Chewton Mendip ‘Precinct’ Field Excavation
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Chewton Mendip ‘Precinct’ Field Excavation PHASE TWO PART 8 April 2015 Interim Report No. 9 Pip Osborne BA (Hons) Community Archaeology on the Mendip Plateau ILLUSTRATIONS Cover Trench 16 looking south at the end of dig Figure 1 Composite drawing of trenches Figure 2 Extrapolation of the building and surround from trenches to date Figure 3 Aerial photo of trench 16 and phased plans Figure 4 Drawing of north elevation wall 16/002 Figure 5 Drawing of west elevation wall 16/003 Figure 6 Profile of trench 16 looking west Figure 7 Photo of west face of sondage 4 in trench 7 Figure 8 Photo of north face of sondage 4 in trench 7 Figure 9 Photo of south elevation of 16/002 showing drain hole Figure 10 Photo of knife blade Figure 11 Photo of key Figure 12 Photo of mount Figure 13 Photo of buckle Aerial photos taken by John Croxford, small finds by Brian Irwin, all others Pip Osborne. Drawings by Pip Osborne 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Background ……………………………………………………………………………………4 2.0 Summary of excavation ………………………………………………………………….5 3.0 Trench 16………………………………………………………………………………………..5 3.1 Research questions 3.2 Results of excavations 3.3 Discussion/Summary 3.4 Comparisons with trench 7 3.5 Further research questions 4.0 Recommendations for future excavation ……………………………………….13 5.0 Finds ………………………………………………………………………………………………14 6.0 Introduction to Chewton Mendip Pottery Type Series ……………………15 7.0 References ……………………………………………………………………………………..17 8.0 Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………..17 9.0 Appendices …………………………………………………………………………………….17 3 1.0 Background Phase Two, part 8 of the research excavation at Chewton Mendip ran from Friday April 3rd with backfilling on April 12th It was carried out by members of CAMP. The weather was generally dry with some wind. A single trench (16) was supervised by Pip Osborne, assisted by Dave Sowden. It measured 4 x 3 metres. On-going excavations seek to build on the knowledge, accrued since 2011, of a large medieval building believed to have been buildt by the Abbey of Jumieges, Normandy soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. This building was systematically demolished, at sometime, as yet to be established. Figure 1 Composite of the trenches dug to date 4 Figure 2 Extrapolated plan of archaeological features of the site as of April 2015 2.0 Summary of Excavation Site CM11 Excavations since 2011 have located the south, west, and parts of the north of a building of medieval date. The overall length is 35 metres with an exterior width of 7.8 metres at the west gable end. Very little is known of the line of the north extent of the building. This excavation sought to further our knowledge in this respect. The excavation of April 2012 (trench7: see Interim Report no. 4) located a stretch of the south wall plus two cross-walls running in a northerly direction. Trench 16 was designed to further excavate the projected course east of the north wall, its possible junction with the more westerly of the cross-walls and the internal and external areas around them. 3.0 Trench 16. 3.1 The questions which drove the research were as follows: a) Does the north wall uncovered in trench 1 (1/09) extend east as far as the proposed trench? Is it on the same alignment? b) Does the more westerly of the cross-walls uncovered in trench 7 (7/005) extend the potential width of the building and if so, what is its construction? 5 c) What underlies this cross-wall and can the recovery of any further Castle- Neroche-type sherds* as found in trench 7 assist in dating the phases of the building? d) Why did this cross-wall 7/005 appear to slump? Was it built over a pit? e) Did the dark, charcoal rich occupation layer 7/020 extend across the possible width of the building in trench 16? f) Is there any evidence in trench 16 of either a fire or some kind of industrial activity? g) What is beyond the bounds of the north wall (if we find it) h) Is there any evidence for a threshold in the north wall? This sherd a similar type found at Bristol and Bath (Mike Ponsford pers com) 6 Figure 3 Aerial photo of trench 16 at finish of dig, with progression of contexts levels through the excavation (top right, bottom left, bottom right) 3.2 Results of Excavation METHODOLOGY A 3x4 metre trench was positioned over the possible junction of the continuation of the north wall 1/09 and the cross-wall 7/005. Deturfing and backfilling was by hand with trowelling at all times. Apart from the topsoil