Kitton Lane, Nether Compton, Dorset

Home , Bradford Abbas, Maiden Newton, Nether Compton, Over Compton

DORSET DIGGERS COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP

Assessment Report on an Archaeological Excavation

By Christopher John Tripp MA PIFA

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

KITTON LANE, NETHER COMPTON, DORSET

ASSESSMENT REPORT

ON AN

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

EXCAVATION

CHRISTOPHER JOHN TRIPP MA PIFA

COVER ILLUSTRATION:

EXCAVATION OF TRENCH 1

2015 Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group

Kitton Lane, Sherborne, Dorset

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Kitton Lane, Nether Compton, Sherborne, Dorset

Archaeological Excavation and Assessment of Results

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... p. 3

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...... p. 4

BACKGROUND...... p. 5

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...... p. 7

METHODS...... p. 8

RESULTS...... p. 9

FINDS...... p. 11

DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION...... p. 15

RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER WORK...... p. 17

APPENDIX 1 LOCATION MAP...... p. 18

APPENDIX 2 MAGNETOMETRY SURVEY...... p. 19

APPENDIX 3 POTTERY ANALYSIS...... p. 20

APPENDIX 4 BONE ANALYSIS...... p. 21

APPENDIX 5 SOIL SAMPLE ANALYSIS...... p. 22

APPENDIX 6 TECHNICAL DRAWINGS...... p. 23

PLATES...... p. 24

BIBLIOGRAPHY...... p. 29

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Archaeological Excavation and Assessment of Results

SUMMARY

It was at the instigation of a local resident that the excavation at Nether Compton was carried out. Elizabeth Adam had asked the Bath & Camerton Archaeological Society to undertake a geophysical survey to see if there were any features associated with the finding of a hoard of over 22,500 low denomination coins in 1989.

The discoveries at Nether Compton will be important for the area of Sherborne and Dorset as a county and be of value for research into Roman activity in this part of 1st century southwest Britain. Very little has been excavated in this area and this site can be added to the larger works being carried out at nearby sites around Yeovil and north Dorset.

A substantial ditch and internal features were found in the first trench and although the area uncovered by the excavated trench was small this ditch produced data of a quality and quantity to be of value for comparative research. The internal features were two postholes and a pit commonly found on many other sites, the pits being interpreted as flat bottomed grain storage pits, which tend to not produce artefacts. It is difficult to say if the postholes were contemporary with the pit, as they were discrete features, but one posthole was in the centre of the pit, which has also been excavated and recorded elsewhere. This would indicate that perhaps some other activity should be associated with these features, if they are contemporary.

A second feature was looked at further north. A smaller ditch was found that produced only two flints but was of interest in itself in that at the base of the ditch a small ‘causeway’ was uncovered that may indicate how these ditches were constructed.

The artefacts, mainly pottery, bone and building materials, indicate that the immediate area may have been a rich one, with the material being of high quality. So even though the area of excavation was limited it is possible to answer some questions to give us an insight into the lives of the people living and passing through Nether Compton at the time of the Roman Empire taking control of the British Isles in the 1st century.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Acknowledgements

This programme of excavation was permitted by the landowner, Mr Roger Foot and with the cooperation of the farmer, Mr Greg Kellaway, to whom we give thanks.

Dr John Oswin’s 2011 survey and report was made available by kind permission of Bath & Camerton Archaeological Society.

The excavation was carried out and supervised by the author and members of Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group (DDCAG). The author would like to thank all who worked on the site and off it, to make this project a success.

DDCAG would like to thank all the specialists who gave their time and expertise as well as adding text to this report.

DDCAG would also like to thank all those who in the village of Nether Compton who helped out and visited the village hall for talks and open days, as well as the village hall coordinators for use of the venue.

Finally DDCAG would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support.

Contributors

Rachel Hall – pottery analysis; Martin Fielding – bone analysis; Ellen Simmons – sample analysis; Astrid Walden – artefacts drawings; Tara Fairclough – maps, sections and plans.

