South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05 Land West of Aberyscir Court Yscir Powys Archaeological Excavation

Home , Aberyscir, Yscir

for Rhead Group on behalf of National Grid CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13256 Event: CPAT102846

April 2014

South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05

Archaeological Excavation

CA Project: 9150 CA Report: 13256 Event: CPAT102846

prepared by Christopher Leonard, Project Officer

date 24 April 2014

checked by Karen E Walker, Post-Excavation Manager

date 20 July 2015

approved by Martin Watts, Project Director, Head of Publications

signed

date

issue 01

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.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 Unit 4 Office 49 Kemble Enterprise Park Cromwell Business Centre Basepoint Business Centre Kemble, Cirencester Howard Way, Newport Pagnell Caxton Close, Andover Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK16 9QS Hampshire, SP10 3FG t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 218320 t. 01264 326549 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIG. 2) ...... 6

3. PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

4. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 12

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 14

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE BY JAMES RACKHAM .... 18

APPENDIX D: THE RADIOCARBON DATES BY SEREN GRIFFITHS ...... 26

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Excavation site plan and sections (1:500 and 1:50)

GLOSSARY CA – Cotswold Archaeology CAP – Cambrian Archaeological Projects CPAT – Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust DAT – Dyfed Archaeological Trust GGAT - Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust FTP – Felindre to Brecon gas pipeline HER – Historic Environment Record MHA – Milford Haven to Aberdulais gas pipeline NAL – Network Archaeology Ltd NLMJV – Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture UPD – Updated Project Design

1 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

SUMMARY

Project Name: South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Location: Site 50.05, Land West of Aberyscir Court, Yscir, Powys NGR: SN 9952 2960 Type: Excavation Date: 21 June–10 July 2007 Location of Archive: To be deposited with RCAHMW (original paper archive) and Brecknock Museum (material archive and digital copy of paper archive; accession number BRCNM 2013.19.50) Site Code: MHA06

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with construction of gas pipelines (part of the South Wales high pressure gas pipeline scheme) between Milford Haven and Aberdulais, and Felindre and Brecon, which were conducted between 2005 and 2007.

Later Mesolithic and Early Neolithic flints were recovered as residual items and are suggestive of nearby occupation during these periods, as are a hazelnut shell fragments which produced a Mesolithic radiocarbon date and unstratified but probably Early Neolithic pottery sherds.

The main findings were of at least four, probably more, ovens. The functions of these remained unclear as little paleoenvironmental evidence was forthcoming from samples recovered from their fills. However, one of the ovens was associated with a Roman radiocarbon date (cal. AD 80–330), and this dating most probably pertains for all of the cut features on the site.

Two undated cairns were found during a preceding evaluation.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 NACAP Land and Marine Joint Venture (NLMJV), on behalf of National Grid, commissioned RSK Environment (part of the RSK Group) to manage the archaeological works (non-invasive surveys, desk based assessment, evaluation, watching brief, and open area excavation) on a 216km-long section of pipeline from Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire) to Brecon (in Powys). The high pressure gas pipeline (part of the 316km long pipeline route from Milford Haven to Tirley in Gloucestershire) was required to reinforce the gas transmission network. The archaeological work performed in advance of this pipeline was undertaken in a number of sections by a number of archaeological companies. The westernmost section of 122km, from Milford Haven to Aberdulais, was investigated by CA (then Cotswold Archaeological Trust) during 2005–2007 with some additional excavation work carried out by CAP. The section of 89km, from Felindre to Brecon was investigated by CA during 2006–2007 and CAP during 2007. Assessment reports on the works were completed in January 2012 (NLM 2012a, 2012b) and the current reporting stage was commissioned in February 2013.

1.2 In June and July 2007 CA carried out an archaeological excavation at Site 50.05, Land West of Aberyscir Court, Yscir, Powys (centred on NGR: SN 9952 2960; Fig. 1). The objective of the excavation was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the pipeline construction.

1.3 The excavation was carried out in accordance with professional codes, standards and guidance documents (EH 1991; IfA 1999a, 1999b, 2001a, 2001b, 2001c and IfA Wales 2008). The methodologies were laid out in an Archaeological Framework Document (RSK 2007) and associated Written Statements of Investigation (WSIs) and Method Statements.

The site 1.4 The site is located at 150m AOD within a field on the floodplain alongside the north bank of the River Usk, near its confluence with the River Yscir (Fig. 1). Either side of the valley floor, the ground rises steeply to 340m–360m AOD. The underlying solid geology of the area is mapped as St Maughans Formation (Argillaceous Rocks and Sandstone) of the Devonian Period overlain by superficial deposits of Quaternary Alluvial Silts and River Terrace Sand and Gravel (BGS 2013).

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Archaeological background 1.5 No archaeological remains were identified within the site during the preliminary Archaeology and Heritage Survey (CA 2006). In the wider landscape archaeological investigations along the pipeline also recorded Early Neolithic pits 2.7km and 3.5km to the north-east at Sites 51.02 and 51.07.

1.6 Bronze Age barrows are present 1.2km north-west of the site and a number of Iron Age hilltop defended enclosures overlook the site, including Twyn-y-Gaer, 2.6km to the north-west, (PRN583) and Coed Fenni-Fach, 2km to the east (PRN300895) (Fig. 1).

1.7 The site is also overlooked by Brecon Gaer Roman camp (PRN 92001; Scheduled Monument BR001; Fig. 1) 700m to the east. The camp was an auxiliary fort dating to the late 1st–2nd centuries AD. It was enclosed by a ditch and stone walls and had an associated cemetery and Aberyscir Roman practice camp to the north (PRN 6039; Fig. 1). Two Roman roads, one leading directly from the fort, pass within 270m to the north and 70m south of the site (PRN 14105, 69702, 11304). The northernmost road, leading from Llandovery to Brecon was investigated at several points along the pipeline route, and 2nd–4th-century AD pottery was found in the roadside ditch at Site 50.11 (CA 2013a), 850m to the north-west of the site. The southernmost road leads within 70m of the site, running from Neath to Brecon.

1.8 The motte of the medieval castle at Aberyscir lies 550m to the east of the site (PRN 597, Scheduled Monument BR002; Fig. 1), and is associated with a deserted medieval settlement (PRN 15946), the environs of which were developed into the current Aberyscir Court in the post-medieval period. South Wales Pipeline Site 50.10 (CA 2013b), located within the grounds of Aberyscir Court identified the remains of stone building foundations belonging either to a deserted medieval village associated with the castle, or to buildings in the post-medieval manorial gardens.

1.9 South Wales Pipeline Site 50.06 (CA 2013c), located in the adjacent field to the north-west, recorded a single undated pit. A small number of Mesolithic and Neolithic flints were recovered from an alluvial layer.

1.10 The field within which the site lays was the subject of an archaeological evaluation undertaken in 2007 in advance of the pipeline construction works. The results of this evaluation are included in this report but, in summary, two field clearance cairns

4 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

were recorded, both of which were undated (CA 2009, Site 50.05 trenches 1–4). Due to re-routing of the pipeline, the excavation area lay to the east of the evaluation area (Fig. 2, inset).

