The cairn on Hardendale Nab was excavated in 1986 in advance of destruction by quarrying, and thi... 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.
ABSTRACT Excavation by Oxford Archaeology in 2009 during construction of the Stanford Wharf Natur... 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.
SUMMARY: Excavation at Liverpool Street, London, for Crossrail Limited, uncovered two large drain... more SUMMARY: Excavation at Liverpool Street, London, for Crossrail Limited, uncovered two large drains and a pit in an area of the city known since the medieval period as ‘Moorfields’. Their fills can be closely dated to the mid 16th century and included artefacts such as personal possessions, domestic utensils and refuse, and material likely to be waste from leather and textile processing. The combination of excellent preservation, tight dating and an assemblage encompassing all facets of everyday life is seldom encountered for this period, making this a nationally significant assemblage, which is outlined here by broad functional category.
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are... 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...
Excavation of two sites at Point Pleasant, Wandsworth recorded archaeological evidence dating fro... 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...
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, Jul 21, 2021
<jats:p>Archaeological investigations at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne have revealed a window... 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... 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.
Summary Two sediment samples from deposits encountered during excavations of an earthwork in Wray... 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 ...
Multi-proxy investigations at 2 Pier Road, North Woolwich, London, UK, have revealed deposits spa... 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 cairn on Hardendale Nab was excavated in 1986 in advance of destruction by quarrying, and thi... 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.
ABSTRACT Excavation by Oxford Archaeology in 2009 during construction of the Stanford Wharf Natur... 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, &#39;civilised life cannot proceed without salt&#39;. 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.
SUMMARY: Excavation at Liverpool Street, London, for Crossrail Limited, uncovered two large drain... more SUMMARY: Excavation at Liverpool Street, London, for Crossrail Limited, uncovered two large drains and a pit in an area of the city known since the medieval period as ‘Moorfields’. Their fills can be closely dated to the mid 16th century and included artefacts such as personal possessions, domestic utensils and refuse, and material likely to be waste from leather and textile processing. The combination of excellent preservation, tight dating and an assemblage encompassing all facets of everyday life is seldom encountered for this period, making this a nationally significant assemblage, which is outlined here by broad functional category.
Intestinal helminth parasites (worms) have afflicted humans throughout history and their eggs are... 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...
Excavation of two sites at Point Pleasant, Wandsworth recorded archaeological evidence dating fro... 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...
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, Jul 21, 2021
<jats:p>Archaeological investigations at Bucklers Park in Crowthorne have revealed a window... 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... 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.
Summary Two sediment samples from deposits encountered during excavations of an earthwork in Wray... 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 ...
Multi-proxy investigations at 2 Pier Road, North Woolwich, London, UK, have revealed deposits spa... 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.
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