Land East of Southam Road Kineton Warwickshire
Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design
for Bloor Homes
CA Project: 9206 CA Report: 15297
September 2016
Land East of Southam Road Kineton Warwickshire
Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design
CA Project: 9206 CA Report: 15297
prepared by Alistair Barber, Senior Project Officer
Date 25 June 2015
checked by Dan Stansbie, Post-Excavation Manager
Date 15 September 2016
approved by Martin Watts, Head of Publications
signed
date 17 October 2016
issue 01
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.
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CONTENTS
SUMMARY ...... 5
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 6
Location, topography and geology ...... 6 Archaeological background ...... 6
2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 8
3 METHODOLOGY ...... 8
4 RESULTS...... 9
Period 1: Late Iron Age ...... 10 Period 2: Early Roman, mid to late 1st century to early 2nd century AD 12 Period 3: Post-medieval and modern (Fig. 3) ...... 13 Period 0: Undated ...... 14
5 FACTUAL DATA AND STATEMENTS OF POTENTIAL ...... 14
Stratigraphic Record: factual data ...... 14 Stratigraphic record: statement of potential...... 14 Artefactual record: factual data ...... 15 Artefactual record: statements of potential ...... 18 Biological record: factual data ...... 19 Biological record: statements of potential...... 20
6 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL ...... 21
7 STORAGE AND CURATION ...... 22
8 UPDATED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 22
9 PUBLICATION ...... 26
Synopsis of Proposed Summary Report ...... 27
PROJECT TEAM ...... 28
10 TASK LIST ...... 29
11 TIMETABLE ...... 29
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12 REFERENCES ...... 30
APPENDIX 1: STRATIGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT BY DAN STANSBIE...... 35
APPENDIX 2: POTTERY BY ED MCSLOY AND KATIE MARSDEN...... 35
APPENDIX 3: LITHICS BY JACKY SOMMERVILLE ...... 39
APPENDIX 4: METALWORK BY KATIE MARSDEN...... 40
APPENDIX 5: MIXED FINDS BY KATIE MARSDEN AND ED MCSLOY ...... 42
APPENDIX 6: ANIMAL BONE BY MATILDA HOLMES ...... 43
APPENDIX 7: ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE ASSESSMENT BY SARAH WYLES ...... 48
APPENDIX 8: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 53
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1 Site location plan (1: 25,000) Fig. 2 Site plan showing excavation area, evaluation trenches and geophysical survey results Fig. 3 Phase plan: Late Iron Age and Early Roman Fig. 4 Late Iron Age Enclosure 1004 and Early Roman Enclosure 1005 Fig. 5 Early Roman Enclosure 1003
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SUMMARY
Site Name: Land east of Southam Road, Kineton Location: Warwickshire NGR: SP 3402 5138 Type: Excavation Date: March – June 2015 Location of archive: Warwickshire Museum Accession Number: T1442 Site Code: KINE 15
A programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between March and June 2015 at the request of Bloor Homes on land east of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire. In compliance with an approved WSI (CA 2015). Approximately 1ha of the overall development area was excavated.
Excavations revealed an enclosed Late Iron Age/Early Roman settlement containing the remains of roundhouses, adjacent stock enclosures and stock-handling pens. The settlement appears to have been occupied initially during the Late Iron Age, but was remodelled during the mid to late 1st century to early 2nd-century AD.
This document presents a quantification and assessment of the evidence recovered from the excavation. It considers the evidence collectively in its local, regional and national context, and presents an updated 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 March and June 2015 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological excavation on land east of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire (centred on NGR: SP 3402 5138; Fig. 1).
1.2 Planning permission for a residential development was granted by Stratford-on- Avon District Council (SoADC ref: 12/02069/OUT), conditional on a programme of archaeological work (Condition 25). The scope of the mitigation works was defined through discussions between CA and Anna Stocks, the Warwickshire County Council Planning Archaeologist (the archaeological advisor to SoADC) and the excavation was undertaken in accordance with a subsequent detailed WSI produced by CA (2015) and approved by SoADC acting on the advice of Anna Stocks. The fieldwork followed Standards and guidance: Archaeological Excavation (CIfA 2014), Warwickshire County Council’s Generic Archaeological Fieldwork Guidelines (2012), the Management of Archaeological Projects II (EH 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). It was monitored by Anna Stocks, including site visits on 5 May and 9 June 2015.
Location, topography and geology 1.3 The site lies on the northern edge of Kineton village, immediately east of Southam Road (Fig. 1). The approximately 1ha excavation area was situated within a 7ha development that occupied an area of former farmland, incorporating part of a former railway (MWA7835 see below), at approximately 87-92m AOD. The topography was relatively flat, sloping gently from north-west to south-east.
1.4 The underlying geology of the area is mapped as undifferentiated and interbedded limestone of the Rugby Limestone Member (BGS 2015). The superficial geological substrate observed during the excavation comprised limestone outcrops and orange-brown clays (CA 2012a).
Archaeological background 1.5 The archaeological excavation was informed by an Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Assessment carried out by The Environmental Dimension Partnership (EDP 2012) and subsequent geophysical survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd. 2012) and archaeological evaluation (CA 2012a). A full description of the
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archaeological and historical background of the site can be found in the Heritage Assessment (EDP 2012), a brief summary of which is presented below.
1.6 A number of archaeological sites are recorded in the immediate vicinity of the development area. However, apart from an undated circular cropmark (MWA12244, see below) there was no evidence for prehistoric, Roman or medieval activity within the development area or in the wider (1km) study area; although sites of these periods were present within this part of the county (EDP 2012, 19). It was considered a possibility that archaeological finds or features dating to any of these periods could be present within the development area, but, based on the current and available evidence this was considered unlikely (ibid.).
1.7 Medieval and post-medieval activity within the study area was focused on the village of Kineton. The development area remained as agricultural land throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods, as evidenced by buried remains of ridge-and-furrow cultivation (EDP 2012, 20). It was therefore considered that buried field boundaries from this period might survive. The wider area around the development incorporates the nationally designated Edge Hill Battlefield site (Monument Number 1000009; MWA4814) and the locally designated Kineton Conservation Area and its associated listed buildings. Historic maps for the area record a post-medieval farm building and pond immediately the north of the railway (EDP 2012, 14). Within the development area there were two previously recorded undesignated heritage assets: a possible circular cropmark (MWA12244) and a former railway (MWA7835). The nature of the cropmark was unrecorded prior to the excavation, as no intrusive field investigation had been undertaken, apart from the archaeological evaluation (CA 2012a). No above-ground remains of the railway survived, but evidence existed for extensive ground disturbance within and adjoining its footprint.
1.8 A geophysical survey undertaken across the development area revealed a concentration of anomalies within the southern part of the site, including possible ring ditches and enclosures, potentially identifying an area of settlement. The geophysical survey also identified anomalies suggesting extensive ridge-and-furrow cultivation, an apparently infilled pond and the line of the former railway within the site (Archaeological Surveys Ltd. 2012)
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Archaeological Evaluation 1.9 An archaeological evaluation was carried out by CA in September 2012 (CA 2012a), when 28 trenches targeted on the results of the geophysical survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012) were excavated (Fig. 2). The earliest features encountered contained Late Iron Age and Early Roman pottery and consisted of a concentration of ditches, pits and postholes, many of them within the southern part of the site. These features, representing a previously unrecorded area of probable settlement, correlated with the previously identified cropmark (MWA12224) and with the results of the preceding geophysical survey. Evidence of medieval and/or post-medieval agriculture, comprising ploughed-out ridge-and-furrow cultivation, was identified throughout the evaluated area. Post-medieval and modern features identified included a former field boundary ditch, an infilled pond, and remnant structural remains associated a former agricultural building and with a former railway line.
2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
2.1 The objectives of the excavation as laid out within the WSI produced by CA (2015) were to:
• record the nature of the main stratigraphic units encountered • assess the overall presence, survival and potential of structural and industrial remains • assess the overall presence, survival, condition, and potential of artefactual and ecofactual remains
2.2 The specific aims of the work were to:
• record any evidence of past settlement or other land use • recover artefactual evidence to date any evidence of past settlement that may be identified • sample and analyse environmental remains to create a better understanding of past land use and economy.
3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Fieldwork commenced with the removal of topsoil and subsoil across the excavation area using a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket, under constant archaeological supervision. Hand-cleaning of
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the stripped surface, to better define any identified archaeological deposits/features, was undertaken where necessary. The original excavation area was subsequently expanded on its western side in order to further define an archaeological feature which extended beyond the area initially stripped, at the request of Anna Stocks (Warwickshire County Council Planning Archaeologist), until an approximately 5m-wide area within which no archaeological features were identified was established.
3.2 The archaeological features thus exposed were hand-excavated. Extensive ridge-and-furrow cultivation remains were noted across the site and, following the investigation of visible archaeological features, selected areas of furrow fill were subsequently removed by machine to check for underlying archaeological features. A series of modern drainage chamber pits and connecting pipe trenches (Fig. 3) had been constructed prior to CA having been commissioned to undertake excavation works. These groundworks had unfortunately damaged some archaeological deposits without record.
3.3 All features were planned and recorded in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (CA 2009). Examination of features concentrated on recovering the plan and stratigraphic sequence of the features and obtaining details of the phasing of the site. All discrete features (postholes and pits) were sampled by hand excavation (average sample not exceeding 50%) and ditches were sampled to a maximum of 10% of their lengths.
3.4 Deposits were assessed for their environmental potential and sampled appropriately in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The taking of samples for paleoenvironmental and palaeoeconomic analysis from archaeological sites (CA 2012b). A total of 22 bulk samples were taken following advice received from CA’s Senior Environmental Officer. All artefacts recovered from the excavation were retained in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of finds immediately after excavation (CA 1995).
4 RESULTS
4.1 This section provides an overview of the excavation results. Detailed assessment of the recorded finds and environmental samples are to be found in Appendices 2 to 7.
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4.2 The superficial geology comprised orange-brown clay and limestone outcrops (BGS 2015) and was overlain by a sandy-clay subsoil averaging 0.25m thick, and by modern topsoil averaging 0.25 thick.
4.3 Archaeological features were encountered across the excavation area. Although many features correlated closely with the results from the preceding geophysical survey and trial-trenching (Fig. 2) additional features were encountered, including some which weathered-out and became visible during the course of the excavation.