Archaeological objectives 1.11 The objectives of the archaeological works were:- • to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development groundworks; and • at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions that can be drawn from the recorded data.

Methodology 1.12 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI. An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising stripping of the pipeline easement to the natural substrate.

1.13 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual.

1.14 The post-excavation work was undertaken following the production of the UPD (GA 2012) and included re-examination of the original site records. Finds and environmental evidence was taken from the assessment reports (NLM 2012b) except where the UPD recommended further work, in which case the updated reports were used. The archaeological background to the site was assessed using the following resources:- • the Archaeology and Heritage Survey which was undertaken in advance of the pipeline construction and which examined a 1km-wide corridor centred on the pipeline centre line, including the then existing HER record (CA 2006); • Clwyd- Powys Archaeological Trust HER data (received May 2014); and • other online resources, such as Google Earth and Ordnance Survey maps available at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html. All monuments thus identified that were relevant to the site were taken into account when considering the results of the fieldwork.

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1.15 The archive and artefacts from the watching brief are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Brecknock Museum under accession number BRCNM 2013.19.50, along with a digital copy of the paper archive. The original paper archive will be deposited with the RCAHMW.

2. RESULTS (FIG. 2)

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation and excavation results; detailed summaries of the recorded contexts, finds and environmental samples (palaeoenvironmental evidence) are to be found in Appendices A, B and C. Full, original versions of the specialist reports are contained within the archive. In addition to the findings described below, small quantities of undated and post-medieval to modern finds were recovered from the topsoil and subsoil and as unstratified items.

Evaluation 2.2 Trenches 1, 3 and 4 contained no archaeological features. In trench 2, the natural sand and gravel substrate was directly overlain by two cairns, 50/5/2/4 and 50/5/2/5. These were built using large stones and were sub-circular in plan, 2.4m–3.5m wide and survived to a height of 0.5m–0.75m. Plastic items recovered from between the stones but not retained were probably inserted significantly after the cairns were built and the cairns were undated.

Excavation 2.3 The natural geological substrate (50.5.002) comprised light grey sand and gravel. The bases of four ovens had been cut into the substrate as had nine pits. In addition to the features described below, a small number of worked flints indicative of activity in the later Mesolithic and Early Neolithic periods were recovered as residual finds within later deposits and probably Early Neolithic pottery was recovered as unstratified material.

2.4 The pits and ovens were dispersed across much of the site. Blank areas at the eastern and western ends of the site suggest that the site may not continue beyond these points, but it is likely that further features remain to the north and south of the excavated area, although not as far north as the evaluation trenches which were devoid of such features.

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2.5 Four ovens were found (50.5.009, 50.5.011, 50.5.038/013 and 50.5.064). All were similar in form, comprising a bowl-shaped pit typically 1.2m in diameter and 0.2m– 0.45m deep adjoined by a sub-rectangular pit 0.6m–1.8m long, 0.8m–1.3m wide and 0.2m–0.3m deep. The bowl-shaped pits were probably the fire pits, with the elongated pits acting as flues (Fig. 2, inset). In some cases, scorched stones were noted along the sides of the fire pits and, in one case (50.5.064), as a baffle between the fire pit and the flue. Oven 50.05.009 contained a layer of orange fired clay, 50.5.0.34, probably collapsed superstructure debris; this was not recovered for analysis.

2.6 The fire pits within ovens 50.5.011 and 50.5.038/013 and all of the flues contained charcoal-rich lower fills, probably relating to the use of the ovens. Samples from these deposits yielded small amounts of unidentified cereal grains and a fragment of legume seed.

2.7 All of the ovens had been backfilled with silty clay deposits, which included fired clay fragments, either fragments of superstructures or pieces of incidentally scorched substrate. Charcoal within these backfills included small amounts of cereal grains, legume seeds and hazelnut shell fragments. A small sherd of modern pottery from oven 50.5.011 was probably intrusive. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained from oven fills, one each within oven 50.05.064 and oven 50.05.011. That from the former was from a hazelnut shell which produced a date of 8700–8450 cal. BC (SUERC- 56070; 95% confidence) whilst from the latter, a date of cal. AD 80–330 (SUERC- 56071; 95% confidence) was obtained, also from a hazelnut shell. Given the statistical inconsistency of these dates (see Appendix D), it is likely that the earlier nutshell was a residual Mesolithic piece and that the Roman date from oven 50.05.011 best dates the site. The two radiocarbon dates illustrate the problems of dating material that survives well and is readily re-deposited.

2.8 A small number of pits were found near to the ovens. Pits 50.5.006, 50.5.018, 50.5.021 were circular in plan with moderately steep sides and all had a layer of large flat stones across their bases. Like the oven fire pits, these pits were typically 1.2m in diameter and 0.2m deep and were probably the remains of further oven fire pits. Pit 50.5029 was oval in plan, 0.55m long, 0.25m wide and 0.15m deep and was probably the remains of an oven flue. All contained charcoal-rich fills from which samples yielded very small quantities of charred cereals. Pits 50.5.021and 50.5.029

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also contained small amounts of burnt bone, although the species could not be identified.

2.9 Pit 50.5.039 was adjacent to oven pit 50.5.006. It was sub-circular in plan, 2m long, 1.5m wide and 0.6m deep, with moderately steep sides and a flat base. It was filled by two charcoal-rich layers (50.5.063 and 50.5.008), which were sealed by upper fill 50.5.040, a backfill of grey-brown silty clay, which contained an undated hob-nail, a fragment of iron wire forming half a ring and a piece of flint flake shatter.

2.10 Three postholes were present in the eastern part of the site. These seem to have formed a 2m-long alignment, perhaps as part of a boundary or windbreak.

Discussion 2.11 Later Mesolithic and Early Neolithic flints and the small amount of possible Early Neolithic pottery recovered as residual items and are suggestive of occupation during these periods, as is the hazelnut shell fragment which produced a Mesolithic radiocarbon date. These remains provide evidence for knapping, hunting and processing and it is possible that this was a location that was visited intermittently during these periods.

2.12 Given their close proximity to one another, it is reasonable to suppose that the ovens and the pits were broadly contemporary. Keyhole-shaped ovens are known from Iron Age, Roman, medieval and post-medieval sites. In this instance, the Roman radiocarbon date from oven 50.05.011 suggests that these were Roman examples.

2.13 Little of the structures of the ovens survived but one (50.5.064, Fig. 2, Section AA) included the remains of a baffle, designed to restrict the flames and prevent them from entering the flue (Morris 1979, 10). All of the ovens also contained fragments of fired clay, possibly derived from former superstructures. Samples from the ovens yielded no industrial residues and the cereal remains in the samples were not found in sufficient quantities to imply that the ovens were certainly used for cereal processing. The functions of the ovens therefore remain unknown as is their relationship to the known Roman sites in the locality (see Archaeological Background, above).

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3. PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Matt Nichol, Iwan Parry, Mike Turner and Richard Watts. This report was written by Christopher Leonard with comments by Jonathan Hart and illustrations prepared by Daniel Bashford. The archive has been compiled by Jonathan Hart and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The fieldwork was managed for CA by Clifford Bateman and the post-excavation was managed for CA by Karen Walker.

