing cut in Trench 31 (quarry pit 3104).

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

5.10 Relict soil 2403 sealed the natural limestone beyond the bounds of quarry pit 2405. It was 0.14m thick and was identical in composition to quarry pit fill 2404. Due to the similarity of the two deposits, it is possible that they formed at the same time. Sealing the relict soil was dump 2402, which was 0.23m thick and very similar to dump 2202 in Trench 22. Its mixed, irregular nature strongly suggests it is a dump of limestone rubble. It was sealed by topsoil.

Test Pit 25 (Fig. 2) 5.11 Within this test pit only the 0.28m thick topsoil was removed to expose the top of limestone dump 2502, which was very similar in form to dump 2402 in Test Pit 24, although it also included a small number of randomly placed large limestone boulders.

Test Pit 27 (Fig. 2) 5.12 Like Test Pit 25, only the topsoil was removed from above dump 2702. This layer was very similar dumps 2502 and 2402, and like 2502 there were a number of large flat limestone boulders on its surface. Because there was a possibility that these might have been the disturbed remains of a wall, the test pit was extended to 1.5m by 1.5m, proving these stones were a random scatter on the surface of deposit 2702.

Test Pit 28 (Figs 2 and 4) 5.13 In the north-western corner of Test Pit 28, the south-eastern corner of an undated square pit, 2804, was identified. It had vertical sides and a right angle corner. The base was not exposed. It was >0.42m long by >0.32m wide by >0.25m deep, and contained a single undated dark brown clay silt fill, 2805. The pit was sealed by the relict plough soil 2802.

Test Pit 30 (Figs 2 and 4) 5.14 In the south-western corner of Test Pit 30 a circular undated posthole, 3004, was identified. It was 0.4m in diameter and 0.19m deep, and contained a single undated dark brown clay silt fill 3005. The posthole was sealed by the relict soil 3002.

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Southern Rampart Trench 31 (Figs 2 and 5) 5.15 Trench 31 was located across the northern side of a low east/west orientated bank running along the top of the southern edge of the hillfort (Fig. 2). The excavation of this trench revealed a ridge of natural limestone in the centre of the trench (Fig. 5). The southern face of the ridge had an irregular profile and was sealed by the subsoil 3110, consisting of loose light brown silt clay limestone gravel. Sealing the subsoil was undated relict soil 3109, consisting of light brown clay silt and limestone gravel, interpreted as a pre-rampart soil formed on the natural south-facing escarpment slope.

5.16 Sealing relict soil 3109 was a large dump of limestone rubble, 3108, which formed the earthwork and was interpreted as the remains of the southern rampart of the hillfort. The excavated portion was at least 1.4m wide by 1.1m high. The northern part of the rampart formed a flat step, 0.84m wide, before the back of the rampart sloped up at a moderate angle to form the rear face of a bank. The front of the bank was not excavated due to its proximity to the steep southern face of the hillfort.

5.17 A dark brown/black silt topsoil 3105, seems to have started developing on the step in the rampart before its southern extent was sealed by evidence for the partial rampart collapse/weathering of the rampart 3107. The collapse consisted of a deposit of angular limestone cobbles and small boulders lying against the base of the northern face of the rampart bank. This deposit could be a combination of large stones laid against the inner edge of the rampart bank to stabilise it, like the chalk rampart around the univallate enclosure at Whiteways Plantation, West Sussex (CA 2016c), and/or rampart collapse. It is clear that the topsoil, 3106, continued to develop until it covered part of deposit 3107.

5.18 The northern side of the ridge of natural limestone had been cut by east/west orientated, shallow sided cut 3104. Within the trench this feature was at least 2m wide by 0.27m deep and was filled by a single dark grey brown fill, 3103, which was very similar to relict soil 3105/6. This feature has, due to its location to the rear of a rampart, been interpreted as the southern side of a quarry pit.

5.19 The fill of quarry pit 3104, relict soil 3105/6 and rampart 3108 were all sealed by dump 3102. It consisted of a 0.48m thick layer of loose dark brown clay silt with

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

included limestone gravel and small cobbles. This layer was very similar to dump 2402 in Test Pit 24. It was in turn sealed by topsoil 3101.

Building 1 Trench 32 (Figs 2, 4 and 6) 5.20 Trench 32 initially started as two test pits, TP9 and TP15; however, during the early stages of their excavation they were amalgamated into the larger Trench 32 to expose wall 3203 in plan.