4.4 Features have been assigned to three provisional periods based on artefact spot dating and the morphology, fill characteristics and spatial distribution of features. Some features are currently undated:
• Period 1: Late Iron Age • Period 2: Early Roman • Period 3: Medieval and post-medieval
Period 1: Late Iron Age 4.5 Period 1 (Late Iron Age) activity (Fig. 3) comprised an enclosed settlement defined by a series of sub-rectangular enclosures, measuring approximately 75m by 55m, and defining a linear zone of occupation orientated north- east/south-west. Within the area defined by the central sub-rectangular enclosure was a substantial sub-circular enclosure (1004) approximately 25m in diameter, along with a series of penannular ditches, pits and postholes indicating intensive occupation. The zone of settlement appears to have extended beyond the limits of excavation to the north-east and south-west.
Enclosure 1000 (Figs 3 and 4) 4.6 Enclosure 1000 was defined on its southern, western and north-eastern sides by a series of fairly substantial boundary ditches, which had been repeatedly recut to the west and south. The enclosure appears to have been open to the south-east, although there is a possibility that the south-eastern limit of the zone of occupation lay beyond the eastern and southern limits of excavation. The western and southern enclosure boundary was defined by four successive north/south-aligned ditches (D, E, F, and G), one of which (D) also ran south eastwards to form part of a remodelled southern boundary, cut across ditch G
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and also cut ditches E and F. Ditches D, F and G each contained pottery of broadly 1st-century AD date. The north-western enclosure boundary was defined by north-west/south-east-aligned ditch AA, which returned to the south- west at its north-western end, continuing the north-east/south-west line of ditch D Ditch AA had been truncated to the south-west but a north-west-facing entrance to the enclosure may have been located in the disturbed area. Ditch AA, like ditches D, E, F and G, had been periodically recut, suggesting long- term maintenance of the enclosure boundary. Ditch AL may represent a continuation of ditch AA to the south-east, but their relationship was masked by a partial ditch recut BA.
Settlement Activity within Enclosure 1000 (Fig. 3) 4.7 Settlement activity within Enclosure 1000 was dominated by a large sub-circular enclosure (1004) (Fig. 4), which measured approximately 25m in diameter and had a north-facing entrance. Broadly 1st-century AD pottery was recovered from the fills of the enclosure ditch. The eastern side of the enclosed activity was in part defined by curvilinear ditch AM, which measured approximately 42m in length. Three shallow, truncated, ditch segments with associated postholes formed an adjacent rectangular enclosure or pen (W; Fig. 3) to the south of Enclosure 1004.
4.8 Six semi-circular/penannular ditches O, N, P, Z, AX and AY (Fig. 3) lay within the north-western part of Enclosure 1000, close to the entrance. Their form suggests that these may represent the remains of drip gullies around roundhouses, or trenches defining different working areas. The ditches may have represented several broadly contemporaneous buildings. Some of them were associated with pits possibly representing domestic activity, such as grain storage, cooking or rubbish disposal, but in general discrete features were relatively rare.
Enclosure 1001 (Fig. 3) 4.9 Enclosure 1001 was situated at the southern limit of the excavation area and most of the enclosed area lay beyond the southern limit of excavation. The northern boundary of the enclosure was defined by ditch A, which ran beyond the limit of excavation to the south-east and returned to the south at its north- western end, to run beyond the limit of excavation here also. The fill of ditch A contained numerous limestone fragments suggesting that a stone-reveted bank had existed on its southern side. On the southern side of ditch A, within
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Enclosure 1001, two north/south-aligned ditches B and C terminated just short of the southern edge of the ditch, possibly to the south of the putative bank, and ran beyond the limit of excavation to the south, suggesting possible agricultural subdivision of the enclosure.
Enclosure 1002 4.10 Sub-rectangular Enclosure 1002, approximately 25m north-east/south-west by 30m north-west/south-east, was situated to the north of Enclosure 1000. The enclosure was defined to the northwest by north-east/south-west-aligned ditch AB, which returned to the south-east at its north-eastern end and whose southern end cut across and drained into boundary ditch AA. A Penannular- Gully AD, associated with postholes denoting an apparent eastern entrance, lay to its east. Further activity within this area was represented by curvilinear ditch AC with adjacent postholes.
Period 2: Early Roman, mid to late 1st century to early 2nd century AD 4.11 Continued activity within the excavated area, dating to the mid to late 1st century or early 2nd century AD (Figs 3, 4 and 5), mainly comprised the remodelling (sub-division) of Period 1 Enclosure 1000, possibly with the re- establishing of the north-western and north-eastern boundaries of the enclosure further to the south-east (Ditches M and AZ) and south-west (Ditch AF) respectively, suggesting a slight reduction in the size of the occupied area. The large Period 1 sub-circular Enclosure 1004 (Fig. 4) also continued in use as Enclosure 1005. The sub-division of Enclosure 1000 suggests the possibility of agricultural/pastoral activity such as stock-handling.
Enclosure 1003 (Fig. 5) 4.12 A sub-rectangular enclosure (Enclosure 1003) defined by north/south and east/west-aligned ditches H (recut as ditch I), J and L, and measuring 31m north/south by 17m east/west, was constructed within the south-west corner of Enclosure 1000, possibly incorporating southern/western boundary ditch D from Period 1. A north/south-aligned ditch K (5017) may represent an internal sub- division of Enclosure 1003.
Sub-circular enclosure 1005 (Fig. 4) 4.12 To the north-west of Enclosure 1003, Period 2 occupation continued to be dominated by the large sub-circular enclosure originally established in Period 1. Enclosure 1004 (Ditch AH/AM) was recut by slightly smaller sub-circular ditched
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Enclosure 1005 (Ditch AK), approximately 19m in diameter, with a spur (AJ) draining northwards towards the earlier ditch, and an entrance to the north; in a similar place to the entrance to Enclosure 1004. Subsequent use of this enclosure over a relatively long time is shown by numerous recuts of the enclosure ditch, represented by ditches AI, AO, AG, AR, AS, AT, AV and AW. The digging of Ditch AV remodelled the northern entrance of the enclosure, creating a long curvilinear entrance passage defined on its south-western side by ditches AO and AK. During this period of use the position of the enclosure shifted to the south-west (Ditch AN), and was extended further to the south-west in its final phase, by the addition of ditches AP, AQ and BB. A series of semi- circular and penannular ditches (T (recut as S), Q, V, X and Y) further to the south-west (Fig. 3) may represent the remains of houses, working areas or stock-handling enclosures.
The northern and north-western boundary of the remodelled enclosure (Fig. 3) 4.13 Occupation to the north-east and north-west of Enclosure 1005 was less dense than that to the south-west. Ditches M and AZ appear to represent a new north- western boundary to the settlement, closer to Enclosure 1005 than the north- western boundary from the previous phase. A new north-eastern boundary to the settlement may have been represented by ditch AF, which cut across Period 1 roundhouse ditch AD. Ditch AE, which cut across Period 1 ditch AC, may also have belonged to this phase of activity. A small horseshoe-shaped ditch (R) may have defined an associated storage area or stock handling pen.
The nature of Period 2 occupation 4.14 Many of the Period 2 ditches contained distinct dark-brown to black silty-clay fills, possibly rich in humic material or charcoal, and containing abundant pottery. The large, unabraded, nature of many of these sherds suggests refuse discarded within the enclosure ditches from a nearby source. The location of any associated houses, associated with the enclosures, is uncertain, although it is conceivable that buildings had been constructed within the site in a form which has not survived truncation by later ploughing, or that houses and other settlement activity may have lain close by but beyond the limits of the excavation area.
Period 3: Post-medieval and modern (Fig. 3) 4.15 North-east/south-west and east/west-aligned plough furrows containing medieval and later pottery and other finds (not retained), and representing
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ridge-and-furrow cultivation, were encountered across the site. In addition, a network of similarly aligned stone-filled field drains were noted, together with modern drainage chambers and connecting pipe-trenches.
Period 0: Undated 4.16 A small number of undated ditches, pits and postholes were encountered, with fills similar to those of Period 1 and 2 features. These probably related to the Late Iron Age and Early Roman occupation of the site, but with the absence of dating evidence this cannot be established definitively.
5 FACTUAL DATA AND STATEMENTS OF POTENTIAL
Stratigraphic Record: factual data 5.1 Following the completion of the fieldwork an ordered, indexed, and internally consistent site archive was compiled in accordance with specifications presented in the Management of Archaeological Projects (EH 1991). A database of all contextual and artefactual evidence and a site matrix was compiled and cross-referenced to spot-dating. The fieldwork archive comprises the following records:
Context sheets 634 Plans (1:10, 1:20, 1:100) 0 Sections (1:10, 1:20) 186 Sample sheets 22 Monochrome Films 1 Digital photographs 511 Matrices 1
5.2 The survival and intelligibility of the site stratigraphy was good, with archaeological remains having survived as negative features. Some truncation of archaeological features had resulted from ploughing of the site (extensive ridge-and-furrow cultivation patterns were noted) and as a result of modern drainage works. Numerous stratigraphic relationships were recorded, and most features have been assigned a preliminary period based upon spot dating of artefacts, stratigraphic relationships and/or spatial association.
Stratigraphic record: statement of potential 5.3 A secure understanding of the stratigraphic sequence is essential to elucidating the form, purpose, date, organisation and development of the various phases of
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activity represented. This will be achieved through detailed analysis of the sequence and further integration of the artefactual dating evidence. The refined sequence will then serve as the spatial and temporal framework within which other artefactual and biological evidence can be understood.
5.4 Further analysis will be undertaken for features provisionally assigned to Period 1, in particular, sub-circular Enclosure 1004 appears to have had a very close spatial relationship with the north eastern boundary ditch of Enclosure 1000. Further stratigraphic analysis, combined with refinement of the ceramic dating evidence will therefore be used to clarify this relationship, and potentially to place the enclosure in an earlier or later phase. In addition, refinement of the ceramic dating will be used to refine our understanding of the chronology of the stratigraphic sequence in general.
5.5 The stratigraphic potential of the site archive is moderate. Although the site was heavily ploughed during the medieval period and subsequently, removing all vertical stratigraphy and potentially any evidence for occupation layers, middens, etc.; evidence for settlement dating to the Late Iron Age and Early Roman period survived as a series of discrete features (pits and postholes), as well as boundary and enclosure ditches and these features contained occupation debris, including material culture and ecofactual data deriving from the occupation of the settlement. The potential for interpreting the function and organisation of the settlement, the processes involved in the formation of the sequence and the way of life of the inhabitants is therefore high.
5.6 One of the most valuable aspects of this project (as with all developer-funded archaeological work) lies in in its potential for integration into our wider understanding of the archaeological sequence in its region (in this case the West Midlands) and potentially the wider UK sequence.
Artefactual record: factual data 5.7 All finds collected during the excavation have been cleaned, marked, quantified and catalogued by context. All metalwork has been x-rayed and stabilised where appropriate.
