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LAND AT ALVINGTON LANE, BRYMPTON, ,

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

C.A.T JOB: 1103 C.A.T REPORT: 001245

DATE: OCTOBER 2000

This report has been researched and compiled with all reasonable skill, care, and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the Client and within the general terms and conditions of Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd. The Trust shall not be liable for any inaccuracy, error or omission in the report or other documents produced as part of the Consultancy and no liability is accepted for any claim, loss or damage howsoever arising from any opinion stated or conclusion or other material contained in this report or other documents supplied as part of the Consultancy.

This report is confidential to the Client. Cotswold Archaeological Trust Ltd accept no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report, or any part of it is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk.

© Cotswold Archaeological Trust Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected]

Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...... 2

SUMMARY ...... 3

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

1.1 Introduction ...... 4 1.2 The study area ...... 4 1.3 Landuse, geology and topography ...... 4 1.4 Archaeological and historical background ...... 5 1.5 Methodology ...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 7

2.1 General ...... 7 2.2 Trench 1 ...... 7 2.3 Trench 2 ...... 9 2.4 Trench 3 ...... 10 2.5 Trench 4 ...... 11

3. DISCUSSION ...... 13

4. PROJECT TEAM AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...... 14

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 14

APPENDIX I ...... 15

Context Catalogue ...... 15

APPENDIX II ...... 17

The finds catalogue ...... 17

1 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.1 Location plan ...... 20 Fig.2 Trench location plan ...... 21 Fig.3 Feature sections ...... 22

2 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

In October 2000 Cotswold Archaeological Trust (CAT) was commissioned by Warings Contractors Limited to undertake an archaeological evaluation on land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset. The project was in part prompted by the proximity of the site to the nearby medieval manor of Brympton.

The fieldwork was successful in identifying a number of archaeological features across the site, including linear ditches, a possible small ring-ditch and a posthole, as well as a likely area of consolidation in the vicinity of the site entrance.

Only one of these features yielded potsherds, which dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century BC. However the similarities between features, and the recovery of Roman pottery from the overlying layers, suggests that most of these features were contemporary. The various features were probably associated with a farmstead of late Iron Age or early Romano-British date, which is of local significance.

Apart from one sherd of medieval pottery, no evidence of activity relating to the medieval manor was identified.

3 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

1.1.1 This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation conducted between the 23rd and 25th October 2000 on land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset. The site is centred on NGR ST 5280 1607 (Fig.1).

1.1.2 The evaluation was required prior to the determination of a planning application for development of the land to create an office building and associated car parking (Planning ref. 00/01873/ful).

1.2 The study area

1.2.1 The application area lies approximately 2.5km west of the town centre of Yeovil, on the eastern periphery of the village of Alvington (Figs. 1 & 2). The site consists of a single land parcel bounded to the south by Alvington Lane, to the west by a nursery, to the north by Bluebell Road and to the east by a link road between Alvington Lane and Bluebell Road. In total the study area covers approximately 2.25ha.

1.3 Landuse, geology and topography

1.3.1 The application area is currently fallow, covered by semi-rough vegetation.

1.3.2 The underlying solid geology of the site is mapped as Upper Lias of the Lower Jurassic period (Geological Survey of & Wales 1977). This substrate was not encountered during the course of the evaluation.

1.3.3 The site lies on rising ground on the lower south-facing slope of a broad terrace or flood plain through which a tributary of the River Yeo flows. The

4 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

ground level drops from approximately 68m AOD at the northern extent of the site to around 61m AOD in the south.

1.4 Archaeological and historical background

1.4.1 No previous archaeological investigation is known to have been undertaken on the site.

1.4.2 Less than 1km to the south-west of the application area is the medieval manor of Brympton (Fig. 1). Several households are recorded at Brympton in the Domesday book (and again in 1325), indicating that the manor included a settlement in addition to the main manorial complex. Although the location of this settlement is not proven, a likely site lies to the west and north-west of the manorial complex, where extant hollow-ways and platforms have been identified. The main building complex is surrounded by a series of enclosures that date from the late seventeenth century, when substantial landscaping was undertaken. Small-scale excavations south of the manorial church in 1980 revealed little, though some medieval and post-medieval artefactual material was recovered. ( 2000).

