Monument record MWX2807 - Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Fields T, N and Z Bronze Age cremation, ditches and pits

Sections of Bronze Age ditches and pits recorded in Fields T, N and Z during excavations at Bestwall Quarry. A single MBA cremation excavated in Field Z.

Section of Bronze Age ditches were recorded during excavations at Bestowal Quarry (1)
Early Bronze Age: 100m length of ditch aligned SE-NW in Field T - discontinued lengths of this feature recorded in Fields J, E and P. Ditch with a steep sided and flat-based profile and contained Beaker pottery and worked flint, including 10 small thumbnail scrapers. A large oval scoop or hollow abuts this ditch and contained small amounts of charcoal, Beaker pottery and worked flint, including a barbed and tanged arrowhead and five thumbnail scrapers. In Filed Z sherds from a small EBA Beaker decorated with rows of tooth-comb ornament were an isolated find from a small scoop.
Middle Bronze Age: Five ditches on a north-south alignment excavated in Field T. Six ditches excavated in Field N, four of which appeared to form the sides of a possible enclosure measuring 150m by 180m. Ditches with steeply sloping sides and flat bases. Pottery included Deverell Rimbury ware. Two ditches terminated in Field Z and another merged with a further ditch and continued westwards. MBA pottery was also retrieved from four pits, one of which contained fingerprint impressed pottery and a large amount of burnt flint and hearthstone. A single cremation was excavated in Field Z consisting of poorly preserved bone within a plain vessel, this had been disturbed in antiquity.
Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age: short length of curving gully in Field T and 9 pit type features. A cluster of pits, all circular in shape and containing large quantities of raw and fired clay and burnt hearthstone. Two loom weights were also recovered. Two isolated pits containing LBA/EIA pottery were also found in Field T. In Field N three small pits were dated to this period.

<1> Ladle, L, 2002, Bestwall Quarry Excavations 2002 - interim report. (Article in serial). SWX7971.

<2> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 11 - 2002 (Unpublished document). SWX8532.

<2> Ladle, L, 2003, Bestwall Quarry Archaeological Project, Phase 12 - 2003 (Unpublished document). SDO13970.

Record last edited

Dec 22 2003 9:25AM