Archive Location

Paper Archive: The Red House, 12 Cattistock Road, Maiden Newton, Dorset DT2 0AG

CD Archive Copies: Dorset County Council; Dorset County Museum

Artefacts: Sherborne Museum

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

1 BACKGROUND (edited from John Oswin’s report and Richard Hood’s research)

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 Between July and October 2014 the Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group carried out an archaeological excavation on the field east of Kitton Lane, Nether Compton, Dorset (ST 602 171). The excavation was carried out on behalf of the landowner Mr Roger Foot and with permission of the farmer Mr Greg Kellaway.

1.1.2 Magnetometer surveys were carried out by John Oswin in 2009 and 2011 in the fields west and east of Kitton Lane and it was in the east field where DDCAG carried out an investigation of the features indicated by his results. Excavation was targeted to focus on the areas of particular archaeological significance.

1.2 Site Location, Topography and Geology (Appendix 1)

1.2.1 Nether Compton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Dorset. It lies within the West Dorset administrative district, and is situated 3 miles west of Sherborne and 3 miles east of Yeovil in Somerset [see Appendix 1].

1.2.2 The site consists of two fields to the east of Nether Compton, either side of Kitton Lane, a rough metalled track which branches off the lane from the village through Stallen to the A30. Kitton Lane rises up a narrow ridge, through a deep hollow way, emerging at field level at ST602172, up a narrow ridge to a high plateau 130m to 145m OD.

1.2.3 The Tithe map of 1839 shows the west field was named Higher Kitton and the east field has become an amalgamation of smaller fields.

1.2.4 To the east of the site is a deep narrow re-entrant and to the west the ground falls away to lowlands, except in the area of John Oswin’s survey, where the west field juts out on a promontory in the direction of the village. This commands wide views toward Yeovil, Pen Mill and the settlement at Lyde Road, as well as Glastonbury to the northwest.

1.2.5 The site sits in the area of the Jurassic belt, with the Middle and Upper Lias giving way to Inferior Oolite geology. Yellow Sands are found in the lower ground and Cornbrush on the higher.

1.3 Archaeological Context (general)

1.3.1 The name Compton probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon ‘comp’, meaning a narrow valley or combe, and ‘ton’, meaning settlement. This place had three royal charters from Saxon Kings, granting land to the Church in Sherborne. In the

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Doomesday Book, Compton was a prosperous agricultural community, although it is not clear as to where this settlement was. As the names suggest, Over Compton is on higher ground than Nether Compton; separate villages were referred to in 1163 as ‘Superior’ and ‘Parva’.

1.3.2 Nether Compton is first mentioned with Over Compton as Contone in the Doomsday book as held by Sherborne Abbey. Reference to the Victoria History of Dorset, Hutchins History of Dorset and other Dorset histories do not give much information about early Compton providing more on the Church, interesting buildings and landowners. However there is mention of ‘Lynchets a on SW slope 1 ½ miles NE of the Church with six terraces’ and ‘Lynchets in Home Copse 600 yards S of the Church’. A passing reference to Athuros may relate to nearby South Cadbury and the Arthurian legend of Camelot.

1.3.3 The records of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society mention surface finds of worked flint and Romano-British and mediaeval pottery being made on Charlock Hill one mile to the north east of Nether Compton. Other similar finds were found SW of Charlock Hill in the parish of Nether Compton, Romano-British finds being found at the marl pit Map Ref. 61541832. A child’s skull was excavated from the face of the of the marl pit by Mr C E Bean. Coarse Romano- British ware along with iron slag was also found indicating possible smelting of local iron bearing ore having taken place. A hand made bead-rim pottery sherd found in the marl pit indicates pre Roman activity in conjunction with a settlement site a few hundred yards to the north excavated by a Mr J Fowler. For more details the Society records can be inspected in the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester.

