<<

OLD CINEMA SITE

POST-EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED PROJECT DESIGN

For

CHASE HOMES (SOUTH WESTERN) LTD

CA REPORT: 05051

MARCH 2005

OLD CINEMA SITE MARKET CROSS MALMESBURY WILTSHIRE

POST-EXCAVATION ASSESSMENT AND UPDATED PROJECT DESIGN

CA PROJECT: 1687 CA REPORT: 05051

Author: Alistair Barber, Mark Collard and Ed McSloy

Approved: Martin Watts

Signed: …………………………………………………………….

Issue: 01 Date: 31 March 2005

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.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 6

3. METHODOLOGY...... 6

4. RESULTS ...... 7

Fieldwork summary...... 7 Stratigraphic Record: factual data...... 11 Artefactual record: factual data ...... 11 Biological record: factual data...... 13 Historical record: factual data ...... 13

5. STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL ...... 14

Stratigraphic record...... 14 Artefactual record...... 14 Biological record ...... 15 Historical record ...... 15

6. STORAGE AND CURATION ...... 16

7. UPDATED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 16

8. PUBLICATION ...... 17

Synopsis of Proposed Report ...... 17

9. PROJECT TEAM ...... 19

10. TASK LIST ...... 21

11. TIMETABLE ...... 22

12. REFERENCES ...... 23

APPENDIX 1: THE STRATIGRAPHY BY ALISTAIR BARBER ...... 26

APPENDIX 2: THE HISTORICAL RECORD BY GAIL STOTEN...... 27

1 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 3: THE POTTERY BY SAM INDER...... 30

APPENDIX 4: THE TILE BY SAM INDER ...... 33

APPENDIX 5: METALWORK BY SAM INDER AND ED MCSLOY ...... 34

APPENDIX 6: WORKED BONE BY SAM INDER AND DAVID HINTON ...... 35

APPENDIX 7: OTHER FINDS BY SAM INDER...... 36

APPENDIX 8: THE HUMAN BONE BY DAVID HENDERSON...... 37

APPENDIX 9: THE ANIMAL BONE BY DAVID HENDERSON ...... 42

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:1000) Fig. 2 All feature plan (1:100)

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SUMMARY

Site Name: Old Cinema Site Location: Market Cross, Malmesbury, Wiltshire NGR: NGR ST 933 874 Type: Excavation and Watching Brief Date: July to September 2002 Locatio n of A rc hive: currently with Cotswold Archaeology: to be deposited with Wiltshire County Museum Service, . Final resting place of human remains to be determined. Site Code: CSM 02

Archaeological excavation and a watching brief during construction works was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in 2002 at the Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, on behalf of Chase Homes (South West) Ltd.

Extensive evidence for medieval stone quarrying was recorded across the southern part of the site, in places truncating an earlier soil horizon of possible pre-medieval date. The principal archaeological remains were of later medieval date and comprised an inhumation cemetery in the southern half of the site, and evidence for a medieval building in the northern half. The remains of at least 90 individuals were recorded within the cemetery. The skeletons, which are in an excellent state of preservation, display a high prevalence of disease and trauma. The building remains in the northern half of the site may have been a medieval chapel. Cottages on the Market Cross street frontage were constructed in the post- medieval period, and these were replaced by a cinema in the 20th century.

This document presents a quantification and assessment of the evidence recovered from the excavation. It considers the evidence in its local, regional and national context, and presents an updated and costed project design for a programme of post-excavation analysis to bring the results to appropriate publication.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between July and September 2002, Cotswold Archaeology (CA; formerly Cotswold Archaeological Trust [CAT]) carried out archaeological excavations and a watching brief at the Old Cinema Site, Market Cross, Malmesbury, Wiltshire (centred on NGR: ST 9330 8740, Fig. 1) on behalf of Chase Homes (South West) Ltd.

Planning background 1.2 A planning application for the construction of three residential properties was granted planning consent by District Council (planning ref: 01/02711/Ful) with a condition that a programme of archaeological recording was undertaken in advance of and during the period of intrusive groundworks. The new buildings were to be founded upon reinforced concrete pad foundations, typically measuring 2m by 2m and excavated to a depth of 3m+ below the modern ground surface.

1.3 A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was prepared for an archaeological watching brief at the site (CAT 2002a). This was submitted to and North Wiltshire District Council on 1st July 2002 and observation of early groundworks for the pad foundations (Fig. 2; trenches 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 13, 14, 18 and 19) was carried out. As a result of the discovery of in situ human burials within pits 3 and 18, a meeting was held on site on 4th July 2002 between Clifford Bateman (Cotswold Archaeology), Roy Canham (Wiltshire County Council Archaeologist), and Peter Morgan (Chase Homes). As result of that meeting a revised approach to the works was agreed and a second WSI prepared (CAT 2002b).

Historical and archaeological background 1.4 The site lies within the medieval precinct of , close to the south transept of the medieval abbey church. The history of the abbey, its structures and its location within the historic have been described in depth elsewhere (particularly, for the abbey, Brakspear 1912-13, Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants 2000, Robinson and Lea 2002) and a summary account only is presented here.

1.6 The hilltop location of Malmesbury, with natural protection afforded by the surrounding looping branches of the River Avon, and steep slopes from the plateau on which the historic core of the town lies, has evidence of human activity from early

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prehistory. Excavations along the eastern side of the medieval town wall have uncovered a complex sequence of ramparts and ditches of a multivallate Iron Age hillfort, first established in the Early Iron Age (Longman 2003). It seems certain that the Old Cinema site lies within the projected circuit of these defences around the northern end of the hilltop.

1.7 A monastery was first established at Malmesbury in the 7th century AD; this flourished under the abbot St from c. AD 675 and continued to grow through the later Saxon period, with royal patronage, particularly that of King Aethelstan in the early 10th century. In the later 9th century the hilltop community which had developed around the monastery within the defences of the earlier, Iron Age hillfort, was included by King Alfred in his system of defences for the kingdom of . Excavations on the eastern town wall have provided evidence for a substantial earth and stone bank dating from the 10th or 11th century on the line of the inner Iron Age defences (Longman 2003) suggesting re-use of the prehistoric defensive circuit. By the time of the Norman Conquest, the monastery and town formed a significant economic, social and religious centre. Nothing is visible above ground of this early monastery or associated urban community and little is known of its extent or physical arrangement (beyond the evidence of the street plan of the historic core), although the evidence suggest that it most likely lay at the northern end of the plateau, in the area occupied by the later medieval abbey precinct. Late Saxon burials were excavated in 1993 by AC Archaeology 50m to the south-west, near the Market Cross itself (Hawkes 1993).

1.8 The medieval abbey was constructed from the 12th century onwards. Little remains above ground of the medieval structures of the claustral ranges. Part of the nave of the abbey church is now the church; attached to this are the partial remains of the crossing, transepts and the west end which are the only other visible physical evidence of the main abbey complex.

1.9 In 1544, following the Suppression by Henry VIII, William Stumpe acquired the abbey site, the church and other buildings and lands and this is likely to have included the site of the 2002 investigations. Of relevance is the account of who visited the town in 1542 and reported ‘…There was a little chirch joining to the south side of the transeptum of thabby chirch…wevers now have lomes in this little church, but it stondith and is a very old pece of work…’ (Robinson and Lea

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2002, 16-17). This chapel may have been Saxon in origin and must have lain close to or within the Cinema site.

1.10 The site itself had been subject to two previous archaeological investigations carried out by AC Archaeology in connection with previous development proposals (Fig. 2). Evaluation in 1995 identified remnant medieval surfacing, broadly dated to the 13th to 14th centuries, although it had largely been truncated by post-medieval disturbance interpreted as possible quarrying or stone robbing. Evidence of post-medieval walls broadly correlating with cottages depicted on 19th-century surveys of the town were also identified (Hawkes 1995). In 1996, archaeological observations undertaken during the excavation of engineering test-pits further revealed the previously identified medieval surfacing. In addition, disarticulated human bone was recovered close to the Market Cross frontage which, although remaining undated, was postulated as being of late Saxon or medieval origin; one skull was considered to potentially be an in situ burial (Hawkes 1996).

2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 The aims and objectives as stated in the WSIs for the excavation and watching brief (CAT 2002a and b) were straightforward but all encompassing:

 to ensure the preservation by record of all archaeological remains revealed and/or identify deposits where preservation in situ would be the preferred option;  to ensure that a full and detailed record of the site is compiled;  to elucidate the form, function and status of activity on the site and to establish its chronology and phasing, and to provide data regarding the date and character of the site which will form the basis of a full report for publication.

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Following the monitoring by watching brief of pad foundations 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 13, 14 and 18 and 19 and the discovery of in situ human burials within pits 3 and 18, pits 4, 5, 7, 17, 19, 20 were identified as being of high potential for the survival of further in situ burials. It was agreed that the excavation of these pits should be undertaken by CA archaeologists. In the event that human burials were encountered during these excavations, the prime objective would be to preserve the human remains in situ.

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Should it be necessary to excavate the remains, such work was to be undertaken under the provisions of Home Office regulations (Section 25 of the 1857 Burial Act). Additionally, although foundation pits 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 11, 15, 16, 17 were sited within an area of post-medieval and modern disturbance, it was agreed that a programme of archaeological monitoring should be maintained during their mechanical excavation. Similarly, the mechanical excavation of the associated ground beams and service runs were to be archaeologically monitored to ensure that no upstanding ‘islands’ of archaeological deposits were disturbed.

3.3 Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were recorded in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996). Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental and palaeoeconomic potential in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking of Samples for Palaeoenvironmental/Palaeoeconomic Analysis from Archaeological Sites (1994). All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995).

