Enid Allison
Canterbury Arcchaeological Trust, Environmental Archaeology, Department Member
- University of York, Archaeology, Department Memberadd
The cairn on Hardendale Nab was excavated in 1986 in advance of destruction by quarrying, and this allowed the reconstruction of a complex sequence of development. Construction of the cairn appears to have begun in the Early Bronze Age,... more
The cairn on Hardendale Nab was excavated in 1986 in advance of destruction by quarrying, and this allowed the reconstruction of a complex sequence of development. Construction of the cairn appears to have begun in the Early Bronze Age, although it might have been earlier. Phase 1 comprised a simple cist burial, and small earthen mound, with a number of secondary burials made in and around the original monument. Unusual rectangular features might have been used for pyres. Phase 2 saw the erection of a round enclosure around the mound, which was later (Phase 3) filled with loose limestone rubble. Again burials, both cremations and inhumations, were cut into the rubble, and bone scattered over and amidst it, with an apparent focus on the southern part of the structure. The entire complex was buried by a further layer of rubble in Phase 4, into which several further burials, this time inhumations, were cut. The excavation produced an unusually large amount of environmental evidence, much of it associated with the use of the cairn as a roost by owls in Phases 2 and 3.
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ABSTRACT Excavation by Oxford Archaeology in 2009 during construction of the Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve, funded and supported by the developer, DP World London Gateway, uncovered remarkable evidence for Iron Age and Roman-period salt... more
ABSTRACT Excavation by Oxford Archaeology in 2009 during construction of the Stanford Wharf Nature Reserve, funded and supported by the developer, DP World London Gateway, uncovered remarkable evidence for Iron Age and Roman-period salt making and associated activities. Structures included a probable boathouse, unique in Roman Britain. The excavations shed new and important light on evolving methods of salt production, which reflect wider changes in economy and society in the Thames Estuary between c. 400 BC and AD 400. Salt had a particular economic importance in the ancient world as a food preservative - changing scale and methods of production provide an essential background for understanding processes such as urbanisation, civilian trade and military supply. Salt also had a wide range of dietary, social and symbolic functions, from flavouring food to forming an ingredient in medicines and religious rituals. In the words of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, writing in the first century AD, 'civilised life cannot proceed without salt'. This monograph presents the internationally important findings of three years of fieldwork and post-excavation analysis. The large scale of investigation and extensive scientific analysis of the remains has transformed our understanding of the important Iron Age and Roman salt making industry in Essex. A companion volume on the marine investigations conducted by Wessex Archaeology is presented in: London Gateway: Maritime Archaeology in the Thames Estuary.
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Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the... more
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the UK). Parasites provide valuable archaeological insights into historical health, sanitation, hygiene, dietary and culinary practices, as well as other factors. Differences in the prevalence of helminths over time may help us understand factors that affected the rate of infection of these parasites in past populations. While communal deposits often contain relatively high numbers of parasite eggs, these cannot be used to calculate prevalence rates, which are a key epidemiological measure of infection. The prevalence of intestinal helminths was investigated through time in England, based on analysis of 464 human burials from 17 sites, dating from the Prehistoric to Industrial periods. Eggs from two faecal-oral transmitted nematodes (Ascaris sp. and Trichu...
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Excavation of two sites at Point Pleasant, Wandsworth recorded archaeological evidence dating from the Mesolithic period through to the 20th century. A scatter of Mesolithic flints was the earliest indication for human activity and this... more
Excavation of two sites at Point Pleasant, Wandsworth recorded archaeological evidence dating from the Mesolithic period through to the 20th century. A scatter of Mesolithic flints was the earliest indication for human activity and this is discussed with the other evidence in the Wandle valley for activity during this period. An infilled water channel or creek dating from the Early Bronze Age was also revealed and the environmental evidence from this feature is also discussed. From the early 17th century Point Pleasant was the location for industrial activity, initially for making iron frying pans and other kitchenwares, and then changing in the early 18th century to a copper mill. From 1770 industrial activity was concerned with vinegar production and dye manufacture for the local cloth and calico industries, the latter probably associated with the site at the start of the 19th century. Although no products associated with these industries were recovered from the excavation, featur...
