t:Herr[ordshireArchaeological Tnul 1998 I I I I I I
I FORMER NURSES HOME, LAND NORTH OF OXFORD ROAD, I STONE, AYLESBURY
I AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL I EVALUATION I I I I I I
I Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust I
I 1 I t:lfert[onflhireArchae<>logical 1',,'" /998 I ******** •••• *.*.******* ••• ********* •••••• *** •• ********************* •• I HERTFORDSlllRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL 1RUST REPORT NO. 513 I I I FORMER NURSES HOME, LAND NORTH OF OXFORD ROAD, I STONE, AYLESBURY I I AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EV ALUA TION I Jonathan Last PhD Tom McDonald MIF A I May 1999 Parish: Stone I NGR: SP 778 123 I I I I
I THE SEED WAREHOUSE, MAIDENHEAD YARD THE WASH, HERTFORD SGl4 IPX TEL (01992) 558170 I FAX (01992) 553359 *****************.******* •••• **** •• ***** ••• ****** ••••• ***** •• ******** I
I 2 I I fliHert[ord,/rireArchaeo/oglca1 rr." 1998
LAND TO THE NORm, OF OXFORD ROAD, STONE, I BUCKINGHAMSHIRE I AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION
I SUMMARY During May 1999, HAT carried Ollt an archaeological evaluation of land to the north I of Oxford Road in Stone, Buckinghamshire. The evaluation revealed a diffuse spread ofLate Bronze Age features - ditches, pits and post holes - across the site. I 1 INTRODUCTION
I 1.1 During May 1999, Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust (HAT) carried out an archaeological evaluation of land to the north of Oxford Road, Stone, Bucks. (NGR SP 778 123) (Figs. 1-2). The work was undertaken on behalf of Crest Homes I (Eastern) Ltd in advance of the redevelopment of the site. An archaeological evaluation was required as part of a planning condition issued by the Local Planning Authority, Aylesbury Vale District Council (Ref: N9711676/AOP), based on advice I from the County Archaeological Service of Buckinghamshire County Council Environmental Services (CAS BCe ES). It is proposed to construct new dwellings on I the site. 1.2 The evaluation was conducted according to a brief prepared by CAS BCC ES I (1. Wise, dated 01104/99) and a specification compiled by HAT (dated 4/99). It also complied with the Institute of Field Archaeologists' Standard and Guidance for I Archaeological Field Evaluations. 1.3 A desk-based assessment was commissioned by Crest Homes and prepared by HAT (Dr L Prosser, March 1999, Land to the North of Oxford Road, Stone, I Buckinghamshire: An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, HAT Report No.486).
I 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE
2.1 The site is located 0.5 km to the west of the village centre of Stone, and I approximately 4 km south-west of Aylesbury (Figs. 1-2). It extends northwards from the main A418 road from Aylesbury to Thame at a height of 112 m AOD, rising gently to 115 m at the north and east. The site covers approximately 2.1 hectares and is I bounded to the north by a pasture which rises to the apex of a low hill. To the east it I is delineated by a green lane, and to the west by modem residential development. 2.2 The solid geology of Stone comprises a gently sloping ridge of Portland deposits, characteristic of the land to the north of the Chilterns, and in the Vale of I Aylesbury. A geological survey (EnviroClean 1997, 6) revealed the site to be composed of two halves: the south-western part consists of Portland Stone and Sand I 3 I t:Herr[ordshJrsArchaeological Tnut / 998 I overlying Kimmeridge Clay; the north-eastern part is formed of Lower Cretaceous Whitchurch Sands overlying Purbeck Limestone, Marl and Clay, which itself overlies strata of Portland formation. Whitchurch Sand has a fineness which made it attractive I for extraction and use in the glass-making industry, known in Stone from the 1840' s. I 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
3.1 The area of the Vale of Aylesbury has been settled since early times, and long I term occupation is attested at Stone by the discovery of evidence for activity from all periods. Unfortunately much of this evidence was uncovered by chance during the th I construction of the vicarage and asylum, and extensive sand extraction in the 19 century. This has led to the destruction of the sites, the loss of much of the original material, and confusion of interpretation by the antiquarian diggers of the time (HAT I Report No. 486).