1.4 Romano-British

1.4.1 In 1989 a member of the Yeovil Metal Detector Club found a hoard of c.22,500 early 4th century coins in two Grey Ware pots in a field in Nether Compton. At the time this find did not come under the rules of treasure trove. This was handed over to Dorset County Museum, but then retrieved and sold by the landowner and finder. Normally such hoards are isolated finds and there was no indication or record of any archaeological remains associated with it. There is an unsubstantiated rumour of a Roman villa in a field to the west of the find.

1.4.2 Further along Kitton Lane there is the large but unexplored Roman settlement of Charlock, or Chorlock, Hill (Fowler, 1951; Leech 1976).

1.4.3 A Roman fort was discovered by English Heritage at Bradford Abbas, to the south of our site, in 2010.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

2 Aims and Objectives

2.1.1 A research design was compiled by Christopher John Tripp providing full details of the research aims and methods of the project. A brief summary is provided here.

2.1.2 The aims and objectives were:

 to date the two main enclosures  to find any internal features in the enclosures and date them  to ascertain the function of the enclosures and internal features  to ascertain if any of the features are earlier, contemporary or later than the hoard found in the same field  to place the site in archaeological context with other sites in the immediate area.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

3 METHODS

3.1 Excavation trenches

3.1.1 Two trenches were opened to target the location of the ditches and any internal features [see Appendix 2].

3.1.2 The trenches were opened by mechanical digger using a toothless bucket attached to the back actor of a JCB type excavator, removing the topsoil in spits under archaeological supervision large enough to expose the features pinpointed by the geophysical survey.

3.1.3 All archaeological deposits were recorded using pro forma record sheets with a unique numbering system for individual contexts. Trenches were located by using a scale map (1:2500) and identifying well-marked permanent field boundary features visible from the site. A base line was then established.

3.1.4 All archaeological features and deposits were planned at a scale of 1:20 with sections drawn at 1:10. All principal strata and features were related to the Ordnance Survey datum.

3.1.4 A full photographic record of the investigations and individual features was maintained using digital images. The photographic record illustrated both the detail and general context of the archaeology revealed and the Site as a whole.

3.1.5 At the completion of the work both trenches were reinstated using the excavated soil.

3.1.6 A unique code (NCEF:14) was agreed prior to commencement of the works. The archive and all artefacts were subsequently transported to the premises of the Group in Maiden Newton where they were processed and assessed for this report.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

4 RESULTS

4.1 Introduction

4.1.1 Details of the excavated contexts and features and of the artefactual and any environmental assessments are retained in the archive.

4.2 Contexts summery

Trench 1

4.2.1 Trench 1 was located over the northern west-east section of the southern enclosure ditch as indicated by the geophysics.

4.2.2 A deposit of ploughed topsoil (001) was identified made up of a silty sand with charcoal flecks, small angular stones and patches of pure sand. The charcoal may be natural fire debris or the results of steam ploughing.

4.2.3 The subsoil (002) consisted of a light yellow brown silty sand with iron panning which was probably deposited during numerous depositions during the working of the soil when this field was divided up into strips, some of which were orchards.

4.2.4 The natural (003) was a light yellow orange silty sand with sandstone fragments and blocks in bands.

4.2.5 The enclosure ditch [004] was substantial, being 3.56m wide and 1.18m deep. The sides were stepped, but may be due to the bands of limestone running horizontally through the natural. The base was flat and sloping north-south.

4.2.6 The ditch was filled by a dark grey brown silty sand (005) with frequent charcoal and building material fragments. This material was deposited in one action and was compact.

4.2.7 A circular pit [006] was identified with vertical sides and a flat base.

4.2.8 The circular feature was filled by a friable dark grey brown homogenous silty sand (007) deposited in one action.

4.2.9 A steep sided posthole [008] was filled with a friable dark grey brown homogenous silty sand (009).

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4.2.10 Posthole [010] was situated in the middle of pit [006] and had vertical sides and was filled by a friable medium yellow silty sand with limestone fragments, which could have been used as packing.