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4. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2013 Geology of Britain Viewer. Online resource at http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html accessed 3 December 2013 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2006 Felindre to Tirley Gas Pipeline: Archaeology and Heritage Survey. CA typescript report 05140 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2009 Felindre to Brecon Natural Gas Pipeline: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 09079 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013a South Wales Pipeline Sites 49.05, 50.01/02 and 50.11: Road Sections at Yscir, Yscir, Powys. CA typescript report 13325 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013b South Wales Pipeline Site 50.10: Land North of Aberyscir, Brecon, Powys. CA typescript report 13337 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013c South Wales Pipeline Site 50.06: Land West of Aberyscir, Brecon, Powys. CA typescript report 13327 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013d South Wales Pipeline Site 293: Land South-West of Felindre, Mawr, Swansea. CA typescript report 13241 CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2013e South Wales Pipeline Sites 24.06 and 24.07: Land North- East of Gurrey Cottage, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. CA typescript report 13274 Caffell, A. and Holst, M. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Cremated Bone’, in NLM 2012b Courtney, P. and McSloy, E. 2013 Post-Roman Pottery from the Milford Haven to Aberdulais and Felindre to Brecon Gas Pipeline, Cotswold Archaeology typescript report EH (English Heritage) 1991 The Management of Archaeological Projects 2 GA (Groundwork Archaeology) 2012 Milford Haven to Aberdulais and Felindre to Brecon High Pressure Gas Pipelines: Updated Project Design Gibson, A. 2013 Milford Haven to Aberdulais and Felindre to Brecon Gas Pipeline: The Neolithic and Bronze Age Pottery from the Archaeological Investigations, Gibson typescript report no. 121 Hall, R. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Ceramic Building Material’, in NLM 2012b IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 1999a Guidelines for Finds Work. IfA, Birmingham IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 1999b Standard and Guidance for Finds and Ecofact Studies and Curation. IfA, Reading IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 2001a Standard and Guidance for the Collection, Documentation, Conservation and Research of Archaeological Materials. IfA, Reading IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 2001b Standard and Guidance for Field Evaluation

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IfA (Institute for Archaeologists) 2001c Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation IfA Wales (Institute for Archaeologists of Wales/Cymru) 2008 Introducing a Research Framework for the Archaeology of Wales, online resource at http://www.archaeoleg.org.uk/intro.html accessed December 2008 Leahy, K. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Metal Objects’, in NLM 2012b Major, H. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Clay Pipes’, in NLM 2012b Martin, G. 2008 ‘Assessment Report for the Archaeobotanical Remains’, in NLM 2012b Moffet L, Robinson M, Straker V 1989, Cereals, fruits and nuts: charred plant remains from Neolithic sites in England and Wales and the Neolithic economy, in A Milles, D Wiliams & N Gardner (eds) The Beginnings of Agriculture. BAR Int Series 496, 243- 261 Morris, P. 1979 Agricultural buildings in Roman Britain. BAR British Series 70 NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2006 Milford Haven to Aberdulais Natural Gas Pipeline: Scheme of investigation for a programme of archaeological works NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2012a Milford Haven to Aberdulais High Pressure Gas Pipeline: Archaeology Assessment of Potential for Analysis NLM (Nacap Land and Marine) 2012b Felindre to Brecon High Pressure Gas Pipeline: Archaeology Assessment of Potential for Analysis Pannett, A. 2014 Milford Haven to Brecon LNG Pipeline: Lithic Analysis Report A. Pannett typescript report Rackham, J. 2009 ‘Assessment Report for Charcoal Remains’, in NLM 2012b RSK (RSKENSR) 2007 Felindre to Tirley Natural Gas Pipeline: Archaeological Framework Document, v7. Nacap Land and Marine Final, RSKENSR Environmental Ltd Young, T. 2012 ‘Assessment Report for Metallurgical Residues’, in NLM 2012b

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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Evaluation Trench 1 Context Fill of Interpretation Description L (m) W (m) Depth (m) 50/5/1/1 Topsoil Mid brown-orange clay silt 30.0 2.0 0.25 50/5/1/2 Subsoil Mid brown-orange clay silt 30.0 2.0 0.7 50/5/1/3 Natural Light grey sand and gravel 30.0 2.0 50/5/1/4 Made ground Dark brown-grey clay silt 0.4

Trench 2 Context Fill of Interpretation Description L (m) W (m) Depth (m) 50/5/2/1 Topsoil Mid brown-orange clay silt 30.0 2.0 0.15 50/5/2/2 Subsoil Mid brown-orange clay silt 30.0 2.0 0.8 50/5/2/3 Natural Light grey sand and gravel 30.0 2.0 50/5/2/4 Cairn Mid brown-orange clay silt with frequent 0.5 large stones 50/5/2/5 Cairn Mid brown-orange clay silt with frequent 0.75 large stones

Excavation Context Fill of Interpretation Description L (m) W (m) Depth (m) 50.5.001 Topsoil Mid brown-orange clay silt 0.2 50.5.002 Natural Light grey sand and gravel 50.5.003 Subsoil Light brown-orange clay silt 0.75 50.5.004 Context not used 50.5.005 Context not used 50.5.006 Pit Circular in plan with moderately steep 1.25 1.45 0.2 sides and flat base 50.5.007 50.5.006 Pit fill Light brown-red sandy clay with 1.25 1.45 0.2 frequent large stones and charcoal flecks 50.5.008 50.5.039 Pit fill 2nd fill: dark brown-black sandy clay 1.8 1.8 0.2 with frequent charcoal 50.5.009 Oven Keyhole-shaped in plan with steep 3.15 1.3 0.45 sides and flat base. 50.5.010 50.5.009 Oven fill Upper fire pit fill: mid grey-brown silty 1.2 1.2 0.3 clay with occasional small stones and charcoal flecks 50.5.011 Oven Key-hole shaped in plan with steep 2.8 1.2 0.2 sides and flat base. 50.5.012 50.5.011 Oven fill Upper flue fill: mid grey-brown silty clay 1.6 1.3 0.2 with frequent charcoal flecks 50.5.013 Oven Part of 50.5.038: circular in plan with 1.2 1.2 0.15 moderately steep sides and concave base 50.5.014 50.5.013 Oven fill Upper fire pit fill: light brown clay silt 1.2 1.2 0.1 with occasional flecks of charcoal 50.5.015 50.5.038 Oven fill Lower flue fill: dark brown silty clay with 1.8 0.8 0.1 frequent charcoal 50.5.016 Context not used 50.5.017 Context not used 50.5.018 Pit Circular in plan with gently sloping 1.3 1.2 0.1 sides and flat, uneven base 50.5.019 50.5.018 Pit fill Upper fill: light orange-brown clay silt 1.3 1.2 0.05 with frequent charcoal flecks and pieces of burnt clay