1.5 Methodology

1.5.1 A total of four trenches were mechanically excavated under archaeological supervision in the locations specified by Mr S Membery, Somerset County Council Archaeological Services (Fig.2). This comprised a total of 180m of trenching, each trench being 1.5m in width.

1.5.2 The location of trench 4 was moved some 20m to the west of its original position to avoid an extant hedgebank, and the principal archaeological feature within this trench was subsequently investigated mechanically. These variations were undertaken following consultation with Mr Membery.

5 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

1.5.3 The main objective of the project was to investigate the presence/absence, nature, extent, character, date and preservation of any buried archaeological remains and to make an assessment of its worth in the appropriate context.

1.5.4 The work was carried out in accordance with the ‘Standard and Guidance for Field Evaluation’ issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA 1994) and the General Specification for Archaeological Work in Somerset (Somerset County Council 1994).

1.5.5 All identified deposits were recorded in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 1 Field Recording Manual (1996). A full written, drawn and photographic record of the evaluation was compiled. All artefactual material was bagged and numbered with unique numbers relating to the context record. This was done in accordance with the CAT Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995). Environmental sampling and assessment was undertaken in accordance with the CAT Environmental Sampling Manual (1994).

1.5.5 A monitoring visit was made by Mr S Membery, Somerset County Council Archaeological Services, on 24th October 2000.

1.5.6 The completed site archive will be deposited with the Somerset County Museums Service, Taunton (Accession number: TTNCM 162/2000).

6 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

2. RESULTS

2.1 General

2.1.1 A general description of each trench is given below. A more detailed context description can be found in Appendix I.

2.2 Trench 1

2.2.1 Trench 1 was positioned in the north-western part of the application area. The trench was T-shaped with its main length (T1b) aligned roughly east/west and measuring 30m, and with a near perpendicular spur (T1a) of 11m running in a north/south alignment (see Fig 2). The trench varied in depth from 0.55m at its western end, to 0.80m at the eastern extent and 0.75m at its northern end.

2.2.2 The natural substrate (103) at the base of the trench comprised bright yellow fine sandy clay. This deposit was relatively sterile and probably represents alluviation associated with the position of the site within a broad flood plain.

2.2.3 Separating the natural horizon and the overlying uppermost substrate was an indistinct interfacial layer (102) comprising fine sandy clay, light yellow- brown in colour, becoming more yellow with depth. Although the horizon clarity of this layer was very poor it was perceived to have a depth of around 0.40m and contained no visible inclusions.

2.2.4 The archaeological features encountered in Trench 1 all appeared to have been cut through layer (102).

2.2.5 Towards the western end of the trench a substantial ditch [104] and a later re- cut [106] were exposed. The earlier ditch crossed the trench on a north/south alignment and had an extant width of 1.80m and a maximum depth of 1m. It was filled by a single deposit (105) of light yellow brown fine sandy clay,

7 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

heavily mottled with dark brown mineral stains. This fill contained no further visible inclusions and produced no dating evidence.

2.2.6 Ditch [104] was re-cut along its eastern side by ditch [106]. This was visible in section only due to its fill (107) being slightly less mineralised than (105), although still very similar in composition. This ditch was around 2m wide and had a maximum depth of 1.10m. It also failed to produce any artefactual material.

2.2.7 To the east of ditch [106] was a curvilinear ditch [108], 0.70m wide and surviving up to 0.20m in depth. Although unproven, it is possible that this feature represents a ‘broken’ ring, as a potential terminus [117] was revealed in the north/south arm of the trench (see below). If so, the feature would have a diameter of approximately 5.50m.