3.2 The desk-based assessment states that the parish of Stone emerges in the I historical record at the time of the Domesday Book assessment of 1086. In the late Saxon period the parish (quite literally 'stones') was the head settlement of an administrative unit known as a hundred. The evaluation site is first documented in the I 18th century, when an estate map compiled at the time of the large-scale enclosure of the old medieval fields shows that it belonged to the Earl of Chesterfield. Unfortunately the early maps do not give a field name for the site, and the area is not I included on the tithe map of 1847. It may be that the land was newly enclosed by the late 18th century, though it was not part of the area earmarked for parliamentary enclosure in 1776. In the late 1840' s, the vicar of Stone volunteered to sell part of his I land to the south of Oxford Road for the construction of a county lunatic asylum, and this was built in the early 1850' s. In its day it was at the forefront of modern hospital design, providing accommodation for 260 patients. During the later 19th century, the I principal occupations at Stone were market gardening and pillow lace manufacture. This was supplemented by sand extraction for glass manufacture, and major sand pits I were opened to the east of the site and near the vicarage on the opposite side of the road. I 4 ARCHAEOLOGICAL MEmODOLOGY I 4.1 The principal aim of the evaluation (trial trenching) was to determine the location, extent, date, character, significance and quality of any surviving archaeological remains liable to be threatened by the proposed development (believed I to be of possible Iron Age date) (Section 1 of the brief).
4.2 The archaeological evaluation was carried out in accordance with the brief and I specification. It also complied with the relevant IF A guidelines.
4.3 The trenches followed the proposed trench plan approved by CAS BCC ES. I The majority of the trenches were 30 m in length, and all were 1.8 m wide. I
4 I
- I Tnul J998 I t:lfertfonhhire Archae%gical mechanical 4.4 Eleven trial trenches were excavated across the site using a JeB the trenches excavator fitted with a toothless bucket (Fig.3). Exposed surfaces of . Deposits I were cleaned by hand, and all further excavation was undertaken by hand to scale and revealed were recorded by means of pro forma recording sheets, drawn I photographed.
I 5 DESCRIPTION OF RESULTS I Individual trench descriptions are presented below: 5.1 Trench 1
I Sample section: (0.00 = 115.27m AOD) compact 0.00 - 0 .39 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. I 0.39 - O.72m LI002. Subsoil 0.72 m + LlOOI. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace graveVsand I and orange-brown clay. 5.1 .1 Two ditches and two pits were revealed in Trench 1. revealed I 5.1.2 FlO14 was a shallow, possibly linear ditch which was partially 2.3 m+, traversing the northern edge of the trench on a WSW-ENE alignment (length way to a flattish base. width I ID, depth 0.12 m). Its northern edge was steep, giving I loose, dark The southern edge was cut at a more gradual angle. Its fill comprised present. brown sandy clay with small rounded flint pebbles (LI015). No finds were I overlain by 5.1.3 FI0l6 was a shallow, flat bottomed, circular pit which was partially contained a the trench baulk. The pit (length 0.7 ID, width 0.78 ID, depth 0.15 m) (F 1017). single fill of compact, dark brown, sandy clay with small rounded flint pebbles I fragments of It contained two sherds of Late Bronze Age (LBA) pottery (7 g) and I anirna1 bone (2, 2 g). the southern 5.1.4 FlOI9 was a wide, shallow, flat-bottomed ditch which traversed ID, depth >0.12 end of the trench on a WSW-ENE alignment (length 2.3 m+, width 4.7 flint and I m). Its fill comprised compact, mid brown, mixed clayey sand with occasional (52 g), two limestone pebble (Ll020). The finds comprise ten LBA pottery sherds I fragments of daub (21 g), and one struck flint (2 g). ID, width 0.7 ID, 5.1.5 Ditch FlO19 was cut by subcircular pit FI021 (length 0.85 the base was depth 0.33 m). Its sides were cut at 45-60° from the horizontal and I sandy clay concave, The pit fill was a mixed mid-greylbrown and light buff to orange, . It contained (L 1022). The deposit was poorly sorted, coarse, gritty and compacted 21 sherds of occasional inclusions of limestone and flint pebble. The finds comprise I , 273 g). LBA pottery (399 g), and fragments of daub (32 g) and animal bone (24 I I 5 I C'IIertfonbhire An:haeologlcal Tnul J998
5.2 Trench 2 • Sample section: (0.00 = 115.94 m ADD) I compact 0.00 - 0 .28 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.28 - 0.55 m LlOO2. Subsoil graveVsand 0.55m+ LlOO1. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace • and orange-brown clay. 2. 5.2.1 Two shallow pits were revealed towards the eastern edge of Trench • sides were cut 5.2.2 FI023 was oval (length 1.2 ID, width 0.8 ID, depth 0.34 m). The a compact, at a near-vertical angle of slope and the base was concave. The fill was • pottery (884 dark brown, sandy clay (LI024). The finds comprise 20 sherds ofLBA g), one fragment of animal bone (150 g) and one struck flint (8 g). • trench baulk 5.2.3 FI025 was a very shallow, subcircular pit partially overlain by the compact, dark (length 0.72 ID, width 0.5 ID, depth 0.07 m). Its fill was a moderately comprise five LBA pottery sherds (81 g). • greylbrown, loam (L I 026). The finds • 5.3 Trench 3 Sample section: (0.00 = 116.35m ADD) • compact 0.00 - 0 .20m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.20 -O.44m LlOO2. Subsoil • graveVsand O.44m+ LlOO1. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace and orange-brown clay. • Trench 3. 5.3 .1 A pit and four post holes were revealed within the eastern half of