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50.5.020 Context not used 50.5.021 Pit Circular in plan with moderately steep 1.2 1.1 0.15 sides and flat base 50.5.022 50.5.021 Pit fill Lower fill: dark black-brown silty clay 1.2 1.1 0.15 with frequent charcoal and occasional stones 50.5.023- Natural Root disturbance 50.5.028 features 50.5.029 Pit Oval in plan with steep sides and flat 0.55 0.25 0.15 base 50.5.030 50.5.029 Pit fill Lower fill: mid black-brown silty clay 0.55 0.25 0.15 with frequent charcoal 50.5.031 50.5.011 Oven fill 2nd flue fill: dark orange-red silty clay 1.6 1.3 0.2 50.5.032 Pit Circular in plan with bowl-shaped profile 0.3 0.3 0.3 50.5.033 50.5.032 Pit fill Mid red-brown silty clay with frequent 0.3 0.3 0.3 charcoal 50.5.034 50.5.009 Oven fill Collapsed superstructure. Orange fired 0.45 0.35 0.05 clay 50.5.035 50.5.029 Pit fill Upper fill: layer of grey stones 0.55 0.25 0.15 50.5.036 50.5.009 Oven fill Upper flue fill: mid grey-brown silty clay 1.8 1.0 0.25 with occasional charcoal and burnt clay 50.5.037 50.5.013 Oven fill Lower fire pit fill: mid red-orange silty 1.2 1.2 0.1 clay with common charcoal flecks and burnt clay 50.5.038 Flue pit Oval in plan with gently sloping sides 0.95 0.9 0.15 and concave base 50.5.039 Pit Sub-circular in plan with moderately 2.0 1.5 0.6 steep sides and flat base 50.5.040 50.5.039 Pit fill Upper fill: brown-red sandy clay with 2.0 1.5 0.2 occasional large stones and charcoal flecks 50.5.041 50.5.038 Pit fill Upper fill: light brown silty clay with 0.75 0.9 0.15 occasional charcoal flecks and burnt clay 50.5.042 Context not used 50.5.043 50.5.021 Pit fill Upper fill: layer of grey stones 1.2 1.1 0.15 50.5.044 50.5.018 Pit fill Lower fill: layer of grey stones 1.1 1.1 0.1 50.5.045 50.5.011 Oven fill =50.5.031 3.0 1.3 0.25 50.5.046 50.5.011 Oven fill 2nd flue fill: dark grey-yellow sand 1.6 1.3 0.05 50.5.047 50.5.011 Oven fill Upper fire pit fill: mid grey-brown silty 1.2 1.2 0.25 clay with occasional medium stones 50.5.048 50.5.011 Oven fill 2nd fire pit fill: dark brown-yellow silty 1.2 1.2 0.1 clay 50.5.049 50.5.011 Oven fill Lower fire pit fill: black, charcoal-rich 1.2 1.2 0.05 deposit 50.5.050 Pit Irregular shape in plan with gently 0.7 0.55 0.05 sloping sides and flat base 50.5.051 50.5.050 Pit fill Light grey-brown silty clay with common 0.7 0.55 0.05 small stones 50.5.052 Pit Sub-circular in plan with gently sloping 0.65 0.35 0.1 sides and concave base 50.5.053 50.5.052 Pit fill Dark orange-brown clay silt with 0.65 0.35 0.1 occasional small stones and charcoal flecks 50.5.054 50.5.009 Oven fill Lower flue fill: mid grey brown silty clay 1.8 1.0 0.25 with common charcoal flecks and occasional burnt clay 50.5.055 50.5.009 Oven fill Lower fire pit fill: light yellow-green silty 1.2 1.2 0.05 sand 50.5.056 50.5.011 Oven fill Lower flue fill: dark brown-red silty clay 1.6 1.3 0.05 50.5.057 Posthole Oval in plan with U-shaped profile 0.15 0.1 0.05 50.5.058 Posthole Circular in plan with U-shaped profile 0.2 0.2 0.1

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50.5.059 Posthole Oval in plan with vertical sides and flat 0.45 0.2 0.3 base 50.5.060 50.5.057 Posthole fill Mid brown silt with occasional charcoal 0.15 0.1 0.05 flecks 50.5.061 50.5.059 Posthole fill Mid brown silt with occasional charcoal 0.2 0.2 0.1 flecks 50.5.062 50.5.060 Pit fill Mid brown silt with common charcoal 0.45 0.2 0.3 50.5.063 50.5.039 Pit fill Lower fill: light red-brown sandy clay 2.0 1.5 0.35 with common charcoal and occasional small stones 50.5.064 Oven Keyhole-shaped in plan with steep 2.9 1.15 0.3 sides and concave base. 50.5.065 50.5.064 Oven fill Fire pit fill: light brown silty clay with 1.2 1.2 0.15 common fired clay and occasional charcoal flecks 50.5.066 50.5.064 Oven fill Upper flue fill: red-brown silty clay with 1.8 0.8 0.2 occasional charcoal 50.5.067 50.5.064 Oven fill Lower flue fill: black-brown silty clay 1.8 0.8 0.2 with frequent charcoal

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

*Context 50.5.002 is the natural geological substrate. It is more likely that the finds below that are attributed to this layer came from layer 50.5.003 (subsoil).

Lithics (Pannett 2014) 81 struck lithics were recovered from the topsoil, subsoil and from the ovens. All were residual and the assemblage is therefore discussed as a whole below. Context No. Description No. Lithics 50.05.002* Subsoil* 24 50.05.003 Subsoil 35 50.05.014 Backfill of oven 50.0.013 1 50.05.065 Back fill of oven 50.05.064 1 50.050.066 Back fill of oven 50.05.064 1 Unstratified 19 Total 81

Primary Technology The assemblage comprises predominantly fresh flint, with three piece of burnt flint, one piece of mudstone and 14 struck pieces of chert. It is flake dominated (60 pieces, 74%), with four blades, two bladelets, two cores, three burnt chunks and six pieces of angular shatter also recovered. The flint was largely grey, and surviving cortex areas indicate that the raw materials were predominantly beach pebbles. The chert could also have been found as beach pebbles, or may have occurred as part of the local geology: Barton et al. (1995, 91-92) note the presence of a dark grainy chert, similar to that identified here, eroding out of the limestone bedrock at Waun Fignen Felin in the Black Mountains, 20km to the south-west. The mudstone is likely to originate from a source further west, towards Pembrokeshire.

On average, the complete fresh flint pieces are 22mm long, 15mm broad and 4.5mm thick, while the complete chert pieces are 34mm long, 20mm broad and 6.5mm thick. The mudstone flake is 19.5mm long, 6mm broad and 4.5mm thick. The relatively small size of the complete flint pieces is a reflection of the available flint resource:

14 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

beach pebbles do not tend to be particularly sizable and they often have flaws which result in only a section of being useable for knapping. Barton et al. (1995, 92) describe the available chert resource as occurring in ‘small and poor quality lumps’ which would account for it not being more dominant within this assemblage, although it is clear that the available raw materials did produce larger blanks than the flint pebbles.