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Type Category Count Weight (g) Pottery Prehistoric 119 810 Roman 741 8640 Medieval 2 16 Post-medieval/modern 2 2 Total 864 9468 Flint Worked/burnt 19 56 Fired Clay All 143 840 Brick/tile All 6 57 Coins Roman 1 2 Metals Iron 10 94 Copper alloy 2 5.1 Lead alloy 1 65 Residues 1 3 Stone Objects 1 23
5.8 The finds assemblage consists of a moderately sized assemblage of Late Iron Age to early Roman pottery, a small residual and undated flint assemblage and a copper-alloy coin dated to the 4th century. In addition, there is a small assemblage of mostly scrap metalwork but including an Early Roman copper- alloy brooch, and a possible post-medieval musket ball, along with metalworking debris, a small assemblage of ceramic building material and fired clay, and a stone spindle whorl.
Pottery 5.9 Pottery amounting to 864 sherds (9658g) was recorded. The large majority was hand-recovered, with 49 sherds (115g) retrieved from bulk soil sample residues. The assemblage is for the most part fairly well broken-up; this is reflected in mean sherd weight (11.2g) which is fairly low for a mainly Late Iron Age/Early Roman group. The detailed composition of the pottery assemblage is set out in Appendix 1. A minority occurs in handmade quartz-tempered and coarser shell- tempered fabrics for which Middle or later Iron Age dating is probable. The large majority, primarily consisting of wheelthrown types, is dateable to the period of the Late Iron Age/Early Roman transition in the 1st century AD. A small number of post-medieval sherds appear to be intrusive, probably as the result of the ridge-and-furrow activity. This material has been recorded but is not considered further.
Lithics 5.10 A total of 11 worked flints (41g) and eight pieces of burnt, unworked flint (15g) was retrieved from the excavation of nine separate deposits. All of the lithics were recorded from cut features: ditch fills (91%); and a posthole fill (9%). Where the features containing lithics had been dated by associated pottery, this was Iron Age or Roman in all cases. The remaining three flakes were retrieved
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from undated fills of Period 1 (Late Iron Age) and Period 2 (Early Roman) ditches. The assemblage comprised: seven flakes and two chips (the latter recovered via soil sampling). No chronologically diagnostic features (such as evidence of soft hammer percussion or preparation of the core’s striking platform) were present on any of the flakes and all are only broadly dateable to the prehistoric period. The detailed composition of the assemblage is described in Appendix 2.
Metalwork 5.11 A total of 13 items of metal were recorded from 11 deposits. Of this total, ten items are of iron, three of copper alloy and one of lead alloy. In addition, five items of iron were recovered by bulk soil sample from ditch Y (fill 5056). Among the copper-alloy objects is a brooch (Ra. 101) recorded from ditch E (fill 5132), in extremely poor condition, with little of its original surface surviving and the extent of corrosion preventing fullest identification at this stage. It is a hinged bow brooch with one surviving projecting arm at the approximate mid-line and probably with a terminal knob. It almost certainly belongs to the Hod Hill class, and as such is dateable to the mid 1st century AD. The detailed composition of the remainder of the assemblage is described in Appendix 3 below.
Other Finds 5.12 One coin, of copper alloy (Ra. 105), was recorded from subsoil deposit 5001. It is heavily corroded and only partially legible. Its size and surviving features are sufficient for identification as a nummus of Late Roman (4th-century) type. A total of six fragments (57g) of ceramic building material were recorded from five deposits and a further three fragments were recovered by bulk soil sample from two deposits. A single worked stone spindle whorl (Ra. 108) was recorded from ditch V (fill 5278). Ra. 108 is of disc-like form, from a shelly limestone. A single small fragment of ironworking slag (3g) was recorded from ditch AX (fill 5517). In addition, small quantities (24g) of indeterminate industrial waste/’clinker’ were recovered from bulk soil sample residues associated with five deposits, and fragments (<1g) of coal from two deposits. A total of 143 fragments (840g) of fired clay were recorded from 54 deposits. In addition, 56g was recovered by bulk soil sample from ten deposits. The fragments occur in soft, buff or red- brown firing fabrics which are inclusionless or with sparse quartz or calcareous inclusions. Most material is amorphous/unfeatured or preserves only a single smoothed surface, and none among the group can be related to a particular
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object class or function. The detailed composition of the mixed finds assemblage is described in Appendix 4.
Artefactual record: statements of potential Pottery 5.13 The pottery assemblage is of modest size and its condition mixed. It is, however, coherent in providing evidence for activity centred in the middle and later decades of the 1st century. In its character the pottery assemblage appears to be typical of sites in southern Warwickshire (Esmonde Cleary 2011, 142-3); a mix of ‘Belgic’ influences reminiscent of the traditions of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire and those of the Severn Valley/Malverns to the south-west. The limited variability of the pottery assemblage limits its use as clear and specific dating evidence. Given the inter-cutting character of the site stratigraphy and evidence for at least three phases (Provisional Periods 1–3), there is some potential that analysis of the pottery assemblage relative to the site sequence will further understanding of pottery supply and use at the site. Analysis and reporting is therefore recommended with the principal aim of relating pottery groups to the site stratigraphic sequence to highlight any patterns of supply.
Lithics 5.14 The lithic assemblage is very small and appears to be entirely residual. The recording which has been carried out for this assessment is sufficient for archive purposes. A short note summarising the lithics should be included in any publication on the site. No illustrations are required.
Metalwork 5.15 The metalwork assemblage is a small group and of limited range. One item, brooch Ra. 101 is of individual interest and is likely to provide additional dating evidence contributory to the understanding of the site. This item will require cleaning by a specialist conservator to facilitate identification and its longer-term survival. Following its conservation a full catalogue description suitable for publication should be prepared for this item. The remaining objects merit no further work; although a short, summary paragraph (or table) recording the presence of this material should be included in any publication or archive report.
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Other Finds 5.16 The ceramic building material, fired clay, coin and metalworking debris assemblages are all of limited significance and no further work on them is recommended. The worked stone spindle whorl has some significance as evidence of craft-working activity at the settlement and a catalogue description and illustration should be prepared for publication.
Biological record: factual data 5.17 All ecofacts recovered from the excavation have been cleaned, marked, quantified and catalogued by context. A total of 22 bulk samples were taken for the recovery of environmental remains.
Type Category Count Animal bone Fragments 1062 Samples Environmental 22 Animal bone 5.18 A total of 1062 animal bone fragments were recovered and examined from Period 1 and Period 2 features on the site. Full details are available in Appendix 5. The bone assemblage included those of cattle, sheep, goat, pig, equid, canid and domestic fowl.
5.19 This small assemblage is typical for sites of this type, although there were not enough bones recovered to consider wider issues such as economy or status of the site in relation to others. Husbandry seems to have been dominated by sheep, goats and cattle; animals that were kept for a mixture of meat and secondary products, with the diets of the inhabitants of the settlements supplemented by chicken and pork. There is a self-sufficient leaning to the settlement, with evidence for animals having been bred nearby, and then culled, processed and consumed on site.
Environmental remains 5.20 A series of 22 environmental samples (400 litres of soil) were selected from a range of feature types from Periods 1 and 2 with the intention of recovering environmental evidence of domestic or industrial activity on the site and examining whether this changed between the Late Iron Age (Period 1) and Early Romano-British (Period 2) phases of the settlement. The samples were processed by standard flotation procedures (CA Technical Manual No. 2). Full details of the assessed samples are available in Appendix 6.
19 Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warks: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology
5.21 The charred plant assemblages included remains of spelt wheat (Triticum spelta), barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat/brome grass (Avena/Bromus sp.), clover/medick (Trifolium/Medicago sp.), hazelnut (Corylus avellana) shell, false oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum) tubers and possible heather (Calluna/Erica sp.) stem fragments. The charcoal assemblages were very small and fragmented.
5.22 The small mollusc assemblages from the samples appear to be indicative of a well-established open landscape. They included shells of the open country species Pupilla muscorum, Vallonia costata, Vallonia excentrica, Vertigo pygmaea, Helicella itala and the introduced Helicellids, and the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus, Punctum pygmaeum, Cochlicopa sp. and Cepaea sp.
Biological record: statements of potential Animal bone 5.23 There is no potential for further analysis as sample sizes from both periods were not large enough for reliable, detailed consideration of the assemblage.
5.24 No further work is proposed on the animal bone assemblage but this information should be included in the final publication.
Environmental Remains 5.25 Further analysis of the charred plant assemblage from posthole 5349, associated with Penannular Gully AD, has the potential to provide some limited information on the range of crops and local crop-processing activities and the surrounding environment during Period 1. The remaining charred plant assemblages have no potential to augment this information further due to small quantities of material recovered.
5.26 There is no potential for the analysis of the charcoal assemblages to provide detailed information on the species composition and the management and exploitation of the local woodland resource due to the small quantities of charcoal present.
5.27 Detailed analysis of the mollusc assemblages would not augment the picture of the local landscape further due to the low number of shells recovered in these samples.
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5.28 It is recommended that the charred plant remains from Period 1 posthole 5349 (sample 100), associated with Penannular-Gully AD is analysed in more detail.
6 SUMMARY STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL
6.1 The potential for further analysis and understanding of the site as a whole, and of the various individual datasets within it, can be judged when the artefactual and biological data are combined with the stratigraphic record. This potential varies both between types of data and between the chronological periods represented.
6.2 The original objectives of the excavation were to: record the nature of the main stratigraphic units encountered, assess the overall presence, survival and potential of structural and industrial remains and to assess the overall presence survival, condition and potential of artefactual and ecofactual remains (see section 2.1). All three of these objectives have been achieved: a complete record of the features encountered during the excavation has been created, including a record of their stratigraphic relationships to one another. No solid evidence for structural or industrial remains was encountered. However, moderately sized assemblages of ceramics, animal bones and charred plant remains and small assemblages, of mixed finds and metalwork have been recovered and assessed (see sections 5.7-5.28).
6.3 The original specific aims of the excavation were to: record any evidence of past settlement or other land use, to recover artefactual evidence to date any evidence of past settlement that may be identified, and to sample and analyse environmental remains to create a better understanding of past land use and economy (see section 2.2). Again all three of these specific aims have been achieved. The excavation recorded evidence of Late Iron Age and early Roman settlement and agricultural activity and of medieval agricultural activity. An artefact assemblage comprising pottery, mixed finds and metalwork was recovered along with an ecofact assemblage comprising charred plants and animal bones.
6.4 All areas of the site had generally moderate survival of archaeological deposits. However, the presence of medieval ridge-and-furrow demonstrates that some archaeological features had been lost to medieval ploughing. The amount of
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vertical truncation by modern agriculture cannot be reliably estimated, but may be average for rural sites in the region. However, the scarcity of postholes and absence of beam-slots, together with the general shallowness of surviving ditches, suggests there may have been a significant loss of structural evidence and shallow boundary ditches. The stratigraphic potential of the site is therefore moderate.