ID, width 0.23 ID, 5.3.2 FI027 was a very shallow, subcircu1ar post hole (length 0.33 • a small flattish depth 0.09 m). The sides were cut steeply and tapered inwards to form small base. Its fill was a compact, dark yellowish brown, loam with very occasional angular flint pebbles (LI028). No finds were present. •
ID, depth 0.16 5.3.3 F1029 was a shallow, oval posthole (length 0.59 ID, width 0.29 like FI027, tapered inwards to form a small flattish • m). The sides were steep and, occasional base. The fill was a compact, dark yellowish brown, clayey loam with , pebbles (LI030). No finds were present. .' pit (length 5.3.4 fUlJO was a shallow, steep-sided, slightly irregular, flat-bottomed brown, 0.50 m, width 0.57 m, depth 0.05 m). Its fill was a compact, dark yellowish • clayey loam. No finds were present. 0.23, depth 5.3.5 FI033 was a shallow, sub-circular post hole (length 0.33 m, width • compact, dark 0.11 m). Its sides tapered to a slightly rounded base. Its fill was a I yellowish brown clayey loam. No finds were present. I 6 • 1998 I Qlert[ord,lUroAn:haeo/QgicaITnut
ID, width 0.3 ID, near-circular post hole (length 0.35 5.3.6 FI035 was a very shallow, flint I compact, dark brown, sandy clay with depth 0.06 m). Its fill was a moderately I pebbles. No finds were present. I 5.4 Trench 4 m AOD) Sample section: (0.00 = 113.97 compact . Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately 0.00 - 0 .25 m LlOOO . I sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules 0.25 - 0 .65 m Ll002. Subsoil drift geology. Rounded terrace graveVsand 0.65m+ LI001. Natural I and orange-brown clay.
the eastern end of Trench 4. I 5.4.1 A ditch was revealed towards ID, depth 0.23 m) which ditch (length 3.1 m+ width 1.37 5.4.2 FI049 was a linear . Its fill was a alignment. It was concave in profile traversed the trench on a NFJSW Roman I The finds comprise one sherd of mid orange-brown, sandy clay (LI050). of animal bone (7 g). I pottery, two LBA sherds and a fragment I 5.5 Trench 5 = 112.62 m AOD) Sample section: (0.00 compact . Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately 0.00 - 0 .21 m LlOOO . I sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules 0.21 - 0 .52 m LlOO2. Subsoil drift geology. Rounded terrace graveVsand 0.52m+ LlOOl. Natural I and orange-brown clay. Two towards the western end of the trench. 5.5.1 A possible cremation was found I linear ditches were also revealed. ID, depth 0.1 m) filled by a small pit (length 0.4 ID, width 0.3 5.5.2 FI037 was a small fragments of I brown, sandy loam containing numerous moderately compact, dark no other finds, and charcoal (LJ038). There were unidentified bone, some of it burnt, cremation burial. I so the bone may represent an unurned .84 ID, depth 0.26 m) which linear ditch (length 2.3 m+, width 0 5.5.3 FI039 was a . Its fill was a the trench on a NNW/SSE alignment traversed the eastern side of of LBA I loam (L I 040). It contained a sherd compact, dark yeUowish brown, clayey pottery. . Its fill I , a very shallow, possibly linear feature 5.5.4 Ditch FI029 was cut by FI041 finds were present. I was a dark yeUowish brown silt. No I 7 I t:HutfortbhireArchaeologlcol Tnut 1998 I 5.6 Trench 6
Sample section: (0.00 = 111.83 m AOD) I compact 0.00 - 0.30 m Ll000. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. I 0.30 - 0 .63 m LI002. Subsoil. graveVsand 0.63m+ LIOO1. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace and orange-brown clay. I 5.6.1 Three post holes were revealed within Trench 6. I way to a 5.6.2 FI051 was a subcircu1ar post hole. Its sides were steeply cut giving were present. flat base. Its fill was a compact, mid orange-brown silty sand. No finds I ID, width 0.38 ID, 5.6.3 FI053 was a very shallow, subcircular post hole (length 0.4 Its fill was a depth 0.07 m). Its sides were steep and gave way to a flattish base. compact, mid orange brown silty sand. No finds were present. I post hole 5.6.4 FlOSS was similar to FI053. It was a very shallow, subcircular flattish base. Its fill (length 0.43 ID, width 0.4 ID, depth 0.05 m). Its sides tapered to a I was a compact, mid orange brown silty sand. No finds were present. within the I 5.6.5 A modem layer, LI061 (not shown on plan), was partially revealed 19th century trench. It comprised a greyish brown, mixed loam with fragments of building material. I
5.7 Trench 7 I
Sample section: (0.00 = 111.61 m AOD) compact 0.00 - 0 .18 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately I sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.18m - 0 .96m Ll002. Subsoil graveVsand 0.96 m + LIOO1. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace I and orange-brown clay.