Trench 2

4.2.11 Enclosure ditch [012] 1.92m wide by 1.86m deep with steep sides and a slightly concave base in which was found two butt-ends. The butt-end running from the east seems to have five semi-circular cuts which may indicate how the ditch was cut at this point. The west running cut is more regular and between them is a shallow raised section of natural limestone.

4.2.12 The secondary fill (013) of [012] was a friable to firm mid grey brown silt sand with occasional limestone fragments sitting on the horizon with the lower deposit.

4.2.13 The primary deposit (014) was a mid grey brown silty sand with limestone fragments of greater quantity than (013).

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

5 FINDS

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Finds were recovered from both trenches. Trench 1 produced quantities of pottery, building material and bone from context (005).

5.1.2 Trench 2 produced only two small flint artefacts from (013) and (014) which may be residual.

5.2 Pottery by Rachel Hall, April 2015 [see Appendix 3]

5.2.1 A total of 80 sherds weighing 1613g, were recovered from a single context from Trench 1 in the evaluation (see Table 1). The assemblage dates from the Late Iron Age to Early Romano-British period (700BC- AD150). The sherds are all in a fair condition with several conjoining sherds with an average sherd size of 20.16g.

5.2.2 The assemblage as a whole was identified as Late Iron Age/ Early Romano-British in date due to the forms and fabrics.

5.2.3 Four different fabrics types were identified including, Calcareous (Limestone inclusions), Sandy, Greywares and a small amount of Black Burnished Wares. These are all moderately coarse fabrics with burnished and smoothed surfaces. These sherds are all in a fair condition.

5.2.4 The decoration comprises cordoning under the rim and incised pattern in zig-zag form and generally on the larger bodies of the vessels. There is some sandwich firing on the sandy and greyware vessels. This plainer style of decoration is distinctive of this period of pottery.

5.2.5 A moderate number of diagnostic sherds were also recovered including necked and bead rim jars, lug handles and pedestal bases. These forms were all made between the Late Iron Age through to the Early Romano-British period and associated with the plain decoration and surface finishes this dates the assemblage. With the lack of finewares and no imports, this coarseware assemblage is fairly low status and the vessels suggest a domestic setting with vessels that were probably made using locally sourced materials.

5.2.6 Addendum: The pottery was also looked at by David Ashford at Dorset County Museum with the author and it is considered that the assemblage is more likely to be Early Romano-British than Late Iron Age and taking into consideration that it came out of the same context as the plaster and building material.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

5.3 Building Material

5.3.1 A sample of possible building materials were taken from the fill of (005) and analysed at Dorset County Museum. It was not possible to distinguish possible wall infill and natural material, but some pieces were alien to the area and thus must have been brought in. It is the authors opinion that this material has been used as packing for walls.

5.3.2 Two pieces of wall plaster were found within the same context (005). These were possibly rendering, either within or without a building, and as such would be of a Roman date.

5.3.3 A small piece of painted pinkish red plaster was seen, but this disintegrated before conservation could be undertaken.

5.3.4 A small piece of plaster, of pinkish-red colour, was seen to have finger marks pressed into it.

5.4 Bone by Martin Fielding, April 2015 [see Appendix 4]

5.4.1 It was noted that some bones have been broken to extract the marrow.

5.4.2 Bovines were represented by vertebra, scapula, jawbone and hindleg (hock) and made up the largest sample. Next came sheep/goat with vertebra, jawbone and part of a pelvis identified. A small bone may be that of a rabbit.

5.5 Assessment of charred plant macrofossils and wood charcoal from Nether Compton, Dorset (DDCAG14) by Ellen Simmons [see Appendix 5].