5.21 An east/west sondage was excavated to investigate the deposits to either side of wall 3203. Fractured natural limestone 3205 was exposed to the west of the wall at a height of 77.16m AOD, whilst on the eastern side of the wall coarse limestone rubble 3206 was exposed at a height of 77.40m AOD.

5.22 In most of the trench only the topsoil was removed to expose wall 3203 in plan. It ran for c. 7.9m north-north-east/south-south-west before turning westward, through 90º at its northern extent and extending for a further 0.5m before disappearing under large tree roots. A southern corner to this wall was not found due to the presence of large tree stumps. The wall was 0.8m wide and was constructed with two outer faces of undressed limestone boulders, laid in crude horizontal courses, with a limestone rubble core. No mortar was seen during the course of the excavation, so it is presumed that the wall is of dry stone construction.

5.23 The wall survived to at least four courses, 0.28m above the limestone rubble/natural limestone brash, 3205, and limestone rubble, 3206, it had been cut into. On the east side of the wall there was a drain, 3208, running parallel to the wall. It was 1.15m wide and cut through limestone rubble 3206 to a depth of 0.38m, slightly deeper than the top of the natural substrate on the western side of the wall. It had a shallow sloping eastern side with the western side being formed by the external face of wall 3203. Upon the base of the cut and butting the wall, were laid two flat limestone slabs, 3207, forming the floor of the drain.

5.24 On top of the drain floor were a number of vertical and steeply sloping limestone boulders, 3204, clearly representative of tumble from wall 3203. There was more tumble along the eastern face of the wall showing that there was little, if any deposits above the natural substrate within the building and the drain outside the

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

building prior to the decay of the wall. The wall tumble and drain were sealed by topsoil.

Trench 33 (Figs 2 and 6) 5.25 Trench 33 was located across what was initially thought to be the line of an easteast-south/west-west-north orientated wall forming the northern wall of Building 1. However, removal of topsoil 3301 revealed that the ridge of stones was ether wall tumble or a dump of wall material, 3302, and that the wall would have been in the northern end of the trench on the projected wall line of the northern portion of wall 3203 in Trench 32. No in situ wall material was found in this location, leading to the conclusion that the northern wall of the building had been demolished west of Trench 32.

Trench 34 (Figs 2 and 6) 5.26 Trench 34 was located over the projected location of the southern wall of the building, across a line of stones that looked like the earthwork remains of a wall. However, upon removal of the topsoil 3401, the stones, 3402, were found to be a continuation of cobble surface 1202. The surface sat directly on natural substrate 3404 and had a straight northern edge. To the north of the cobbles was an area of decayed crumbly limestone, some 1.02m wide, which had been cut on its northern extent by a vertical sided, flat bottomed cut, 3403, and was interpreted as the cut for the internal floor of Building 1. This was parallel to the northern edge of the cobbles. The base of the cut was c. 0.4m below the ledge in the natural substrate (77.10m AOD), a similar height to the surface of the natural substrate to the west of wall 3203 in Trench.

Trench 35 (Figs 2, 4 and 6) 5.27 Trench 35 was located over what was thought to be the west wall of the building and a similar sequence to Trench 34 was revealed once the topsoil 3501 was removed. In the west of the trench was cobble surface 3501, a continuation of cobble surface 1202, with a straight eastern edge and, as in Trench 34, it had been laid directly onto the natural substrate. To the east of the cobbles was a flat, 1.2m wide, ledge of natural before the vertical cut of the internal floor space, 3503. The base of this cut was flat and located at 77.16m AOD, a very similar height to the natural substrate to the west of wall 3203 in Trench 32.

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

5.28 The straight edge in the cobble surface in both Trenches 34 and 35 suggests that the south and west walls of building 1 were butted by the surface and constructed on a flat ledge of natural substrate. This would also suggest that these walls were totally removed after the building went out of use. It seems probable that cuts 3403 and 3503 were made down from the inner face of the walls to provide a flat internal floor space at c. 77.2m AOD. The external dimensions of the structure were approximately 11.16m east/west by 10.50m north/south and internally 8.86m east/west by 8.65m north/south.

6. THE FINDS

6.1 Artefactual material was hand-recovered from eight deposits (a quarry pit fill, relict soil deposits, a dump deposit and topsoil). The recovered material dates to the Late prehistoric and post-medieval periods. The pottery has been recorded according to sherd count/weight per fabric. Pottery fabric codes have been devised for this report.