4. RESULTS

Fieldwork summary 4.1 Four periods of activity were identified during excavation, based on dating evidence, stratigraphic relationships and the nature of various features and deposits. These periods comprise:

Period 1: Prehistoric and Roman (to AD 410) Period 2: Medieval (AD 410-1539) Period 3: Post-medieval (1539-1800) Period 4: Modern (1800+)

4.2 This section provides an overview of the excavation results. All significant results are shown on Fig. 2. Details of the stratigraphic, finds and biological assessments (including human remains) are to be found in Appendices 1 to 8.

Period 0: Geological 4.3 The natural geological substrate of clays and limestone bedrock was exposed within six pile-shafts (trenches 3, 14, 15, 18, 19 and 20).

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Period 1: Prehistoric and Roman (to AD 410) 4.4 A relatively clean, stone-free clay soil, which directly overlay the natural clays and limestone, survived within three pile shafts close to the street frontage (trenches 5, 18 and 19). This deposit was not encountered within any of the other pile shafts, where it appears to have been entirely removed by medieval (Period 2, phase 1) quarrying.

4.5 Several sherds of Iron Age and Romano-British pottery were recovered from a clay soil (1504) at the base of the excavations, but no Anglo-Saxon or medieval artefacts were present. A pre-medieval date for this soil horizon is therefore likely.

Period 2: Medieval (AD 410-1539) Phase 1 4.6 Extensive evidence of stone quarrying was recorded across the southern part of the site. Quarry-pit edges, and associated backfill deposits of clean, fragmentary, limestone, were noted within pile-shafts 9, 15, 18 and 20. Identical fragmentary limestone deposits were recorded at the limit of excavation across pile-pits 1-8, 10- 12, 16 and 17.

4.7 It is uncertain, given the limited view afforded by excavation and a paucity of dateable material, whether the quarrying represents a single event or whether the quarry pits and fills identified reflect extraction over a longer period of time. The quarry fills appeared relatively free of artefactual material which, taken together with an absence of accumulated silts and of intercutting features, including any obvious reopening of earlier quarries, suggests that the pits had each been opened and backfilled within a short period of time.

4.8 Dateable material was recovered from two quarry fills, comprising 13th to 15th- century potsherds from pit fill 773 and mid 12th to 13th-century+ pottery from fill 932.

4.9 One small pit was noted, cutting through earlier quarry waste, but sealed in turn by the Period 2 phase 2 gravesoil. The fill 937 contained abundant animal bone together with pottery of 13th-century date.

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Phase 2 4.10 A medieval graveyard soil subsequently developed over the previously quarried ground. This horizon, surviving up to 0.8m in thickness, was noted within trenches 1- 3, 6-9, 15 and 18-20 across the southern part of the site. Post-medieval and modern disturbance appeared to have entirely removed any graveyard soil that may have existed within the central part of the site. Medieval structural remains encountered within the northern part of the site were not overlain by burials, although a soil horizon which later overlay the medieval demolition levels contained disarticulated human bone.

4.11 All of the inhumation burials encountered were aligned east/west and lacked grave goods, although dateable material was recoverable from a number of grave fills and from the graveyard soil. No marker stones or posts were discernible but graves were generally closely set, with up to six superimposed layers of burial surviving across the site.

4.12 Despite the homogeneous nature of the graveyard soil and of the grave fills within this, grave cuts were discernible in some instances and in situ coffin nails were also occasionally present. The density of surviving interments reduced towards the street frontage, although this correlates with an area of Period 3 disturbance. Remains of at least 90 individuals were identified during excavation.

4.13 The earliest grave cuts penetrated the underlying (Period 2 phase 1) quarry fills. This may mean that the burials date no earlier than the mid 12th to 13th centuries but the absence of detailed information described above regarding the nature and duration of the quarrying, this cannot be asserted with confidence at this stage. Pottery and tile fragments were recovered from a number of grave fills, the earliest finds being of 11th to 13th-century date and the majority of 13th to 14th-century date. One of the stratigraphically latest inhumations, Burial 83, produced pottery of 15th or 16th- century date from its grave fill, suggesting that the northern part of graveyard continued in use during the later medieval period, perhaps up to the Dissolution.

4.14 Medieval structural remains were recorded within the northern half of the site. These consisted of floor make-up layers previously recorded during the preceding evaluation, and walling and flooring recorded by CA during the excavation of a trench for new services at the north-eastern corner of the site. The latter identified a generally well-preserved north/south-aligned stone wall footing 2105 with external

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buttress 2106 and associated floor make-up layers 2115 and 2116, together with an apparently in situ stone flag from the latest floor of the building.

4.15 Identification of a building adjacent to, and broadly parallel with, the southern side of the Abbey, together with the quality of materials used in its construction, suggests that this may represent the remains of one of a series of medieval chapels known to have lain in the Abbey vicinity. Medieval tile fragments were recovered from a rubble deposit, 2104, immediately east of wall 2105. These tiles indicate a 13th to 15th- century date for the latest occupation of the building, broadly contemporary with the adjoining part of graveyard with its 13th to 14th-century burials. The medieval structural remains were overlain by a soil, 2103, identical to the graveyard soil but containing only disarticulated human bone.

Period 3: Post-medieval (1539-1800) 4.16 The walls of the medieval building had been comprehensively dismantled and associated floor materials had also been robbed for reusable building materials. Post-medieval pits 2109 and 2111 had cut into and removed areas of medieval floor bedding material.

4.17 Post-medieval soil and stone deposits, overlying earlier quarry waste, were noted within trenches 2, 4, 5, 10-12, 16 and 17, indicating extensive post-medieval disturbance within the central part of the site.

4.18 Period 3 structural remains consisted of a short section of north/south-aligned wall footing 772 within trench 7, and a stone-built cellar recorded within trenches 9 and 14. Pottery of 16th to 18th-century date was recovered from the upper levels of the former gravesoil.

Period 4: Modern (1800+) 4.19 A deep, modern intrusion was located within trenches 19 and 20, probably a result of the removal of footings associated with the post-medieval cottages that stood the street frontage. An extensive modern deposit of stone, brick and concrete, 0.5m thick, overlay the former gravesoil and reflects demolition of the modern cinema, which was constructed in the 20th century.

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Stratigraphic Record: factual data 4.20 Following the completion of the excavation an ordered, indexed, and internally consistent site archive was compiled in accordance with specifications presented in the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). A database of all contextual and artefactual evidence and a site matrix was also compiled and cross-referenced to spot-dating. The excavation comprises the following records:

Context sheets 450 Plans (1:10, 1:20, 1:100) 12 Sections (1:10, 1:20) 11 Monochrome Films 10 Colour slide Films 10 Matrices 21

4.21 The survival and intelligibility of the site stratigraphy was relatively good, with archaeological remains having survived as both negative features and as stratified deposits and upstanding building remains in parts of the site. Despite a relative paucity of precise dating evidence, all features have been provisionally assigned to a period for the purposes of assessment.

Artefactual record: factual data 4.22 All artefactual material collected during the excavation has been cleaned, marked, quantified and catalogued by context.

Type Category Sherd/frag. count Weight (g)

Pottery - 365 4462 Fired clay - 2 - Stone Roof tile 13 121 Tile Floor 136 7473 Ceramic roofing 55 1848 Clay pipe - 5 - Glass - 5 - Metal artefacts Iron nails 102 - Plaster 13 494 Slag 2 60 Flint 1 -

Pottery 4.23 A total of 365 sherds of pottery weighing 4.462kg were recovered. The condition of the assemblage is generally good with few instances of abrasion or leaching of inclusions. The bulk of the pottery is medieval in date with smaller quantities of Iron Age, Roman, Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman and post-medieval material also present.

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Tile 4.24 136 fragments of floor tile were recovered, the majority of which display a single dark glaze. Decorated examples are also present and include floral and possible zoomorphic patterns. Smaller quantities of ceramic and stone roofing tile were also recovered.

Worked Bone 4.25 Two worked bone objects were recovered. Most significant is an acanthus leaf decorated bone mount, which probably dates to the late 9th to mid 10th-century AD. A ‘tableman’ type gaming piece, which probably dates to the 12th or 13th centuries, was also recovered.

Metal Artefacts 4.26 Objects of iron are restricted to a large group of (mainly) coffin nails. A small number of non-ferrous items were also recovered including a finger ring of probable earlier medieval type and a small medieval buckle with textile impressions and mineral- preserved fragments of the leather belt preserved within corrosion products to the rear of the buckle plate.

Fired clay 4.27 Two fragments of fired clay were recovered of which only one has no identifiable form; the other was a fragment of a triangular or pyramidal clay weight of probable Iron Age date.

Flint 4.28 A single unpatinated flint flake was recovered to which only a broad earlier prehistoric (probably Neolithic to Bronze Age) date can be assigned.

Clay pipe 4.29 Five fragments of clay pipe were recovered of which four are stem fragments and one is a bowl. No markers marks or decoration is present.

Glass 4.30 Five fragments of glass were retrieved of which three are highly fragmentary pieces of undecorated window glass. Two fragments of post-medieval bottle glass were also recovered.

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Slag 4.31 Ironworking slag amounting to 60g was recovered. None of this material is diagnostic of process.

Mortar 4.32 A small quantity of mortar was recovered of which the majority are highly fragmentary and formless pieces. All fragments derive from post-medieval dated contexts.

Biological record: factual data

Type Quantity (fragment count) Human remains 90 individuals + disarticulated material Animal bone 1002

Human remains 4.33 The remains of 90 inhumations were recovered, of which 21 were left in situ. A substantial quantity of non-articulated bone was also recovered. A total of 15 immature individuals are represented, and of the adults that can be identified to sex, 33 are male and 21 female. Nearly half of the adults where age could be estimated were over 45 years old at death. The bones are in an excellent state of preservation and a high incidence of disease and trauma is apparent.

Animal bone 4.34 A total of 1002 items of well-preserved faunal bone was recovered. Species represented include cattle, horse, sheep/goat, pig, domestic fowl, game animals (red, fallow and roe deer, possibly some wild bird species, rabbit) and dog and cat. Two fish vertebrae were also noted.

