Preprocess Annotations
Report Title
Round Hill, Wittenham Clumps, Oxfordshire: evaluation (Time Team)
Publisher and Publication Year
Wessex Archaeology - 2004
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Summary
Summary Videotext Communications was commissioned by Channel 4 to carry out an archaeological evaluation as part of the Time Team television series at Round Hill, Wittenham Clumps, Oxfordshire (centred on National Grid Reference SU 5665 9255). The project was designed to provide archaeological information about the area surrounding the Iron Age h fort of Castle H and to supplement the results of work currently being undertaken on the h fort jointly by the Northmoor Trust and Oxford Archaeology. The work, which involved the use of an extensive geophysical survey supplemented by trial trenching, aimed to examine any archaeological remains on Round H and in the area to the south-west. Previous archaeological work in 1947 had established that a Roman building and well-preserved Iron Age deposits were present in this area. The project was restricted in extent by woodland on Round H and was unable to produce evidence for any activity on the h top. The results of the work on the lower slopes, however, were able to place the findings of 1947 in a more precise context. The geophysical survey indicated that this area contains the remains of a large open settlement, characterised by dense groups of pits. Evaluation demonstrated that these pits were of Early Iron Age date and that well-preserved, stratified remains of contemporary Early Iron Age occupation were sealed beneath plough soil derived from higher up the slope. A number of post-holes may indicate the presence of timber buildings. Small square enclosures, which also appeared to be of Early Iron Age date, were identified below the slopes of Castle Hill. The evaluation produced a small assemblage of Early Iron Age pottery with sheep/goat and cattle bones that provided evidence of husbandry and meat processing. The work has established that there appears to be no evidence for Middle and Late Iron Age occupation and suggests that the land may have been cultivated at this time. The spread of Roman demolition material identified in 1947 was relocated and shown to represent the remains of a farmstead within a ditched enclosure and approached by an entrance to the east. Pottery suggests that activity occurred throughout the Roman period, however the majority of the finds, including coins, indicated a large scale redevelopment of the site in the mid 3rd to 4th century AD. This phase of activity included the construction of a high status residence, possibly of flint construction and with a tessellated floor. 4 ROUND HILL, WITTENHAM CLUMPS, OXFORDSHIRE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION AND AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RESULTS-----------------------------
Table of Contents
Summary ................................................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 5 1 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................... 6 1.1 Description of the site .................................................................................... 6 1.2 Previous archaeological work ....................................................................... 7 2 METHODS .................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Aims and objectives....................................................................................... 8 2.3 Fieldwork methods......................................................................................... 9 3 RESULTS .................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Geophysical survey...................................................................................... 10 3.3 Archaeological evaluation............................................................................ 11 3.4 Trenches 1, 2 and 3 ...................................................................................... 11 3.5 Trench 4 ....................................................................................................... 12 3.6 Trench 5 ....................................................................................................... 12 3.7 Trench 6 ....................................................................................................... 15 3.8 Trenches 7, 8 and 10 .................................................................................... 16 3.9 Trench 9 ....................................................................................................... 18 3.10 Trench 11 ..................................................................................................... 19 4 FINDS.......................................................................................................... 20 4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................. 20 4.2 Pottery.......................................................................................................... 20 4.3 Ceramic building material............................................................................ 22 4.4 Opus Signinum, wall plaster and mortar...................................................... 22 4.5 Stone ............................................................................................................ 22 4.6 Coins ............................................................................................................ 226 DISCUSSION.............................................................................................. 30 7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER WORK.................................... 31 8 THE ARCHIVE........................................................................................... 34 9 REFERENCES............................................................................................. 35 Table 1: Finds totals by material type (number / weight in grammes) ........ 23 Table 2: Pottery totals by ware group (number / weight in grammes) ........ 24
3 A4 graphics register sheets 2 A1 drawing sheets 5 A3 drawing sheets 14 A4 drawing sheets 6 A4 Photographic register sheets 1 A4 Object Register sheets 2 A4 Sample Collection sheets
Headings
Videotext Communications Ltd49 Goldhawk Road
Table 5: Animal bone species list and frequency from Roman contexts..... 28
Table 6: Assessment of the charred plant remains and charcoal ................. 28
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RESULTS
Summary
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RESULTS
Acknowledgements
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RESULTS
1 BACKGROUND
1.1 Description of the site
1.2 Previous archaeological work
1.2.2 The 1st
1.2.3 The Abingdon Chronicle (written in the 12th
2 METHODS
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Aims and objectives
2.3 Fieldwork methods
3 RESULTS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Geophysical survey
3.3 Archaeological evaluation
3.4 Trenches 1, 2 and 3
3.5 Trench 4
3.6 Trench 5
3.7 Trench 6
3.8 Trenches 7, 8 and 10
3.9 Trench 9
3.10 Trench 11
4 FINDS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Pottery
4.3 Ceramic building material
4.4 Opus Signinum, wall plaster and mortar
4.5 Stone
4.6 Coins
4.7 Metalwork
4.8 Marine shell
4.9 Other finds
4.10 Animal bone
Early Iron Age
Roman
5 ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES
6 DISCUSSION
7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER WORK
8 THE ARCHIVE
Finalised Assessment Report
12 A4 context checklist sheets
6 A4 Sheets of Environmental Sample Records
9 REFERENCES
Unpublished D.Phil. Thesis, University of Oxford
Cambridge University
Ploughing
Little Wittenham
Sondage
Archaeology