Where platforms survived they were predominantly planar, with two showing signs of preparation. Three flakes had been struck from the exterior of the pebble and had a cortical platform. Terminations were varied, with feathered, hinged and plunging terminations identified. The presence of high proportions of hinged and plunging terminations could be a reflection of the quality of the raw materials, as flaws in flint can result in overshot or abrupt distal ends. Bulbs of percussion were generally diffuse and concoidal ripples minimal, indicating the use of a soft hammer technique. The dorsal surface revealed the reduction sequence for 24 pieces, with four flakes, one blade and one bladelet having been struck from single platform blade cores, and 17 flakes and one blade having been removed from single platform flake cores. Three core trimming flakes were recorded; all had been struck from single platform flake cores to remove multiple hinge fracture scars. The two complete cores identified were single platform flake cores manufactured from water rolled flint pebbles and are diagnostically Neolithic.

Secondary Technology Ten of the struck lithics had been retouched: 7 flint flakes, 1 flint blade, 1 flint bladelet and 1 chert flake. Three flakes had been retouched to form scrapers: Scraper form Description Date Side scraper Cortical flake with abrupt and semi-invasive retouch Neolithic along right hand side (from ventral surface) proximal edge End scraper Cortical flake with abrupt retouch around distal end Neolithic Scraper fragment Flake struck from the working edge of a scraper of Undiagnostic indeterminate form, possibly to ‘sharpen’ edge and allow reworking

One bladelet had been truncated and retouched to form a backed blade microlith, with abrupt retouch along one edge. This piece had been recently broken and is diagnostically Mesolithic. One flake had been retouched along both lateral edges, with abrupt retouch forming a piercer point at the distal end. One blade had also been retouched to form a piercer, with abrupt retouch along the left hand side edge (from dorsal surface) and around the distal end. Both piercers are diagnostically Mesolithic or Early Neolithic. One shattered flake fragment had invasive retouch across one face and is likely to be part of a unifacial knife of Neolithic date. The remaining three flakes had been short stretches of abrupt retouch along the lateral edges and around the distal end. These could not be characterised as specific tool types, and are likely to have been expedient tools, manufactured to serve an immediate purpose.

Discussion and Conclusions The assemblage is largely undiagnostic, comprising predominantly knapping waste, including flakes, blades, cores and angular shatter. The two cores identified had been largely worked out, and three core trimming flakes reveal that cores were rejuvenated through face removal rather than discarded, a practice indicative of a limited resource. The lack of microdebitage, a bi-product of knapping, in the assemblage is probably due to the collection methodology during the watching brief as is it extremely difficult to identify during a machine strip. The evidence indicates that the raw materials used on the site would have been collected from beaches along the Severn Estuary, where flint beach pebbles can be easily found, and possibly from local outcrops of chert. The relatively small size of the surviving complete pieces is reflective of the size of the available raw materials, and a beach

15 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

pebble resource will always be more limiting than a quarried or nodule resource. Flaws within the beach flint could have led to some of the knapping errors seen, including over-shot, or plunging, terminations, hinged terminations and shattered platforms.

Sixteen pieces within the assemblage were diagnostic of Mesolithic or Neolithic working, with a backed blade microlith the most clearly diagnostic artefact. The tool assemblage includes scrapers and piercers, as well as a small number of expedient tools manufactured to meet a specific need and then discarded.

The recovered material points to the occupation of the site during the later Mesolithic and Early Neolithic periods, with knapping, hunting and processing all reflected in the assemblage. It is possible that this was a location that was repeated visited by mobile populations over a prolonged period of time.

References Barton, R.N.E., Berridge, P.J., Walker, M.J.C., and Bevins, R.E. 1995. Persistent places in the Mesolithic landscape: an example from the Black Mountain uplands of South Wales. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 61 (81-116).

Prehistoric Pottery (Gibson 2013)

Weight (g) No of Contexts Periods Represented 4 1 Early Neolithic?

Catalogue 50.6.002 2 conjoining sherds (4g) Sherds with a grey outer surface, dark grey inner surface and black core. The fabric averages 7mm thick and contains crushed quartz inclusions up to 3mm across. The inclusions are visible but lie flush with the inner surface. Early Neolithic?

Discussion It is only the fineness of the fabric and the crushed quartz inclusions that suggest that this sherd may be Early Neolithic. The absence of rim or other diagnostic formal or decorative traits do not allow the vessel to be further classified. It must suffice to identify the sherd as coming from Carinated Bowl or Developed/Modified Carinated Bowl as discussed by Sheridan (2007). Dates for this material in Wales span the whole of the earlier Neolithic from c.4000-3400 cal BC (Whittle et al. 2011).

References Sheridan J.A. 2007. ‘From Picardie to Pickering and Pencraig Hill? New Information on the ‘Carinated Bowl Neolithic’ in northern Britain’. In AWR Whittle and V Cummings (eds.) Gowing Over: the Mesolithic – Neolithic Transition in North-West Europe, 441-92. Oxford. Oxford University Press (Proceedings of the British Academy 144).

Whittle, A., Healy, F. & Bayliss, A. 2011. Gathering Time. Dating the Early Neolithic Enclosures of Southern Britain and Ireland. Oxford: Oxbow Books.

16 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

Post-Roman pottery (Courtney and McSloy 2013)

The post-Roman pottery was viewed by context, sorted by fabric and quantified by sherd count and weight (in grams), with note made on forms and decoration. Recording of the assemblage was directly to an Ms Access database, a copy of which is included in the archive.

Post-medieval A total of 11 sherds (46g) of post-medieval and early modern pottery was recovered, with almost all from subsoil deposit 50.05.002 or unstratified. A small Creamware sherd (fabric CREA) from root disturbance deposit 50.05.27 dates to the mid or later 18th century. The remainder (unstratified and from subsoil) comprised types BSYS (Bristol/Staffordshire Yellow Slip Ware), MOTW (Mottled finewares) and ETGE (English Tin-Glazed Earthenware) is dateable to the late 17th or 18th centuries. A tankard/mug in type MOTW was the only identifiable vessel form.

Early modern A total of 5 sherds (7g) was recovered. One scrap of unclassified refined whiteware (PEAW or DEWW) was recorded from oven 50.05.011. The remainder (from subsoil deposits or unstratified) comprises mainly sherds in fabric DEWW (Developed White Wares) and PEAW (Pearlware). In addition one sherd (a tea bowl) was recorded in fabric CHIP (Chinese Porcelain). All material probably dates to the 19th century.

Ceramic Building Material (Hall 2009) Two pieces of undiagnostic ceramic building material were attributed to context 50.5.002.

Clay Pipes (Major 2009) Part of a large, upright plain bowl with a cut rim dating to the late 19th– early 20th century and a stem fragment were attributed to layer 50.5.002*.

Metal Objects (Leahy 2009) Context Description Date 50.5.002* Point from an iron nail - 50.5.040 Hob-nail - Scrap of iron wire forming half of a ring -

Metal Residues (Young 2012) One iron nail was recovered from fill 50.5.045, from the flue of oven 50.5.011. The nail has corroded to a hollow oxide shape. It has a 12mm head and a 35mm squarish-sectioned shank.