Pottery: Late prehistoric 6.2 A total of nine sherds (63g) of pottery was retrieved from three deposits. Four bodysherds in a limestone-tempered fabric (LS), from fill 2404 of quarry pit 2405, feature curvilinear scored decoration. This pottery belongs to the South West Decorated ware tradition, which dates to the Middle to Late Iron Age and is commonly found across South West England (Peacock 1969). From the same deposit is an unfeatured bodysherd of calcite-tempered ‘native ware’ (CAL), which is a typical find in the Bristol Channel/Severn estuary area (Allen 1998), dating from the late Middle Iron Age to the 1st century AD. Three sherds in a quartz-tempered fabric (QZ) from dumped soil deposit 2202, and two in shell-tempered fabrics (SH) from relict soil deposits 3106 and 3109, are dateable to the Iron Age on the basis of characteristics of fabric and firing.

Other finds 6.5 A fragment of clay tobacco stem (10g) from topsoil deposit 3401 is broadly dateable to the late 16th to late 19th centuries.

13 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

7. THE BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Animal Bone 7.1 Animal bone amounting to 60 fragments (454g) was recovered from seven deposits. The bone was well preserved but highly fragmented due to both historical and modern damage rendering the majority of the assemblage unidentifiable to species. It was however possible to identify the remains of cattle (Bos taurus) and sheep/goat (Ovis aries/Capra hircus).

Iron Age 7.2 A total of twelve fragments (41g) were recovered from quarry pit fill 2404, the fill of quarry pit 3405 and from layer 3106. The only identifiable bone was a partial sheep/goat scapula from 2404. This species was a common domestic animal in this period, so its presence is to be expected. However, due to the low recovery and the absence of butchery marks on any of the Iron Age material, it is not possible to make any useful inference beyond species identification.

Undated 7.3 A further 48 fragments (413g) were recovered from quarry pit fill 3103, the fill of quarry pit 3104 and from layers 2402, 2403, 3109 and 3302. Cattle and sheep/goat were identified from fragments of meat-poor skeletal elements, such as the mandible and the bones of the lower limbs and feet. As noted above, the material was highly fragmented, but did display rough chop marks and impact damage indicative of the early stages of butchery when a carcass is prepared immediately following slaughter.

8. DISCUSSION

8.1 The archaeological evaluation identified archaeological remains dating to the prehistoric and post-medieval/modern periods. Evidence for Iron Age activity on site comes from both the test pits and trenches in the south of the site where a previously unrecognised rampart and associated quarry pit were identified. No Roman artefacts were recovered during the current works, and there was no evidence for the Roman mosaic reputedly located in the south-eastern corner of the hillfort. A large square post-medieval building (Building 1) was identified in the north- western corner of site. This structure is associated with a limestone cobbled surface which respected the western and southern sides of the building.

14 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Iron Age (Figs. 2 to 6) 8.2 Prior to the current excavations, Bloody Acre Camp was thought to only have ditches on its northern, western and south-western sides. However, the removal of trees from the site exposed a slight bank running around the northern, eastern and southern sides of the hillfort (Fig. 2). The rear of this feature was investigated in Trench 31, where a rampart, 3108, and quarry pit, 3104, where identified (Fig. 5). The bank comprised a simple mound of limestone rubble placed along the lip of the natural escarpment thus enhancing the natural slope. It is possible that the inner edge of the rampart had been consolidated with larger pieces of limestone rubble, 3107. However, it remains undetermined whether this was an original feature of the bank or one that was added during its active life time or how much of the rubble is indicative of tumble from higher up the bank. Because of the sharp outer slope of the rampart, it is probable that this face was revetted by a stone or turf wall. However, because of the steep slope it was not possible to safely investigate this hypnosis during the current evaluation.

8.3 To the rear of the rampart there was a shallow rock cut feature running parallel to the rampart interpreted as a quarry pit, 3104. A similar cut, 2405, in Test Pit 24 may represent the northern edge of the feature suggesting that the quarry pit was approximately 6.4m wide by at least 0.27m deep.

8.4 After the quarrying of bank material and the construction of the rampart a soil formed within the quarry pit and on the surface of the flat area behind the rampart and over the surface of the exposed substrate within Test Pit 24. It is from these soils that the nine sherds of pottery were retrieved, some of which were datable to the Late Iron Age.

