Grim's Ditch, Ivinghoe
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GRIM'S DITCH, IVINGHOE JEAN DAVIS AND J. G. EVANS The excavation in 1982 of part of Grim's Ditch in Ivinghoe is described and a drawing of the section is published. Soil and molluscan analyses of samples taken through the deepest part of the ditch suggest that the ditch was dug in open arable country or on the borders of arable and grassland. A long period of extensive grassland is envisaged, followed by renewed cultivation, probably in Iron Age times. Comparison is made with similar samples taken in a nearby coombe in Pitstone. The possible purpose and date of the ditch are discussed and a tentative relationship between historic parishes and prehistoric agrarian management is suggested. The excavation during 1980 of a section of Depth below ditch (Dyke V) forming part of the Chiltern surface (cm) Grim's Ditch complex was described in 0-20 Modern ploughsoil (1). Greyish brown Volume 23 of the Records (Davis, 1981). (10YR 5/2) chalky loam with small Mention was then made of evidence for chalk lumps throughout. another larger ditch running roughly parallel 20-90 Ploughwash (2). As modern ploughsoil but pale brown to light yellowish brown and higher up the hillside, some 36 m to the (10YR 6/3-6/4). south: this second ditch was referred to as 90-110 Ploughwash (2). As above but with Dyke VI (Fig. 1). more coarse chalk. Pale brown to brown (10YR 6/3-5/3). In August 1982, a section was cut through 110-153 Ploughwash (4 and 5). As above but Dyke VI (SP 9540 1534) by members of the with some less stony zones. Pitstone Local History Society. The ditch 153-180 Buried soil (6). Brown (10YR 5/3) proved to be far more substantial than Dyke chalky loam, generally stone-free. V, being 6.35 m wide and 2.90 m deep from 180-190 Stone zone with old pea-grit (earthworm the present ground surface, compared with burrows) (8). Tailing off in the centre, thicker towards the edges. 2.50 m and 1.30 m respectively for the ditch 190-195 Buried soil (no individual layer no., part previously investigated. Despite the difference of 8). Pale brown (10YR 6/3) chalky in scale, however, the profiles of the two loam, generally stone-free. ditches were similar. Fig. 2 shows the section 195-203 Coarse chalk rubble (part of 8). of Dyke VI which, like Dyke V, had been cut 203-240 Secondary fill (9). Fine, very pale brown in solid chalk. (10YR7/3) loam. 240-290 Primary fill (10). Variably coarse to A column of 29 samples for molluscan medium chalk rubble. analysis was taken from the north face of the All Munsell colour formulae are of moist ditch section at its deepest point. Comparison samples. The weights of stones (mostly chalk) could then be made with results obtained from greater than 2.00 mm per 0.75 kg are plotted previous work done on ploughwash deposits in Fig. 4. and buried soils in a coombe below Pitstone Hill, less than 1.0 km to the south-west of A further soil report on two samples of Dyke VI (Evans, 1966; Evans and Valentine, sedimentary fill was kindly provided by Dr 1974) (see Fig. 1). Myra Shackley of the University of Leicester. In addition to confirming the general strati- The stratigraphy of the ditch fill was as graphy shown above, she pointed out that the follows (layer nos. in parentheses): loose angular chalk shatter one might expect to 1 Fig. 1. Grim's Ditch between Aldbury and Ivinghoe. 2 SE Fig. 2. Dyke VI, Ivinghoe: section. Key: 1, Modern ploughsoil. 2, Ploughwash. 3, Chalk fragments. 4 and 5, Ploughwash, less stony. 6, Buried soil. 7, Friable, little chalk. 8, Stone zone with coarse chalk rubble below, containing buried soil. 9, Secondary fill. 10, Primary fill. 11, Impacted weathered chalk. 12, Loose weathered chalk. find in the bottom of the ditch was not C. hortensis) was probably living close by. The present, and suggested that it might have been Limacidae (internal shells of slugs) are cleared out in the early years after its con- interesting in that there are two size groups. A struction. She also noted that the base of the few of the shells are large and clearly adult ditch (11) contained impacted chalk fragments. (probably Deroceras reticulatum). But most are very small and probably juvenile. The Each sample taken for molluscan analysis Helicellidae (other than H. itala) are difficult weighed 0.75 kg (air dry). All shells greater to identify but certainly include one or more of than 0.5 mm were extracted and counted as the species introduced into Britain in historic described in Evans (1972). Two diagrams times, viz. Cernuella virgata and Candidula illustrating the results have been prepared. One intersecta. The Pupilla shells are very variable shows the counts per 0.75 kg (Fig. 3) and is both in colour and size. White (as opposed to