17 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE BY JAMES RACKHAM

Bone Very small assemblages of fragmented burnt bone were recovered from three environmental samples – 50.5.001 (context 50.5.030), 50.5.010 (context 50.5.022) and 50.5.012 (contexts 50.5.047, 048, 049). Sample 50.5.001 produced 40 very small fragments of indeterminate burnt bone (1g). Sample 50.5.010 produced 9 very tiny fragments of indeterminate burnt bone (0.1g). Sample 50.5.012 produced a tiny sample of very fragmented indeterminate burnt bone (<0.1g).

Environmental soil samples Two samples were taken from Evaluation Trench 50.05.T1 and recorded on the processing sheets as derived from pit fills but the archaeological account (Leonard 2014) records no features from this trench. Twenty one environmental samples were taken from the subsequent excavations at the site (Table 1). The samples derive from four ovens, the flue pit of one oven and four pits. None of the features produced any dating evidence, although pottery is recorded from a sample from oven 011 and one from oven 064, but hazel nutshell from these two ovens was submitted for radiocarbon dating. That from oven 50.5.011 produced a Roman date (Table 1) but that from oven 50.5.064 has yielded an early Mesolithic date. The latter sample was chosen for dating because it has a relatively large number of charred hazel nutshells (Table 3). This is the upper flue fill of oven 064, a red brown silty clay with occasional charcoal. The radiocarbon date and the relative concentration of charred hazel nutshell suggests that material from an early Mesolithic feature has been re-deposited in the upper fill of the flue, or perhaps incongruously this feature is in fact very much earlier than the other ‘ovens’ on the site and is mis- interpreted as an ‘oven’. On balance, particularly with the consistent occurrence of small quantities of charred cereal in the deposits and the radiocarbon date from oven 011 most of these features, although technically undated, can probably be assigned to the Roman period, and they have been tentatively identified as keyhole- shaped ovens for corn drying (Leonard 2014).

The samples were processed in the manner described in the assessment report (Martin 2008) with the additional refloating of the dried <2mm sample residues that were located whose flot volume is indicated in Table 2. This second flot was then sorted for charred macrofossils and the residue re-dried and checked with a magnet to recover any further magnetic material. Sample 50.05.017 was never processed.

The flots from the two samples from Trench 1 of the evaluation were not located, but finds and charcoal were. Sample 001 produced two charred wheat (Triticum sp.) grains and a small charcoal assemblage but with no archaeological record of the sampled features nothing further was done. Archaeological finds from the main excavation are limited although a few flint flakes, probably residual, were recovered, pottery was obtained from two samples, a hobnail from sample 50.05.0015, a little slag from the fill of oven 011, burnt bone from three samples and a little magnetic material from thirteen of the samples (Table 1), composed of pink and red micaceous mudstone and some sandstone, suggesting a small input of fired earth/hearth material.

A 18g magnetic component from oven fill 50.05.065 indicates a greater burnt earth component than the other samples probably indicating that the floor of the fire pit was included in the sample. It has been assumed that the ovens were associated with crop-processing (Leonard 2014) although the charred plant remains (see below) do not confirm this.

18 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

Table 1. Samples taken from Site

vol l

50.05 evaluation and excavation. Wt kg feature Proc. Sample no Context no Context 001 50.05.T1.05 nd – pit fill? 5 5 002 50.05.T1.06 nd – pit fill? 5 4 50.05.0001 50.05.030 Fill pit 029 6 7 50.05.0002 50.05.010 Fill oven 009 21 27 50.05.0003 50.05.036 Fill oven 009 16 22 50.05.0004 50.05.033 Fill pit 032 7 11 50.05.0005 50.05.037 Fill oven 013 8 11 50.05.0006 50.05.014 Fill oven 013 7 11 50.05.0007 50.05.015 Fill flue pit 038 8 10 50.05.0008 50.05.041 Fill flue pit 038 6 11 50.05.0009 50.05.042 nd 12 17 50.05.0010 50.05.022 Fill pit 21 20 25 50.05.0011 50.05.012/50.05.045 Fill oven 011 32 52 50.05.0012 50.05.047/8/9 Fill oven 011 35 44 50.05.0013 50.05.007 Fill pit 006 27 36 50.05.0014 50.05.008 Fill pit 039 20 27 50.05.0015 50.05.040 Fill pit 039 24 36 50.05.0016 50.05.063 Fill pit 039 24 37 50.05.0017 50.05.019 Fill pit 018 - - 50.05.0018 50.05.055 Fill oven 009 3 5 50.05.0019 50.05.065 Fill oven 064 39 55 50.05.0020 50.05.066 Fill oven 064 10 14 50.05.0021 50.05.067 Fill oven 064 10 13

19 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

Plan of Site 50.05 with location of the samples.

20 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

Table 2. Data for the environmental samples from Site 50.05

vol ml

vol l

slag* Coal* Metal* feature Pottery* Firedclay Magnetic* Sample no Context no Context Burnt Bone * Bone Burnt Worked flint* Worked 1st flotml vol 2nd flot flot 2nd 001 50.05.T1.05 5 45ml charcoal E E 002 50.05.T1.06 5 1ml charcoal E 50.05.0001 50.05.030 029 6 10 84 D 50.05.0002 50.05.010 009 21 10 21 D+0.2g 50.05.0003 50.05.036 009 16 16 13 0.2g 50.05.0018 50.05.055 009 3 <1 nd C 50.05.0004 50.05.033 032 7 15 nd E 50.05.0005 50.05.037 013 8 12 <1 0.1g + 50.05.0006 50.05.014 013 7 11 13 E D+0.1g 50.05.0007 50.05.015 038 8 10 16 D 50.05.0008 50.05.041 038 6 11 nd D 50.05.0009 50.05.042 nd 12 160 nd E 50.05.0010 50.05.022 021 20 35 nd 0.6g + E 50.05.0011 50.05.012/045 011 32 5 2 C E D 50.05.0012 50.05.047/8/9 011 35 25 130 E D 50.05.0013 50.05.007 006 27 5 1 E 50.05.0014 50.05.008 039 20 - nd 50.05.0015 50.05.040 039 24 150 300 E E A+0.1g 50.05.0016 50.05.063 039 24 36 nd D 50.05.0017 50.05.019 018 - - - 50.05.0019 50.05.065 064 39 42 24 E E A+18g 50.05.0020 50.05.066 064 10 3 7 E B+0.5g 50.05.0021 50.05.067 064 10 19 - *quantities – E=1-10; B=11-50; C=51-100; D=101-200; E=200+ items; nd=no data; + - present

Charred Plant remains (John Giorgi) Fourteen samples from Site 50.05 produced small amounts of identifiable charred plant remains (in addition to charcoal) from the four ovens ([9], [11], [13], [64]), flue [38] and four of the pits ([6], [21], [29], 39]) (Table 3).