8.5 In addition to the rampart and quarry pit, part of a square pit, 2804, in Test Pit 28 and a posthole, 3005, in Test Pit 30, where identified. Although both remained undated, they may be contemporary with the hillfort.

Roman 8.6 Prior to the current work it was believed that Roman remains, including a mosaic reportedly discovered in 1768, were located within the south-eastern portion of the hillfort. However, the current work did not encounter any Roman remains or artefacts, and a rapid walkover survey suggests that the topography of the land

15 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

immediately to the north, east and south of the site was not suitable for buildings due to the steepness of the slopes. It is therefore probable that the location of the Roman finds (cited in Rudder 1779) are located some distance from the current site.

Post-medieval/modern (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) 8.7 The lack of earthworks within the hillfort, and the fact that the natural substrate in Test Pits 4, 10, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, and 30 is flat and well defined, may suggest that the inside of Bloody Acre Camp has been ploughed at some point since the Iron Age.

8.8 Earthworks located at the top of the carriageway in the north-western corner of site, which link the Camp to the lake below, were originally interpreted as a quarry. The current works have shown that they are in fact the remains of a building.

8.9 Its eastern wall (3203; Trench 32) survived to a height of four courses and was of drystone construction with a well-built north-eastern corner constructed of roughly squared large limestone blocks. A small part of the northern wall was uncovered in Trench 32, but by Trench 33 it appears to have been removed. The southern and western walls of the building were also missing, but their former location is suggested by a flat ledge in the surface of the natural limestone. The straight edge of cobbled surface 3402/3502 suggests it may have originally butted the external face of the southern and western walls of the building. No associated surface was found within the building, but the surface of the natural limestone had been lowered forming an irregular but flat surface.

8.10 This structure appears to be a substantial square building with external dimensions of approximately 11.16m east/west by 10.50m north/south and internally 8.86m east/west by 8.65m north/south. Given its size and shape it does not appear to be an agricultural building. The drystone construction of the 0.8m wide eastern wall 3203 suggests that, if it was constructed entirely of stone, it is unlikely to have been of more than one storey. However, if the drystone walls were to support a timber structure, this could have been of more stories and very grand in form. A structure located within this parkland landscape could be a hunting lodge. Castle Ring on Cannock Chase is a multivallate hillfort with a medieval hunting lodge in a corner of the interior (HE 2018). Another possible function is that of a Garden or Banqueting House, utilizing its prominent location to give commanding view across the landscape. It would have been linked to the house, pleasure gardens and parkland

16 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

by the carriageway. Its location above the post-medieval vineyard on the south facing slopes below the hillfort may also be significant and it is possible that the laying out of the vineyard and construction of this building may be related.

8.11 External to the building was limestone rubble surface (1202/2004/3402/3502) runs from the carriageway to the north-west of the building, around the west and southern sides of the building. This surface seems to form a trackway, whose origin is the top of the carriageway coming up from the lake located below the north side of the site. This link is emphasised by the way the carriageway enters the hillfort by turning through the ramparts at a nearly 90º angle, sharply around the north-western corner of the structure. This would suggest that the building, dated by a single clay pipe stem fragment from the overlying forest soil to the 16th-19th centuries, is either earlier or contemporary with the construction of the carriageway. Cartographically, the carriageway, complete with its 90º kink is on the 1881 Ordnance Survey map, however earlier maps do not depict this carriageway and no maps depict the building.

8.12 The undated mass dump of limestone rubble identified in Test Pits 22, 24, 26 and Trench 31 (contexts 2202, 2402, 2602 and 3102 respectively), which sealed the Iron Age deposits and features within these trenches, may belong to this later phase of activity at the site. Certainly the contours of the site to the east of the building were likely to have been very irregular and the ramparts more pronounced during and after the Iron Age and the building would have benefited from the deposition of mass fill to level this ground and improve access to the edge of the escarpment above the vineyard and its associated panorama.