6.5 The outcome of this further work would result in a typescript report and summary publication, including a descriptive narrative of the stratigraphic sequence, detailed analysis of the prehistoric and Roman pottery, copper alloy brooch, worked stone spindle whorl and charred plant remains from posthole 5349, along with summaries of the remaining artefact and ecofact assemblages and a discussion drawing the stratigraphic, artefact and ecofact data together and interpreting the site in its regional and national context.
7 STORAGE AND CURATION
7.1 The archive is currently held at CA offices, Kemble, whilst post-excavation work proceeds. Upon completion of the project the site archive and, with the agreement of the legal landowners, the artefactual collection will be deposited with Warwickshire Museum (accession number: T1442), which has agreed in principle to accept the complete archive upon completion of the project.
8 UPDATED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
8.1 The archaeological sequence excavated at Kineton is of local and regional significance, and the following updated aims and objectives have largely been defined by reference to The archaeology of the West Midlands: a framework for research (Watt 2011). A smaller number of aims and objectives relating to the wider national context of the Kineton sequence have been defined with reference to the following publications: Social relations in later prehistory (Sharples 2010), A forged glamour: landscape, material culture and identity in the Iron Age (Giles 2012), Iron Age societies in the Severn-Cotswolds: developing narratives of social and landscape change (Moore 2006) and New visions of the countryside of Roman Britain: the rural settlement of Roman
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Britain (Smith et al. forthcoming). The updated aims and objectives provide a framework for the proposed further analysis.
Late Iron Age 8.2 Objective 1: understanding of landscape zoning: The Late Iron Age landscape at Kineton appears to have been defined by a series of rectilinear enclosures organised in an north-east/south-west-orientated strip across the excavation area. This division of space and its orientation suggests the zoned use of the landscape, with some areas perhaps being used for settlement and others for agricultural activity. The analysis phase of the project will therefore be used to refine our understanding of the stratigraphic record in order to examine the evidence for landscape zoning in more detail, including potentially examining the spatial distribution of artefacts.
8.3 Objective 2: understanding the agricultural economy of the settlement: Our understanding of the development of Iron Age agriculture in the region is still poor (Hurst 2011, 118). Analysis of the Kineton sequence, in particular the refinement of our understanding of the rectilinear enclosure ditches (are they fields or settlement enclosures?) and the refinement of our understanding of the charred plant assemblage from posthole 5349 will help us to address this question.
8.4 Objective 3: Investigate the regional distinctiveness of the Late Iron Age settlement and its development: The sequence of Iron Age settlement development in the West Midlands is in need of refinement and of differentiation from typological models based on sequences from Wessex and South Eastern England (Hurst 2011). The analysis stage will therefore provide the opportunity to investigate parallels for the settlement in the wider literature, and to refine our understanding of the stratigraphic sequence in the hope of drawing out any regionally specific aspects of that sequence.
8.5 Objective 4: understanding social expression: How did the Late Iron Age inhabitants of the settlement use portable material culture (such as ceramics) and/or architecture to create relations of solidarity and hierarchy among themselves and with other communities? The refinement of our understanding of the diversity of form in ceramics (the jar-dominated nature of the assemblage), provided by further analysis of the pottery assemblage, together with analysis of the relationship of the largest and most impressive enclosure
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(Enclosure 1004) to the rest of the settlement, and the distribution of different ceramic types across the settlement may enable us to address these questions.
8.6 Objective 5: understanding foodways: What staple foods characterised the Late Iron Age settlement? Contextualisation of the animal bone and charred plant assemblages in the stratigraphic sequence, along with the refinement of our understanding of the charred plant assemblage from posthole 5349, will enable us to address these questions.
8.7 Objective 6: understanding ritual and religion: Iron Age religious and ritual behaviour is routinely inferred in the academic literature from the presence of structured deposits (for example, Hill 1995, Sharples 2010). The refinement of the stratigraphic sequence at Kineton will provide an opportunity to check the stratigraphic record for evidence of structured deposits and to compare any that are identified, including the articulated animal bone group from posthole 5347 and the horse skull from posthole 5391 to parallels from the wider region.
National Research Agenda objectives 8.8 Objective 7 Explore the nature of the settlement and the agricultural routines and wider connections of the inhabitants putting them in a national and regional context: The Late Iron Age settlement at Kineton is located in a region where settlement is relatively less well known in comparison to other regions to the south, for example Wessex (Sharples 2010) the South East (Champion 2011) the North East (Giles 2012)), or the West (Moore 2006). The publication discussion will therefore provide an opportunity to set the Kineton settlement in a wider context through the discussion of parallels.
Early Roman 8.9 Objective 8: understanding of landscape zoning at Kineton: The layout of the early Roman settlement is similar to that of the Late Iron Age period settlement and the same questions therefore apply. A refinement of understanding of the stratigraphic record and potentially an analysis of artefact distributions will be used to address this objective.
8.10 Objective 9: understanding Early Roman agriculture at Kineton: The research agenda for the West Midlands argues that the agrarian economy of the region largely comprised mixed agriculture, with some pastoralism in the western and northern uplands (Esmonde-Cleary 2011). Given the lowland
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south-eastern (in a West Midlands context) location of the settlement at Kineton it might be assumed that the economy of the site was representative of this system. Although the animal bone assemblage is small, an understanding of its composition gained from the assessment, and comparison of it to examples from the wider literature, will give some indication of the nature of pastoral production/consumption. In addition, the presence of a stone spindle whorl (5.15) suggests the use of secondary products (wool) related to pastoralism. This theme will be investigated through the contextualisation of the Kineton spindle whorl and its comparison to comparanda from the wider region.
8.11 Objective 10: understanding how the settlement at Kineton connected to the wider Roman economic machine: Esmonde-Cleary (2011, 131) argues that the West Midlands may have been a ‘resource procurement zone’ for the army and the wider province during the Roman period. If this was the case then how did development of wider Roman economic systems impact economic production at the settlement? Was this wider economic context of the settlement related to the presence of metalworking debris? Further refinement of understanding of the ceramic assemblage, particularly imported materials during the analysis phase will help to elucidate this question.
8.12 Objective 11: understanding social expression: Identity and community is an important theme in the West Midlands Roman research agenda, with gender, ethnicity and age being important targets for research (Esmonde-Cleary 2011, 133-6). With this in mind the analysis stage of the project will seek to address the ways in which the inhabitants of the settlement used material culture and/or architecture to create relations of solidarity and/or hierarchy among themselves and with other communities. This will be achieved through a refinement in understanding of the diversity in ceramic forms in the Kineton assemblage, and a refinement of understanding of the sequence of enclosure architecture.
8.13 Objective 12: understanding the evidence for Early Roman ritual and religious practices: Like their later prehistorian colleagues, Romanists routinely infer ritual and religious behaviour from the presence of structured deposits in the stratigraphic record (Fulford 2001) and the importance of the contextualisation of evidence for Roman structured deposition is flagged up in the West Midlands regional research agenda (Esmonde-Cleary 2011). The refinement of the stratigraphic sequence at Kineton will therefore provide an
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opportunity to check the stratigraphic record for evidence of structured deposits and to compare any that are identified to parallels from the wider region.
National Research Agenda 8.14 Objective 13: Putting the early Roman settlement at Kineton in its regional and national context: The Roman rural settlement project (Smith et al. forthcoming) has rewritten our understanding of rural settlement in Roman Britain. The Kineton settlement was situated geographically within a ‘Central Zone’, an agriculturally productive zone characterised by complex rural settlement. To what extent does the settlement at Kineton fit within the patterns of settlement and economic activity discovered by Smith et al.? Does it represent an example of their complex settlement? Does the small scale of the animal bone and charred plant assemblages indicate small scale agricultural production/consumption? As for the Late Iron Age settlement, further analysis will provide an opportunity to set the Kineton settlement in a wider context through the discussion of parallels.
9 PUBLICATION
9.1 The results from the investigations of Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire, are of regional significance and merit a typescript excavation report and summary publication. The excavation has revealed an enclosed Late Iron Age/Early Roman site containing building remains and evidence for enclosures, which were repeatedly maintained and remodelled. It is proposed that a summary report is published in The Transactions of The Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeology Society.
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Synopsis of Proposed Summary Report
Late Iron Age to Early Roman settlement at Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire by Alistair Barber and Dan Stansbie
Words Introduction 150 The Late Iron Age to Early Roman Settlement 400 The artefactual and ecofactual evidence 500 Discussion 400 Acknowledgements 50 Total Words 1500 3 pages
Illustrations
Location plan and site plan 1 page
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PROJECT TEAM
9.2 The analysis and publication programme will be quality assured by Martin Watts MCIfA (Head of Publications: HoP) and managed by (Dan Stansbie ACIfA Post-excavation Manager: PM and senior author: SAuth), who will contribute to the discussion as senior author and co-ordinate the work of the following personnel:
Neil Holbrook FSA MCIfA (Chief Executive Officer: CEO) Advice on Roman archaeology and contribution to overall discussion
Alistair Barber (SPO): Post-excavation phasing, draft report preparation, research and archive
Ed McSloy MCIfA (Senior Finds Officer: FO): Specialist report preparation and liaison, post-excavation phasing.
Sarah Wyles PCIFA (Senior Environmental Officer: EO) Specialist reporting and liason
Lucy Martin (Senior Illustrator: ILL): Production/QA of all site plans, sections and artefact drawings (exc. pottery)
Jonathan Bennett MCIfA (Geomatics Officer: GO): GIS applications
9.3 Contributions by the following external consultants will be managed by the Senior Environmental Officer: Matilda Holmes
9.4 The final publication report will be edited and refereed internally by CA senior project management, and will also be externally refereed.
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10 TASK LIST
TASK PERSONNEL DURATION/ COST Project Management SPM 3 Stratigraphic Analysis PO 2.5 FO Research, comparanda S Auth 0.75 Pottery Analysis and report FO 4 Illustration SI 2 Metal artefacts Conservation Specialist FEE Transport FEE Report preparation FO 0.25 Illustration SI 0.5 Worked Stone Artefacts Report preparation FO 0.25 Illustration SI 0.5 Radiocarbon dating Analysis Specialist Report preparation FO Preparation of publication report Abstract and introduction PO 0.75 SI 0.5 Excavation results PO 3 SI 1 Compilation of specialist reports, tables etc. SAuth 0.50 Discussion, conclusions SAuth 0.75 SI Acknowledgements, bibliography PO 0.75 Submission to external referees Editing SPM 0.50 Revisions PO 0.50 SUBMISSION OF PUBLICATION TEXT Archive Research archive completion PO 3.75 FO Microfilm FEE Deposition FEE Publication Printing SANHS FEE
11 TIMETABLE
11.1 For a publication project, CA would normally aim to have completed a publication draft within one year of the approval of the updated publication project design. A detailed programme will be produced on approval of the updated publication project design.