5.7.1 Three post holes were revealed at the eastern end of Trench 7. I
ID, depth 0.07 m). 5.7.2 FI048 was roughly semi-circular (length 0.28 ID, width 0.19 compact, mid The sides were steep and tapered to form a rounded base. Its fill was a I orange-brown, sandy clay. No finds were present.
ID, depth 0.07 I 5.7.3 FI057 was a subcircu1ar post hole (length 0.24 ID, width 0.18 a compact, m). Its sides tapered steeply giving way to a rounded base. Its fill was . mid orange-brown, sandy clay with occasional chalk. No finds were present I a mid orange 5.7.4 F1059, like FI057, was a subcircular post hole. Its fill was brown, sandy clay. No finds were present. I I 8 I I Ulert[ord,hlre Archaeological '/'rv" 1998
I 5.8 Trench 8 Sample section: (0.00 = 112.68 m AOD) compact I 0.00 - 0 .25 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.25m - 0 .85m LI002. Subsoil graveVsand I 0.85m+ LlOOl. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace and orange-brown clay.
8 I 5.8.1 No archaeological features or finds were revealed within Trench
I 5.9 Trench 9
Sample section: (0.00 = 112.84 m AOD) compact I 0.00 - 0 .18 m Ll000. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.18-0.51 m L 1002. Subsoil graveVsand I 0.51m+ LlOOI. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace clay. I and orange-brown at the 5.9.1 Trench 9 contained several modern features. A pit was revealed I northern end ofthe trench. m). Its sides 5.9.2 Fl008 was a shallow pit (length 0.6 ID, width 0.6 ID, depth 0.1 Its fill was a were cut at 45° from the horizontal and gave way to a flattish base. I and limestone compact, light to mid brown, sandy clay loam with occasional flint and a fragment pebbles (Ll009). The finds comprise three LBA pottery sherds (56 g) I of anima1 bone (166 g).
I 5.10 Trench 10
Sample section: (0.00 = 113.67 m AOD) compact I 0.00 - 0.22 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. 0.22 - 0 .51 m LlOOI. Subsoil I graveVsand 0.5Im+ Ll002. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace and orange-brown clay.
I the trench. A 5.10.1 An electricity service was revealed towards the northern end of modern disturbance and two post holes were also revealed. I way to a 5.10.2 Fl004 was a subcircu\ar post hole. Its sides were steep, giving sandy clay rounded base. Its fill was a very compact, dark to mid-greylIight orange fragments of I with occasional fragments of limestone (L1005). The finds comprise nine animal bone (89 g). I 9 I CHertfordshire Archaeological Trust 1998 I
5.10.3 FI006 was a subcircular post hole. Its sides were steep, giving way to a rounded base. Its fill was a very compact, grey/orange sandy clay (L1007). The finds I comprise one LBA pottery sherd and five fragments of animal bone (61 g). I 5.11 Trench 11
Sample section: (0.00 = 114.47 m AOD) I 0.00 - 0.21 m LlOOO. Topsoil. Dark greyish brown moderately compact sandy loam with occasional flint pebbles/nodules. I 0.21 - 0.49 m Ll 00 1. Subsoil 0.49m+ Ll002. Natural drift geology. Rounded terrace graveVsand and orangelbrown clay. I 5.11 .1 A linear ditch and a pit were revealed within Trench 11 . I 5.11.2 FIOIO was a linear ditch which tapered to a rounded termination within the trench. It was aligned E-W and measured 7.7 m long, 0.8 - 1.1 m wide and 0.1 m deep. Its fill was a compact, dark grey-brown sandy clay with occasional fragments of I limestone (LI0Il). The finds comprise three LBA pottery sherds (22 g) and two fragments of animal bone (66 g). I 5. I 1.3 FI012 was a shallow subcircu1ar pit (length 0.6 m, width 0.45 m, depth 0.06 m). Its fill was a dark grey silty clay. No finds were present. I 6 DISCUSSION I 6.1 A range of archaeological features were revealed, comprising pits, post holes and ditches. A possible cremation was recorded in Trench 5. The dated features