Historical record: factual data 4.35 A review of the historical and cartographic data within local archive repositories was carried out. Most available material is secondary, in the form of narrative accounts of the history of aspects of the history of the town and abbey of Malmesbury; only a limited number of relevant primary sources may be relevant to the site and its developmental history.

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5. STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL

Stratigraphic record 5.1 A secure stratigraphic sequence is essential to elucidating the form, purpose, date, organisation and development of the various phases of activity represented. This can be achieved through full analysis of those parts of the sequence provisionally dated to the Roman, medieval and post-medieval periods. This may also benefit from further integration of both artefactual and historical dating evidence. Full analysis of the geological and modern components of the stratigraphic record is not required.

Artefactual record 5.2 The pottery is of importance as the main source of dating evidence and will provide the chronological framework for the stratigraphic sequence using the diagnostic pottery from the assemblage. The level of recording undertaken to date is considered sufficient for archiving purposes.

5.3 Of some intrinsic amongst the pottery is the small quantity of material believed to represent an early variety medieval ‘Cotswold oolitic’ wares and likely to date to the Late Saxon or Saxo-Norman period. As such this material compares to material known from and the northern , but seemingly rare outside of this area. Additional recording is required to adequately characterise this material, to include a fabric description.

5.4 A short summary report characterising the pottery assemblage will be prepared to meet minimum standards issued by the Medieval Pottery Research Group (2001). A small number of vessels, including two of Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman type, require illustration to demonstrate the character of the ceramic assemblage.

5.5 The floor tile is of interest as it demonstrates technological and stylistic differences compared with material known previously from Malmesbury town and Abbey. A report characterising the nature of the material will be produced following guidelines set out in the Medieval Pottery Research Group (2001).

5.6 The two worked bone objects both require illustration. In the case of the bone mount a detailed report has been produced by Prof David Hinton and little additional work is

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required. The ‘tableman’ gaming piece will require full description to characterise its form and decoration.

5.7 Full catalogue descriptions should be prepared for two of the copper-alloy objects, a finger ring (Rf.1) and a buckle (Rf. 12). Short catalogue descriptions for the remaining metal items, other than nails, should be prepared for the archive. Further consideration should be given to nails which can be associated with individual graves as these may provide evidence for the form of the coffins.

5.8 No further work is required for the small groups of clay pipe, glass, flint or stone roofing tile.

Biological record 5.9 The excellent preservation of a relatively large human bone assemblage affords a rear and important opportunity to study a historic cemetery population in detail. In particular, the pattern of degenerative diseases and trauma will be examined. Full analysis of the patterns of health and disease, both within this assemblage and with external comparanda, may indicate that some form of selection was in operation within this cemetery. Patterns of tooth decay will inform on aspects of diet and childhood health.

5.10 The excellent preservation of the human bone allows for radiocarbon dating, particularly of the stratigraphically earliest skeletons which could inform on the commencement of use of the cemetery. Four radiocarbon dates are recommended to determine the date of the earliest burial activity.

5.11 Recording of the animal bone assemblage to archive standard has been undertaken as part of this assessment. No further recording or analysis is required.

Historical record 5.12 The nature of the available archive suggests that specific and detailed new information regarding the medieval and post-medieval land-use within this area is unlikely to be identified. The primary and secondary records of higher potential will be reviewed and a summary report prepared for publication.

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6. STORAGE AND CURATION

6.1 All recovered artefactual material, including pottery, animal bone and tile is stable and requires no further treatment for long-term storage. Such material is stored by context in polythene bags with acid-free, brass wire-stitched cardboard boxes. Suitable arrangements will be made for transfer of the site archives to the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes, Wiltshire.

6.2 Following scientific analysis, an appropriate resting place for the human remains recovered during this excavation will be secured in consultation with the appropriate bodies and in accordance with the CA Policy on the Handling of Human Remains.

7. UPDATED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

7.1 The original project aims and objectives have been reviewed and updated in the light of the assessment. New aims and objectives have been established.

A. Examine the Iron Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon artefacts recovered in the context of the previous finds of these periods from the town.

7.2 Although residual, does the size and condition of the Iron Age pottery and loomweight fragment, and of the Roman pottery, suggest primary deposition occurred on site? Where this material occurs within medieval grave contexts is it likely to have been disturbed from an underlying pre-medieval horizon? Could the finds have been introduced onto the site within deposits imported from external sources, perhaps in creating a graveyard soil horizon? How does the date and character of these small assemblages compare with chance finds and excavated material previously recorded from Malmesbury?

B. Establish the date and character of the Late Anglo-Saxon activity.

7.3 Are any features or deposits of recognisably Anglo-Saxon in date? Is all of the material residual in context? Could any of the quarrying be of Anglo-Saxon date? Are the earliest burials of Anglo-Saxon date? What comparisons can be made with Middle and Late Saxon pottery from the locality? Is the Late Anglo-Saxon decorated bone mount best paralleled in religious contexts?

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C. Establish the dates, chronology and nature of medieval activity

7.4 When did stone quarrying occur? Do the quarries represent a single phase of stone extraction? How do the burials relate stratigraphically to the quarrying?

7.5 What was the building excavated at the northern end of the site? When was it built and when was it demolished? Do the decorated tiles and other materials indicate that this was a chapel? Can historical sources help to identify the building? Do any graves, particularly those late in the stratigraphic sequence, contain building materials likely to derive from demolition of the building?

7.6 When did the use of the cemetery begin and end? What was the burial practice within the cemetery? Where did the graveyard soil come from? Is there any differentiation in the density of burial across the excavated area? Is there evidence of spatial patterning within the cemetery, reflecting sex, age, diet, disease, burial rites? If so, how can these be interpreted? How do they compare with the burials excavated nearby at Market Cross?

D. Establish the dates, chronology and nature of post-medieval activity

7.7 How was the site utilised after Dissolution? Are there cartographic or documentary references to buildings on the site? If their positions are depicted do they broadly correlate with the limited wall footings and other remains found during excavation?

8. PUBLICATION

8.1 The results from this excavation, merit publication and are of obvious regional significance, it is proposed that a full report be published in The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine.

Synopsis of Proposed Report

The Old Cinema Site, Market Cross, Malmesbury: Excavations in 2002 by Alistair Barber, Mark Collard and David Henderson

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Abstract Brief summary of main findings of the project 200 words

Introduction (Mark Collard) Project background 300 words Topography and geology 300 words Historical background (Gail Stoten) 800 words Archaeological background 400 words Methodology 400 words

Excavation Results (Alistair Barber) Chronological account of the excavation 2000 words

The Human Remains (David Henderson) 1500 words

The Finds Pottery and tile (Sam Inder) 1500 words Worked metal and bone (David Hinton and Sam Inder) 1000 words Radiocarbon Dating (Sylvia Warman) 300 words

Discussion (Mark Collard, Alistair Barber and David Henderson) Site history and development 1500 words The medieval cemetery 1500 words

Acknowledgements & Bibliography 800 words

TEXT TOTAL 12,500 words (c. 17 pages) Illustrations: Location of site 1 page Historical plates 1 page Site plan with phasing 1 page Examples of some of the skeletons 1 page Photographs of excavation and human bone 2 pages Pottery, tile, metalwork and bone artefacts 3 pages Discussion illustrations 1 page 10 pages

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Tables: Pottery: 1 page Human bone: 4 pages 5 pages

Total Publication Estimate: c. 32 pages

9. PROJECT TEAM

9.1 The post-excavation and publication programme will be under the overall management of Martin Watts MIFA (Head of Publications: HP) who will co-ordinate the work of the following personnel:

Mark Collard MIFA (Head of Contracts and Operations: HCO): Publication text: discussion (main author)

Alistair Barber MIFA (Senior Project Officer: SPO) Stratigraphic analysis, preparation of archive Publication text: abstract and introduction, excavation results, discussion,

Gail Stoten AIFA (Research Officer: RO) Historical research Publication text: introduction (historical background)

Ed McSloy MIFA (Finds Officer: FO): Stratigraphic Analysis; specialist liaison

Sylvia Warman MIFA (Environmental Officer: EO) Specialist liaison Publication text: radiocarbon dating

Sam Inder (Finds Supervisor: FS) Further analysis of pottery, tile, metalwork and bone Publication text: Pottery and tile, worked metal and bone

Peter Moore (Senior Illustrator: SI): Production of all site plans, sections and artefact drawings for publication

19 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

9.2 Contributions by the following external consultants will be managed by the Finds Officer and Environmental Officer:

David Henderson Human bone Professor David Hinton Worked bone mount University of Waikato (New Zealand): Radiocarbon dating

9.3 The final publication report will be edited and refereed internally by CA senior project management, will be externally copy-edited and externally refereed by Carolyn Heighway (Archaeological Consultant).

20 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

10. TASK LIST

TASK PERSONNEL DURATION/ COST Project Management HP 2 days Stratigraphic Analysis SPO 2 days Research, comparanda Historical RO 2 days

Specialist liaison, material preparation and dispatch FO 0.5 day EO 0.5 day Pottery Analysis and report FS 2 days Illustration SI 0.5 day Tile Analysis and report FS 4 days Illustration (photograph) SI 0.5 day Metalwork Report preparation FS 1 day Worked bone Analysis and report FS 0.5 day Report Specialist completed illustration (photograph) SI 0.5 day Radiocarbon dating Analysis Specialist Fee Report preparation EO 0.5 day Human Bone Analysis and report Specialist completed

Preparation of publication report Abstract and introduction SPO 2 days RO 1 day SI 0.5 day Excavation results SPO 2 days SI 2 days Compilation of specialist reports, tables etc. FO 1 day Discussion, conclusions SPO 1 day HCO 2 days SI 0.5 day Acknowledgements, bibliography SPO 1 day Submission to external referees Revisions SPO 0.5 day HCO 0.5 day Editing HP 0.5 day SUBMISSION OF PUBLICATION TEXT Archive Research archive completion SPO 0.5 day FO 0.5 day Microfilm FEE Deposition FEE Publication Printing WANHM FEE

21 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

11. TIMETABLE

11.1 For a publication project, CA would normally aim to have completed a publication draft within one year of commission. A detailed programme can be produced on approval of the updated publication project design.