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12 REFERENCES
Anderson, R. 2005 ‘An annotated list of the non-marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland’, Journal of Conchology. 38, 607-637
Archaeological Surveys Ltd 2012 Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire Magnetometer Survey Report. Ref. no. 428
BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer google/googleviewer.html (accessed 16 March 2015)
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 1995 Treatment of finds immediately after excavation: Technical manual No. 3
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012a Land east of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire: Archaeological Evaluation CA Report No. 12270
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012b The taking and processing of environmental and other samples from archaeological sites: Technical manual No. 2
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014 Fieldwork Recording Manual: Technical manual No. 1
Champion, T. 2011 ‘Later prehistory’ in Booth, P. Champion, T. Foreman, S. Garwood, P. Glass, H. Munby, J. Reynolds, A. On track: The archaeology of HS1, section 1 in Kent Oxford Wessex Archaeology Monograph. 4, Oxford, Salisbury, 151-241
Davies, P. 2008 Snails Archaeology and Landscape Change Oxford, Oxbow Books
Driesch, A. von den 1976 A guide to the measurement of animal bones from archaeological sites Cambridge MA, Harvard University Press
30 Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warks: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology
EDP (Environmental Dimension Partnership) 2012 Land off Southam Road, Kineton, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Assessment Unpublished Report EDP Ref. EDP1675_02b
Esmonde-Cleary, S. 2011 ‘The Romano-British period: An assessment’, in Watts, S. (ed.) The archaeology of the West Midlands: A framework for research Oxford, Oxbow Books, University of Birmingham, 127-147
Farley, M. and Jones, G. 2012 Iron Age Ritual: A Hillfort and Evidence for a Minster at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Oxford, Oxbow
Fulford, M. 2012 ‘Links with the past: pervasive ‘ritual’ behavior in Roman Britain’, Britannia. 32, 199-218
Friendship-Taylor, R. 1974 ‘Excavation of the Belgic and Romano-British site at Quinton, Northamptonshire, 1971-2’, J. Northampton Museums Art Gallery 11, 1974, 2–39
Giles, M. 2012 A forged glamour: Landscape, identity and material culture in the Iron Age Oxford, Windgather Press
Grant, A. 1982 ‘The use of toothwear as a guide to the age of domestic ungulates’, in Wilson, B. Grigson, C. and Payne, S. (eds) Ageing and Sexing Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites Oxford, Brit. Archaeol. Rep. British Series. 109, 91-108
Grant, A. 1975. ‘The Animal Bones’. In Cunliffe, B W. (ed.) Excavations at Portchester Castle. Volume I: Roman London, Society of Antiquaries, 378- 408
Greig, J. 1991 ‘The British Isles’ in van Zeist, W. Wasylikowa, K. and Behre, K-E. (eds) Progress in Old World Palaeoethnobotany Rotterdam, A. A. Balkema, 229-334
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Hambleton, E. 1999. Animal Husbandry Regimes in Iron Age Britain Oxford, Brit. Archaeol. Rep. British Series. 282
Hill, J.D. 1995 Ritual and rubbish in the Iron Age of Wessex: A study on the formation of a specific archaeological record Oxford, Tempus, Brit. Archaeol. Rep. British Series. 242
Hurst, D. 2011 ‘Middle Bronze Age to Iron Age: A research assessment overview and agenda’, in Watts, S. (ed.) The archaeology of the West Midlands: A framework for research Oxford, Oxbow Books, University of Birmingham, 101-126
Jones, G. and Sadler, P. 2012. ‘Age at death in cattle: methods, older cattle and known-age reference material’, Environmental Archaeology. 17, 11-28
Kerney, M.P. 1999 Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland Colchester, Harley Books
Lauwerier, R. 1988 Animals in Roman Times in the Dutch Eastern River Area Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, PhD
Lemione, X. Zeder, M.A. Bishop, K.J. and Rufolo, S.J. 2014 ‘A new system for computing dentition-based age profiles in Sus scrofa’, Journal of Archaeological Science. 47, 179-193
Lyman, R.L. 1994 Vertebrate Taphonomy Cambridge, Cambridge University Press
Moore, T. 2006 Iron Age societies in the Severn-Cotswolds: Developing narratives of social and landscape change Oxford, Archaeopress, Brit. Archaeol. Rep. British Series, 421
O'Connor, T. 2003 The Analysis of Urban Animal Bone Assemblages: A Handbook for Archaeologists York, York Archaeological Trust, Council for British Archaeology
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Payne, S. 1973 ‘Kill-off patterns in sheep and goats: The mandibles from Asvan Kale’, Anatolian Studies. 23, 281-303
Serjeantson, D. 1996 ‘The animal bones’, In Needham, S. and Spence, T. (eds) Refuse and disposal at area 16 East Runnymede Runnymede Bridge Research Excavations. 2, London, Published for the Trustees of the British Museum by the British Museum Press
Sharples, N. 2010 Social relations in later prehistory: Wessex in the first millennium BC Oxford, Oxford University Press
Shepherd, W. 1972 Flint: Its Origin, Properties & Uses. London. Faber and Faber.
Smith, A. Allen, M. Brindle, T. Fulford, M. and Holbrook, N. 2016 New visions of the countryside of Roman Britain: The rural settlement of Roman Britain Britannia Monograph Series. 1, London, The Society For Promotion of Roman Studies
Spencer, B. 1983 ‘Limestone-tempered pottery from South Wales in the Late Iron Age and Early Roman Period’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 30 (3/4), 405–19
Stace, C. 1997 New flora of the British Isles Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2edn
Sykes, N. 2007 The Norman Conquest: A Zooarchaeological Perspective Oxford, Brit. Archaeol. Rep. International Series. 1656
Thompson, I. 1982 Grog-tempered ‘Belgic’ Pottery of South-eastern England Brit. Archaeol. Rep. Brit. Ser. 108 Oxford, British Archaeological Reports
Tomber, R. and Dore, J. 1998 The National Roman fabric reference collection: a handbook, Museum of London / English Heritage/ British Museum
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Watt, S. (ed) The archaeology of the West Midlands: A framework for research Oxford, Oxbow Books, University of Birmingham
Webster, P.V. 1976 ‘Severn Valley ware: A Preliminary Study’, Trans. Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol. Soc. 94, 18–46
Zeder, M.A. and Lapham, H. 2010 ‘Assessing the reliability of criteria used to identify post-cranial bones in sheep, Ovis, and goats, Capra’, Journal of Archaeological Science. 37, 2887-2905
Zeder, M.A. and Pilaar, S. 2010 ‘Assessing the reliability of criteria used to identify mandibles and mandibular teeth in sheep, Ovis and goats, Capra’, Journal of Archaeological Science. 37, 225-242
Zohary, D. Hopf, M. and Weiss, E. 2012 Domestication of plants in the Old World: the origin and spread of cultivated plants in West Asia, Europe, and the Nile Valley, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 4edn
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APPENDIX 1: STRATIGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT BY DAN STANSBIE
A total of 620 contexts were recorded during the excavation. Three context numbers were assigned to deposits of natural origin and the remaining contexts were assigned to periods as detailed below:
Table 1: Number of contexts by period Period No. of contexts Period 0 Unphased 32 Period 1 Late Iron Age (100BC-AD43) 290 Period 2 Early Roman (AD43-200) 283 Period 3 medieval to post-medieval (AD1066-AD1800) 12
Potential for further analysis The preservation of the archaeological sequence and the recovered artefactual evidence means that a comprehensive phasing can be achieved for the majority of excavated contexts. In order to achieve this, further stratigraphic analysis will be undertaken on 605 contexts provisionally assigned to Periods 1 and 2, and those that are currently unphased. Further analysis will not be required for those contexts provisionally assigned to Period 3 (medieval to post-medieval).
APPENDIX 2: POTTERY BY ED MCSLOY AND KATIE MARSDEN
Pottery amounting to 864 sherds (9658g) was recorded. The large majority was hand recovered, with 49 sherds (115g) retrieved from bulk soil sample residues. The pottery assemblage has been recorded direct to an Ms Access database. The pottery was sorted by fabric and quantified according to sherd count/weight and rim EVEs (estimated vessel equivalents). Vessel class and details of form (profile and rim morphology) were also recorded, as were decoration and any evidence for vessel use. Fabric codes utilised for recording are defined in table 1.
The assemblage is for the most part fairly well broken-up; this is reflected in mean sherd weight (11.2g) which is fairly low for a mainly Late Iron Age/Early Roman group. In a small number of instances (most notably ditch fill 5624), vessels are represented by larger, joining sherds permitting partial reconstruction. Surface preservation varied, but was moderately severe for some types including the Severn Valley ware.
Pottery was recorded from 137 separate deposits. The large bulk of the assemblage was derived from ditch/gully fills (665 sherds or 77%), with the remainder coming from pits/postholes. Context group size is typically small, with only 10 groups of 20 or more sherds, to a maximum of 62 sherds (posthole fill 5348).
Assemblage range The composition of the pottery assemblage is set out in table 1. A minority occurs in handmade quartz-tempered and coarser shell-tempered fabrics for which Middle or Late Iron Age dating is probable. The large majority, primarily consisting of wheelthrown types, is dateable to the period of the Late Iron Age/Early Roman transition in the 1st century AD. A small number of post-medieval sherds (table 1) appear to be intrusive, probably as the
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result of the ridge and furrow activity which overlay the site. This material has been recorded (table 1) but is not considered further.
Late Prehistoric (Iron Age) A total of 119 sherds (810g) was attributable to this period, although a proportion was probably re-deposited in later-dated features. Only one sizeable context group, of 33 sherds, was recorded; from posthole 5349 (fill 5350).
The Iron Age group comprises sherds in handmade quartz-tempered and handmade calcareous fabrics (limestone or fossil shell). Only a small number of rim or base sherds were present in this group and decoration entirely absent. Rim sherds in a coarse shell-tempered fabric from posthole 5349 come from a vessel (probably a jar) with undifferentiated rim probably of barrel-shaped or ovoid form. Middle or later Iron Age dating (c. 400/300– 100 BC/25 AD) is favoured for this and for vessels in quartz-tempered fabrics of globular (ditch fill 5197) or ‘stack- shouldered’ profile (ditch fill 5262) and with simple upright or everted necks (5197).