are prehistoric, excepting a possible Roman ditch (FI049) revealed in Trench 4. The I pottery from them (see below) has been provisionally identified as Late Bronze Age (post Deverel-Rimbury), though it is presumably the same as the 'possibly Early PTe I Roman Iron Age' remains found in 1980 during the cutting of a trench to the north of the site (SMR 4752, see HAT Report No. 486)(Fig.7). The finds from the evaluation clearly suggest a broad area of Late Bronze Age!Early Iron Age occupation to the I north of Oxford Road, while the extensive Roman activity in the hospital grounds to the south of the road do not appear to extend into the evaluation area. I 6.2 The features are dispersed across the site in the form of a di1fuse scatter. There is no obvious focus, though the larger finds assemblages occurred close to the area of the 1980 finds in Trenches I and 2, principally contained in pits (Tr.l Pit FIOI6, Ditch I FIOI9, Pit FI021 ; Tr.2 Pit FI023, Pit FI025). At least two of these features contained large, reconstructable sherds, suggesting deposition of freshly broken material from an occupation in the immediate vicinity. Similarly, there is no obvious I run out of features, although no finds came from the few features in the south-east of the site (Trenches 6 - 8), while the only feature in Trench 4 is the Roman (or later) ditch (F \ 049). I
10 I I ,;pr.
o~ OTdshireAn:haeologICQI TnuII998 I rv,r
6.3 More extensive excavations would be required to clarify the nature of the I activity represented and to determine whether any structures are present. The arc of three post holes at the west end of Trench 7 could conceivably be part of a roundhouse. The possible unurned cremation in Trench 5, if both human and I contemporary, would extend the distribution of these Post Deverel-Rimbury deposits, which have been recognised at a number of sites excavated by HAT in Hertfordshire I and Essex, the closest being at Gadebridge, near Hemel Hempstead.
I 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS HAT is grateful to Crest Homes (Eastern) Ltd for their co-operation and funding of I the archaeological evaluation.
HAT would also like to acknowledge Ms J Wise who monitored the project on behalf I of CAS BCC ES. I
I .---- ., ., \ I I I I I I I I I I 11 I t:Hertfordshir. Archaeological Tntst /998 I
APPENDIX: Prehistoric Pottery and Stuck Flint by Jonathan Last Phd I
The assemblage from the evaluation consists of 66 sherds, of which 20 came from two I vessels in pits F 1021 and F 1023 . The pottery weighs 1578 g in total and is derived from ten cut features and two layers. All these deposits produced only prehistoric pottery, except for Ditch FI049 which included a sherd of Roman greyware along with I two presumably residual prehistoric fragments. I Fabrics I Two major and three minor fabric groups are represented:
1 (calcareous) (45% by sherd count) I Tempered with moderate to common, generally coarse calcareous inclusions (including fossil shell and limestone). Often dissolved and represented by voids within the fabric. Various firing conditions, including completely oxidised and completely unoxidised I fabrics. There may be a distinction between a very coarse ware (la) and a finer ware with smaller and sparser inclusions, sometimes with added sand (Ib). I 2 (flint) (41%) Tempered with moderate to common very coarse angular flint (2a), with common fine and sparse very coarse flint (Zb), with flint, sand and sparse other coarse mineral (Zc), I or with flint and sparse fine calcareous inclusions (Zd). Generally with unoxidised fabric and partly oxidised surfaces (sherds from FI039 and LI043 are unoxidised throughout). I 3 (grog) (8%) I Tempered with grog and various combinations of other materials, including shell and flint. Unoxidised fabric, partly oxidised surfaces. I 4 (sand) (Z%) Tempered with sand and finely crushed flint; reduced fineware with smoothed surfaces. I 5 (quartz) (5%) Tempered with common rounded reddish quartz(ite) only. I Forms, Manufacture and Use I Five rims, four definite bases (along with four possible base sherds), and one handle were found. I The rims include:
• a globular bowl with slightly everted rim in fabric 2 (FI008) I
12 I I I Wenfordshi,. Archaeological 'f1vst 1998 • a shallow bowl with simple rounded rim in fabric 2 (FIOI9) I • a weakly shouldered jar with slightly everted rim in fabric I • a closed jar with everted rim in fabric I finger-impressed • a weakly shouldered open bowl in Fabric 2 with diagonally placed I decoration on the rim (all F 1023) upright wall The bases (all flat) include a large piece of a vessel with a straight, rather flint on the I from FI021 (Fabric 2); particularly interesting is a coating of finely crushed material when underside of the base, indicating that the vessel was set down on this on a smooth still wet. Such a treatment would serve to increase friction, when placed but with a more I surface, and resistance to abrasion. A similar base (also Fabric 2) I with a more rounded vessel body was also found in this feature. A base in Fabric , indicating open angle came from FlOOS; this showed heavy abrasion on the underside LJ043; this was I it had been well used. Another base ofa steep-sided vessel came from to the base the only diagnostic piece in Fabric 3. The wall was thin in comparison , suggestive of itseH: which had a sooty deposit on the interior. Other such deposits I vessel wall, and cooking, came from the large base in FI021, but on the interior of the an unrelated body sherd in the same feature. I jar (wall The handle (from F1023) is vertically-placed on a large barrel-shaped a plug of clay thickness 12-15 mm). The preserved half was apparently made from of clay to form applied into a hole in the vessel wall, and then covered by a broad strip I from the vessel and anchor the handle. Its total height is c 20 cm and it projects 4 cm I wall. was a series of The only decoration apart from that on the rim mentioned above other sherds have fingernail impressions on a small body sherd from FlOO6. Some . Surfaces were I surface impressions and depressions caused during manufacture has a smoothed generally rough; exceptions are the closed jar rim from FI023 which ' (Fabric 4) exterior with few visible temper voids, and the only authentic ' fineware I sherd, from FIOI9.
I Distribution vessels came The largest assemblages, and the only ones with partially reconstructable I came from pits from pits F1021 (TLI) and FI023 (Tr.2). Other relatively large sherds I FlOOS (Tr.9) and FI025 (Tr.2). I Typology and Dating with nearly all the The combination of fabrics and forms from the site is consistent Deverel-Rirnbury finds being broadly contemporary within the Late Bronze Age (post , with its Roman I plainware, clOth -Sth century BC). The exceptions are FI049 seen on the sherd fragment, and possibly FI006. The kind of fingernail rustication decoration is not from the latter feature could belong to the earlier Bronze Age; such in Trench I unknown in the PDR but since it is the only sherd from the pair of postholes of an earlier date should be noted. I 10, the possibility 13 I t:Hut[ordshire Ar The rest of the pottery can be compared with finds from a number of sites excavated in nearby Aylesbury. The assemblage is distinct from the 5th - 3rd century BC 'Middle 1 Iron Age' (perhaps more properly Early Iron Age) finds from George Street, which included expanded rims, a number of incised sherds and a high proportion (34 %) of 1 1 sandy fabrics (AlIen and Dalwood 1983). A similarly high proportion of sand (quartz) tempered sherds was found at Coldharbour Farm, where flint-gritted fabrics were almost entirely absent (Far\ey in Stewart 1990). These undecorated sherds probably do belong to the Middle Iron Age, although a few angular profiles remain. 