8.13 The building was not depicted on the 1881 Ordnance Survey map, however its ruins may have been sufficiently pronounced for the surveyors to link the accounts of the find of a mosaic and Roman coins in the area to this site and thus include the reference to ‘tessellated pavement’ on the map. In the mid-20th century the interior of the hill fort was turned over to conifer plantation. As was common at the time, bulldozes were often used to clear the site and it seems likely that the far eastern portion of the rampart within the site may have been disturbed at this time. It is also possible that the large flat boulders seen on the surface of the dumps 2202, 2402, 2602 and 2702, may be stones moved from Building 1 during this clearance activity. This would also explain the deeper soils in the east of the site overlying the archaeological deposits. However, it is probable that most of Building 1 survived this

17 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

activity intact due to its location in a corner behind the rampart and bank defining the western end of the carriageway.

9. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Peter Busby, assisted by Andy Donald, Anthony Beechey, Gary Baddeley, Jess Stevens, Christina McClean, Andrew Hurst and Jack Harrison. The report was written by Peter Busby. The finds and biological evidence reports were written by Jacky Sommerville and Andy Clarke respectively. The illustrations were prepared by Charlotte Patman. The archive has been compiled by Peter Busby, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project was managed for CA by Richard Young.

10. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2018 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 30 January 2018

Allen, J. R. L. 1998 ‘Late Iron Age and Earliest Roman Calcite-tempered Ware from Sites on the Severn Estuary Levels: Character and Distribution’. Studia Celtica. XXXII, 27-41

Conder, E. 1909-1911 ‘Cromhall Roman Villa’, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London, vol. 23, p. 20-22

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Archaeological Resource Assessment of the Aggregate Producing Areas of South Gloucestershire, report ref. 10024

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016a Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Conservation Management Plan: Archaeology, report ref. 16092

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016b Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Test Pit Survey

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016c Community Excavation at Whiteways Plantation, Arundel, West Sussex: Archaeological Excavation, CA Report No. 16336

18 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club 1865 Proceedings of the Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club, vol. 4,

HE (historic England) 2018 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1014687 accessed 8 March 2018

Peacock, D. P. S. 1969 ‘Contribution to Study of Glastonbury Ware’. The Antiquaries Journal. XLIX, Part 1, 41–61

Rudder, S. 1779 History of Gloucestershire

Wakely, J., Manchester, K. and Roberts, C. 1985 ‘Scanning electron microscope study of normal vertebrae and ribs from early medieval human skeletons’, J. Archaeol. Sci. 16, 627-42

19 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Type Fill of Context Description L (m) W (m) D (m) Spot- No. No. interpretation date 1 Not Excavated 2 Not Excavated 3 Not Excavated 4 401 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.09 4 402 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >1 0.13 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 4 403 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - brash 5 Not Excavated 6 Not Excavated 7 Not Excavated 8 Part of Trench 33 9 Part of Trench 32 10 1001 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.07 10 1002 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >1 0.13 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 10 1003 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - brash 11 Not Excavated 12 1201 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt with >1 >1 0.04 10% fine roots 12 1202 Layer Cobble surface Dark grey brown silt with 75% >1 >1 0.16 angular limestone cobbles. Not excavated 13 Not Excavated 14 Not Excavated 15 Part of Trench 32 16 Not Excavated 17 1701 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.21 17 1702 Layer Posable Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 0.15 northern rampart gravel (brash) 17 1703 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - 18 1801 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.07 18 1802 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >1 0.16 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 18 1803 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - brash 18 1804 Fill [1805] Forest drainage Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >0.28 0.32 ditch fill angular limestone gravel and 5% angular limestone cobbles 18 1805 Cut Forest drain N/S irregular linear cut in plan >1 >0.28 0.32 with irregular side and base 19 1901 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.08 19 1902 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >1 0.17 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 19 1903 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - brash 20 2001 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.07 20 2002 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 0.5 0.13 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 20 2003 Layer Natural Light yellow brown limestone >1 >1 - 20 2004 Layer Cobble surface Dark brown clay silt with 75% >1 >1 0.14 large angular limestone cobbles 21 2101 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt >1 >1 0.09 21 2102 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% >1 >1 0.17 soil coarse angular limestone gravel