22 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

12. REFERENCES

Biddle, M. 1990 Object and economy in medieval Winchester Oxford, Winchester Studies VII(2)

Blinkhorn, P. and Jeffries N. 1999 ‘The Post-Roman pottery’ in A. Mudd et al. 1999, 366-72

Brakspear, H. 1912-13 ‘Malmesbury Abbey’, Archaeologia 64, 399-436

Brooks, S and Suchey, J.M. 1990 ‘Skeletal age determination based on the os pubis: a comparison of the Acsadi-Nemeskeri and Suchey-Brooks methods’, J. Hum. Evol. Vol. 5, no. 3, 227-38

Brothwell, D.R. 1981 Digging Up Bones 3rd edition, Oxford

Brown, L. 2003 ‘The later prehistoric pottery’ in T. Longman 2003, 31-5

Burchill, R. 2003 ‘The Post-Roman pottery assessment’ in Longman 2003, 35-6

CAT 2002a The Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Project Design for a Programme of Archaeological Recording CAT unpublished report (01/07/02)

CAT 2002b The Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Project Design for a Programme of Archaeological Recording CAT unpublished report (04/07/02)

CA 2003 Malmesbury Abbey West End, Malmesbury, Wiltshire: Archaeological Evaluation Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report no. 03075

Currie, C.K. 1993 ‘Excavations at the Postern Mill site, Malmesbury, 1986-7’, Archaeol. Natur. Hist. Mag 86, 58-74

Eames, E.S. 1976 ‘The Tiles’ in M.R. McCarthy 1976, 131-45

Goodall, I.H. 1981 Ironwork in Medieval Britain: An Archaeological Study unpublished Phd. Thesis

23 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Hawkes, J.W. 1993 Archaeological Excavations in Malmesbury Market Cross, October 1993 – Summary Report AC Archaeology unpublished report no. 7493/1/0

Hawkes, J.W. 1995 Archaeological Evaluation of the former Athelstan Cinema Site, Malmesbury, Wilts, November 1993 – January 1994 AC Archaeology unpublished report

Hawkes, J.W. 1996 Archaeological Observations on the site of the proposed Ivo Fuchs Centre, Malmesbury, February 1996 AC Archaeology unpublished report no. 2196/1/0

Ireland, C.A. 1998 ‘The Pottery’, in D. Wilkinson and A. McWhirr 1998, 98-14

Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants 2000 The West End of Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants unpublished report K582 – July 2000

Longman, T. 2003 Excavations at the Town Wall, Malmesbury, 1998-2000 Bristol and Region Archaeological Services unpublished report no. 1082/2003

Lovejoy, C.O., Meindl, R.S., Pryzbeck T.R. and Mensforth, R.P. 1985 ‘Chronological metamorphosis of the auricular surface of the ilium: a new method for determination of adult skeletal age at death’, Am. J. Phys. Anthrop. 68, 15-28

McCarthy, M.R. 1976 ‘The Medieval Kilns on Nash Hill, Lacock, Wiltshire’, Wiltshire Archaeol. Natur. Hist. Soc. 69, 97-160

MacGregor, A. 1985 Bone, Antler, Ivory and Horn: the technology of skeletal materials since the Roman period Beckenham, Croom Helm Ltd

Mellor, M. 1994 ‘A Synthesis of Middle and Late Saxon, Medieval and Early Post-medieval Pottery in the Oxford Region’, Oxoniensia 59, 17-217

MPRG 2001 Minimum standards for the processing, recording, analysis and publication of post-Roman ceramics Medieval Pottery Research Group Occasional Paper No. 2

24 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Mudd, A., Williams, R.J. and Lupton, A. 1999 Excavations alongside Roman Ermin Street, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire: The archaeology of the A419/A417 to Gloucester road scheme Oxford, Oxford Archaeological Unit

Musty, J. 1973 ‘A Preliminary Account of a Medieval Pottery Industry at , North Wiltshire’, Wiltshire Archaeol. Natur. Hist. Mag 68, 79-88

RFG/FRG 1993 Guidelines for the preparation of site archives and assessments for all finds other than fired clay vessels Report of the joint working party of the Roman Finds Group and the Finds Research Group AD 700-1700

Robinson, D.M. and Lea, R. 2002 Malmesbury Abbey: History, Archaeology and Architecture to Illustrate the Significance of the South Aisle Screen English Heritage Historical Analysis & Research Team Reports and Papers 61 (unpublished)

Saville, A. (ed) 1984 Archaeology in Gloucestershire Cheltenham, Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museums/Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society

Scheuer, L. and Black, S. 2000 Developmental Juvenile Osteology London

Ubelaker, D.H. 1999 Human Skeletal Remains 3rd edition, Washington

Vince, A.G. 1984 ‘Late Saxon and medieval pottery in Gloucestershire’, in A. Saville (ed.) 1984, 248-75

Vince, A.G., 1998 ‘Medieval floor tiles’, in D. Wilkinson and A. McWhirr 1998, 142-55

WEA (Workshop of European Anthropologists) 1980 ‘Recommendations for age and sex diagnoses of skeletons’, J. of Hum. Evol. 9, 517-49

Whitehead, R. 1996 Buckles 1250-1800 Chelmsford, Greenlight publishing

Wilkinson, D. and McWhirr, A. 1998 Cirencester Anglo-Saxon Church and Medieval Abbey Cirencester Excavations IV, Cirencester, Cotswold Archaeological Trust

25 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 1: THE STRATIGRAPHY BY ALISTAIR BARBER

Quantification

409 contexts were recorded during the course of the project.

These contexts have been assigned to the following provisional phases:

Geological: 7 Undated: 4 Medieval (phase 1): 28 (phase 2): 311 Post-medieval: 19 Modern: 40 TOTAL: 409

Potential for further analysis Further analysis is proposed for contexts provisionally assigned to the medieval and post-medieval periods, and for undated contexts. Further analysis is therefore proposed for 361 contexts.

26 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 2: THE HISTORICAL RECORD BY GAIL STOTEN

A review to identify primary and secondary historical and cartographic sources available within local accessible archive repositories was undertaken. The following source were identified:

Group Source Reviewed Further potential Library in search Wiltshire Glebe Terriers 1588-1827, Wiltshire Record Society y none room Vol. 56 Registum Malmesburiense y low Jackson, 1864, Article in WAM 8 medium Britannicus, 1862, ‘Who founded Malmesbury? WAM 22 low Jackson, JE, ‘Malmesbury’ in WAM 8 unknown Brakspear, H, ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in WAM 38 high ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in WAM 19 unknown Cartographic Malmesbury Tithe Map 1843, (WRO TA Malmesbury) y low Malmesbury Enclosure Award (WRO EA 142) y low Panoramic view of Malmesbury of 1648 (WRO G21/1/43 H) y low Malmesbury map showing borough boundaries (WRO y low G21/139/1) Map of the town of Malmesbury, mostly the property of George y none Rushout, 1845 (survey book cat.212B/4462) Map of Malmesbury showing railway line through Lord y none Norwich’s property, 1879 Miscellaneous Copy of deed of part of the site of Malmesbury Abbey (WRO medium parish/churchwardens/2454/5) Malmesbury Abbey Church, building and restoration, low H.Brakspear 1927-9 (WRO 2512/100/9) Malmesbury Abbey Church, building and restoration, low O.Brakspear 1934-90 (WRO 2512/1700/28) Malmesbury deanery: list of money spent on rebuilding and low restoration 1840-1870s (524/4a) Parish records Lease from church wardens of a walled garden at the east end medium (pre 1832) of the abbey churchyard (WRO 1589/27b) Printed history of the Abbey 1947 (WRO 1589/82) medium Beaghen’s history and guidebook of the abbey 1953 (WRO medium 1589/87) Malmesbury Abbey Guide book 1970s (WRO 1589/87) low

Wiltshire Record Office

Wiltshire Local studies Library

Public Access

Source Reviewed Further Potential Bird, JT, 1876, The History of Malmesbury and its Ancient Abbey medium Bowen, J, 2000, The Story of Malmesbury. low Brakspear, H, 1913, Malmesbury Abbey, reprint from Archaeologia low Hudson, 1977, A Hilltop Town y none Modern guidebooks to Malmesbury Abbey low Moffatt, 1805, The History of Malmesbury and its Ancient Abbey medium Osborn, JL, 1919, Malmesbury medium Perkins, TP, 1901, Bath, Malmesbury and Bradford on Avon y medium Porter, HM, St. Aldhelm low

27 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Local studies restricted access

Source Reviewed Further Potential Dugdale, W, Monasticon Anglicanum low Fowler, 1947, Saint Aldhelm, first Abbot of Malmesbury low Freeman, J, 1999, A history of Malmesbury low Hodge 1968, A history of Malmesbury low Jackson, JE, 1883, Malmesbury Abbey in its best days low Jefferies, R, 1867, History of Malmesbury Y none Jennings, JCS, The History of Ancient Malmesbury low King and Potter, 1998, A translation of ’s History Novella low Leland, Itinerary (RNF AAA 945) low Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire (probably a guide book) low Riddick, N, A history of Malmesbury low Winterbottom and Thomson, 2002, A translation of William of Malmesbury’s Saint’s low Lives Buildings file for Malmesbury Abbey, including various prints Y none

Malmesbury Town Hall

Source Reviewed Further potential Borough records. A list of these documents is held at Wiltshire List of titles none Records Office. The material comprises various surveys and reviewed leases.