21 © Cotswold Archaeology South Wales Gas Pipeline Project Site 50.05: Archaeological Excavation

Table 3: Site 50.5. The charred plant remains C’coal C’coal Flot 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd sort sort Feature type OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN Feature no. 9 9 9 9 11 11 11 11 11 13 13 13 13 13 Context number 10 10 36 36 12/45 12/45 47/8/9 47/8/9 47/8/9 37 37 14 14 14 Sample number 2 2 3 3 11 11 12 12 12 5 5 6 6 6 Proc. Vol (l) 21 21 16 16 32 32 35 35 - 8 8 7 7 - Vol. flot (ml) 10 4 16 13 5 2 25 130 - 12 <1 11 13 - Cereal grains Triticum sp. wheat 1 1 cf. Triticum sp. ?wheat 1 Hordeum vulgare L.. barley indet 1 Cerealia indet. Indeterminate grains 2 Cerealia indet. Indet. grain frags 1 1 2 2 4 Other plants Corylus avellana L. hazel nut shell frags 5 6 2 2 2 Ranunculus sp. buttercup 1 Polygonum sp. knotgrass 1 Rumex sp. dock 1 1 cf Fabaceae indet. ?indet. legume 1 Plantago lanceolata ribwort plantain 1 1 cf Plantago lanceolata ?ribwort plantain 1 1 Cyperaceae indet. sedges etc 1 Poaceae indet. grass (large) 1 Poaceae indet. grass (small) 1 Herbaceous stem frags culm internodes/bases 10 Indet seeds 2 2 1 2 1 Charcoal +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ ++ +++++ +++++ +++++ Total nos. of items 6 4 1 1 2 6 7 15 7 3 1 5 2 3

Table 3 (contd): Site 50.5. The charred plant remains

C’coal C’coal Flot 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st * sort sort

Feature type PIT PIT PIT PIT PIT PIT OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN OVEN FLUE FLUE nd Feature no. 6 6 39 39 21 29 64 64 64 64 64 64 38 38 nd Context number 7 7 40 40 22 30 65 65 65 66 66 67 15 15 42 Sample number 13 13 15 15 10 1 19 19 19 20 20 21 7 7 9 Proc. Vol. (l) 27 27 24 24 - 6 39 39 - 10 10 10 8 8 12 Vol. flot (ml) 5 1 150 300 - 84 42 24 - 3 7 19 10 16 160 Cereal grains Triticum spelta L. spelt wheat 1 Triticum sp. wheat 1 1 cf. Triticum sp. ?wheat 1 1 Cerealia indet. Indeterminate grains 1 1 1 1 Cerealia indet. Indet. grain fragments 1 2 1 1 2 9 cf. Cerealia indet. ? Indet. grain fragments 2 1 Other plants Corylus avellana L. hazel nut shell frags no/wt 2 3 4 1 14 3 2 77/<1g 1 Fabaceae Indet.legume 1 1 Poaceae indet. grass (small) 1 1 Indet. seeds 3 Charcoal ++++ ++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ Total nos. of items 2 1 1 3 3 4 8 17 3 2 77 2 4 4 * sample 09 - data from assessment and scanning of a proportion of the sample only. On the basis of no archaeological data no post-excavation was carried out on this sample.

Occasional cereal grains were present in seven samples although most were too poorly preserved and fragmentary to be identified further with the exception of a few Triticum (wheat) grains in five samples including a Triticum spelta (spelt wheat) grain in Pit [6] while there was a Hordeum vulgare (barley) grain in Oven [9]. Hazelnut shell fragments were identified in ten samples with the best concentration being in Oven [64]. Small numbers of weed seeds included occasional remains of Ranunculus (buttercup), Polygonum (knotgrass), Rumex (dock), Fabaceae (legumes), Plantago lanceolata (ribwort plantain), Cyperaceae (sedges) and Poaceae (grasses). Occasional herbaceous stem fragments were present in one sample from Oven [11] (Table 3).

Little comment may be made on the agricultural economy of the site on the basis of the few charred cereal remains and because of the absence of dating evidence from most of the features. The presence of spelt wheat (albeit just one grain) may provide some tentative broad dating evidence for the features, this cereal being found in prehistoric contexts (from the Bronze Age onwards) becoming the main wheat grain in the Iron Age and Roman periods but generally absent in post-Roman contexts (Greig 1991). This is consistent with the Roman radiocarbon date from oven [011]. The few weed seeds, most of which were not identifiable to species, provide virtually no evidence on aspects of crop husbandry; Plantago lanceolata, a grassland plant, may have also been an arable weed in the past usually growing in loams and sandy soils. Hazel nutshell fragments are very common as the charred residues of wild foods on sites of all periods but particularly on early prehistoric sites (Moffet et al 1989, 247). The two radiocarbon dates conducted on charred hazel nutshell from ovens [011] and [064] illustrate the problems of dating material that survives well and is readily re-deposited. With both Roman and early Mesolithic dates indicated for the nutshell (Table 1) the finds in other features cannot be treated as contemporary, and could themselves be residual or redeposited.

It has been suggested that the absence of industrial residues in the ovens and pits may point to these features functioning as crop-drying ovens although the paucity of charred remains does not permit any comment on such an interpretation. There were no significant differences between the small assemblages in the various ovens and pits with the few grains likely to largely represent accidentally burnt debris from the advanced stages of crop- cleaning/food preparation while the other wild remains (weed seeds, herbaceous stem fragments) may have become charred as a result of being used as tinder/fuel.

Discussion These assemblages are more typical of domestic rubbish than crop processing debris, and the concentration of charred plant remains is untypically sparse for corn driers. Corn driers typically contain quite large assemblages of charred cereal debris although well managed short lived examples need not necessarily be rich in such crop debris. Nevertheless with none of the ovens or pits producing any significant cereal assemblages and with the absence of any industrial evidence it may be appropriate to be cautious about the function of these features. The ovens could as easily be considered as cooking ovens, which might be more consistent with the charred plant remains and occasional finds although the absence of evidence for structures at the site is more consistent with corn drying.

The radiocarbon date on the charred nutshell from oven 064 is strongly suggestive of redeposited material from early Mesolithic activity on the site, perhaps just beyond the limits of the excavation. The concentration of nutshell in this deposit with the occurrence of a flint flake and a second in the deposit below perhaps indicates the redeposition of material from a Mesolithic feature, or deposit within the soil, into oven 064. We cannot exclude the possibility that this was an early prehistoric feature but on the basis of the character and distribution of other features across the site and the occurrence of at least seven charred cereal grains, including spelt, in the feature

it may be more sensible to treat the dated debris as redeposited. The second radiocarbon date from oven 011 suggests that these features may be Roman in date and the presence of spelt wheat in oven 064 is consistent with this conclusion.

The charred cereals remains although very limited suggest wheat, presumably spelt, was the main crop, but a single grain of barley in oven 009 indicates other crops being cultivated. While it is evident that hazel nuts were exploited in the early Mesolithic and the Roman period the fact that there is evidence for prehistoric activity on the site raises the possibility of further residual charred hazelnuts and it would perhaps be unwise to assume that the hazel nutshells in the other ovens and pits are necessarily contemporary with these features.

Bibliography Ashmore, P. 1999. Radiocarbon dating: avoiding errors by avoiding mixed samples. Antiquity 73, 124–30.

Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program. Radiocarbon 37(2), 425–30.

Bronk Ramsey, C. 1998. Probability and dating. Radiocarbon 40(1), 461–74.

Bronk Ramsey, C. 2001. Development of the radiocarbon calibration program OxCal. Radiocarbon 43(2A), 355– 63.

Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51, 1, 337–60.