Research Interests: Geography and Excavation
<jats:p>Archaeological investigations at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne have revealed a window onto a significant later prehistoric place, which was used and revisited over 1700 years between the Early Bronze Age and later Iron Age (c.... more
<jats:p>Archaeological investigations at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne have revealed a window onto a significant later prehistoric place, which was used and revisited over 1700 years between the Early Bronze Age and later Iron Age (c. 1800–100 <jats:sc>bc</jats:sc>). Activity on site was based around the heating of water using fire-heated flint, producing three mounds of fire-cracked flint and burnt organic material. These 'burnt mounds' are known across later prehistoric Britain and Ireland, but the ways they may have been formed are uncertain, and they are arguably under-discussed in southern Britain. Whilst water was initially drawn from a stream, a series of wells were established at the site between the Middle Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, one of which contained a well-preserved log ladder. These wells were revisited and recut over long periods of time and during the Middle Iron Age the site's function shifted dramatically when a roundhouse was constructed. The long-term use of the site, its excellent organic preservation, dating, and its location in a remote area on the Bagshot Heath, make it significant. This paper summarises the findings from the excavations, discussing the formation of the site in the context of wider research on later prehistoric burnt mounds.</jats:p>
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the... more
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits including at locations where intestinal parasites are no longer considered endemic (e.g. the UK). Parasites provide valuable archaeological insights into historical health, sanitation, hygiene, dietary and culinary practices, as well as other factors. Differences in the prevalence of helminths over time may help us understand factors that affected the rate of infection of these parasites in past populations. While communal deposits often contain relatively high numbers of parasite eggs, these cannot be used to calculate prevalence rates, which are a key epidemiological measure of infection. The prevalence of intestinal helminths was investigated through time in England, based on analysis of 464 human burials from 17 sites, dating from the Prehistoric to Industrial periods. Eggs from two faecal-oral transmitted nematodes (Ascaris sp. and Trichuris sp.) and the food-derived cestodes (Taenia spp. and Diphyllobothrium latum syn Dibothriocephalus latus) were identified, although only Ascaris was detected at a high frequency. The changing prevalence of nematode infections can be attributed to changes in effective sanitation or other factors that affect these faecal-oral transmitted parasites and the presence of cestode infections reflect dietary and culinary preferences. These results indicate that the impact of helminth infections on past populations varied over time, and that some locations witnessed a dramatic reduction in parasite prevalence during the industrial era (18th-19th century), whereas other locations continued to experience high prevalence levels. The factors underlying these reductions and the variation in prevalence provide a key historical context for modern anthelmintic programs.
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Summary Two sediment samples from deposits encountered during excavations of an earthwork in Wray Wood, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, were submitted to PRS for an investigation of their content of biological remains. Soil samples were taken... more
Summary Two sediment samples from deposits encountered during excavations of an earthwork in Wray Wood, Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, were submitted to PRS for an investigation of their content of biological remains. Soil samples were taken from the fills of a ‘comma-shaped’ feature excavated during the 2004 phase of the works. It was thought that this could be a medieval ‘sheepwash’ being similar in form to such features located at sites in the Cotswolds. The material examined clearly demonstrated the presence of significant assemblages of well-preserved plant, insect and other invertebrate remains in waterlogged deposits filling the earthwork. Preservation of the remains was excellent and the assemblages indicated a body of clear and still, rather shaded (though the canopy was not so dense as to prevent an undergrowth of shrubs), freshwater. Since it has been suggested that the feature may have functioned as a ‘sheepwash’, a particular focus of the investigations was to see whether ...
