7010, 7011, 7022, 7023, 7042, 7045, 7051, 7058, 7059, 7063, 7066, 7067, 7080, 7081, 7082, 7083, 7084, 7085, 7086
A 2 m wide cutting was excavated across Ditch A (7010).
The ditch was shown to be V-shaped, 1.35 m deep, with a rounded bottom (Figure 29). It varied in width from 2.8 m on its northern edge to 2.3 m at its southern extent.
This narrowing of the ditch may suggest the presence of a terminal within the unexcavated southern section. No external bank survived.
The primary fill of the ditch was a friable, greyish-brown, silty clay that contained charcoal flecks – to the north this was excavated as 7086 and to the south it was 7085.
This presumably represents the initial silting of the ditch.
Cutting through this deposit were two postholes (7081, 7083). Posthole 7081 was oval in plan, 0.16 m by 0.20 m and 0.17 m deep. It was shallow-sloping and filled by a mid-yellowish-grey sandy clay containing flecks of charcoal (7082). Posthole 7083 was also oval in plan, 0.24 m by 0.22 m and 0.07 m deep. The sides sloped gradually to a flat base. It was also filled by a mid-yellowish-grey sandy clay containing flecks of charcoal (7084). Since both postholes cut through the base of the ditch (7010) they presumably represent posts inserted into the bottom of the ditch soon after construction around which the initial natural silts (7085, 7086) accumulated.
Sealing these postholes was a green-grey clay (7080) containing charcoal flecks and medium-sized stones (<
0.10 m in diameter). This deposit was very similar to the natural clay and is likely to represent redeposited natural eroding from an external bank. Overlying this was a thick layer of dark-grey clay (7063) containing large irregularly-shaped stones (< 0.20 m in size) (Figure 30). This is likely to have been a deliberate placement of material and contained 11 sherds of Neolithic pottery and a fragment of an Early Neolithic polished stone axe (SF27, see section 7.4.4).
This layer was sealed by a number of deposits which appear to have slumped in from either side of the ditch, largely in-filling it. On its eastern side, 7063 was overlain by a friable, red, sandy-clay (7059) while on its western side it was sealed by a thick deposit of green-grey, sandy-clay (7051). Both 7051 and 7059 contained numerous flint fragments and Early Neolithic pottery sherds including a diagnostic sherd from a carinated bowl with
‘lug’. Sealing both of these deposits was a greeny-grey clay containing charcoal flecks (7066).
After the ditch had become largely in-filled, a fairly shallow recut (7058) was excavated to a depth of around 0.75 m.
A thin layer of grey-black clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal (7045) was identified on the base of the recut. This deposit contained a large number of Neolithic pottery sherds, although none particularly diagnostic, and flints including two leaf-shaped arrowheads (SF10 and 11). Overlying this was a thick deposit of greeny-grey clay (7067) with charcoal inclusions, which was in turn sealed by a grey clay with yellow and red mottling (7042). Deposit 7042 also contained a leaf-shaped flint arrowhead (SF03). Sealing all of these fills was a dark brown-green clay (7011) which contained flints and Neolithic pottery. On its western edge 7011 was cut by a shallow linear feature with an irregular profile running broadly north to south through the trench (7022). It was filled by a reddish-brown sandy-clay (7023) with inclusions of charcoal and small stones. Its purpose is not clear, but it may be a scour left by the plough or even an animal burrow.
The deposits excavated in this 2 m wide cutting produced 63 flints, 3 flint arrowheads, 1 polished-axe fragment and 200 sherds of pottery.
6.2.1.1.2 Ditch B 7030, 7031, 7039, 7079
Approximately 12 m east of Ditch A, a second ditch cut (Ditch B) was identified also running north to south through the trench (7030). Again, a 2 m wide cutting was excavated across the feature, although the ditch was quite different in morphology to ditch A (7010). The ditch (7030) was shown to be U-shaped, 1.0 m wide and 0.30 m deep, with a flat bottom (Figure 29). No external bank survived, but one probably existed.
The primary fill was a browny-grey clay with charcoal inclusions (7031) and large stones (< 0.30 m). Also contained within this deposit were 11 sherds of probable Neolithic pottery and a flint awl (SF01). Overlying this layer was an orangey-brown, sandy-clay with charcoal inclusions (7039). Four flints and a pecked stone (SF28) were recovered from this context. The final fill was a dark-brown clay with charcoal flecks (7079) (not in section).
6.2.1.1.3 Ditch C 7071, 7072
Around 5.6 m to the east of Ditch B the geophysics showed another feature which could be interpreted as a third ditch (Ditch C) running north to south through the trench on a similar alignment to Ditch B. Despite the clear magnetic anomaly, a period of very dry weather baked the exposed surface and it was difficult to distinguish the ditch cut (7071) and fill (7072) from the natural geology (7003)
Excavation Results
Fig. 29. Sections through ditches A-E
Fig. 30. Layer of deliberately placed stones in Ditch A. This layer also produced a large amount of Neolithic pottery and a fragment of polished stone axe
Fig. 31. North-facing section through Ditch D after excavation
Excavation Results
in plan. Therefore a 5 m by 1.5 m sondage was cut east to west through the trench in order to locate the feature.
The ditch (7071) was shown to be U-shaped, 2.0 m wide and 0.90 m deep, with steeply-sloping sides and a rounded base (Figure 29). It was filled with a greeny-grey clay with red mottling when wet (7072). No cultural material was recovered from the ditch fill.
6.2.1.1.4 Ditch D
7054, 7055, 7060, 7075, 7076
At the eastern end of the trench, approximately 6.8 m east of Ditch C was a fourth ditch (Ditch D), also running north to south through the trench (7054). A 1 m wide cutting was excavated across the ditch, which was shown to be V-shaped, 2.80 m wide and 0.80 m deep, with a flat bottom (Figure 29). No external bank survived.
The primary fill of the ditch was a soft, reddish-brown, sandy-clay (7060) that contained 12 sherds of Neolithic pottery and two flints. Sealing this layer was a thick reddish-grey, silty-clay with charcoal inclusions (7076) which also contained Early Neolithic pottery and flints.
Overlying this was a thin band of greyish-black, sticky, clay with frequent charcoal inclusions (7075) which was in turn sealed by a dark-grey, sticky, clay with charcoal inclusions (7055).
This ditch contained 40 sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and eight flints (Figure 31).
6.2.1.2 Later ditches