fairly detailed with most species shown the more normal pink/brown) shells constitute individually. The second (Fig. 4) illustrates the up to 20% in some assemblages. Variation in relative abundance of the major groups. height is almost 30%. It is possible that this variation represents seasonal differences, the Several comments need to be made about larger shells being of Autumn/Winter/Spring the various species and groups. The Zonitidae generations, the smaller of Spring/Summer include Oxychilus cellarius (and possibly a few generations. Cecilioides acicula is a burrowing O. alliarius and O. helveticus), Aegopinella species and the shells are probably mostly nitidula and Vitrea (mostly V. contracta but a modern. The 'ova', or molluscan eggs, are all few V. crystallina). The Clausiliidae are of the same size and form, and those that mainly Clausilia bidentata with a few Cochlo- contained shells were of Cecilioides. dina laminata; all are worn apices, residual from an earlier fauna not otherwise present. The same applies to Pomatias elegans. On the Several vertebrate bones and teeth were other hand some of the Cepaea shells are quite extracted from the molluscan samples. These large and this genus (either C. nemoralis or were examined by Terry O'Connor. The 3 Fig. 3. Molluscan diagram, counts per 0.75 kg. Clausilia bidentata includes a single Ena montana apex at 53-63 cm. Fig. 4. Molluscan diagram, percentage values (excluding Cecilioides and ova). 'Intermediate species' include Arianta/Cepaea, the Punctum group, Cochlicopa and Trichia. material was very fragmentary but the grassland, with no broken ground. Abida following were identified: secale appears here for the first time. This is small birds: several bones the period of maximum molluscan abundance. cf. Arvicola terrestris (water vole): 1 incisor fragment Zone C (20-143 cm). In relative terms, Apodemus sp. (mouse): 4 molar teeth Vallonia excentrica and Helicella itala main- vole: 1 bone and 1 tooth fragment tain their abundance; the limacid slugs shrew: 1 tooth fragment increase; Pupilla shows a steady decline; several indeterminate fragments. Vallonia costata becomes virtually absent. The material was distributed throughout the There is a general decline of all groups except deposits from 10 to 240 cm. The single shrew the Limacidae. This is an impoverished tooth was present at 230-240 cm, perhaps assemblage resulting from the increasingly significantly in the zone with the richest unstable (and probably nutrient poor) surface molluscan fauna. conditions brought on by ploughing. The molluscan succession has been divided Zone D (0-20 cm). The assemblage is similar into four zones, A to D, A being the lowest in to the upper part of zone C but with even the fill (Figs. 3 and 4). These are of local signi- lower numbers. Helicellidae other than H. ficance only, reflecting the various events in itala appear for the first time. the infilling of the ditch. However, the com- position of the assemblages is also a reflection The assemblages throughout are of open- of the availability of species in the surrounding country type. The few shade-loving species in area, and certain deductions can therefore be zone A (max. 11 %) suggest the nearby presence made about the wider environment. This is of bushes, but these are unlikely to be more especially so with the assemblages from the than might be found along a field edge. buried soil complex (153-195 cm) because the The virtual absence of shade-loving species in long period of quiescence in the infilling which the rest of the succession, especially in the this represents would have allowed all lower part of zone B (the slow secondary fill) available species that were compatible with the where they would be expected (and in which ditch environment to have become established. position they often occur in ditch infillings) argues for fairly widespread open country. Zone A (230-290 cm). Characteristic groups Indeed it could be suggested that the drop in are Zonitidae, Discus and Carychium (the shade-loving species at 230 cm was the result main shade-loving species, see diagram) and of an environmental change not solely VaUonia costata. Vallonia excentrica and confined to the ditch itself but taking place Pupilla are low relative to their later abun- beyond its bounds. Perhaps the construction dance. This assemblage reflects the special of the earthwork was associated with the conditions in the earliest stages of infilling— throwing open of arable fields, and the surface instability but with some shade and destruction of their edge communities of moisture. Vitrea (in the Zonitidae) and plants and animals, connected with the Vallonia costata are especially characteristic of creation of pasture land. this kind of environment.