The source for the majority of the Iron Age pottery is likely to be local. One sherd in Palaeozoic limestone- tempered type MAL LS is the sole type from a non-local source, originating from The Malvern Hills/May Hill, some 50km to the west. This type is at its most widespread in the Late Iron Age and up to the middle decades of the 1st century AD. A rim sherd in this type from ditch fill 5152 comes from a jar with simple everted rim, which is typical of early to mid 1st century vessels (Spencer 1983).
Roman (including ‘transitional’ Late Iron Age/Early Roman) The large majority of the pottery assemblage was attributable to this period, with most or all dateable before c. AD 100. Material of this period probably includes a proportion of the handmade shell or limestone-tempered types, use of which might have persisted beyond the conquest period. The bulk of material, however, occurs as wheelthrown grog, shell-tempered or reduced quartz-tempered types, which are characteristic of ‘transitional’ assemblages from the region. A smaller, though sizeable element, comprises oxidised or reduced-fired Severn Valley wares, probably originating well to the southwest, in the Worcester/Malverns area. Although potentially ‘long-lived’ the more closely dateable elements among Severn Valley ware, indicates that most belongs to the early decades of the Roman period (below). The precise source (and date range) for the small quantities of grey and finer white-firing types in the assemblage are uncertain, though a broadly midlands origin is probable. Regionally imported types are limited to a handle sherd from ditch fill 5262, which is provisionally identified as Verulamium region whiteware. Imported (continental) types are entirely absent.
A narrow range of vessel forms characterises the ‘Roman’ assemblage, with the platter or butt-beaker copies which can characterise ‘transitional’ groups absent. Necked jars are most common; principally among the grog- tempered, reduced and shelly types, and include some large (>300mm diam) vessels suitable for storage. Neckless, channel-rimmed jars are also recorded (ditch fill 5264), representative of a class common to Northamptonshire (Friendship-Taylor 1999). Non-jar forms among the grogged and reduced fabrics are primarily small bowls/cups corresponding to ‘Belgic’ style vessels. Included are carinated forms with one or more cordon (Thompson’s classes E1-1/E1-2) and necked/shouldered forms (Thompson D1-1). The Severn Valley ware is characteristically ‘early’ in its composition, comprising carinated bowls/cups (Webster’s Class H vessels) and globular jars (as Webster 1976, fig. 4, nos. 19–20). The Verulamium region whiteware sherd is a handle from a large flagon or flagon/amphora. It is strap-like and with a single central rib, although the precise form of the vessel from which it comes cannot be known.
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Statement of Potential and Recommendations for Further Analysis The pottery assemblage is of modest size and its condition mixed. It is, however, coherent in providing evidence for activity centred in the middle and later decades of the 1st century. In its character the pottery assemblage appears to be typical of sites in southern Warwickshire (Esmonde Cleary 2011, 142-3); a mix of ‘Belgic’ influences reminiscent of the traditions of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire and those of the Severn Valley/Malverns to the southwest. The Verulamium whiteware sherd (from ditch fill 5262) hints at some access to regional imported types in the post-conquest decades. This notwithstanding there are no obvious indications of higher status or Romanising influence, which might for example be represented by drinking/serving related vessels, imported finewares or amphorae.
The limited variability of the pottery assemblage limits its use as clear and specific dating evidence. Given the inter-cutting character of the site stratigraphy and evidence for at least three phases (Provisional Periods 1–3), there is some potential that analysis of the pottery assemblage relative to the site sequence will further understanding of pottery supply and use at the site. Analysis and reporting is therefore recommended with the principal aim of relating pottery groups to the site stratigraphic sequence to highlight any patterns of supply. In particular it should be determined whether groups characterised by Severn Valley wares represent a secondary development, or whether these are contemporary with groups where grog-tempered, ‘early reduced’ or shell- tempered types are preeminent.
Recording undertaken for this assessment is adequate for the purposes of the archive and will permit further compositional analysis in the manner described. A report characterising the assemblage and examining aspects of site chronology and supply should be prepared and should be accompanied by illustration of selected vessel/groups (to a maximum of 20 vessels).
Summary Analysis/reporting 4 days (SFC) Illustration 2 days (SI)
Table 2: Pottery summary. Quantification by dated type (period) and fabric. Date fabric Description Ct. Wt.(g) EVEs IA hmQz Quartz-tempered 6 128 .04 HMSH Coarse shell-tempered 33 205 .25 Qzli Quartz/limestone 1 33 .07 LI Limestone-tempered 78 434 .07 MAL LS Malvernian limestone-tempered (‘Peacock B’) 1 10 .05 Sub-total 119 810 0.48 Rom. Gt Grog-tempered 181 2463 1.95 Gtf Grog-tempered (finer) 31 283 .41 GtLi Grog (with limestone) 1 16 .13 GtQz Grog (with quartz) 19 203 .12 GtSh Grog (with shell) 1 17 0 GW Greyware (sandy) 21 317 .49 GtGW Greyware (with grog) 8 569 .35 Gwf Greyware (fine) 1 2 -
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OXID Oxidised (sandy) 4 18 - Qz Wheelthrown sandy (black-firing) 180 1100 .76 Qzf Wheelthrown black-firing (finer) 77 892 .84 QzOrg Wheelthrown black-firing (organic inclusions) 11 87 .03 QzSh Wheelthrown black-firing (shell inclusions) 1 12 0 Sh Shell-tempered 78 930 .39 ShLi Shell/limestone-tempered 4 79 .05 SVW OX2 Severn Valley ware oxidised 70 746 .56 SVW OXO Severn Valley ware oxidised (organic inclusions) 7 181 .44 SVW REO Severn Valley ware reduced (organic inclusions) 21 277 - VER WH? Verulamium region whiteware 1 93 - Wh Sandy whiteware 1 11 .05 Whf Whiteware (finer) 23 344 .75 Sub-total 741 8640 7.32 med Ug OXID Unglazed gritty coarseware 2 16 - Pmed CW Creamware 2 2 - Total 864 9658 7.80 * types in bold accord with National Roman Fabric Reference Collection codes (Tomber and Dore 1998)
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APPENDIX 3: LITHICS BY JACKY SOMMERVILLE
Introduction and methodology A total of 11 worked flints (41g) and eight pieces of burnt, unworked flint (15g) was retrieved from the excavation of nine separate deposits. The burnt flint and five of the worked flints (1g) were recovered from the bulk soil sampling of five deposits.
The artefacts were recorded according to broad artefact/debitage type and catalogued directly onto a Microsoft Access database. Chips (debitage ≤10mm) were quantified only and partial recording was carried out for the remainder of the assemblage due to its very small size. Attributes recorded included: raw material; weight; colour; cortex description; degree of edge damage (microflaking), rolling (abrasion) and recortication (apparent as a white/blueish surface discoloration resulting from chemical change within the burial environment [Shepherd 1972, 109]); and presence of breakage and/or burning.
Provenance All of the lithics were recorded from cut features: ditch fills (91%); and a posthole fill (9%). Where the features containing lithics had been dated by associated pottery, this was Iron Age or Roman in all cases. The remaining three flakes were retrieved from undated fills of Phase 1 (Late Iron Age) and Phase 2 (Early Roman) ditches.
Raw material and condition The raw material was flint. Five items retained cortex, which was a mixture of chalky and abraded and, in one case, a recorticated surface which had been worked in an earlier period. The flint was grey or brown, with a degree of white discoloration on five items, due to recortication. Condition was rather poor, with moderate edge damage on 56% and moderate rolling on 78%, which is consistent with a redeposited assemblage. Four of the flakes were broken and all of the worked flints were unburnt.
Range and variety The assemblage comprised: seven flakes and two chips (the latter recovered via soil sampling). No chronologically diagnostic features (such as evidence of soft hammer percussion or preparation of the core’s striking platform) were present on any of the flakes and all are only broadly dateable to the prehistoric period.
Statement of potential The lithic assemblage from Southam Road, Kineton is very small and appears to be entirely residual.
Summary of further work The recording which has been carried out for the purpose of this assessment is sufficient for archive purposes. A short note summarising the lithics should be included in any publication on the site, as a record of early prehistoric activity. No illustrations are required.
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APPENDIX 4: METALWORK BY KATIE MARSDEN
A total of 14 items of metal were recorded from 11 deposits. Of this total, ten items are of iron, three of copper alloy and one of lead alloy. In addition, five items of iron were recovered by bulk soil sample from ditch Y (fill 5056).
The extent of corrosion/fragmentation is generally poor across the iron and copper alloy objects, whilst the single lead alloy object is in a more stable condition.
Range and Variety The single lead alloy object, Ra. 102 was recorded from subsoil deposit 5001. It is spherical in form, although its size and weight (65g) are greater that would be expected for a (musket-sized) firearm. Use for a larger calibre weapon is possible although alternative use as a weight might be considered. It probably dates to the post- medieval period (17th century or later).
Amongst the three copper alloy objects, a small and featureless sheet fragment weighing less than 1g was recorded from ditch AH (fill 5263). Its original function and date are unknown. Brooch Ra. 101, recorded from ditch E (fill 5132), is in extremely poor condition, with little of its original surface surviving and the extent of corrosion preventing fullest identification at this stage. It is a hinged bow brooch, with one surviving projecting arm at the approximate mid-line and probably with a terminal knob. It almost certainly belongs to the Hod Hill class, and as such is dateable to the mid 1st century AD.
Among the 14 iron objects hand recovered and five fragments recovered by bulk soil sample, the majority (18 items) are too fragmentary for identification to a particular function, or for dating. Most comprise sheet, strip and bar/rod-like pieces (table 1). Ra. 109 from ditch Q (fill 5100), is a small ring (c. 20mm diam) with a projecting spur, although, again its function is unclear.
Statement of potential and recommendations for further analysis
The metalwork assemblage is a small group and of limited range. One item, brooch Ra. 101 is of individual interest and is likely to provide additional dating evidence contributory to the understanding of the site. This item will require cleaning by a specialist conservator to facilitate identification and its longer-term survival. Following its conservation a full catalogue description suitable for publication should be prepared for this item. The remaining objects do not merit further work; although a short, summary paragraph (or table) recording the presence of this material should be included in any publication or archive report.
The metal objects are currently stored in air-tight, plastic containers with appropriate humidity control. X- radiography of the iron and copper alloy items is recommended to provide a permanent record of this group.