5.5.1 A flotation sample was taken from a Late Iron Age or Roman ditch fill deposit revealed during archaeological excavations at Nether Compton near Yeovil in Dorset. The flotation sample was assessed in order to determine the concentration, diversity, state of preservation and suitability for use in radiocarbon dating, of any archaeobotanical material present. A further aim of this assessment was to evaluate the potential of this material to provide evidence for the function of the context, the economy of the site or for the nature of the local environment.

Recovery, processing and laboratory methods 5.5.2 The flotation sample was processed for charred plant remains and wood charcoal by GeoFlo Southwest Geophysical and Flotation Services using a water separation machine. Floating material was collected in a 250µm mesh, and the remaining heavy residue retained in a 1mm mesh. The flots and heavy residues were air dried.

5.5.3 The sample was assessed in accordance with English Heritage guidelines for environmental archaeology assessments (D.M. Jones, 2011). A preliminary assessment of the sample was made by scanning using a stereo-binocular microscope (x10 - x65) and recording the abundance of the main classes of material

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present. Identification of plant material was carried out by comparison with material in the author’s own reference collection and various reference works (e.g. Cappers et al, 2006). Cereal identifications and nomenclature follow Jacomet (2006). Other plant nomenclature follows Stace (2010). The composition of the sample is recorded below in table 1.

Preservation 5.5.4 A low proportion of intrusive roots were present in the sample. This indicates a reduced likelihood that charred material present in the sample will be intrusive.

5.5.5 Charred cereal grains were generally quite poorly preserved with many exhibiting puffing and distortion and identifiable by gross morphology only. Wood charcoal was generally well preserved with a low incidence of vitrification or mineralisation.

Charred plant remains 5.5.6 Over fifty items of charred crop material were noted as present in the sample. Cereal grains included barley, some of which could be identified as the hulled variety, oats, free threshing wheat and grains with morphological characteristics that were intermediate between emmer wheat and spelt wheat. Cereal chaff included barley rachis internodes and spelt wheat glume bases. No oat chaff was noted as present, so it cannot be determined whether the oat grains represent the wild or cultivated variety. A large seeded legume was also present.

5.5.7 Over thirty wild or weed plant seeds were also present in the sample. Wild vetches or peas (Vicia / Lathyrus) were the most abundant along with docks (Rumex spp.) and large seeded grasses (>2mm Poaceae). Also noted as present were seeds of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), knotgrass (Polygonum arenastrum / aviculare), chickweed (Stellaria media), goosefoot (Chenopodium album), hoary / ribwort plantain (Plantago media / lanceolata), brome / rye grass (Bromus / Lolium) and small seeded grasses (< 2mm Poaceae).

Wood charcoal 5.5.8 Just over fifty fragments of wood charcoal between 2 mm and 4 mm in size were present in the sample, with predominantly ring porous taxa being represented.

Discussion and recommendations for further work.

5.5.9 The crop types present in the sample would be consistent with a Late Iron Age or Early Roman date for this deposit. Spelt wheat became an increasingly common crop type cultivated during the Iron Age and Roman period in the South West but emmer wheat was also still cultivated in the region during the Iron Age (Campbell and Straker 2003, 21-22). Free threshing wheat was possibly cultivated during the Late Iron Age in the South West (Campbell and Straker 2003, 23) and is occasionally present at sites of Roman date, but did not become a widespread crop until the Saxon period (Straker 2007, 163).

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5.5.10 Due to the association of the wild or weed plant seeds with charred cereal grains, it is likely that the wild or weed plant seeds were harvested along with cereal crops and charred as crop processing waste. Other sources of charred wild or weed plant seeds may however also include kindling, animal fodder and waste roofing or flooring material. The assemblage of wild or weed plant seeds includes a number of typical crop weeds or taxa commonly associated with fertile disturbed soils such as field pennycress, chickweed and goosefoot. Leguminous weeds such as vetch / pea have an adaptive advantage where soils are depleted in nitrogen and the frequent occurrence of these taxa in Iron Age archaeobotanical assemblages has been linked to the possible depletion of soil fertility during the Iron Age (M. Jones 1988, 90).

