Warren Wood Investigations - Report - 2010/2011

Archaeology in Marlow Members’ Report on the Investigations at Warren Wood February 2010 to November 2011 Warren Wood Investigations - Report - 2010/2011 Introduction In 2005 and 2006, Archaeology In Marlow (AIM) conducted part of its ROMADAM (Recording Of Marlow And District’s Ancient Monuments) Project at Warren Wood (see Map 1 below). Within Warren Wood, an Inner and Outer Enclosure are located, thought to date from Medieval times (500 to 1500AD). Although the Enclo- sures were accurately surveyed (see Map 2, page 4), no decisive dating evidence was found at this time. Aims & Purpose Both AIM and the land owners were interested in trying to find dating evidence, so AIM drew up a plan to excavate eight test pits (four in each enclosure) (see Maps 3 and 4, page 5) and submitted it to the Senior Ar- chaeologist for Buckinghamshire, who supported the plan. Location Sometimes footpaths lead walkers to interesting places and the footpath to Warren Wood is no exception. If visitors leave Marlow on the A4155, travelling towards Bourne End, then cross the bypass and take the next left turn, (after the Garden Centre) Winchbottom Lane; about a mile up the lane they will find a footpath on the right; this leads into Warren Wood, but it is a very steep climb! A short distance after the gradient of the footpath has levelled out, the man-made earthwork can easily be seen behind the AIM information board (NG SU8715:8972). Topography, Geology and Flora Situated on the chalk hills of the Chilterns, the inner enclosure of the earthwork measures approximately 50 metres in diameter (see photograph 1, page 5) and is approximately 100 metres above sea level, whilst the outer enclosure is slightly larger. The earthwork was constructed on a plateau of glacial sand and gravel deposited during a previous ice age, which lies over the chalk bedrock. There is a good sprinkling of trees: beech, sessile oak, ash and holly predominate, along with a liberal covering of brambles, ferns and bluebells. Earthwork Map 1 Page 1 Plan for investigations General and specific aims of fieldwork The aim was to locate evidence, through excavation, that would accurately date both the inner and outer enclosures of the earthwork. It was hoped that dates for the original con- structions, their usage and associated activities, plus the locations of any buildings and the dates of later phases, would be established. Reference to relevant legislation The site is on private land and is not scheduled, nor is it an SSI, nor an SSSI. Field methodology The intention is to excavate four 1 metre square test pits in the inner enclosure and another four in the outer enclosure to achieve our aim and also for comparison purposes. The four test pits in the inner enclosure and the four test pits in the outer enclosure are to be laid out as shown on the revised graphics (Maps 3 and 4, page 5). Once outlined on the ground, the test pits will be surveyed into the site plan using our total Station. The intention is to excavate down to the natural geology, recording each context as we pro- ceed. We intend to use our drawing frame, plus still and video photography to record each significant event. If we locate foundations, or walls, we will clean and record them, leaving them undisturbed, as we excavate around them. We will record each test pit individually, in plan view, and record its section with its contexts. Although we need to check with the landowners, the Mash brothers, regarding an exact schedule of dates, we hoped to start our investigation in February and continue into March, April and May 2010 and possibly beyond. Ian Cook (Archaeologist from Oxford Archaeology) agreed to oversee our work and to ensure we work to the highest standards and practices. Collecting and disposal strategy for artefacts and ecofacts Artefacts and ecofacts will be recorded (exact location, if small finds) placed in trays and then cleaned. Once dry the items will be deposited in bags marked with unique references to identify them. Any artefacts located will obviously be the property of the Mash Brothers. However, they have already agreed to pass ownership of the artefacts on to AIM and we will store them in good conditions, ensuring that all the artefacts, or those agreed upon, will be forwarded to the Buckinghamshire County Museum. Arrangement for immediate conservation of artefacts AIM will seek advice from Oxford Archaeology and others concerning any artefacts that are in need of immediate conservation. Post Fieldwork methodology The artefacts located in each trench will be sorted, so that significant items can be identi- fied and dated