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Table 3: metal finds summary
Material Context Prov. Perd. Ra. Type Ct Wt. Comments
Cu al. 5132 1 101 brooch 1 5 Hod Hill brooch Cu al. 5263 1 104 object 1 0.1 small sheet/strip fragment Pb 5001 3 102 object 1 65 shot? 28mm diam Fe 5280 1 0 object 1 5 rod-like Fe 5100 2 109 object 1 1 poss key winder top? Fe 5058 2 100 sheet 1 14 irregular sheet frag Fe 5406 2 0 rod 3 4 curved rod fragments; possibly ring Fe 5460 2 0 object 1 35 strip-like with rounded terminal Fe 5278 2 0 object 1 20 rod-like Fe 5287 2 0 object 1 11 D-shaped sheet Fe 5151 2 0 strip 1 4 18mm wide
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APPENDIX 5: MIXED FINDS BY KATIE MARSDEN AND ED MCSLOY
Coin One coin, of copper alloy (Ra. 105), was recorded from subsoil deposit 5001. It is heavily corroded and only partially legible. Its size and surviving features are sufficient for identification as a nummus of Late Roman (4th century) type. In view of the poor condition and uncertain dating of Ra. 105 (and its recovery from subsoil), it is considered of low significance. Further action is therefore not recommended.
Ceramic Building Material A total of six fragments (57g) of ceramic building material were recorded from five deposits and a further three fragments were recovered by bulk soil sample from two deposits. The majority consist of unfeatured fragments in a hard orange fabric with poorly sorted flint inclusions. Further identification to class or close dating is not possible. Post-medieval/modern dating is, however, considered most likely, with most or all intrusive within Roman-dated deposits. One fragment of transfer-printed, glazed wall tile, dating to the 19th or early 20th centuries, was recorded from ditch AX (fill 5517). The material is of limited significance and presents no potential for analysis. Recording carried out at the Post-Excavation Assessment stage is considered sufficient for the archive and further work is unwarranted.
Worked stone A single item of worked stone; spindle whorl Ra. 108 was recorded from ditch V (fill 5278). Ra. 108 is of disc-like form and made in a shelly limestone. No dateable material was recovered from ditch fill 5278, although pottery dating to the mid or later 1st century AD was recorded elsewhere from Ditch V and equivalent dating would be appropriate for Ra. 108. Ra. 108 is of some limited interest as evidence of craft activity at the site and one of the few non-ceramic items recorded from the site. A catalogue description and illustration should be prepared for publication.
Metalworking debris A single small fragment of ironworking slag (3g) was recorded from ditch AX (fill 5517). In addition, small quantities (24g) of indeterminate industrial waste/‘clinker’ were recovered from bulk soil sample residues associated with five deposits, and fragments (<1g) of coal from two deposits. The evidence for metallurgical activity is very limited and regarded as of low significance. Recording carried out at this stage is considered sufficient for the archive, and no further work is required.
Fired/burnt clay A total of 143 fragments (840g) of fired clay were recorded from 54 deposits. In addition, 56g was recovered by bulk soil sample from ten deposits. The fragments occur in soft, buff or red-brown firing fabrics which are inclusionless, or with sparse quartz or calcareous inclusions. Most material is amorphous/unfeatured or preserves only a single smoothed surface, and none among the group can be related to a particular object class or function. The material is of limited significance and presents little potential for analysis. Recording carried out at the assessment stage is considered sufficient for the archive. And further work is not warranted.
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APPENDIX 6: ANIMAL BONE BY MATILDA HOLMES
Introduction A small assemblage of animal bone was recovered, largely from ditch deposits, but also post holes and pits dating to both the Late Iron Age and Early Roman phases of occupation. A basic analysis was undertaken, as sample sizes from both phases were not large enough for reliable, detailed consideration.
Methodology Bones were identified using the author’s reference collection. Due to anatomical similarities between sheep and goat, bones of this type were assigned to the category ‘sheep/goat’, unless a definite identification (Zeder and Lapham 2010; Zeder and Pilaar 2010) could be made. Bones that could not be identified to species were, where possible, categorised according to the relative size of the animal represented (small – cat/ rabbit sized; medium – sheep/ pig/ dog size; or large – cattle/ horse size). Ribs were identified to size category where the head was present, vertebrae were recorded when the vertebral body was present, and maxilla, zygomatic arch and occipital areas of the skull were identified from skull fragments.
Tooth wear and eruption were recorded using guidelines from Grant (1982) and Payne (1973), as were bone fusion, metrical data (von den Driesch 1976), anatomy, side, zone (Serjeantson 1996) and any evidence of pathological changes, butchery (Lauwerier 1988; Sykes 2007) and working. The condition of bones was noted on a scale of 0-5, where 0 is fresh bone and 5, the bone is falling apart (Lyman 1994: 355). Other taphonomic factors were also recorded, including the incidence of burning, gnawing, recent breakage and refitted fragments. All fragments were recorded, although articulated or associated fragments were entered as a count of 1, so they did not bias the relative frequency of species present. Details of associated bone groups were recorded in a separate table.
No sieved samples were made available, which may lead to a negative bias in the number and variety of small mammals, fish and bird bones recorded in the assemblage.
Bones were only included in analysis if they came from features that could be securely dated. Quantification of taxa used a count of all fragments (NISP – number of identified specimens), and that of anatomical elements was done using a restricted count of epiphyses only, based on Grant (1975), unless otherwise stated. Mortality profiles were constructed based on tooth eruption and wear (Farley and Jones 2012; Hambleton 1999; Jones and Sadler 2012; Lemione et al. 2014) and bone fusion (O’Connor 2003). A sample was considered of sufficient size to provide useful information for comparison of the major domesticates (cattle, sheep/ goat and pig) if they numbered 100 NISP or more, and for detailed analysis of minor taxa, ageing data and carcass representation if they numbered 300 NISP or more.
Taphonomy and condition Bones were generally in good to fair condition, although a high incidence of fresh breakage and refitted fragments suggests they were friable upon excavation (Table 1). Approximately a third of bones showed signs of canid gnawing, indicating that they were available for dogs to chew on. However, there was a low ratio of loose teeth to those remaining in the mandible, and no signs of heavily weathered fragments, which implies that they were buried fairly soon after discard and were subject to minimal post-depositional movement. Few observations of burning suggest that bones were not routinely exposed to heat, either during cooking or disposal. Cut and chop marks may have been obliterated by the action of dogs, leading to few records of butchery.
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A single associated bone group was noted, that of a Late Iron Age sheep/ goat from post hole 5347 (cxt.5574). It consisted of the legs and vertebrae of a mature individual. Similarly, the skull of an equid was recovered from post hole 5391 (cxt. 5607). It is not clear if these occurred prior to or following placement of a post, but the presence of structured depositions are common finds on sites of this date, and implies the symbolic use of animals, possibly in relation to the building being erected or dismantled.
There were no notable deposits of butchery, craft-working or table refuse, suggesting that bones from all processes were disposed of in this area of the settlement.
Carcass representation and butchery Cattle and sheep/ goat bones came from all parts of the carcass, suggesting that animals were culled, processed and consumed on site (Table 2). Smaller sample sizes for other taxa make interpretations of possible redistribution unreliable – the prevalence of pig, dog and horse mandibles, maxillae and teeth is expected as these are dense elements that tend to survive best in the archaeological record.
The butchery data are consistent with the disarticulation of the carcasses of cattle and sheep/ goat, taking the form of cut and chop marks. An early Roman cattle hyoid had a cut mark that may have been caused from cutting the animal’s throat, or as a result of head removal during the primary butchery process.
The assemblage Sheep/ goat bones predominated, being roughly twice as commonly recovered as cattle (Table 3). Pig and equid remains were recorded in smaller numbers, with additional occasional finds of canids and domestic fowl (chicken).
Sheep/ goat mortality data were limited from bone fusion, but a relatively large number of mandibles and teeth were useful for the calculation of tooth wear stages. Younger animals culled for meat before they reached maturity predominate, although older animals were also recorded. These would have died at around the time of skeletal maturity and may have been used for small-scale milking, wool production or for breeding.
Fusion samples are slightly larger for cattle, but only two mandibles were suitable for tooth wear calculations. They indicated major culls of animals at meat age but also animals that were kept alive into adulthood, which could have been used for traction, milking or breeding. A single neonatal bone was recovered from the early Roman phase, implying that cattle were bred nearby.
The few pig bones were all from juvenile animals that were presumably used for meat. Conversely, horse remains were all fused, indicating their importance for transport and haulage that would have continued into old age.
Summary This small assemblage is typical for sites of this type, although there were not enough bones recovered to consider wider issues such as economy or status of the site in relation to others. Husbandry seems to have been dominated by sheep, goats and cattle; animals that were kept for a mixture of meat and secondary products, with the diets of the inhabitants of the settlement supplemented by chicken and pork. There is a self-sufficient leaning
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to the settlement, with evidence for animals having been been bred nearby, and then culled, processed and consumed on site.
Table 4: Condition of bones and taphonomic factors affecting the assemblage. Bones identified to taxa and/ or anatomy. Teeth not included unless stated.
Condition Late Iron Early Age Roman Fresh Excellent Good 37 62 Fair 33 54 Poor 9 13 Very poor 1 3 Total 80 132 Butchered 6% 5% Gnawed 29% 30% Burnt 4% 1% Fresh break 28% 23% Refitted fragments 12=112 24=84 Loose teeth* 3 8 Teeth in 9 18 mandibles* *4th premolar and 1st-3rd molars
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Table 5: Anatomical elements for the most commonly recorded taxa. Epiphysis only count.
Late Iron Age Early Roman Element Cattle Sheep/ Pig Equid Cattle Sheep/ Pig Equid Canid goat goat Skeleton 1 Skull 1 Horn core 1 1 2 Horn core + frontal 4 Occipital 1 Zygomatic 1 1 Maxilla with teeth 2 1 Mandible with teeth 2 5 1 1 7 1 1 Loose maxillary tooth 6 2 4 6 2 Loose mandibular 5 6 1 2 15 3 tooth Loose tooth 1 2 2 1 3 2 1 1 Hyoid 1 1st cervical vertebra 2 Cervical vertebra 1 Thoracic vertebra 3 Lumber vertebra 8 Scapula 2 1 1 Humerus P 1 Humerus D 1 1 1 2 1 Radius P 2 2 3 1 Radius D 2 Ulna 1 1 Pelvis 2 3 Femur P 2 Femur D 1 Patella 1 1 Tibia D 3 2 1 1 Metacarpal P 1 3 Metapodial P 1 1 1 Metatarsal P 2 1 1 4 6 Metacarpal D 1 1 Metapodial D 1 1 1 Metatarsal D 2 1 1st phalange* 1 1 1 2nd phalange* 1 Total 24 31 8 4 38 61 8 10 3 * Counts adjusted for frequency bias
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Table 6: Species representation (NISP) all hand collected
Taxa Late Iron Early Age Roman Cattle 34 48 Sheep/ goat 64 94 Sheep 1 5 Goat 1 Pig 9 11 Equid 5 13 Canid 1 3 Domestic fowl 1 Total identified 114 176 Unidentified 80 118 mammal Large mammal 88 129 Medium mammal 160 197 Total 442 620
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APPENDIX 7: ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE ASSESSMENT BY SARAH WYLES
A series of 22 environmental samples (400 litres of soil) were selected from a range of feature types from Periods 1 and 2 with the intention of recovering environmental evidence of domestic and/or industrial activity on the site and examining whether this changed between the Late Iron Age (Period 1) and Early Roman (Period 2) phases of the settlement. Thirteen of these samples were taken from Period 1 features and nine from Period 2 features. The samples were processed by standard flotation procedures (CA Technical Manual No. 2).