Freeman, S., G. Cook, A. Dougans, P. Naysmith, K. Wicken and S. Xu. 2010. Improved SSAMS performance. Nuclear Instruments and Methods Physics Research B 268, 715–17.

Mook, W. G. and H. T. Waterbolk. 1985. Handbook for archaeologists. No 3. Radiocarbon dating. Strasbourg; European Science Foundation.

Reimer, P., E. Bard, A. Bayliss, J. Beck, P. Blackwell, C. Bronk Ramsey, P. Grootes, T. Guilderson, H. Haflidason, I. Hajdas, C. Hatté, T. Heaton, D. Hoffmann, A. Hogg, K. Hughen, K. Kaiser, B. Kromer, S. Manning, M. Niu, R. Reimer, D. Richards, E. Scott, J. Southon, R. Staff, C. Turney and J. van der Plicht. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55, 4, 1869–87.

Slota Jr, P. J., A. J. T. Jull, T. W. Linick and L. J. Toolin. 1987. Preparation of small samples for radiocarbon accelerator targets by catalytic reduction of CO. Radiocarbon 29, 303–6.

Stuiver, M. and R. S. Kra. 1986. Editorial comment. Radiocarbon 28, 2B, ii.

Stuiver, M. and H. A. Polach. 1977. Discussion, reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19, 3, 355–63.

Stuiver, M. and P. J. Reimer. 1986. A computer program for radiocarbon age calculation. Radiocarbon 28, 1022– 30.

Stuiver, M. and P. J. Reimer. 1993. Extended 14C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon 35, 215–30.

Vandeputte, K., L. Moens and R. Dams. 1996. Improved sealed-tube combustion of organic samples to CO2 for stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating and percent carbon determinations. Analytical Letters 29, 2761–73.

Ward, G. K. and S. R. Wilson. 1978. Procedures for comparing and combining radiocarbon age determinations: a critique. Archaeometry 20, 19–31.

Xu, S., R. Anderson, C. Bryant, G. T. Cook, A. Dougans, S. Freeman, P. Naysmith, C. Schnabel and E. M. Scott. 2004. Capabilities of the new SUERC 5MV AMS facility for 14C dating. Radiocarbon 46, 59–64.

APPENDIX D: THE RADIOCARBON DATES BY SEREN GRIFFITHS

Introduction For the analysis, radiocarbon measurements were produced on short-life, single entity (Ashmore 1999), charred plant remains and cremated bone from several sites on the south Wales pipeline project (Table 3). Existing results are also detailed below.

Radiocarbon Dating Samples with the ‘SUERC-‘ laboratory code were pretreated using an acid-base-acid process (cf. Mook and Waterbolk 1985). Samples are combusted as described by Vandeputte et al. (1996) and (Freeman et al. 2010). Following combustion, the samples are graphitized using methods described by Slota et al. (1987), and dated by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS; Xu et al. 2004; Freeman et al. 2010). The results are conventional radiocarbon ages (Stuiver and Polach 1977), quoted according to the international standard set at the Trondheim Convention (Stuiver and Kra 1986). The results have been calibrated using IntCal13 (Reimer et al. 2013), and OxCal v4.2 (Bronk Ramsey 1995; 1998; 2001; 2009). The date ranges in table 1 have been calculated using the maximum intercept method (Stuiver and Reimer 1986), and have the endpoints rounded outward to 10 years. The probability distributions shown in the figures were obtained by the probability method (Stuiver and Reimer 1993).

Two radiocarbon results produced on shortlife samples from an oven were statistically inconsistent (T’=12840.8; T’5%=3.8; df=1; Ward and Wilson 1978).

Table 3 Radiocarbon results from sites discussed in the text. Lab no. Context no. Sample Context Result δ13C Calibrated date range (95%) Sample no. description SUERC- 50.05.066 Corylus Oven 9311 ± 40 -26.7 8700-8450 cal BC 56070 50.05.20 Avellana (GU35425) nutshell SUERC- 50.05.047 Corylus oven 1821 ± 40 -23.9 AD 80-330 56071 50.05.12 Avellana (GU35426) nutshell

26 A NNyferyfer

AAC Cothi Site 50.05 PEMBROKESHIREPEMMBRBROROKESESHIRSSHIREH RE CARMARTHENSHIRECACCARMARARRRMARMARA THENH NSHISH RE n Lly AfonA LlynfiLly dau Brecon w Tywi

A CyninCyni on frfron Ty stern Cleddau AfronAAf Tywi ddau BRECONRECONECO BEACONSBBEAEAACONSACACONS NATIONALNNATNATIONATIONAATIONAO ALA PARKPARPARKA WessternWes Eastern Cleddau Cleddau CywynCy A Cywyn Cyw FawrFawFaawr endraet Milford Gwendraeth Fach draeth RhymneyRhyRhR R / hymneyhy R / GwendraethGwendr Fach y Haven g aweaw ugu Taw el A T R Loughor R / T / h / A Nedd A R Tawel AAberdulais TaweTaw RhyRh R Neath / A Nedd AAR Rhondda Fach ondda F Felindre A Rhondda Fawr

awr 0 25km SSWSWANSSWANSEAWWAANANSEEAA

Twyn y Gaer Cairn defended enclosure

Site 50.14

Site 50.06 Coed Fenni-fach defended Site 50.05 Site 50.11 enclosure Site 50.10

Motte Brecon Gaer Site 50.01 auxilary fort Site 50.02

Site 49.05

Site 48.06 Twyn y Gaer defended enclosure

SN N Cirencester 01285 771022 Cotswold Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Milford Haven to Aberdulais pipeline Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk Felindre to Brecon pipeline e [email protected] PROJECT TITLE 0-75m contour South Wales Pipeline. Site 50.05, Land West 75m contour of Aberyscir Court, Yscir, Powys 200m contour FIGURE TITLE Site location plan 400m contour 600m contour 0 1km FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2009 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 14-03-2014 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1 N

posthole 50.05.059

posthole 50.05.058 SN oven pit 99525 posthole 50.05.018 29600 50.05.057

oven 50.05.038/013

oven pit 50.05.011 50.05.032 oven cal. AD 80-330 50.05.009 oven pit 50.05.006 0 25m

pit oven pit 50.05.039 50.05.021 oven pit 50.05.029

pit

50.05.050 50.05.2 pit A 50.05.052 fire pit oven 296 50.05.3 50.05.064 8700-8450 cal. BC 50.05.1

50.05.065 50.05.4

oven Site 50.05 50.05.064 inset

011:5000 00m flue SN 995

50.05.067 pipeline centreline evaluation trench Roman

A Reproduced from the digital Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

Cirencester 01285 771022 Section AA Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 326549 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected] SNbaffle 149.5m PROJECT TITLE AOD 50.05.066 50.05.065 South Wales Pipeline. Site 50.05, Land West of oven Aberyscir Court, Yscir, Powys 50.05.067 50.05.064 FIGURE TITLE Excavation site plan and sections

0 2.5m

PROJECT NO. 9150 DATE 13-03-2014 FIGURE NO. DRAWN BY DJB REVISION 00 APPROVED BY LM SCALE@A3 1:500 1:50 2