Malmesbury Athelstan Museum

Source Reviewed Further potential Various prints of the Abbey. These were reviewed by Cox and low Thorpe and are unlikely to be of further potential The Museum may hold early maps of the town. medium These were not held by Wiltshire Record Office

Bristol Record Office

Source Reviewed Further potential Diocesan faculties (post 1832) low Plan of the eastern end of the abbey (BRO EP/J/6/2/164 low

National Monuments Record

Source Reviewed Further potential ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in The Archaeological Journal, 87, 1930 low Akerman, John Younge, 1857, Some Account of the Possessions of low the Abbey of Malmesbury in the days of the Anglo-Saxon kings, in Archaeologia, 37 ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Archaeological unknown Journal, 9, 1903 Brakspear, H, ‘Excavations at Some Wiltshire Monasteries, in unknown Archaeologia 10 Brodie, 1998, ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in The Archaeological Journal unknown supplement 145. Hills, 1869, ‘Malmesbury’ in JBAA 25 unknown Paul, 1895, ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in The Builder 68 unknown ‘Malmesbury Abbey’ in the Proceedings of the Bath Natural History unknown and Antiquarian Field Club

28 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Malmesbury Abbey

Source Reviewed Further potential Various 20th-century records low Akerman, John Younge, 1857, Some account of the Possessions of low the Abbey of Malmesbury in the days of the Anglo-Saxon kings (available at NMR too)

Bristol University Arts and Humanities Library

Source Reviewed Further potential Butterworth, J. 1999, Monastic Sites and Monastic Estates in medium Somerset and Wiltshire in the : A regional Approach Haslam, J, 1984, Anglo-Saxon in Southern y low Eulogium Historiarum, anon, Rolls Series 9, 1858-63 medium, but no translation available Short articles in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1824, 1837, 1863 low The Prose and Works of Adhelm, Lapidge and Herren, 1979 ;ow

Repository not known

Source Reviewed Further potential Morriss, R, 1991, ‘Thomas Witney at Exeter, Winchester and Wells’ low De Gestis Pontificum, William of Malmesbury, Roll Series 52, 1870, low an English translation

Held at CA

Source Reviewed Further potential Luce, RH, 1979, The history of the Abbey and town of Malmesbury low Watkin, 1956, VCH chapter Y none Brakspear, H, 1903, ‘Proceedings of the Annual Spring Meeting at low Malmesbury and Sherston, TBGAS 26

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

The majority of the available sources are of low potential for providing detailed and specific information regarding the archaeological remains on the site. It is proposed that a detailed review of the following documents is made, with a particular emphasis on attempting to recover information relating to former land-use within the site, with the preparation of a summary report for publication:

WAM articles for volumes 8, 19 and 38; TBGAS article for volume 26; Malmesbury Tithe map 1843; Malmesbury panorama 1648; Malmesbury borough boundaries map; Abbey deed (copy in WRO); Abbey churchwarden’s lease (WRO); Abbey history 1947 (WRO); Abbey history and guidebook 1953 (WRO); Bird History of Malmesbury (WLSL); Bowen Story of Malmesbury (WLSL); Brakspear 1913 article in Archaeologia (WLSL); Moffat History of Malmesbury (WLSL); Osborn Malmesbury (WLSL); Perkins Bath, Malmesbury etc. (WLSL); King and Potter William of Malmesbury (WLSL: RA); Leland itinery (WLSL: RA); Winterbottom and Thomson William of Malmesbury (WLSL: RA); Early maps (Athelstan Museum); Luce history of Malmesbury Abbey (CA).

29 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 3: THE POTTERY BY SAM INDER

A total of 365 sherds of pottery weighing 4.462kg was recovered. The majority of the pottery is medieval in date, with small quantities of Iron Age, Roman, post-medieval and modern types also present.

The condition of the pottery is generally good although a small number of sherds in calcareous fabrics have been subject to some leaching of inclusions, resulting in a vesicular appearance. The average sherd weight is moderately high at 12.2g for a largely medieval and later group, where fabrics tend towards the robust. The presence of several large (post-medieval) sherds has however inflated this figure and the overall impression is of a fairly well broken-up assemblage.

For the purposes of this assessment the pottery has been scanned by context and sorted by eye or with the assistance of a low powered microscope. Quantification is by sherd count and weight (g) per fabric.

Assemblage Composition

Pottery date/type Count Count % Weight(g) %Weight Iron Age 8 2.2 49 1.1 Romano-British 18 4.9 145 3.2 Late Saxon/ 13 3.3 174 3.8 Saxo-Norman Medieval 302 83.5 3092 69.6 Post-medieval 24 6.0 1002 22.3 Total 365 4462

Iron Age and Romano-British Small groups of Iron Age and Roman pottery were recovered. The Iron Age material, which is all demonstrably residual, consists of un-featured body sherds of a coarse fossil shell-tempered fabric. All of the Iron Age material derives from contexts within Trench 15.

Roman pottery accounts for just 4.9% of the assemblage. The bulk of this material is clearly residual, occurring with medieval or later pottery types. Two contexts, buried soil horizon 1504 and dumped deposit 2004 produced exclusively Roman or Roman and Iron Age material. Both deposits produced only small numbers of sherds and it is unclear at present whether or not this material is residual.

The Roman group comprises mainly locally produced (North Wiltshire type) reduced and oxidised wares and two sherds of Dorset Black-Burnished ware. Few rim featured sherds occur and identifiable forms are restricted to neck-less jars with everted and bead rims (from dumped layer 2004 and soil horizon 1504 respectively). The latter may be indicative of earlier Roman (1st or 2nd century AD) dating. A Black-Burnished ware sherd from graveyard soil 1503 which features obtuse angled burnished lattice decoration is dateable to the 3rd or 4th centuries AD. The remainder of the Roman material is only very broadly dateable to between the late 1st to the 4th centuries AD.

Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman A small group of pottery has been tentatively ascribed a Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman date (c. 10th to mid 12th century AD). All of this material appears to be residual or in stratigraphically later contexts occurring alongside medieval/post-medieval material. This pottery is distinct from Cotswold Oolitic type F202, which dominates the medieval assemblage, being poorly finished, predominantly black-firing and thicker-walled. The fabric is also coarser compared to the ‘standard’ medieval fabric and contains large fragments of shelly limestone. Forms are restricted to two jars/cooking pots with simple everted rims. One vessel from grave soil 1503 is apparently globular and reminiscent of Middle and Late Saxon vessels known elsewhere. Comparisons can be made in the wider region to Gloucester fabric TF41a, which is known from Gloucester itself and predominantly northern Gloucestershire or Worcestershire sites, and is dateable to the later 10th to 11th centuries (Vince 1984, 252-3). The Malmesbury fabric is lacks the chert and sandstone inclusions which are characteristic of TF41a and probably derives from a different, probably southern Cotswolds, source.

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Medieval

Cirencester Description Count Count % Weight (g) Weight % type series F202 Cotswold Oolitic 197 65.3 1933 62.5 F200 Minety type 71 23.6 860 27.9 F240 Bath A 6 2.0 37 1.2 - Laverstock 2 0.7 14 0.4 - Coarse Limestone tempered 5 1.6 32 1.0 F201? Kennet Valley 1 0.3 3 0.1 F206 Ham Green 1 0.3 22 0.7 F262 Bristol Redcliffe 1 0.3 9 0.3 - Miscellaneous 18 5.9 182 5.9 Total 302 3092

Medieval pottery makes up the bulk of the assemblage (table 1), representing 83.5% according to count. Locally produced Cotswold oolitic ware dominates, accounting for 62.9% of all represented fabrics by count. The limestone tempered fabric is abundant throughout the region and well documented (Ireland 1985; Mellor 1994). Jars are the dominant vessel form with both simple and ‘developed’ rim forms occurring. Other forms include a hammerhead bowl from grave fill 760 and a bowl (cheese mould?) with pre-firing perforations from the same context which can be paralleled locally from and Latton (Blinkhorn and Jeffries 1999, 366). Few examples of decoration are present with the exception of a thumbed rim jar from grave fill 920 and a number of sherds displaying combed decoration.

A second coarseware fabric of ‘Newbury C’ type calcareous gravel and flint tempered wares probably from the Kennet Valley is represented as a single sherd.

Minety ware represents 23.3% of the total and is also locally produced (Musty 1973). The forms are again dominated by jars although jug forms are also present. A stabbed strap handle was recovered from grave fill 714 and an ‘inset rope’ rod handle was retrieved from pit fill 937. A small scored decorated jug sherd from grave fill 717 also exhibits an applied strip.

The remaining represented fabrics consist of glazed tablewares and coarseware types from non-local sources. Glazed jug forms are common including a sherd of probable Laverstock origin from fill 303 which exhibits applied decoration. Other glazed jug fabrics comprise Ham Green and Redcliffe wares from Bristol and a small number of unglazed sandy and lead-glazed sherds of unknown source. Non-local coarsewares are present as single sherds of flint/calcareous tempered ‘Newbury C’ type fabric and from micaceous/calcareous ‘Bath A’ type fabric, known abundantly in Bristol and north Somerset and probably originating in that area.

Post-medieval A small group of post-medieval pottery was recovered, accounting for just 6% of the total assemblage according to count. A range of forms and fabrics are represented although glazed earthenwares are most common. Several sherds of locally produced Ashton Keynes type ware were retrieved including a large jar from quarry fill 404 with a band of thumbed decoration beneath the rim. Continental imports are represented by three sherds of German Frechen stoneware including jug bases from quarry fills 403 and 1603. Small quantities of tin-glazed earthenware probably from Bristol, English porcelain and stoneware were also recovered.

Chronology Understanding of chronology is made difficult by the prevalence of material from grave soils and an absence of large and discrete groups from sealed contexts.