1 The Stone assemblage therefore lacks the sandy fabrics of the Middle Iron Age, as well 1 as the angular forms and incised decoration characteristic of the Early Iron Age at Chiltern sites like Chinnor and Bledlow. Perhaps the best, published local comparison is with the few Late Bronze AgelEarly Iron Age sherds from Walton Lodge, which are 1 mostly flint-tempered (Dalwood et al. 1989, fig. 9); it is also clear that the Middle Bronze Age bucket shaped vessels from that site are not present at Stone. 1 Comment 1 Published evidence for pre-Middle Iron Age material is scarce in the Aylesbury area (Dalwood et al. 1989, 187), although a hillfort has now been uncovered in the centre of that tOWD. The pottery finds from Stone are therefore an important addition to a 1 small regional corpus. Further discussion of types and dating will require visual comparison with other excavated material from the region. 1 If archaeological work is to proceed at the site, attention should be given to the potential for well-preserved and reconstructable vessels (despite the general truncation of features) and the apparent occurrence of cooking residues on some sherds, which 1 ought not to be scrubbed clean. 1 Struck Flint 1 Only two pieces were recovered, both umetouched flakes; a small, squat tertiary flake of. grey flint came from ditch F 10 19 and a larger secondary .flake of brown flint from pit F1023. '---CJ "-<>.n.~ ~ I 1 __ , ~~ Ft,"-t ~ References 7lI'D; I ~! 1 AlIen, D. and Dalwood, C.R. 1983. Iron Age occupation, a Middle Saxon cemetery, and twelfth to nineteenth century urban occupation: excavations in George 1 Street, Aylesbury, 1981. Records ofBucks. 25, 1-60. Dalwood, H., Dillon, 1., Evans, 1. and Hawkins, A. 1989. Excavations in Walton, Aylesbury, 1985-1986. Records ofBucks . 31,137-225. 1 Stewart, I. 1990. Coldharbour Farm, Aylesbury, an archaeological excavation 1990. Records ofBucks. 32, 91-104. 1 14 1 1 QlertfordshireArchaeological Trust /998 • Catalogue ofPottery I Context Fabric Element No. Notes Sherds • ?fingernail decoration ext. 1007 2d body 1 1009 Ib base 2 open form, rounded base junction • 2b nm 1 7finger impressions ext.; ?slightly everted rim of globular bowl 1011 la body 1 Ib body 1 smooth int. scraped ext. • 2c ?base 1 1017 la body 1 Ib body 1 • 1020 la ?base 1 very uneven ext. Ib body 1 uneven ext. Ib body 1 • Ib body I 2a body 1 2a rim 1 simple rounded rim, v. open bowl form • 3 body I with sparse min. & elongated 7shell 3 body I with rare shell & flint; possible grey slip ext. 4 body 1 smoothed surfaces • fine flint on underside; sooted inl; upright form 1022 2a base 10 2a base I upright form 2a ?base I • sooted int. 2b body I 5 body 3 non-joining, probably same vessel • 1024 la nm 10 weakly shouldered jar form la handle 1 vertically placed loop handle; uneven surfaces; very large vessel Ib nm 2 fine sandy smoothed ext. • 2a nm 4 non-joining, possibly same vessel; shouldered bowl with finger impressions on rim 2a body 1 • 2c body I 3 body 1 with rare fine flint 1026 la body 3 non-joining, probably same vessel • la body 2 non-joining, probably not same vessel; 7grey slip 1040 2a body 1 strongly curved 1043 2c body I • 1044 Ib ?base 1 3 base I with fine shell, sparse flint & mineral; sooted int; upright form 1050 body 1 (Roman greyware) • 2a body 1 • 3 body 1 with rare flint • I I 15 I ------HAT 371 Former Nurse', Home, Oxford Road, Stone, Aylesbury 20/05/99 Concordance of Find, Feature Context Trencb Descriptloo Spot Date Pottery BuUdlng material AnimalBooe Struck flint 1004 lOOS 10 Fill ofpo§thole 9fra...