5.5.11 Full sorting, identification and analysis of the sample for charred plant remains would be recommended in order to provide a fully quantified record of the crop types and other plant remains present. Full sorting and identification would also be expected to result in the recovery of wild or weed plant taxa missed during preliminary scanning and to allow for the identification to species of taxa which could not be identified fully during preliminary assessment. Analysis of the wild or weed plant seed assemblage would also be expected to provide further information concerning crop husbandry and crop processing practices.

5.5.12 Palaeoenvironmental evidence from Dorset and Somerset indicates increasing woodland clearance and an increase in arable farming during the Iron Age and Roman periods (Straker 2007, Straker et al 2007) and it is likely that pressure on woodland resources for fuel was high. There is also evidence however that woodland remained a significant component of the landscape during the Iron Age and Roman periods in some areas, possibly as managed resource for fuel and timber (Straker at al 2007, 150). Identification of fifty >2mm charcoal fragments using high power microscopy would enable further investigation of the charcoal assemblage composition and therefore the utilisation of the local environment for fuel.

5.5.13 Charred material suitable for radiocarbon dating was present in the sample in the form of charred cereal grains. Cereal grains are particularly suitable for use in dating as they represent a single year of growth. The low proportion of intrusive roots present in the sample also indicates a reduced likelihood that the charred material present will be intrusive.

5.5.14 If further excavation is to be carried out at the site it would also be recommended that additional samples are recovered, with a suggested sample volume of thirty litres where possible. The composition of the sample from the ditch fill at Nether Compton suggests that the potential for the recovery of charred plant remains from this site is good. A larger sample volume would be likely to result in the recovery of a greater diversity of material.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

6 DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION

6.1.1 The pottery analysis above makes the features in Trench 1 difficult to date definitively, with only a general date range given of Late Iron Age to Early Roman. However, there is a high probability that this material is of a Romano-British date considering other finds in the same context. This type of pottery is made pre and post Roman invasion and on into the post-Roman period.

6.1.2 The shape and dimensions of the ditch would indicate that this is military camp, set up on high ground and on an existing road, built by the legions pushing west after the invasion. It is possible that this camp was relatively long lived, or at least the ditch was open for some time, as the pottery is of good quality, if not high class. Building materials were represented by plaster rendering, including the small piece of painted plaster, and would indicate well made houses and farm buildings in the area, if not within the enclosure.

6.1.3 Roman camps do add to our understanding of the conquest period, much is enigmatic and speculative, but they can help in building a picture of the immediate post-invasion activity as the legions pushed into this area of the southwest. Indeed; “Britain has the largest number of camps from any country or province in the Roman Empire” (Jones, R.H. p.136)

6.1.4 It has been suggested (Jones, R.H. 2012) that these mid to late 1st century camps were not all ramparted, with just ditches more commonly used for defence, but most of the examples are from Wales. The pit and postholes, if they are contemporary with the ditch, would make a rampart just behind the ditch impossible.

6.1.5 These flat-based pits with a central posthole are found on other Romano-British sites and the author was excavating two examples at a site to the east of Yeovil at the same time as Nether Compton. No explanation for use has been put forward so far and can only be speculative at best. Those without postholes in the centre have been interpreted as latrines, rubbish pits, cooking hollows and ovens. They have a similarity to the Iron Age grain pits in terms of diameter, but not depth. Pits can rarely be proven as contemporary with enclosures and they tend to be scattered over an area of the camp. Narrow occupation times make the use of carbon-dating useless.

6.1.6 Dimensions of ditches vary considerably and other examples have them being cut through rock “representing a surprising amount of labour for something that was

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only probably occupied for a short period of time” (Jones, R.H. p.80), although it is probable that some camps were used for years, and not just weeks or months, before abandonment. Other examples of rock cut ditches can be found at Burnswark and Ward Law, Dumfriesshire and Hillside Dunblane, Stirlingshire.