20 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

21 2103 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone >1 >1 - brash 22 2201 Layer Topsoil Friable dark brown clay silt >1 >1 0.22 22 2202 Layer Relict plough Loose mid grey brown silt with >1 >1 0.12 IA soil 10% small, medium and large angular limestone 22 2203 Layer Dump Moderately compact dark brown >1 >1 0.11 silt with 15% small, medium and large angular limestone 22 2204 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone 1 1 - brash 23 Not Excavated 24 2401 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic silt 1 1 0.20 24 2402 Layer Dump Grey brown humic loam silt with 1 1 0.23 15% small, medium and large angular limestone 24 2403 Layer Relict soil Dark grey brown humic silt with 1 1 0.14 25% angular and rounded limestone 24 2404 Fill [2405] Quarry pit fill Loose dark grey brown silt with >0.55 >0.22 0.22 LIA 25% angular limestone 24 2405 Cut Quarry pit Steep/vertical sides with a >0.55 >0.22 0.22 undulating base; only partially exposed due to limit of excavation 24 2406 Layer Natural Light yellow brown limestone 1 1 - 25 2501 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic silt 1 1 0.28 25 2502 Layer Dump Brown clay silt with 75% angular 1 1 - limestone cobbles Not excavated 26 Not Excavated 27 2701 Layer Forest soil Dark brown humic silt 1 1 0.20 27 2702 Layer Dump Light brown clay silt with 75% 1 1 - angular limestone gravel/cobbles with a number of flat limestone blocks up to 0.44m x 0.33 x 0.07m on surface of layer 28 2801 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.11 28 2802 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% 1 1 0.14 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 28 2803 Layer Natural Light yellow brown limestone 1 1 - 28 2804 Cut Pit Square/rectangular in plan with >0.42 >0.32 >0.24 90º angled corner; sharp/vertical sides; base not seen as part excavated 28 2805 Fill [2804] Pit fill Dark brown clay silt with 5% >0.42 >0.32 >0.24 angular limestone gravel 29 2901 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.10 29 2902 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% 1 1 0.21 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 29 2903 Layer Natural Light yellow brown limestone 1 1 - 30 3001 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt with 1 1 0.08 10% fine roots 30 3002 Layer Relict plough Dark brown clay silt with 25% 1 1 0.13 soil coarse angular limestone gravel 30 3003 Layer Natural Light yellow brown limestone 1 1 - 30 3004 Cut Posthole Circular in plan with - 0.40 0.19 sharp/moderate sides to an irregular and uneven base 30 3005 Fill [3004] Posthole fill Soft, dark brown clay silt with 5% - 0.40 0.19 limestone gravel 31 3101 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.23 31 3102 Layer Dump Loose, dark brown clay silt with >4.80 >1 0.48 50% angular limestone gravel and small cobbles 31 3103 Fill [3104] Ditch fill Firm, dark grey brown clay silt >2 >1 0.27 with 33% angular limestone pebbles

21 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

31 3104 Cut Ditch E/W linear in plan with sharp, >2 >1 0.27 shallow sides and a fairly flat base 31 3105 Layer Relict soil Dark brown/black silt with 25% 1.30 >1 0.13 angular limestone gravel and small pebbles 31 3106 Layer Relict soil Loose, dark brown/black silt with 1.12 >1 0.06 IA 25% angular limestone gravel and small pebbles 31 3107 Layer Rampart Loose brown clay silt with 75% >1 0.88 0.38 collapse angular limestone cobbles and small boulders 31 3108 Struct Rampart Loose, light brown yellow silt with >1 >1.40 1.10 95% angular limestone rubble gravel and small boulders

