Archaeological investigations at Huntsman’s Quarry, Kemerton, south Worcestershire during 1995-6 recorded significant Late Bronze Age occupation areas and field systems spreading across more than 8 hectares. Limited evidence for Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Beaker activity was also recovered together with an Early Bronze Age ring-ditch. Waterholes and associated round-houses, structures and pits were set within landscape of fields and droveways radiocarbon dated to the 12th–11th centuries cal BC. Elements of this field system probably pre-dated the settlement. Substantial artefactual and ecofactual assemblages were recovered from the upper fills of the waterholes and larger pits . The settlement had a predominantly pastoral economy supported by some textile and bronze production. Ceramics included a notable proportion of non-local fabrics demonstrating that the local population enjoyed a wide range of regional contacts. Wider ranging, national exchange networks were also indicated by the presence of shale objects as well as the supply of bronze for metalworking, perhaps indicative of a site of some social status. Together the evidence indicates a small settlement within which occupation of individual areas was short-lived with the focus of the settlement shifting on a regular basis. It is proposed that this occurred on a generational basis, with each generation setting up a new ‘homestead’ with an associated waterhole. The settlement can be compared favourably to those known along the Thames Valley but until now not recognised in this part of the country. Cropmark evidence and limited other investigations indicate that the fields and droveways recorded represent a small fragment of a widespread system of boundaries established across the gravel terraces lying between Bredon Hill and the Carrant Brook. This managed and organised landscape appears to have been established for the maintenance of an economy primarily based on relatively intensive livestock farming; the trackways facilitating seasonal movement of stock between meadows alongside the Carrant Brook, the adjacent terraces and the higher land on Bredon Hill.
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Full publication of important Bronze Age farming landscape with integrated settlement and field systems
List of Figures and Tables vii
Contributors ix
Summary xi
Résumé x
Zusammenfassung xi
Acknowledgements xii
PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1
Background 1
Location, geology and topography 1
Archaeological and historical background 1
Project history 2
Aims 5
Methodology – Robin Jackson and Mike Napthan 5
PART 2: DATING AND STRUCTURAL EVIDENCE 10
Radiocarbon dating – Alex Bayliss, Robin Jackson and Christopher Bronk Ramsey
Earlier prehistoric activity – Robin Jackson and Mike Napthan
The Late Bronze Age activity – Robin Jackson and Mike Napthan
PART 3: ARTEFACTUAL EVIDENCE 66
Prehistoric pottery – Ann Woodward and Robin Jackson 66
Petrology – David F. Williams 99
Ceramic weights – Derek Hurst 101
Stone weight – Derek Hurst 103
Fired clay – Derek Hurst 103
The mould fragments and slag – Roger C. P. Doonan 105
Worked Flint – Peter Bellamy 107
Other finds 114
Worked timbers – Ian Tyers 115
PART 4: ENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE 119
Animal bone – Stephanie Pinter-Bellows 119
Human bone – Stephanie Pinter-Bellows 126
Cremated bone – Stephanie Pinter-Bellows 126
The plant macrofossils – Elizabeth Pearson 126
The pollen – James Greig 132
vi
Molluscs – Andrew Moss 134
Environmental synthesis – Elizabeth Pearson 136
PART 5: DISCUSSION AND SYNTHESIS 139
Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic 139
Neolithic 139
Beaker 141
Early Bronze Age 142
Late Bronze Age 142
Bibliography 159
APPENDICES 165
1 Additional pottery tables and figures 165
2 Pottery fabrics – Derek Hurst and Robin Jackson
Les mer
Full publication of important Bronze Age farming landscape with integrated settlement, waterholes and field systems
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781782979944
Publisert
2015-11-30
Utgiver
Oxbow Books
Høyde
297 mm
Bredde
210 mm
Aldersnivå
UP, P, 05, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
192
Forfatter