2.2.8 The curvilinear ditch [108] was filled by a single deposit (109) of mid yellow- brown fine sandy clay which contained frequent flecks and small pieces of charcoal, although it yielded no artefactual dating evidence. A sample of this deposit was recovered for potential radiocarbon dating.

2.2.9 Approximately 6m to the east of the curvilinear ditch [108] another ditch [110] was exposed, aligned roughly north/south. This feature was relatively broad and shallow, measuring 1.60m in width and 0.35m in depth. Its basal fill (112), 0.15m in depth, consisted of mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay, containing no visible inclusions other than very frequent dark brown mineral flecks. The upper fill (111) was of the same composition, though slightly darker in colour and less mineralised. Neither deposit produced any artefactual material.

2.2.10 At the eastern end of trench T1b was a smaller ditch or gully [113], aligned north-west/south-east. This linear feature had a maximum width of 0.55m and was 0.10m deep, and contained a fill (114) that was identical to (109) in the curvilinear ditch to the west, containing frequent charcoal flecks and small

8 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

pieces. A sample of fill (114) was also retained for potential radiocarbon dating.

2.2.11 In trench T1a, a possible terminus to feature [108] was revealed (se above), either cutting or cut by the rounded terminus of another feature, possibly a ditch [115]. The profile of ditch [115] was shallow and concave, however as the fill of these two features (116) and (118) were identical, no relationship was indiscernible. Again, no dating evidence was recovered from either feature.

2.2.12 Overlying the interface layer (102) and evidently sealing the features in Trench 1 was a single substantial deposit (101) of mid brown fine sandy clay, up to 0.50m in depth. There were no visible inclusions in this material which probably represents an accumulative build-up of alluvium and/or colluvium being washed down-slope from the north.

2.3 Trench 2

2.3.1 Trench 2, 40m in length, was positioned in the middle western part of the site on a north-north-west/south-south-east alignment (see Fig.2). Excavation of the trench revealed no archaeological deposits other than one or two modern field drains.

2.3.2 The soil stratigraphy was identical to that in Trench 1, with the natural yellow fine sandy clay (203) encountered at between 0.55m and 0.60m from the present ground level. Overlying this substrate was the same interface layer (202) recorded in Trench 1. This deposit had a maximum depth of 0.25m throughout Trench 2 and it produced a single sherd of medieval pottery.

2.3.3 The overlying deposit (201) became deeper with the natural gradient of the site; at the northern end of the trench it was 0.35m deep and at the southern end its depth was 0.60m.

9 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

2.4 Trench 3

2.4.1 Trench 3 consisted of a T-shaped trench, with the constituent lengths (T3a & T3b) both measuring 30m. It was located in the south-western corner of the site, near the entrance from Alvington Lane (see Fig.2).

2.4.2 The natural substrate (303), identical to that in trenches 1 and 2, was encountered at a depth of 0.35m at the western end of the trench, at 0.85m at the eastern extent and at 0.65m at the southern end. This was again overlaid by an indistinct interface deposit (302), up to 0.20m in depth.

2.4.3 In the western half of trench T3a, a larger ditch [304] aligned roughly north/south was exposed. This feature was slightly irregular in shape and measured an average of 1.50m in width and 0.50m in depth. Its single fill (305) consisted of mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very occasional small charcoal flecks. A small struck flint flake was recovered from this context.

2.4.4 5m east of ditch [304] a second ditch [306] was revealed on a north- west/south-east alignment. It was 1.30m in width, with a maximum depth of 0.35m. The ditch contained a single fill (307) of dark yellow-brown fine sandy clay with frequent dark brown mineral mottling. No artefactual material was recovered from this deposit.

2.4.5 At the extreme western end of the trench, a length of the eastern side of a further feature [312] was exposed. This was at least 2.30m wide, extending beyond the western limit of excavation. It had been cut from the present ground level to a depth of around 0.70m and contained a randomly dumped deposit (313) consisting primarily of large blocks of local Ham stone within a matrix of topsoil material. This feature seems to represent a relatively modern consolidation, possibly for a former track leading from the south-western entrance to the field off Alvington Lane and therefore associated the adjacent farm.