31 3109 Layer Relict soil Loose, dark grey brown clay silt >1.38 >1 0.24 with 25% angular limestone gravel 31 3110 Layer Relict subsoil Loose light brown clay silt with >1.2 >1 >0.3 50% limestone gravel 31 3111 Cut Natural Irregular linear with sharp/steep >1 >0.8 >0.5 escarpment sides; base not excavated slope 31 3112 Layer Natural Light yellow limestone 3.20 1 0.53 32 3201 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.40 32 3202 Fill Dump Dark brown clay silt with 50% >1 1.20 0.32 angular limestone gravel/cobbles 32 3203 Struct Wall NNE/SSW orientated wall >8.70 0.80 >0.28 constructed with limestone cobbles/boulders up to 0.49m x 0.32m x 0.17m with outer faces of undressed limestone blocks in crude horizontal course and rubble core. No mortar present 32 3204 Fill Wall Tumble Loose dark brown/black humic >1 0.43 0.32 clay silt with 25% angular limestone cobbles and boulders 32 3205 Layer Natural Broken/fractured light yellow >1 >1 - limestone; solid geology 32 3206 Layer Limestone Light yellow brown limestone >3.2 >1 - rubble brash with 5% angular limestone boulders on surface 32 3207 Surfac Drain floor Loose, dark brown clay silt with >0.52 >0.50 0.08 75% flat, undressed limestone slabs (0.47m x 0.27m x 0.08m) 32 3208 Cut Drain NNE/SSW orientated linear with >1 0.43 0.38 graduate, shallow sides to a flat base 33 3301 Layer Top soil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.18 33 3302 Layer Dump Dark brown clay silt with 75% 1 1 >0.36 angular cobbles and large boulders and 5% limestone gravel 34 3401 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.25 34 3402 Layer Cobble Surface Loose dark brown clay silt with >1 >0.74 0.14 75% limestone cobbles and small boulders 34 3403 Cut Internal floor Vertical side and irregular flat 2.10 >1 0.25 space base 34 3404 Layer Natural Light brown yellow limestone 1 1 - brash 35 3501 Layer Topsoil Dark brown humic clay silt 1 1 0.42 35 3502 Layer Cobble Surface Loose dark brown clay silt with >1.30 >1 0.18 75% limestone cobbles and small boulders 35 3503 Cut Internal floor Vertical side and irregular flat 1 >0.70 0.30 space base 35 3504 Layer Natural Light brown-yellow limestone >2.20 1 - brash; very fractured 100 10001 Layer Topsoil/Turf Dark brown silt clay 1 0.70 0.40 100 10002 Layer Limestone scree Grey-brown silt clay with 25% 1 0.70 >0.50

22 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

limestone gravel and >50% angular limestone cobbles/boulders 100 10003 Layer Natural Solid yellow grey limestone 1 0.70 -

23 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Category Description Fabric Count Weight (g) Spot-date Code 2202 Late prehistoric pottery Quartz-tempered fabric QZ 3 9 IA Fired clay 2 5 2402 Charcoal 1 3 - 2403 Burnt stone 1 50 - Natural stone 1 104 2404 Late prehistoric pottery Calcite-tempered fabric CAL 1 3 LIA Late prehistoric pottery Limestone-tempered fabric LS 4 48 Burnt stone 1 24 3002 Natural stone 1 64 - 3106 Late prehistoric pottery Shell-tempered fabric SH 1 3 IA

24 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE

Table 1: Identified animal species by fragment count (NISP) and weight and context.

Cut Fill BOS O/C LM MM Ind Total Weight (g) Iron Age 2405 2404 1 8 1 1 11 38 3106 1 1 3 Subtotal 1 8 2 1 12 41 Undated 2402 1 1 2 2403 2 2 12 7 9 32 205 3104 3103 1 2 3 88 3109 1 2 2 5 10 81 3302 2 2 37 Subtotal 6 7 14 12 9 48 413 Total 6 8 22 14 10 60 Weight 248 40 120 28 18 454 BOS = Cattle; O/C = sheep/goat; LM= cattle sized mammal; MM = sheep size mammal; Ind = indeterminate

25 © Cotswold Archaeology Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Bloody Acre Camp Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2018 at Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire. A total of fifteen test pits and five trenches were excavated within the bounds of Bloody Acre Camp, Scheduled Monument no. 1002483. The evaluation identified archaeological remains dating to the prehistoric and post-medieval periods within the hillfort. Evidence for Iron Age activity consists of a previously unrecognised rampart and quarry ditch on the southern and eastern edges of the hillfort, and a pit and posthole. No Roman artefacts/features were identified during the excavations. A large square post-medieval building was identified within the hillfort rampart. This structure has been interpreted as a hunting lodge or garden/banqueting house, situated in a prominent location and with a commanding view across the landscape. A limestone cobble surface, on the south and west sides of the building, and a carriageway, to the north of the building, were also identified. Project dates 2-12 January2018 Project type Field evaluation Previous work Not known Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) Site co-ordinates 369049 191508 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Peter Busby MONUMENT TYPE Multivallate hillfort SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone etc) Physical Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Ceramics, animal bone etc Paper Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Context and trench sheets Digital Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery Digital photos, drawings etc BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2018 Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire: Archaeological Test Pit Survey. CA typescript report 18049

26 3 368000 3 370000 6 7 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

119200092000

119000090000

N Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk M GLOUCESTERSHIRE site boundary ONMOUTHSHIRE e [email protected]

TORFAEN PROJECT TITLE CAERPHILLY Scheduled Monument Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire NEWPORT SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE CARDIFF FIGURE TITLE