The lack of any rimsherds or traces of decoration amongst the Iron Age pottery makes accurate dating difficult. The coarse shell-tempered fabric however compares to mainly Middle Iron Age material recovered recently in the area of the eastern defences (Brown 2003, 31-2). The recovered Roman pottery is for the most part only broadly dateable but includes elements suggestive of both Early and Late Roman date.

Coarse limestone tempered pottery has been tentatively ascribed a 10th to early 12th century date on the basis of technological similarities with other types in the region as previously discussed. Small quantities of pottery attributed to the Late Saxon period were recovered from excavations in the region of the eastern defences. Such material included ‘a limestone tempered ware’ (Burchill 2003, 35). No other details concerning this material are currently available. A coarse limestone tempered fabric occurring in similar forms to those represented at the Cinema site was identified at excavations at Postern Mill, Malmesbury and was similarly considered to be of Saxo-Norman date (Currie 1993, 71).

31 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Support for there being Late Saxon activity on or near this site is provided by the likely 9th to 10th-century bone mount. Perhaps significantly, quantities of coarse limestone-tempered fabric were recovered (together with medieval material) from the same graveyard soil context 903.

Dating of the medieval pottery is hampered by the longevity of use of the main represented types. It is clear from the (relative) abundance of Cotswold oolitic type ware that much of the pottery must relate to the 11th to 13th century period. Moreover the persistent occurrence of (smaller) quantities of Minety type ware alongside such material should be seen as an indication of dating to predominantly after c. AD 1150 (Ireland 1998, 104-5). Significantly also the Minety ware which occurs is for the most part characterised by a thickly applied glaze which is considered to be typical of the earlier phases of production to c. AD 1300.

There are present very few vessel forms among the medieval assemblage which are dateable on typological grounds: glazed jug fragments with stamped roundel and applied decoration, from graveyard soil contexts 303 and 903 respectively, probably date to the mid 13th to mid 14th centuries; a

Post-medieval pottery contains few characteristic forms or fabrics and is quite broadly dateable to the 17th to 18th century period.

Statement of Potential and requirements for further analysis

The pottery is of primary importance as the principal source of dating evidence and will provide the chronological framework for the site.

Although wholly residual, the Iron Age pottery is of some interest, providing further evidence for activity of this date, which hitherto has been restricted to the area of the eastern defences. Similarly the Roman pottery is of note within the local context, where evidence for activity of this date is restricted to chance finds and provides supplementary evidence alongside small quantities of (Late Roman) pottery from 1997 excavations in the abbey grounds and other chance finds within the town (Longman 2003, 3).

Material which is tentatively identified as of Late Saxon/Saxo-Norman date is of some interest within the local/regional context. It is possible that such material is representative of pre-Conquest pottery use. Its unstratified nature means however that potential for further analysis is restricted and little additional work is required. A full fabric description should be prepared for inclusion within the final report in order to adequately characterise this material. It would also be desirable to compare this material with Late Saxon dated sherds from excavations by the Town Wall (Longman 2003, 35-6). Featured sherds, consisting of two jars with simple, everted rims should be drawn.

Potential for further analysis of the remaining pottery is low. The medieval fabrics encountered are abundant locally and well documented. Further quantification and recording of the pottery forms/fabrics is not required as that completed to date conforms to the minimum standards as specified by the Medieval Pottery Research Group (MPRG 2001).

Costs

Fabric description and publication report 2 days (FS) Illustration 0.5 day (SI)

32 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 4: THE TILE BY SAM INDER

Roofing Tile

55 fragments of ceramic roof tile, weighing 1.85kg were recovered. The majority of the tile is fragmentary although a few larger pieces are present. A coarse limestone-tempered fabric with patchy pale green glaze which corresponds with Minety ware type pottery fabric (Cirencester type F200) is most abundant, accounting for over a third of the total. The remainder is made up of dense fabric with infrequent limestone inclusions which is likely to be of local origin. A number of ridge tile crests were recovered from 303 which exhibit both slashed and thumb impression decoration. The forms are consistent with those found throughout this region and are of likely 14th to 15th-century date.

In addition 13 fragments of stone roof tile, weighing 2.28kg were also recovered. Of these, four exhibit complete or partial nail holes.

Floor Tile

136 fragments of glazed ceramic floor tile, weighing 7.47kg were recovered. No complete examples are recorded and the majority of this material is highly fragmentary. Much of the tile is worn through use, sometimes with the glazed only occurring at the sides. The bulk of the material appears to be undecorated with a single dark green or brown glaze. Where decoration is present it occurs as a yellow glaze, achieved in the conventional manner through the application of a clear glaze over a white firing clay inlay. In many instances only the white clay survives. The fragmentary condition of the material makes identification of decorative patterns difficult. Traces of Fleur de Lys patterns are visible on fragments from grave soil horizons 103, 403 and 703. Floral subjects are also exhibited on fragments from deposits 103 and 403. A fragment of tile from fill 2110 displays a possible heraldic symbol of a lion.

Little variation is noted in the fabric of the floor tile, which may indicate a common source. The fabric is typically light orange with a pale grey core or occasionally throughout, hard, quartz-tempered and usually slightly micaceous. A few fragments are grey throughout, possibly as the result of unintentional reduction or overfiring.

Fragments of rectangular tiles were recovered from grave soil horizons 1503 and 103. Both are undecorated with a dark glaze and are presumed to have bordered the decorated tiles. Triangular tiles were recovered from grave soil 103 and grave fill 305. With the square tiles laid in a chequerboard design these pieces are likely to have acted as fillets at the edges. Interestingly the fragment from soil horizon 103 displays yellow floral patterns with a dark background whilst the example from fill of linear feature 2110 exhibits no traces of any glaze.

Traces of keying are visible in a number of instances from contexts 103 and 2110. The base of these tiles exhibit distinctive circular knife-cut marks.

Little previous work has been undertaken on decorated floor tile from Malmesbury, which makes assessing chronology very difficult. None of the recovered floor tile can be matched with the distinctive products of the larger regional producers active in the 14th and 15th centuries at Nash Hill (Eames 1976, 131-45) and Malvern Chase (Vince 1998, 146). There are no heraldic or other stylistic traits which permit dating to any closer than the mid 13th to the 15th centuries.

Floor tile recovered from CA excavations adjacent to the abbey (CA 2003) compared reasonably closely in terms of designs and technology with material from early 20th-century excavations (Brakspear 1912-13, Fig 8), making it likely that both these groups relate (largely) to the same phase of work. Although of a similar fabric, the tile from these excavations differs stylistically, and in respect of the keying method, from that from the excavations in the vicinity of the abbey. Such differences make it likely that this material relates to a different phase of work although the apparent uniformity of the fabric probably indicates that all or most of this material derives from a common source. This is presently unknown, but near certain to be in the north Wiltshire area (Vince 1998, 146).

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

No additional work is required on the roof tile. The floor tile is of interest particularly in view of the apparent differences to material known from previous archaeological work in the town and abbey. Further recording should be undertaken of the floor tile in order to adequately characterise this material. A short report, with the object of characterising this group, should be prepared to include fabric descriptions in accordance with the Medieval Pottery Research Group guidelines.

Further recording of floor tiles and publication report 4 days (FS) Illustration (photographs) 0.5 day (SI)

33 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 5: METALWORK BY SAM INDER AND ED MCSLOY with comments on material and conservation by Esther Cameron

A total of 109 objects of iron, copper alloy, lead alloy and copper alloy and silver were recovered. All items, but in particular the ironwork, are corroded and brittle, however, all are stable, requiring only protection from physical damage and maintenance of controlled humidity conditions

Iron All of the 102 recovered iron items are identifiable as nails. Many are fragmentary making classification not possible. A number of the more complete examples are consistent with Goodall’s type 1, characterised by flat head of square, rectangular or rounded shape and type 2, with raised head of circular or rounded rectangular shape (Goodall 1981). The bulk of the nails would certainly be utilised as coffin nails.

Copper alloy (and silver) A buckle of D-shaped form with separate riveted plate, a type which was most common in the 13th and 14th centuries (Whitehead 1996, 16-17), was recovered from grave soil 603. Initial inspection suggests that this item is partly of copper alloy and partly silver and that the doop may be decorated. Unusually this item preserves (mineralised) fragments of the leather strap in fastened position within the loop and traces of coarse woven fabric on the inside surface of the plate. The preservation of these organic materials is significant, representing evidence against chance loss and most likely indicative of deposition with a grave.

A plain copper alloy finger ring was recovered from grave fill 747. The ring exhibits overlapping unjoined ends and is similar to examples from Winchester dated to the 11th century (Biddle 1990, 648-53). A copper alloy button was recovered from grave soil 703. Plain buttons of this form are common from the later 17th century, continuing into the 19th century. The remaining items of copper alloy comprise sheet fragments from grave soil 303 and grave fill 706. No date can be ascribed to these artefacts.

Lead alloy A single item of lead alloy, a small bar fragment of uncertain function, was recovered from grave soil 1503.

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

Although quite possibly originally from burial contexts, the metal items are of low significance as they were all recovered from redeposited gravesoil and were not in situ. Both the buckle (rf. 12) and the finger ring (Rf. 1) are of some intrinsic interest, particularly as the buckle appears to have traces of mineral-preserved textile adhering, and will require a full catalogue description. The remaining objects, other than the nails, will require basic archiving, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Finds Research Group AD 700-1700 (RFG/FRG 1993).

Catalogue descriptions and publication report 1 day (FS)

34 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 6: WORKED BONE BY SAM INDER AND DAVID HINTON

Bone Mount by David Hinton A highly decorated bone mount, most likely cut from a cattle rib, was recovered from grave soil deposit 903. The ornament, which consists of high-relief carved acanthus leaf motifs within four triangular panels is most closely paralleled among southern English manuscripts and ecclesiastical embroidery dating to the late 9th to the mid 10th centuries. It was recovered with later medieval pottery, indicating that it was residual.