6.1.7 Hyginus states that ditches were mostly “used for the sake of discipline” i.e. to keep the camp within a controlled space, with ramparts and or staked fencing for added defence.

6.1.8 Ditches can also exhibit differences in size from one side to the other. This may be due to the vagaries of survival or adapting to the landscape, geology or directional threat during construction. It could be that ‘gangs’ digging the ditch worked differently and this could explain the small ‘causeways’ found at the base of some ditches. Once again the author was digging such a ditch to the west of Yeovil and such ‘causeways’ were found in the base of Romano-British ditches.

6.1.9 The Nether Compton enclosures have rounded corners similar to other Roman examples, although this is also seen during the Iron Age. In the Roman military examples they are made like this so that it is easier to defend with larger numbers of defenders on a curve, and thus this potential weak point is made stronger.

6.1.10 The excavation of the ditch and artefacts found in Trench 1, considering the small area uncovered, has brought up a surprising amount of information. The size and shape of the ditch is commensurate with other early Roman military ditches and the pottery and building materials, including stonework and plaster, indicate that this feature is more likely to be Roman than Iron Age. The backfilling was in one action and thus the ditch was not open to the elements, where erosion could take place. It is thus likely that the artefacts can securely date the ditch to post invasion.

6.1.11 The lack of high status pottery, such as samien, would indicate that the surrounding area may have been dotted with well built farmhouses with plasterwork, some painted, with people using good quality Grey and Black Burnished Ware ceramic. As to whether the material came from the interior of the enclosure or the exterior cannot be said with certainty, but it is more likely that the camp was abandoned and the local people from the surrounding area used the ditch as a dumping site immediately after the military authorities left.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

7 RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER WORK

7.1 Little can be said at this time regarding Trench 2. The ditch cannot be dated and as such it is planned that further excavation will take place on this feature. This will concentrate on the possible two termini to the east of Trench 2 and the linear feature running north-south.

7.1.1 The field to the west cannot be investigated at this time without permission from the present landowner.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Appendix 1: location map

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Appendix 3: pottery by context, fabric, date, number and weight (g).

Context Fabric Date Number Weight (g) 005 calcareous tempered LIRB 6 85

005 Greywares LIRB 29 515

005 Sandy LIRB 36 734

005 BBW LIRB 9 279

TOTAL 80 1613

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Appendix 4: bone analysis

Cow (vertebra, scapula, jawbone, hindleg (hock) 880 gm

Sheep/Goat (vertebra, jawbone, pelvis-part) 410 gm, 3 individuals

Rabbit (perhaps Rat) 1 gm

Unidentified 250 gm

16/8/14 NCEF 14 (005)

Cow/bovine 170 gm

1 large vertebra

1 portion of large scapula (shoulder bade)

Cow/bovine 140 gm

Cow/bovine 200 gm

Scapula (Shoulder blade)

Cow/bovine – 130 gm

Jawbone – various loose teeth.

Cow 240 gm

Hindleg – 3 parts of hock joint (Tibia, Os Caleis – note these form articulated joint

Rabbit? 1 gm

Humerus (forearm) – only piece so possibly contaminant.

Sheep 160 gm

Ribs

Sheep/Goat 120 gm

Vertebra

Sheep/Goat 80 gm

Jawbones – both sides of one individual, small fragments of a third individual, third larger fragment of 3rd individuals, jaw articulation from one of the mandibles.