all other contexts were sieved. The trench was partially protected with terram before backfilling. PRE-BUILDING PHASE The lowest level reached was the natural substrate, a dark yellowish brown silty clay loam (10YR 4/4). This was observed at OD148.764 in 013 and 148.585 in 014. EARLY BUILDING PHASE This substrate was cut [016] NNW to SSE up to a depth of 150mm in order to lay the foundations of a stone wall (002). To the west this wall was well constructed, with a rectangular drain hole (010) inserted in the fourth course, with slabs to top and bottom and blocks to sides. The bottom of the drain hole was at 148.808 on the north face and 148.853 on the south. The dimensions were w140 x h160mm to north and 100 x 140 to south. The wall at the west trench edge was 850mm wide and consisted of 8 courses of roughly hewn lias limestone facing slabs of <270x210x40mm with a core of random cobble and earth. The top course was at 149.118. East of the drain the courses of 002 gradually reduced in stepped fashion to one foundation layer with a width of 700mm with the narrowing on the north face. In the SW quadrant and directly overlying 013 were 4 limestone paving slabs, forming an incomplete floor surface. The level of these was 148.76. MEDIEVAL OCCUPATION PHASE North of 002 a deposit (011)of very dark brown friable silty loam (7.5YR2.5/2), of 150mm avg depth, had accumulated over 014. The level was 148.73 avg. This contained much bone and 18 types of medieval pottery (coarse ware and glazed), charcoal and the occasional cobble and pebble sized stones. Finds 57, a 12/13th C key and 58, a decorative stud or mount of possible 13th C date, were within this deposit. A rectangular stone lay at 45° SW/NE against the north face of 002 to the east of the drain and level with the second foundation course. (011 was not fully excavated on the east side). South of wall 002, on a slight incline at 148.95 avg, was a deposit (009) similar to 011 in texture and colour, and also containing bone and medieval coarse ware pottery. This deposit of 200mm depth directly overlay the slabs 012. Overlying 009 was a deposit (008) of friable dark reddish brown silty loam (5YR2.5/2) with moderate charcoal flecks, animal bone and medieval coarse ware corresponding to types found in 011 and lying at 149.03 avg. This soil had washed into and backed up against the south side of the drain hole. Overlying 011 was a tightly-packed cobble layer (007) of 70mm avg depth extending from E to W trench edges at 148.79 avg. The cobbles were sub-rounded to surface and abutted 002 at the level of the bottom of drain 010. (007 was not fully excavated on the east side 7 LATER BUILDING PHASE Overlying 008 was a further wall 003, orientated NNE, SSW and abutting 002 on its south face. This had a lowest level of 148.97 consisting of a stepped out foundation course on the west face, with 2 courses above and a width of 1m and of similar construction to 002. The top level of 003 was 149.27 avg. DEMOLITION/COLLAPSE PHASE In the SW internal quadrant a compact but random layer (006) of lias limestone pebbles, cobbles and boulder-sized stones in a very dark brown friable silty loam matrix (7YR2.5/2) overlay 008. This had its greatest depth closest to wall 002. In addition were 2 squared-off blocks of limestone at the lowest level. 006 contained bone and several pot sherd types as found in 009 and 011. Elsewhere, apart from 003 and the western-most part of 002, a layer of loosely- packed lias limestone (005) with a friable dark reddish brown soil matrix (5YR2.5/2) overlay the trench. This layer contained much bone from ox, horse, pig, sheep to chicken. Thirty medieval pottery types were represented. 005 appeared to lie directly over the single course of foundation to the east of drain 010. It was not fully excavated in the SE quadrant south of 002. POSSIBLE LATER OCCUPATION In the SE corner of the trench the ephemeral remains of a possible more organized ground surface measured 300x250mm extending under the trench edges. LAST PHASE OF SITE The trench was sealed by a compact black silty loam containing flecks of charcoal, pebble, cobble and boulder sized, sub-rounded to sub-angular stones. This contained both medieval and post medieval pottery, glass, claypipe and metals. Figure 4 Profile of trench 16 8 Figure 5 North elevation of wall 002 showing stepped reduction east of wall courses and overburden of rubble. The one course remaining could be a threshold. Figure 6 West elevation of wall 003 showing how it was built over occupation layer 009 with slab of possible floor level beneath.