Monument record MDO6053 - Medieval and Post-medieval occupation, Shapwick

Excavation of two trenches in advance of flood protection work revealed evidence of medieval and post medieval occupation, evidenced by finds of medieval and post-medieval pottery, clay tobacco pipe stems, roof tile and hearthstones.

SHAPWICK FLOOD RELIEF SCHEME Trench B

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1994, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1993, 149-150 (Serial). SDO93.

This report describes the excavation of two trenches in advance of the construction of a flood protection wall at Shapwick. The work was funded by the developers, the National Rivers Authority. The aim of the work was to gather information on the survival of archaeological deposits along the line of the proposed wall.
In April 1993 two excavation trenches measuring 2.5m long and 1.2m wide were excavated in Shapwick village. Trench A was in the east corner of Bartholomew Church car park and trench B was beside the church yard boundary fence within the old orchard enclosure. Both trenches were excavated to 1.1m by hand and produced deposits to the deepest levels. The finds and archive are stored in Kingston Lacy.
In Trench A, beneath the layer of the modern gravel surface and a layer containing 20th century pottery, several layers of occupation evidence were found extending from 18th and 19th century, including numerous fragments of Verwood pottery, blue and white glazed pottery and occasional evidence of napped flint, through to 17th century Verwood pottery and two fragments of medieval cooking pot and 16th century tobacco pipe stems. At lower levels fragments of early green glazed pottery of Verwood type were mixed with fragment of coarse medieval cooking pot and pieces of Purbeck Limestone tile and hearthstone. Fragments of brick in this layer with the pottery indicate a 16th century date. Below this layer were several deposits of late medieval date mainly sandy wares with a reduced black core and a red oxidised outer surface. A single rim fragment was found which was of a 12th century type of bowl identified at Corfe Castle. A small piece of cooking pot rim was also found which had been decorated around the rim top with finger impressions. The lowest levels were dated to 14th-15th century for layer 12, and 13th to 14th century for layer 13.
Trench B revealed two pits which cut deeply into the underlying stratigraphy, one contained pottery and metal objects of the 20th century, and the other contained slate and brick fragments, the skeleton of a small dog and pottery of blue and white ware dated to 18th century. The underlying layer included fragments of brick and clay tile and three fragments of pottery, including two medieval cooking pot fragments. The third fragment was part of a base with a mottled green glaze on the underside. It was sandy grey ware with an oxidised exterior, probably 17th – 17th century date. No further finds were identified below this layer.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 12:59PM