Sheep/Goat 50 gm

Pelvis piece with ‘acetabulum’ – hip joint socket

Bone fragments unidentified 250 gm

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Appendix 5: sample analysis

Table 1: Archaeobotanical sample scanning table Archaeobotanical Sample Scanning Table SITE: Nether Compton, Dorset (NCEF:14) CONTEXT NUMBER (005) FEATURE NUMBER 4 FLOTATION SAMPLE NUMBER 1 FEATURE TYPE ditch fill Early PROVISIONAL DATE Roman SAMPLE VOLUME (litres) 10 FLOT VOLUME (ml) 20 Charred plant material (*key - = < 5 items, + = > 5 items, ++ = > 10 items, +++ = > 30 items, ++++ = > 50 items, +++++ = > 100 items.) CROP MATERIAL* Barley grain (Hordeum sp.) + Barley rachis internode (Hordeum sp.) 1 Oat grain (Avena sp.) 2 Bread / club wheat or rivet wheat grain (Triticum aestivo-compactum type /) (Triticum turgidum) 1 Emmer / spelt wheat grain (Triticum dicoccum / spelta) 2 Spelt wheat (Triticum spelta) glume base ++ glume base indet ++

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Appendix 6: technical drawings

Trench 1: plan & sections

Trench 2: plan & section

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PLATES

Plate 1: Trench 1 ditch from the north

Plate 2: Trench 2 ditch from the west

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Plate 3: Trench 1 pit & posthole

Plate 4: Trench 1 discrete posthole

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Plate 5: Probable rendering plaster

Plate 6: Plaster fragment

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Plate 7: jug handle

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Plate 8: plaster with finger marks

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

Bibliography

Campbell, G. and Straker, V. 2003, Prehistoric plant use and crop husbandry in Southern England: development and regionality. In K.A. Robson-Brown (ed.) Archaeological Sciences 1999: Proceedings of the Archaeological Sciences Conference, University of Bristol, 1999. BAR International Series 1111. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports.

Cappers, R.T.J. Bekker, R.M. Jans, J.E.A. 2006, Digital Seed Atlas of the Netherlands. Eelde: Barkhuis Publishing.

Fowler, J. 1951, Mediaeval Sherborne, Dorchester

Leech, R. 1976, Larger agricultural settlements in the west country, pp142-161, in Branigan and Flowler, 1976. Also unpublished PhD thesis, University of Bristol, 1980.

Jones, D.M. (ed.) 2011. Environmental Archaeology: a guide to the theory and practice of methods, from sampling and recovery to post-excavation (2nd edition). London: English Heritage Publications.

Jones, R.H. 2012. Roman Camps in Britain. Amberley Publishing.

Jones, M. 1988, The arable field: a botanical battleground. In M. Jones (ed.) Archaeology and the Flora of the British Isles. Oxford: Oxbow Books.

Oswin, J. 2011, The Nether Compton Roman coin hoard in its archaeological context. Bath & Camerton Archaeological Society.

Stace, C. 2010, New Flora of the British Isles (3rd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Straker, V. 2007, Early Medieval environmental background. Later Bronze Age and Iron Age environmental background. In C. J. Webster (ed.) The Archaeology of South West England: South West Archaeological Research Framework. Resource Assessment and Research Agenda. Taunton: Somerset County Council. Somerset Heritage Service.

Straker, V, Brown A. Fyfe, R and Jones, J. 2007. Romano-British Environmental background. In C. J. Webster (ed.) The Archaeology of South West England: South West Archaeological Research Framework. Resource Assessment and Research Agenda. Taunton: Somerset County Council. Somerset Heritage Service.

Kitton Lane,Sherborne,Dorset Assessment Report

DORSET DIGGERS COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP

The Dorset Diggers Community Archaeology Group (DDCAG) was set up in 2012 to further our knowledge of the archaeology of West Dorset through practical “hands-on” historical research and archaeological excavations. Our projects will illuminate hitherto unknown aspects of West Dorset’s past and bring it to life for the inhabitants of the area. New members are always welcome.

website; http://dorsetdiggers.btck.co.uk Secretary [email protected]

Author: Christopher John Tripp MA PIFA [email protected] Date; July 2015