NORTH Site location plan SOMERSET BATH AND WILTSHIRE 0 1km NE SOMERSET DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 3690253 3369050 369050 369075 3369075 3369100 369100 6 6 6 6

9 9 9 9 N 0 0 0 1 2 5 7 0 5 0 5 0

site boundary

evaluation trench/test pit see fig. 6 omitted test pit

cobble surface 1202

carriage-way 191525191525 archaeological feature TP1TP1 TP2TP2 TTP3P3 (excavated/unexcavated)

cobblecobble surfacesurface 12021202 structural feautre TTP7P7

wallwall rampart base 32033203 TP4 TP5TP5 TP6TP6 TT3333 cobblecobble internal floor surfacesurface space 3503 rampart slope break 35023502 internal floor TT3232 cobblecobble TT3535 space3403 rampart top surfacesurface 12021202 TP13TP13 TT3434 TP10TP11TP11 TTP12 P12 TTP14P14 drain TP16TP16 TTP17P17 cobblecobble 3208 surfacesurface 34023402 quarry pit 1805 2405

TTP25P25 TTP18P18 TP19TP19 TP20TP20 TP21TP21 TP22TP22 TP23TP23 TP24TP24 TP26TP26 TP27TP27

2804 3004

TP28TP28 TP29TP29 TP30TP30 quarryquarry ditchditch 31043104 T31T31

191500191500

01:250 10m

vineyardvineyard Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Trench location plan showing hillfort earthworks and archaeological features

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A3 1:250 2 ddumpump 11702702

draindrain 18051805

Test Pit 17, through northern rampart, looking east (scale 1m) Test Pit 18, showing drain 1805, looking north (scale 1m)

24012401 22012201

24022402

24032403 22202202

22032203

qquarryuarry pitpit 24052405

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Test Pit 22, west facing section, showing dump deposit 2202 (scale 1m) Test Pit 24, west facing section, showing quarry pit 2505 (scale 1m) Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Test pits 17, 18, 22 and 24: photographs

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A3 NA 3 ccobblkeobblke postholeposthole surfacesurface 35023502 30043004

internalinternal floorfloor spacespace 35033503 westwest wallwall ofof BuildingBuilding 1

pitpit 28042804

Test Pit 28 showing pit 2804, looking south (scale 1m) Test pit 30, showing posthole 3004, looking south (scale 1m) Trench 35 showing location of west wall of Building 1 and internal floor space 3503, looking south-west (scale 1m)

eeastast wallwall wallwall 32033203 naturalnatural tumbletumble 32053205 32043204 wallwall tumbletumble 32043204 easteast wallwall 32033203

draindrain ffloorloor 32073207

naturalnatural 32053205

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

Trench 32, section through deposits to either side of wall 3203 of Building 1, looking north-east (scale 1m) Trench 32, south-facing section through deposits to either side of east wall 3203 of Building 1 PROJECT TITLE (scale 1m) Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Test Pits 28 and 30 and Trenches 32 and 35: photographs

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A3 NA 4 N Trench 31:

A Section AA

NE SW 78.3m AOD

quarry pit 3104 3101

dump 3102 rampart collapse 3107 relict soil 3106 3105

rampart 3108 cut 3111 3103 quarry pit 3110 3104 relict soil 3109

01m1:20

cut 3111

Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE A Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE Trench 31: plan, section and 1:20 01m photograph

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A3 1:20 5 3369050 3369060 6 6

9 9 N 0 0 5 6

119153091530 0 0 carriage-way

rampart site boundary

evaluation trench/test pit cobble surface 1202 cobble surface 1202

archaeological feature

structural feautre

rampart base

rampart slope break

rampart top

dump 3302 119152091520

T33

wall 3203

T32 cobble internal floor surface 3302 space 3503 T35

wall tumble 3204

internal floor space 3403

TP12 T34 drain floor 05m1:75 3207 drain cut 3208 lime stone rubble © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 cobble 3206 surface 3402 Andover 01264 347630 Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Exeter 01392 826185 Archaeology Milton Keynes 01908 564660 w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Bloody Acre Camp, Tortworth Estate, Tortworth, South Gloucestershire FIGURE TITLE TP21 TP19 TP20 Plan of Building 1 TP22

DRAWN BY CP PROJECT NO. 6443 FIGURE NO. 119151091510 CHECKED BY DJB DATE 31/01/2018 APPROVED BY REY SCALE@A3 1:75 6