The exact mode of use of this item is at present unclear, although a line of (originally) four perforations to one edge indicates attachment to a larger object, most likely of a different material. Use as embellishment to an object or garment of implying some status is suggested by the high quality and sophisticated nature of the decoration. The likely dating and the proximity of the findspot to the site of the Saxon abbey may suggest an ecclesiastical use, possibly a book or casket mount, or a strap-end.

Gaming piece by Sam Inder A near complete bone gaming piece was recovered from grave soil deposit 803. The upper surface of this piece features a central perforation with radiating concentric circles, and a band of ring and dot decoration around its edge. Similar ‘tableman’ type gaming pieces, cut from cattle mandibles are well known from medieval sites across England and are broadly dated from the 12th to 15th century (McGregor 1985, 137). A gaming piece with a closely comparable design from Winchester (Biddle 1990, No. 2224) comes from an early 11th-century context.

Statement of potential and requirements for further work

The mount is an object of unusual quality and great rarity, which particularly in mind of the findspot, is of some importance. Due to its quality, dating and context, use within a high status, probably ecclesiastical context seems certain. The distinct possibility is raised that this item relates to the artistic renaissance initiated by . This item may represent the first physical evidence to testify to the patronage that the abbey enjoyed under King Athelstan.

A full report on this object has been prepared by Professor David Hinton as part of this assessment. An amended version to this report, to include a full catalogue description and drawing, and confirmation by a faunal specialist of the bone type, will be reproduced in full as part as the publication report.

The bone gaming piece is of interest intrinsically and as evidence of leisure activity, coeval with the use of Malmesbury Abbey. It should be illustrated and recorded in accordance with guidelines for the treatment of finds produced by the Finds Research Group AD 700-1700 (RFG/FRG 1993).

Costs

Catalogue descriptions and publication report 0.5 day (FS) Illustration 0.5 day (SI)

35 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 7: OTHER FINDS BY SAM INDER

Clay pipe Five fragments of clay pipe were recovered comprising 4 stem fragments and 1 bowl. None exhibit any decoration or maker’s stamps.

Glass Three fragments of window glass were recovered, two from grave soil 803 and a single fragment from grave fill 111. All are heavily corroded to the extent that the original colouring is impossible to discern. None retain diagnostic features such as original edges or traces of paint. The thickness and general form of these fragments probably indicate a medieval or earlier post-medieval date.

Fragments of post-medieval vessel glass were recovered from quarry fill 405 and grave soil 803. This material consists of green coloured wine or spirits bottle fragments, likely of 18th century date.

Flint A single unpatinated flint flake was recovered from grave fill 705. This item is clearly residual in its context, but representative of earlier prehistoric activity in the area.

Plaster A quantity of white-coloured plaster (13 fragments weighing 494g) was recovered. All derive from contexts associated with post-medieval pottery and can be assumed to be of a similar date. None of the fragments retain any paint traces and the majority are highly fragmentary and largely amorphous. A fragment from quarry fill 1603 is exceptional in preserving a smoothed outer face and impressions of wooden laths, behind.

Slag Two pieces of slag from grave fills 760 and 1527 are the result of ironworking but cannot be assigned to a processing method.

Fired clay Two fragments of fired clay were recovered. A fragment of a probable triangular or pyramidal weight, of Iron Age date, was recovered from grave fill 1524. A sherd of shell-tempered Iron Age pottery was also found from this context, although the presence of medieval material clearly indicates this is residual. In addition a single formless fragment of fired clay was retrieved from medieval grave fill 711.

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

There is no potential for further work for other materials listed and no additional recording or analysis is recommended. Then presence of the probable Iron Age clay weight should be noted within the excavation report.

36 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 8: THE HUMAN BONE BY DAVID HENDERSON

Introduction

The excavations at the Cinema Site, Malmesbury revealed a total of 90 inhumations, of which it was possible to leave 21 in situ. Several of the skeletons were not fully recovered, due to health and safety constraints, typically when the inhumation extended under the standing wall of the cemetery to the west of the site. On receiving the assemblage, it was discovered that two skeletons had been mislabelled (B59 as B91 and vice versa) and that part of B7 had been labelled as B8, a skeleton retained in situ. A substantial quantity of non-articulated material was also excavated, comprising bones from skeletons disturbed when cut by the graves of later inhumations. Three non-articulated crania were also recovered from a pit (fill 817) and these had been given burial numbers (B50, B 92, and B93).

All the bones were recovered under controlled archaeological conditions, recovery of the small bones of the hands and feet was ensured as far as possible by taking soil samples from the surrounding area. All other bones were hand collected during the excavation process.

Method

All skeletal material was washed and dried and examined visually. Age of the individual was estimated from tooth development and wear, (Brothwell, 1981, Ubelaker 1999 63 - 69), long-bone lengths in immature individuals (Scheuer & Black 2000), pubic symphisis changes (Brooks and Suchey 1990) and ilium auricular surface changes (Lovejoy et al. 1985). Individuals were assigned to an age category, based on these results, as follows:

Code Description Years old IN infant 0 – 2 CH child 2 – 6 YJ young juvenile 6 – 12 OJ older juvenile 12 – 15 SA sub-adult 15 – 23 YA young adult 23 – 35 MA mature adult 35 – 45 OA older adult over 45 AD adult IMM immature <15

Sex was determined for adults by pelvic and cranial morphology (W.E.A. 1980) Height was estimated using the regression equations of Trotter (in Ubelaker 1999). An initial attempt was made to classify pathological lesions by cause, using standard texts.

The in situ assemblage

Preservation In general the bone is in good to excellent condition, few inhumations have suffered from any significant degree of post mortem degradation. Much of the material is fragmented to some degree, and intercutting of graves has resulted in the truncation of many skeletons. The approximate percentage completeness of the inhumations is as follows:

Completeness <10 11 – 30 31 – 50 51 – 70 71 – 90 91 - 100 (approx.%) Number 6 15 11 10 12 14

Demographics Of the adult individuals, 33 were definitely or probably male and 21 were definitely or probably female. A further fifteen of the inhumations were of immature individuals (under 15 y. o.) and could not be reliably assigned a sex. A summary of the age and sex breakdown of the in situ population is given in Table 2, below.

37 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Age Immature Male and ?Male Female and ?Female IN 1 CH 4 YJ 7 OJ 2 SA 3 1 YA 4 2 MA 10 4 OA 12 12 AD 4 2 IMM 1 Totals 15 33 21

Nearly half of the adults where age could be estimated were over about 45 years old at death. A catalogue of the in situ inhumations noting sex, age, estimated stature, completeness and an initial assessment of major pathological lesions is contained at the end of this report.

Pathology

Trauma Twenty-three individuals in the in situ assemblage (33.3% of the total) showed evidence of fractures or dislocations. Four individuals had injuries to the hand (including the loss of the tip of the right ring finger, B7), seven were rib and/or scapula fractures, indicating blows to the back or a fall backwards, seven fractures were to the forearm or collarbone, typical of falls onto an outstretched arm. Three fractures of the skull were recorded, all well healed, five individuals had sustained broken ankles, mostly of the lateral maleolus (typical of “foot in a rabbit-hole” accidents) but one case was a fracture of the neck of the talus, indicating a fall from height onto the feet (“Aviator’s fracture”). One individual had a “clay-shoveller’s fracture” of the 7th cervical vertebra.

Cancer Apart from small benign osteomas of the skull (a common finding in most archaeological populations) three possible cancers were noted, all requiring further investigation. Individual B24 showed a possible osteochondroma on the right femur, B29 had some form of metastatic neoplasm on the internal surface of the skull and B86 showed a probable large ameloblastoma in the left maxilla.

Systemic Six individuals had diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) a condition causing profuse extra bone formation especially in the spine and at tendon insertions. It is a condition associated with late onset diabetes and tends to affect overweight elderly males. A further four individuals showed early signs of the condition. Two individuals showed signs of osteoporosis, common in post-menopausal women, and one showed hyperostosis frontalis interna, also found in older women, of unknown aetiology. Two people had signs of possible psoriatic arthritis, a rare complication of psoriasis, and one of rheumatoid arthritis. Another individual had possible gout.

Deficiency Of 38 individuals examined where at least one orbit was available for study, 17 had the condition cribra orbitalia indicative of an episode of iron-deficiency anaemia in their past. Skeleton B2, a sub-adult male, showed evidence of advanced scurvy (vitamin C deficiency). Although common at sea during long voyages, restoration of a diet containing fresh leafy vegetables and fruit will quickly restore health. In this individual, however, the advanced state of the condition had led to pneumonia of the right lung, which probably killed him.

Infection Aside from the pneumonia of B2, discussed above, two other individuals (B35 and B43) showed localised (but unfocussed) rib lesions consistent with pneumonia, or possibly pleurisy. Skeleton B20, of a young juvenile, had mastoiditis, probably caused by an infection of the middle ear. B22 had an infection of the left side of the lower jaw, probably gingivitis. A possible case of leprosy was seen in B89, but with insufficient surviving bone for a certain diagnosis.

Osteoarthritis A full analysis of patterns and prevalence of osteoarthritis in the population will be carried out for the final report. It is clear that, as would be expected in a sample containing a high proportion of the elderly, severe arthritis was a common complaint. Eleven individuals showed severe arthritic lesions, with eburnation of the bone, in joints outwith the spine, hands and feet.