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Multi-proxy investigations at 2 Pier Road, North Woolwich, London, UK, have revealed deposits spanning the Middle-Late Holocene from the late Mesolithic (c. 4360 cal BC) onwards. Pollen data show an Elm Decline at c. 4210-3950 cal BC... more
Multi-proxy investigations at 2 Pier Road, North Woolwich, London, UK, have revealed deposits spanning the Middle-Late Holocene from the late Mesolithic (c. 4360 cal BC) onwards. Pollen data show an Elm Decline at c. 4210-3950 cal BC followed by landnám clearances at c. 4210-3910 cal BC and c. 3710-3030 cal BC and the first appearance of cereal at c. 3540-3030 cal BC. These events are potentially contemporary with the construction of nearby Neolithic trackways, providing indirect evidence for agriculture and settlement. REVEALS modelling shows the first significant reduction in woodland cover is coincident with the Neolithic Elm decline, but the main step-change to open conditions occurred in the Early Bronze Age, following a decline in lime at c. 2110-1630 cal BC. Palaeo-topographic modelling of the region shows that although the trend towards increasing openness coincides with gradual wetland expansion, the shift to open vegetation cover cannot be explained by this and is probably the result of human activity. This study highlights the value of combining deposit and vegetation cover modelling to contextualise wetland archaeology and shows that together these provide useful proxies for landscape-scale human activity that can identify ephemeral signals of prehistoric activity.
The timing and mechanisms for the develpment of synanthropy for insects is under-explored worldwide; however , substantial archaeoentomological datasets are required to explore this issue in detail. In the British Isles, 50 years of... more
The timing and mechanisms for the develpment of synanthropy for insects is under-explored worldwide; however , substantial archaeoentomological datasets are required to explore this issue in detail. In the British Isles, 50 years of research has generated such a dataset, which we have compiled for this paper. It consists of beetle (Coleoptera) faunas from 55 archaeological sites, comprising 85,829 individuals; out of which 22,670 individuals , representing 128 taxa, were classed as semi-or fully-synanthropic (human-dependent). The data were analysed in terms of presence/absence of different synanthropic taxa; as well as the relative proportions of a range of synanthropic 'groupings' for each archaeological period, type of deposit and type of archaeological site. We argue that there are distinct waves of the development or introduction of synanthropes in the British Isles. This initially consisted of a limited group of taxa, derived from the natural environment during the Mesolithic and Neolithic. A second wave of taxa associated with intensive stock raising, pasture and fodder production occurs in the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age. Finally, a range of strongly synanthropic species, including grain pests, were introduced into the British Isles by the Romans as a result of large-scale trade and the development of urban life. Further areas of research, particularly internationally, are outlined.
Iona is renowned for its early monastery, founded following the arrival of Columba in AD 563. This paper uses palaeoecological data to provide insight into the social and environmental transformations that influenced the landscape of Iona... more
Iona is renowned for its early monastery, founded following the arrival of Columba in AD 563. This paper uses palaeoecological data to provide insight into the social and environmental transformations that influenced the landscape of Iona during the later prehistoric and historic periods. The identification of cereal pollen suggests that arable farming occurred during the Bronze Age and possibly continued through the Iron Age. Pastoral farming was also practiced. It remains unclear as to whether there were people living on the island at the time of the monastic community’s arrival. Between AD 630 and 1100, woodland clearance and farming occurred. There were also two phases of woodland regeneration and agricultural decline. The first phase coincides with the period of Viking raids and may have witnessed a decline in population. The second phase occurred in conjunction with increased Scandinavian influence and political restructuring across the wider region; however, smallscale farming continued. After c. AD 1000 there was renewed intensification of landscape management prior to the arrival of Benedictine monks and Augustinian nuns (c. AD 1200). This may be linked to climatic amelioration during the Medieval Warm Period and economic growth in the Hebrides.
Survey and sampling at the classic single-entranced henge monument at Castle Dykes, in North Yorkshire, has revealed traces of circular timber structures, interpreted as later prehistoric roundhouses, in the immediate vicinity and within... more
Survey and sampling at the classic single-entranced henge monument at Castle Dykes, in North Yorkshire, has revealed traces of circular timber structures, interpreted as later prehistoric roundhouses, in the immediate vicinity and within the henge. Coring of the waterlogged silts of the internal ditch has produced considerable environmental data: plant, insect, pollen and charcoal remains. A small jet bead was also recovered. Radiocarbon dates from short-lived materials unexpectedly indicate that the monument was constructed in the Iron Age, which prompts a review of other potentially Iron Age ‘henges’ further afield.