at a later stage by professionals in their fields. Page 2 Report preparation, publication and dissemination proposals It is AIM’s current practice that reports are compiled as the work progresses; e.g. that sections of reports are written within a week of their occurrence. It is AIM’s intention to produce a report on the project within 3 months of its conclusion. The draft report will be written to the standards required by the IFA’s Standard and Guidance for archaeological field evaluation, annex 2. Once professional opinions have been sought and acquired, the draft report will be sent to Mr Ian Cook for comment and corrections and the revised report then published and sent to the HER and all other interested parties. Copyright All AIM’s publications will be copyrighted, but will be made available to interested parties, who have been given permission in writing by AIM, to reproduce all or part of these publications. Archive deposition AIM archives are kept by AIM’s archivist, who is appointed year by year. The current archivist is Mr David Greenwood. It is our intention to contact the Buckinghamshire County Museum on completion of the Project and then to forward the complete report and artefacts to them, de- pending on their requirements at the time. Timetable Day 1. We plan to survey in the four 1 metre test pits within the inner enclosure. We shall then lay out the test pits on the ground and then remove the turf and/or leaf litter. Prior to leaving the site, we will insert metal poles near each pit corner and link them up with barrier tape to indicate potentially dangerous areas. Day 2. We will number each test pit and then excavate and remove the first context, collecting artefacts in pre-numbered find trays, then sieve excavated earth and extract any further artefacts. Artefacts will be washed, dried and placed into bags and later marked with artefact, trench and context details. Any important small finds will be recorded, kept in separate specially marked bags and surveyed into the site map. We will record all important findings on a plan view, drawn for each test pit, by photograph and with the aid of our drawing frame. We will also record the first context’s depth, composition, etc for each test pit. Days 3 and 4, and possibly beyond. As day 2, but excavate context 2 and further contexts, if they exist, until natural geology is ob- served. Days 5, 6, 7 & 8. As Days 1, 2, 3 & 4, and possibly beyond, but excavations taking place in the outer enclosure. Staffing We estimate attendance of between 6 and 12 volunteers on each day, as scheduled above. Health and Safety considerations To ensure each participant is covered by AIM’s insurance, they will be required to fill in a ‘signing in form’ on each day of each investigation. The standard AIM safety document will be made available to each participant. AIM’s First Aid Kit will always be on site. The test pits will be surrounded with hazard tape strung around vertical metal stakes/poles. Page 3 Map 2 Page 4 Map 3 Map 4 Photograph 1 Page 5 Research Although the earthwork has existed within Warren Wood, for a considerable time, its first appearance was on a 1993 Ordnance Survey (OS) Pathfinder Map. The oldest maps available show The Warren as a wooded area. Unfortunately, the Domesday Book does not tell us whether the area was a wood in 1086, or not, although Little Marlow was assessed for 50 pigs, which suggests the area must have had some woodlands. In addition, the ‘Close Rolls’ of 1233, which state, ‘18 does were gifted to the Earl of Cornwall for his park at Marlow’, may have some relevance. Apart from the Inclosure map of 1821, the next instance of either Warren Wood, or the adjacent Bloom Wood, being named on a map is on Bryant’s 1825 map (which identi- fies ‘Broom Wood’, but has no mention of Warren Wood). Broom Wood is also shown on Lipscomb’s 1847 map. Warren Wood is first mentioned on the 1870 OS map and Bloom Wood, rather than Broom Wood, first appears on the 1883 OS map. The significance of Broom Wood rather than Bloom Wood, is that Bloom might indicate the presence of past iron working (a ‘bloom’ is a ball of molten metal, usually iron). However, the name Broom Wood is unlikely to have the same connotations. Investigations had previously been undertaken on the site by Mr David Wilson (a member of Maidenhead Archaeological and Historical Society) and Mr Roger Carter, both in 1975, and by Mr Arthur Boarder in 1978 (an amateur archaeologist and Mar- low man). Mr Wilson is reported to have found the rim of a pot of very coarse greyware in the bank, a lump of grey clay and some red tiles.

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