&U!l~ 1006 1007 10 Fill of POsthole Late Bronze Age I sherd (2g) S frags (6!.& 1008 1009 9 Fill of pit Late Bronze Age 3 sherds (S6g) I frag (l66g) 1010 lOll 11 Fill of ditch Late Bronze Age 3 sherds (22g) 2 frags (66g) 1016 1017 I Fill of pit Late Bronze Age 2 sherds (7g) 2 frags (2g) 1019 1020 I Fill of ditch Late Bronze Age 9 sherds (S2g) 2 frags daub (21g) I (2g) 1021 1022 I Fill of pit Late Bronze Age 16 sherds (399g) 3 frags daub (32g) 24 fra1\S{27~g) 1023 1024 2 Fill of pit Late Bronze Age 20 sherds_i884g) I fra.&i ISQ& I~ 102S 1026 2 Fill of pit Late Bronze Age S sherds~81g)_ 1039 1040 S Fill of ditch Late Bronze Age I sherd(7g) 1043 1043 8 Layer Late Bronze Age I sherd { 11 g) I frag daub (30g) 2fraMi2~ 1044 1044 8 Layer Late Bronze Age 2 sherds (l8g) 4fra£82g) 1049 10SO 4 Fill of ditch Roman 3 sherds (39g} Ifra~ I I I I I I Site I I I I I I I I I I Stone I ,. 0 ao-c~ I"" a-d ... ~s.v.y ..... _<...... , sw..,. S* - 1:2.500 PSoltM SeMI * 1:1500 ~ ($<0100 ...... ,_ ...... - - I _=~ r--@:::-:U;-ert""":1U':-o-rds':-h:-';=-re-A-=-rch""""':"'"a-eo-'[-01!1;-cal-Tl-ru-s-t----, I i"i'~~ !}r Fig.2 Detailed Site Location Plan I ' OOmE ' 5Om< +,,..,. +:~ : ~ + '5OmN -.-.--~ + + + + +~ + + ' OOmE [L---+----,l + JOOmN n, _ + ~ ="Lo"'.:-~ _ .. ..:.::..--::-_ .. _ -- ..I. -i£E---"--"--.. _____.. ::;:- ~ .. ____.... ~-- .... ---.._.. ..._.. ----...... --_IDI"'-,_"· :::-:. 'i:' ~ ... _ -::.::.. -_::..:::z::.-..=-...--.--_ .. _------= :-..:...... - ...... - "--...... _-_ -,,------ _--- . fSf€ - _.- ---~ :::: E• E--.:r- .---.. _.... l: == : ==- -~--- ------~------,-- ¥ -_·II. --....::;'_ .-- --- 'OOmE +",,",N -I- ...... - -- i: M.)-Its, IU/roIfiAQf ~ Ps.c:H, SIITCl.It PI Qo\H,. • w : (ou ll) zum r. (OI n J] 114UO __ .... .uclft I _ , ] L I @ Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust Fig.3 Trench Location Plan Scale 1: 1000 I I I I 1020 El') .11116 I " 1021~/ ____ 1019 I - - - 1014 - Trench 1 I I I le) co 1025 L . 1023 I \. Trench 2 I I 1031 1035 e 1033 0 () 1b 0-- 1027 I 1029 Trench 3 I I I 1049 I i Trench 4 I ~ . ------t I I ' "01037(Cr~tiOn) ~'~1039 1041 j}'« ' ~ Trench 5 I ---- I " If, - . r,.. o 5m I Fig.4 Plans of Trenches 1-5 I I I o 1055 Trench 6 I 1053 ~o LJ Cl 1051 I ---- I I I CD 0 1057 I ° 1059 (j) Trench 7 I I 1047 ______t ---- - ___ o ~ tN I I I .. Trench 9 I I I Q 1004 Electric cable I~ Modem 0 1006 I I -t. Trench 10 I __..l...-- __----' I I 1 0 I L_IO_12_Q_o. __~__ o ° ~~l...J.-=- __ -J Trench 11 I fy OH . 7hut o Sm I Fig. 5 Plans of Trenches 6, 7, 9-11 I S N SW NE N S 2Sm , . _-:-::::=-:_-:;:::=~ 11.1- ,., 1020 . . -.;~,--:~:-;---:------c::==-- ll2.so.. .. "-.:.l I 0 I 5 . .. ' ; :::::==-" .,.. ~ " /. I 1019 1014 1016 Trench 1 N S N S W E N S SE NW NE SW E W 1U.SOm 113._ . ::;r 1¥:4Sm . r ;;;::;7 m ._ •. 113.35m y . . ' ... ' 1028 . . r Y;-'::;;::::;::~=7 / m-ir .'''' , .,. .'. 1024 .. ;.;. 112._ 1032 T .,.. .' .... . tr 1026 I 1034" I 1036 . ' ... 1·030 " J 1025 V1027 ~ \ \7 1031 1033 1035 1029 Trench 2 Trench 3 W E NE sw E w S N SW NE -r.-~;.---c:r Ill.?'" E W 'Z!: 1042 :::;:::-- .. ~111 _6Om -X:~=='T lll._ -C 1054 3 I~.- x , 1040 7'i" I 1052 Y ... l0S6 'i :J .... 1041 I 9'''~ 1051 1053 1055 1039 Trench 5 o Im i N S N S N S N S 1I1.:Da ~~--;' -."": I"'OO;;;;~:-:-'-7"" · "7' ~. lSm .~ .. ~lll._ ~T 1l1.2Om 1058 · Y "'" 1060 I 1047 1059 I 1057 1008 .. , ii AM ... ' . =- I Sections Thro= Features Trench 7 Trench 9 S N N S I 12.6Sm Voo0I12.6Om lOll N" .;;; " y . Trench 10 1012 1004 Trench 11 • ( '"rU(& ~ ( t'il{a· e _ ., L - -.- - ~ ~/ - - -C61dliaFbou r / . \ \ \ ' .',- F~III - \ ,\ '-. .--'" -- I , / , I ~ .., J , " I I , , , I I \ I . 1 , \ ., ~ i \ - , " ..., , ,• ,. " .- .; .; ~--~~ . - ~', -----4~+ ./ r / 1 - ~St . _ ._ ,, I ! Pv r l ", ( , Court , Alwy~ Lawn ' , ." -"._- ~ ..Ji9 . @ R ordshire Archaeol .7 I I Fi SMR Data I - - . , I ~""; . ' I '.