10 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

2.4.6 In trench T3b another ditch [308] was exposed, crossing the trench in an east/west direction. This was 1.20m wide and 0.50m deep, with slightly irregular sides. It was filled by a single deposit (309) comprising dark yellow-brown fine mottled sandy clay. This contained very occasional pieces of burnt stone and one large block of sandstone, although it yielded no dating evidence.

2.4.7 Towards the southern end of trench T3b a possible posthole was exposed, extending slightly beyond the eastern limit of excavation. The feature measured 0.50m long and 0.40m wide in plan, and had a maximum extant depth of 0.10m. It contained a single fill (311) of mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very occasional small charcoal flecks, however it produced no artefactual material.

2.4.8 The interfacial layer (302) and the features revealed throughout the trench were overlain by the same topsoil deposit (301) encountered in the previous trenches. In trench 3 this layer varied in depth from 0.55m in the northern part of the trench to 0.70m at the southern extent. A number of recent field drains were also exposed within trench 3.

2.5 Trench 4

2.5.1 Trench 4 consisted of a T-shaped trench in the eastern part of the site (see Fig.2). Its main length, aligned roughly east/west, measured 30m, with a perpendicular spur of 10m length running off its northern side, aligned approximately north/south.

2.5.2 The natural substrate (403), identical to that in trenches 1 and 2, was encountered at a depth of 0.80m at the western end of the trench and at 0.90m at the northern end. However in the eastern arm of the trench, natural deposits comprised light brown fine sandy clay with very frequent mid brown/dark orange/black mineral pieces. This was virtually identical to the overlying interfacial deposit (402) which extended over the whole trench, except for the presence of a greater abundance of mineralised inclusions..

11 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

2.5.3 A single substantial ditch [404/406] was exposed in trench 4, running through the northern arm and the main part of the trench on a north/south alignment. Mechanical investigation demonstrated that the ditch was at least 1.90m wide and 0.70m deep. It was filled by a single deposit (405/407) comprising light brown fine sandy clay mottled with very frequent mid brown mineral inclusions. In the northern section this deposit produced several fragments of burnt clay, whereas in the southern section it yielded two sherds of pottery dating to the late 1st/early 2nd century BC, and two struck flint flakes.

2.5.3 Sealing the ditch and overlying the natural substrate in the eastern part of the trench and the interfacial deposit throughout the remainder of the trench was the topsoil layer (401), identical to that encountered elsewhere across the site. At the western end of the trench this deposit was 0.40m in depth, whilst at the eastern end it appeared to deepen to around 0.75m and towards this end it produced three sherds of Roman pottery.

12 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The fieldwork exposed a number of archaeological features within the site area. These included seven (possibly eight) linear ditches, mostly aligned roughly north/south or north-west/south-east, what appeared to be a broken ring-ditch approximately 5.5m in diameter, and a probable post-hole. The ditches varied in size between 0.55m and 2m in width, and between 0.1m and 1.1m in depth.

3.2 Only one of the ditches [404/406] yielded pottery, which dated to the late 1st or early 2nd century BC. This ditch also yielded two prehistoric struck flint flakes, and another ditch [304] produced a single prehistoric struck flint flake. Additionally, three sherds of Roman pottery and one sherd of medieval pottery were recovered from overlying deposits, as was another struck flake. Samples taken from the possible ring-ditch and ditch [113] have both yielded charcoal, with enough from the ring ditch to be submitted for radiocarbon (radiometric) dating. The results of this dating will be produced as an addendum to this report in the near future.