38 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Non-articulated material

Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) All non-articulated bones from the back-fill of graves and the general graveyard soil were counted to establish the minimum number of individuals from which the material could have derived. The most commonly occurring skeletal element (MCSE) was calculated both for adult and for immature material. Taken alone, the MCSE for adults was the left radius midshaft (MNI = 20), and for immatures the MCSE was the right humerus midshaft (MNI = 11). Due to the extensive intercutting of graves in the study area, however, there is a strong possibility that much of the non-articulated material derived from individuals already counted in the in situ assemblage, where the adult MCSE was the midshaft of the femur, giving an MNI of 36, just 2/3 of the in situ adult population. When the in situ and non-articulated assemblages were combined, the adult MNI was 54 (MCSE left femur shaft) and the immature MNI was 17 (MCSE right humerus midshaft). It will be seen that these figures are almost identical to the numbers of individuals in the in situ population, although with the known part-excavated and un- lifted skeletons in the site the actual number of individuals represented by the assemblage will be much higher than the minimum.

Pathology All non-articulated bones were examined for pathological lesions. As well as the injuries and conditions described for the in situ sample, new conditions were observed; three possible cases of rickets (vitamin D deficiency), two further possible osteoblastomas or osteochondromas and a possible case of brucellosis infection.

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

The human skeletal remains recovered from the site have great potential for further useful study. The excellent preservation allows study of such degenerative conditions as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, which are often difficult to separate from the effects of post mortem degradation of the bone. In general, the high prevalence of potentially debilitating diseases and traumas, along with the high proportion of older individuals suggests that some form of selection may have operated concerning the individuals buried in this part of the cemetery; perhaps they may include inhabitants of a charitable or hospital foundation. A full analysis of patterns of health and disease within the assemblage, and comparisons with other cemetery populations of the same general period and geographical area will be carried out.

Consultations with medical authorities and possibly examining some bones by radiographical means will aid the diagnosis of some of the more unusual pathological conditions. A full analysis of patterns of tooth disease and wear will allow statements to be made about aspects of diet and childhood health. Metrical analysis of tooth sizes may allow the sexing of some immature skeletons, if the population proves to be sufficiently dimorphic in these dimensions. Further study will show any changes in disease prevalence with age and in terms of spatial and temporal distribution through the excavated area. A full archive of all metrical data, non-metric traits and a description and photographic record of pathological lesions will be provided, in order to allow comparisons with assemblages from other sites. In consultation with the project officer some samples will be selected for radiometric dating.

Further analysis and production of publication report: David Henderson (previously costed for)

39 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Catalogue of the human remains

Skeleton Age Sex Estimated %age Major pathology number stature (m) recovery B1 OA M 1.704 95 Trauma (R) MC1and(R) shoulder. DISH. B2 SA M 1.775 85 Scurvy and pneumonia B3 OJ ? 100 (L) MC5 fracture B6 OA F 1.534 45 (R) scapula & ulna fractures. (?also skull) B7 MA M 1.678 50 Incipient DISH. tip of(R) 4th finger lost B9 OA M 1.718 95 DISH. (L) rib fracture B10 OJ ? 95 B12 YA M 1.709 80 (L) MC3 fracture B13 AD M 50 DISH. Rib fracture B15 YJ ? 30 (?same individual as B20) B16 CH ? 90 B18 IN ? 15 B19 OA F 1.524 98 Psoriatic arthritis. (L) Colle’s fracture. Osteoporosis B20 YJ ? 10 Mastoiditis (?Part of B15) B21 SA ?F 1.63 85 B22 OA F 1.655 70 ?Gingivitis B23 OA M 1.735 60 (L) tibia & (R) talus fractured. DISH B24 MA F 1.494 50 Neoplasm. (R) femur B25 AD ?M 1.764 20 B26 OA F 10 B27 OA M 1.649 80 Severe (?)occupational arthritis B28 CH ? 10 B29 MA M 1.746 100 (L) ribs fractured. neoplasm in skull B31 YJ ? 10 B35 YA F 1.657 75 Skull fracture. (R) pneumonia/pleurisy B36 MA F 1.681 90 Psoriatic arthritis B40 YJ ? 25 B41 YA M 25 (L) clavicle fracture B43 MA F 1.549 80 Pneumonia (?) B44 YJ ? 95 B45 OA M 1.644 30 B46 OA F 1.594 40 Kyphosis (?osteoporosis) B47 SA M 1.628 90 B48 OA M 10 B49 OA M 1.653 67 DISH B51 MA M 1.706 60 (R) clavicle. ulna &ribs9-12 fractured B52 CH ? 30 B53 OA M 1.703 55 (R) ulna. (L) scap. ribs fractured. DISH B54 OA F 1.568 83 (L) humerus fractured. Hyperost. front. B56 OA M 1.713 100 Clay shoveller’s fracture. early DISH B57 MA M 1.717 65 DISH. benign osteoma B58 MA M 1.578 100 B59 YA M 1.721 70 (L) scapula fractured B60 OA F 15 Benign osteomas B61 OA F 1.607 95 Rheumatoid arthritis B62 OA F 1.593 80 (R) ulna fractured B64 OA F 1.648 60 Severe arthritis B65 YJ 40 B66 MA M 1.718 100 (L) tibia & rib 9 fractured. Jaw abscess B70 AD F 1.613 12 B72 OA M 1.703 95 Scoliosis. gout B73 MA M 1.774 95 B74 OA F 30 B75 SA M 1.697 100 B76 IMM 5 B77 AD ??F 1.564 25 (L) lateral maleolus & tibia fractured B78 YA M 25 B79 MA M 38 B80 OA M 1.68 65 DISH. (L) lateral maleolus fracture B81 MA M 1.713 85 (R) clavicle fracture

40 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

Catalogue of the human remains (continued)

Skeleton Age Sex Estimated %age Major pathology number stature (m) recovery B82 AD ?M 1.669 20 B83 CH ? 60 B84 AD ?M 1.789 40 B85 OA F 1.586 40 (L) hand fractured B86 YA ?F 1.604 50 Ameloblastoma.(L) maxilla B87 YJ ? 20 B88 MA M 1.621 30 B89 AD ?M 1.749 20 ??Leprosy B91 MA M 1.638 91 ?DISH

41 Old Cinema Site, Malmesbury: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology

APPENDIX 9: THE ANIMAL BONE BY DAVID HENDERSON

A total of 1002 items of faunal bone was recovered by hand-picking from 61 contexts at the site. Almost all the bone was in a good to excellent state of preservation. No burnt or calcined fragments were recorded. An initial overview of the assemblage indicated that species represented included (but were not necessarily limited to) the main economically important domesticates (cattle, sheep/goat, pig, domestic fowl and domestic goose); game animals (red, fallow and roe deer, possibly some wild bird species, rabbit); draught animals (horse and probable oxen) and commensal/pet species (dog and cat). Two fish vertebrae from a salmonid and a gadoid species were also noted. Around 40% of the bone recovered was not identifiable to taxon. Sheep/goat (48.8% of identified fragments) and cattle (33.7%) bones were the most common identifiable species. Two-thirds of all the material derived from the twelve general graveyard soil contexts (103, 303, 403, etc.).

Statement of potential and requirements for further analysis

A complete list of species present will be presented as an appendix to the archive report. Further work would be unlikely to be profitable given the general mixed graveyard soil from which most of the assemblage derives, with problems of residuality and lack of stratification.

42 875

Reproduced from the 2002 1:1250 map with the permission of 933 Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery O ce, c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A N

934 874

Abbey Church

873 Site

Gloucestershire Oxfordshire N South Glos Malmesbury COTSWOLD Berkshire ARCHAEOLOGY B&NES OLD CINEMA SITE,

Somerset Wiltshire Hampshire MALMESBURY Site location plan

Dorset 1:1000 Fig. 1 ABBEY CHURCH 9330 9331 9332

N

paving stones 8729 14

floor make-up layers

buttress 21

wall

rubble spread ? ? 5 11 ? e xte nt of m ed ? iev al qu ar ry in g ? 2 8728 12 16 17 4

10 wall footing

?

1 20 ?

?

7/9 pit 3

9 15 7 15 9 9 3/9 wall footing 9 8 6 6 8 19 6/8 14 ?

cellar OSS ?

8727

? 13 18 (not observed) COTSWOLD MARKET CR ARCHAEOLOGY site period 2 phase 2 - graveyard soil CA trench period 2 phase 2 - floor make-up previous trench period 2 phase 2 - wall/buttress MALMESBURY ABBEY geotechnical pit period 2 phase 2 - rubble spread WEST END 8 burial period 3 - structural remains period 1 - soil horizon 8a period 3 - pits Site location period 2 phase 1 - quarry fill ST 0 10m 1:1250 Fig. 1

Fig. 2 All feature plan (1:100) 875

Reproduced from the 2002 Ordnance Survey 1:1250 map with the permission of 933 Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery O ce, c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A N

934 874

Abbey Church

873 Site

Gloucestershire Oxfordshire N South Glos Malmesbury COTSWOLD Berkshire ARCHAEOLOGY B&NES OLD CINEMA SITE,

Somerset Wiltshire Hampshire MALMESBURY Site location plan

Dorset 1:1000 Fig. 1 ABBEY CHURCH 9330 9331 9332

N

paving stones 8729 14

floor make-up layers

buttress 21

wall

rubble spread ? ? 5 11 ? e xte nt of m ed ? iev al qu ar ry in g ? 2 8728 12 16 17 4

10 wall footing

?

1 20 ?

?

7/9 pit 3

9 15 7 15 9 9 3/9 wall footing 9 8 6 6 8 19 6/8 14 ?

cellar OSS ?

8727

? 13 18 (not observed) COTSWOLD MARKET CR ARCHAEOLOGY site period 2 phase 2 - graveyard soil CA trench period 2 phase 2 - floor make-up previous trench period 2 phase 2 - wall/buttress MALMESBURY ABBEY geotechnical pit period 2 phase 2 - rubble spread WEST END 8 burial period 3 - structural remains period 1 - soil horizon 8a period 3 - pits Site location period 2 phase 1 - quarry fill ST 0 10m 1:1250 Fig. 1

Fig. 2 All feature plan (1:100)