Preliminary identifications of plant macrofossils are noted in Table 1, following the nomenclature of Stace (1997) for wild plants, and traditional nomenclature, as provided by Zohary et al (2012) for cereals. The presence of mollusc shells has also been recorded in a number of these samples. Nomenclature is according to Anderson (2005) and habitat preferences according to Kerney (1999) and Davies (2008).
Period 1 (Late Iron Age) Ditches Very few charred remains were recovered from, ditch AB (fill 5314, section 5313, sample 102), and ditch W (fill 5105, section 5106, sample 110). These included an indeterminate grain fragment and small quantities of charcoal fragments greater than 2mm. These assemblages are likely to represent wind-blown domestic settlement material. No charred material was present in samples 120 and 119 (ditch AA, fill 5191, section 5189 and fill 5194, section 5192) and in sample 116 (ditch O, fill 5143, section 5140). The low number of mollusc shells from these ditches included those of the open country species Helicella itala.
Drip gulleys and postholes Fill 5350 (sample 100) of posthole 5349, associated with Penannular-Gully AD contained a moderate charred plant assemblage. This included hulled wheat, emmer or spelt (Triticum dicoccum/spelta), grain, spikelet forks and glume base fragments, and barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain fragments. A number of the chaff elements were identifiable as being those of spelt wheat (Triticum spelta). Spelt wheat was generally the predominant wheat during this period in Southern Britain (Greig 1991).
The weed seeds included seeds of oat/brome grass (Avena/Bromus sp.), vetch/wild pea (Vicia/Lathyrus sp.) and clover/medick (Trifolium/Medicago sp.). These are all species typical of grassland, field margins and arable environments. There were also a few possible heather (Calluna/Erica sp.) stem fragments and a small quantity of charcoal fragments. This assemblage is likely to be dumped settlement debris, including crop-processing waste, possibly of material stored as semi-cleaned spikelets.
The low number of mollusc shells included shells of the open country species Pupilla muscorum, Vallonia costata, Vallonia excentrica, Vertigo pygmaea and Helicella itala, and the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus and Punctum pygmaeum.
Only small quantities of charred material were recorded from fill 5207 (sample 112) of section 5206 of drip gully AH, fill 5163 (sample 117) of section 5166 of drip gulley P, fill 5361(sample 105) of section 5362 of drip gulley T and fill 5392 (sample 107) of posthole 5391. This included hulled wheat grain fragments, a tuber of false oat- grass (Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum) and a few charcoal fragments greater than 2mm. These assemblages appear to be indicative of wind-blown/dispersed settlement waste material. No charred remains
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were observed in sample 101 from fill 5430 of section 5429 of drip gulley AD, sample 115 from fill 5139 of section 5138 of drip gulley N, and sample 103 from fill 5088 of section 5087 of drip gulley Z.
The mollusc assemblages included low numbers of shells of the open country species Pupilla muscorum, Vallonia costata, Vallonia excentrica, Helicella itala and the introduced Helicellids, and the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus, Cochlicopa sp. and Cepaea sp.
Period 2 (Early Roman) Ditches Low levels of charred material were recovered from fill 5309 (sample 113) of section 5308 of ditch AK, from fill 5437 (sample 121) of section 5435 of ditch AN, and from fill 5100 (sample 111) of section 5099 of ditch O. This included hulled wheat and barley grains, seeds of oat/brome grass and a few charcoal fragments. This again is likely to be dispersed/background settlement debris rather than dumps of material.
No charred material was present in sample 104 from fill 5128 of section 5127 of ditch J, and sample 118 from fill 5277 and sample 106 from fill 5278 of section 5276 of ditch V.
The few mollusc shells include those of the open country species Pupilla muscorum and Helicella itala, and the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus and Cepaea sp.
Penannular ditches Small quantities of charred material were recorded from fill 5214 (sample 114) from section 5213 of penannular ditch R, from fill 5063 (sample 108) from section 5061 of penannular ditch X and from fill 5056 (sample 109) from section 5054 of penannular ditch Y. These included hulled wheat and barley grains, an oat/brome grass seed, a hazelnut (Corylus avellana) shell fragment and charcoal fragments. These assemblages may also be representative of wind-blown settlement material.
The mollusc assemblages include shells of the open country species Vallonia excentrica, Helicella itala and Pupilla muscorum, and the intermediate species Trochulus hispidus and Cepaea sp.
Summary The generally small assemblages appear to be indicative of a rural settlement with domestic activities, including crop processing taking place in the vicinity. There is no indication however from the environmental assemblages of any industrial processes being undertaken in the locality. The mollusc assemblages are indicative of a well- established open landscape.
Potential Further analysis of the charred plant assemblage from posthole 5349, associated with Penannular Gully AD, has the potential to provide some limited information on the range of crops and local crop processing activities and the surrounding environment during Period 1. The remaining charred plant assemblages have no potential to augment this information further due to small quantities of material recovered.
There is no potential for the analysis of the charcoal assemblages to provide detailed information on the species composition and the management and exploitation of the local woodland resource due to the small quantities of charcoal present.
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Detailed analysis of the mollusc assemblages would not augment the picture of the local landscape further due to the low number of shells recovered in these samples.
It is recommended that the charred plant remains from period 1 posthole 5349 (sample 100), associated with Penannular-Gully AD is analysed in more detail.
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Table 7 Assessment table of the palaeoenvironmental remains
Flot Processed Unprocessed size Roots Charred Analysis Feature Context Sample vol (L) vol (L) (ml) % Grain Chaff Cereal Notes Other Notes for Table Charcoal Other Period 1 - Late Iron Age Ditch AA 5189 5191 120 20 20 5 10 ------Moll-t (+) 5192 5194 119 20 20 5 10 ------Ditch AB 5313 5314 102 18 20 5 10 - - - - - + Moll-t (+) Ditch O 5140 5143 116 20 20 5 10 ------Moll-t (+) Ditch W 5106 5105 110 10 0 5 10 + - Indet. grain frag - - ++ - Drip gulley + postholes AD
Hulled wheat + barley grain frags, Avena/Bromus, Vicia/Lathyrus, glume base + spikelet fork frags Trifolium/Medicago, ?heather 5349 5350 100 18 10 10 10 +++ ++ inc. spelt ++ stems ++ Moll-t (++) P 5429 5430 101 18 20 5 10 ------Moll-t (+) Drip gulley AH 5206 5207 112 16 20 5 10 - - - - - + Moll-t (+) Drip gulley N 5138 5139 115 20 0 5 10 ------Drip gulley P 5166 5163 117 20 20 5 10 + - Hulled wheat grain frag x 1 + Arrhenatherum tuber x 1 + Moll-t (+) Drip gulley T 5362 5361 105 13 20 5 10 + - Indet. grain frag - - + Moll-t (++) Drip gulley Z 5087 5088 103 19 20 5 10 ------Moll-t (+) Posthole
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Flot Processed Unprocessed size Roots Charred Analysis Feature Context Sample vol (L) vol (L) (ml) % Grain Chaff Cereal Notes Other Notes for Table Charcoal Other 5391 5392 107 14 20 5 10 - - - - - ++ Moll-t (++) Period 2 - Early Romano-British Ditch AK 5308 5309 113 20 20 5 10 + - Hulled wheat grain x1 - - + - Ditch AN Hulled wheat grain x 5 + barley 5435 5437 121 20 20 5 10 ++ - grain x 2 + Avena/Bromus x 1 ++ Moll-t (+) Ditch J 5127 5128 104 14 20 5 10 ------Ditch Q 5099 5100 111 20 20 5 10 + - Barley grain frag x 1 - - + Moll-t (+) Ditch V 5277 118 20 20 5 10 - - - - 5276 - - Moll-t (+) 5278 106 20 20 5 10 ------Moll-t (+) Ring ditch R Hulled wheat grain x 1 + barley 5213 5214 114 20 20 5 10 + - grain x 1 - - + Moll-t (++) Ring ditch X 5061 5063 108 20 20 5 10 + - Barley grain frag x 1 - - - Moll-t (+) Ring ditch Y Avena/Bromus x 1, Corylus 5054 5056 109 20 20 10 10 + - Indet. grain frag + avellana shell frag x 1 - Moll-t (+++)
Key: * = 1–4 items; ** = 5–20 items; *** = 21–49 items; ****= 50–99 items; ***** = >100 items, Moll-t = land snails, P = plants
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APPENDIX 8: OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire Short description (250 words maximum) A programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken by
Cotswold Archaeology between March and June 2015 at the
request of Bloor Homes on land east of Southam Road, Kineton,
Warwickshire. In compliance with an approved WSI (CA 2015).
Approximately 1ha of the overall development area was excavated.
Excavations revealed an enclosed Late Iron Age/Early Roman settlement containing the remains of roundhouses, adjacent stock enclosures and stock-handling pens. The settlement appears to have been occupied initially during the Late Iron Age, but was remodelled during the mid to late 1st century to early 2nd-century AD.
This document presents a quantification and assessment of the evidence recovered from the excavation. It considers the evidence collectively in its local, regional and national context, and presents an updated project design for a programme of post-excavation analysis to bring the results to appropriate publication.
Project dates March – June 2015 Project type Archaeological excavation Cotswold Archaeology (KINE15). (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation etc)
Previous work Geophysical Survey (Archaeological Surveys Ltd. 2012) (reference to organisation or SMR Archaeological Evaluation (Cotswold Archaeology 2012) numbers etc)
Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Land East of Southam Road/Kineton/Warwickshire Study area (M2/ha) Approximately 1ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 3402 5138
PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Warwickshire County Council on behalf of Stratford on Avon District Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology
Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Alistair Barber MONUMENT TYPE NT, RT, BT SIGNIFICANT FINDS None
53 Land East of Southam Road, Kineton, Warks: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design © Cotswold Archaeology
PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (Warwickshire Museum/T1442)
Physical Warwickshire Museum ceramics, animal bone, metalwork, mixed finds, ecofacts, environmental residues Paper Warwickshire Museum context sheets, sections (1:10, 1:20), sample sheets, monochrome films, matrices Digital Archaeology Data Service Database, digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY
CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2016 Land east of Southam Road, Kineton, Warwickshire: Post Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, report number: 15297
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