3.3 All of these features contained similar deposits of sandy clay suggesting that they were broadly contemporary. Evidence for considerable taphonomic (post-depositional) disturbance was observed however, which may have produced the similarities observed between the fills of the various features. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the majority of features were associated with activity dating to the late Iron Age or early Romano-British period. The form of the ditches suggested that most were simple boundaries, perhaps associated with a nearby farmstead of that era.

3.4 Apart from the single sherd of medieval pottery, there appeared to be no evidence for medieval activity associated with the nearby medieval manor at Brympton. Evidence for post-medieval and later activity included the rubble deposits, probably for a track, and land drains, all of which were exposed in trench 3. These were probably associated with the adjacent Alvington Farm.

13 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

3.5 The presence of features that appear to be associated with a farmstead dating to the late Iron Age or early Romano-British period is of local significance, as is the apparent absence of features relating to the later medieval settlement nearby.

4. PROJECT TEAM AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The fieldwork was carried out by Mark Brett and Kevin Colls. This report was prepared by Mark Brett, with illustrations by Peter Moore. The project was managed for CAT by Mark Collard and Martin Watts.

Cotswold Archaeological Trust would like to thank Mr N Dade and Mr J Driver of Warings Contractors Limited, and Mr S Membury of Somerset County Council Archaeological Services, for their assistance during the course of this project.

5. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Somerset County Council 2000 Specification for an Archaeological Evaluation: Land north of Alvington Lane, Brympton, nr Yeovil

14 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX I

Context Catalogue

Trench 1 Present ground level = 67.92m – 68.67m AOD

Context No Depth Description (101) <0.50m Topsoil; mid brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (102) <0.40m Interface layer between topsoil and natural substrate; mottled light yellow/ light brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (103) N/k Natural substrate; bright yellow fine sandy clay. Occasional mineral flecks and slight variations in colour. Loose-friable. [104] 0.50m Ditch cut. 1.80m wide, cut along eastern side by re-cut [106]. Western side straight, slopes 40 degrees to flat base. (105) 0.50m Single fill of ditch [104]. Light yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very frequent dark brown mineral mottling. No visible inclusions. Loose-friable. [106] 0.55m Ditch cut. Re-cut of [104]. 2.05m wide. Sides straight, sloping 45 degrees to concave base. (107) 0.55m Single fill of ditch [106]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with occasional dark brown mineral mottling. No visible inclusions. Loose-friable. [108] 0.20m Curvilinear ditch/gully cut. 0.70m wide. Sides straight, sloping 45 degrees to shallow concave base. (109) 0.20m Single fill of ditch [108]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with frequent charcoal flecks and small pieces. Loose-friable. [110] 0.35m Ditch cut. 1.40m wide. Sides slightly irregular, sloping 35-45 degrees to broad flat base. (111) 0.20m Upper fill of ditch [110]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with occasional dark brown mineral mottling. No visible inclusions. Loose-friable. (112) 0.15m Basal fill of ditch [110]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very frequent dark brown mineral mottling. No visible inclusions. Loose-friable. [113] 0.10m Linear gully cut. 0.50m wide. Shallow concave sides and base. Represents base of feature. (114) 0.10m Single fill of gully [113]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with frequent charcoal flecks and small pieces. Loose-friable. [115] 0.45m Terminus of linear feature. >0.75m wide. Cut by or cuts terminus [117]. Western side shallow concave, sloping 35 degrees to shallow concave base. Eastern side indiscernible. (116) 0.45m Single fill of [115]. Mottled bright yellow/light brown fine sandy clay. Frequent dark brown mineral flecking. Occasional charcoal flecks and small pieces. [117] 0.45m Terminus cut. >0.45m wide. Cut by or cuts terminus [115]. Southern side straight, sloping 45 degrees to flat base. Northern side indiscernible. (118) 0.45m Single fill of [117]. Mottled bright yellow/light brown fine sandy clay. Frequent dark brown mineral flecking. Occasional charcoal flecks and small pieces.

15 Land at Alvington Lane, Brympton, Yeovil, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

Trench 2 Present ground level = 64.81m – 66.53m AOD

Context No Depth Description (201) <0.60m Topsoil; mid brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (202) <0.25m Interface layer between topsoil and natural substrate; mottled light yellow/ light brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. Produced single sherd of medieval pottery. (203) N/k Natural substrate; bright yellow fine sandy clay. Occasional mineral flecks and slight variations in colour. Loose-friable.

Trench 3 Present ground level = 61.60m – 63.14m AOD

Context No Depth Description (301) <0.50m Topsoil; mid brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (302) <0.20m Interface layer between topsoil and natural substrate; mottled light yellow/ light brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (303) N/k Natural substrate; bright yellow fine sandy clay. Occasional mineral flecks and slight variations in colour. Loose-friable. [304] 0.50m Ditch cut. 1.50m wide. Irregular sides and base. (305) 0.50m Single fill of ditch [304]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very occasional small charcoal flecks. Loose-friable. Produced single struck flint flake. [306] 0.35m Ditch cut. 1.30m wide. Western side concave, slopes 60 degrees. Eastern side straight, slopes 35 degrees to flat base. (307) 0.35m Single fill of ditch [306]. Dark yellow-brown fine sandy clay with frequent dark brown mineral mottling. No visible inclusions. Loose-friable. [308] 0.45m Ditch cut. 1.20m wide. Northern side concave, slopes 50 degrees. Eastern side straight, slopes 45 degrees to concave base. (309) 0.45m Single fill of ditch [308]. Dark yellow-brown fine sandy clay with frequent dark brown mineral mottling. Loose-friable. [310] 0.15m Posthole cut. Sub-circular. 0.50m long x 0.40m wide. Slightly irregular sides, sloping 45 degrees to concave base. (311) 0.15m Single fill of posthole [310]. Mid yellow-brown fine sandy clay with very occasional small charcoal flecks. Loose-friable. [312] 0.70m Cut of indeterminable shape. >2.30m wide. Eastern side only visible, shallow then dropping to 45 degrees. Base appears flat. (313) 0.70m Light orange-yellow Ham stone blocks (<0.55m) and pieces within matrix of mid brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. Possible consolidation/metalling deposit.

Trench 4 Present ground level = 65.74m – 66.33m AOD

Context No Depth Description (401) <0.75m Topsoil; mid brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. (402) 0.40m Interface layer between topsoil and natural substrate; mottled light yellow/ light brown fine sandy clay. Loose-friable. No visible inclusions. Present only in western part of trench. (403) N/k Natural substrate; bright yellow fine sandy clay with occasional mineral flecks in western part of trench. In eastern part light brown fine sandy clay with very frequent mid brown/dark orange/black mineral pieces. [404] 0.70m Ditch cut. >1.60m wide. Western side slightly concave, slopes 45

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degrees. Eastern side straight, slopes 35 degrees to concave base. Same as [406]. (405) 0.70m Light beige-brown fine sandy clay mottled with very frequent mid brown mineral pieces. Loose-friable. Produced several burnt clay fragments. [406] 0.70m Ditch cut. >1.90m wide. Western side slightly concave, slopes 45 degrees. Eastern side straight, slopes 35 degrees to concave base. Same as [404]. (407) 0.70m Light beige-brown fine sandy clay mottled with very frequent mid brown mineral pieces. Loose-friable. Produced two sherds of late 1st/early 2nd century pottery and two struck flint flakes.

APPENDIX II

The finds catalogue

U/s (Trench 3) 1 struck flint (1g): ?awl

(202) 1 medieval pottery sherd (13g)

(305) 1 struck flint (3g): broken tertiary flake

(401) 3 Roman pottery sherds (41g): Dorset black burnished ware

(405) 14 burnt clay fragments (113g)

(407) 2 pottery sherds (27g): sandy ware, 1 bead rim bowl, late 1st/2nd century 2 struck flint (14g): 1 primary flake, 1 secondary flake

17