011BA07084

Cremation Cemetery

Phasing

Discussion

A cremation cemetery situated in the north-eastern part of area 11BA. The area also contained 6 solution holes, which were discernible from the cremations by their soil colour, being slightly lighter than the cremation pit material. A total of 23 cremation pits were excavated. As can be seen from the plan above, some of the pits were truncated by medieval rig and furrow ploughing. Other pits were truncated by more recent plough action. All of the pits were initially half sectioned, then excavated in full, with all the material recovered sent to flotation to ensure the maximum recovery of small fragments of bone. During excavation, seven of the pit fills ( 011BA00023, 011BA00027, 011BA00033,011BA00037, 011BA00073, 011BA00077 and 011BA00297) contained recognisable human bone, and five (011BA00035, 011BA00036, 011BA00040, 011BA00091 and 011BA00299) contained no finds at all. Two of the pits contained copper alloy fragments (011BA00028 and 011BA00297). Interestingly, these two cremations appear to be at the limits of the cemetery, with 011BA00028 occurring in the north-west and 011BA00297 in the south-east. Five of the pits (011BA00034, 011BA00038, 011BA00075, 011BA00087 and 011BA00147) contained imported stone (mostly sandstone). Thirteen of the pits contained pottery sherds, although none of the pits contained anything approaching an entire pot. The pottery varies in period from the Neolithic through to the Middle Saxon period, and thus can not be taken as diagnostic, as the material may be either residual or intrusive.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

MASTER CUT FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
011BA07084
011BA00023
011BA00013
   2    
 
011BA00027
011BA00016
   2    
 
011BA00028
011BA00002
   3    
 
011BA00029
011BA00003
   3    
 
011BA00030
011BA00004
   1    
 
011BA00032
011BA00005
   2    
 
011BA00033
011BA00006
   1    
 
011BA00034
011BA00007
   6    
 
011BA00035
011BA00008
       
 
011BA00036
011BA00009
       
 
011BA00037
011BA00010
   1    
 
011BA00038
011BA00011
   20    
 
011BA00039
011BA00012
   5    
 
011BA00040
011BA00041
       
 
011BA00055
011BA00054
   1    
 
011BA00073
011BA00072
   2    
 
011BA00075
011BA00074
   2    
 
011BA00077
011BA00076
   2    
 
011BA00087
011BA00086
   7    
 
011BA00091
011BA00090
       
 
011BA00147
011BA00146
  1  + 1    
 
011BA00297
011BA00296
  2  + 1    
 
011BA00299
011BA00298
       

Object Totals by Material

MASTER KEY_ID PERIOD MATERIAL No
011BA07084 011BA00002 ROMAN POTTERY 1
  011BA00002 Unassigned COPPER ALLOY 1
  011BA00002 Unassigned POTTERY 1
  011BA00003 Unassigned DAUB 1
  011BA00003 PREHISTORIC POTTERY 1
  011BA00003 Unassigned STONE 1
  011BA00004 IRON AGE POTTERY 1
  011BA00006 PREHISTORIC HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00007 ROMAN POTTERY 1
  011BA00007 Unassigned POTTERY 2
  011BA00007 Unassigned STONE 3
  011BA00010 PREHISTORIC HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00011 Unassigned DAUB 1
  011BA00011 ANGLIAN POTTERY 2
  011BA00011 PREHISTORIC POTTERY 2
  011BA00011 Unassigned CHARCOAL 2
  011BA00011 Unassigned FIRED CLAY 1
  011BA00011 Unassigned POTTERY 4
  011BA00011 Unassigned STONE 8
  011BA00012 ANGLIAN POTTERY 1
  011BA00012 Unassigned POTTERY 1
  011BA00012 Unassigned SNAIL 1
  011BA00012 Unassigned STONE 2
  011BA00013 Unassigned CHARCOAL 1
  011BA00013 Unassigned HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00016 Unassigned HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00016 Unassigned POTTERY 1
  011BA00032 Unassigned POTTERY 2
  011BA00054 PREHISTORIC POTTERY 1
  011BA00072 LATE NEO/E.B.A. POTTERY 1
  011BA00072 Unassigned HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00074 PREHISTORIC POTTERY 1
  011BA00074 Unassigned STONE 1
  011BA00076 Unassigned HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00076 Unassigned POTTERY 1
  011BA00086 Unassigned UNFIRED CLAY 1
  011BA00086 PREHISTORIC POTTERY 2
  011BA00086 Unassigned FLINT 1
  011BA00086 Unassigned POTTERY 2
  011BA00086 Unassigned STONE 1
  011BA00146 Unassigned STONE 1
  011BA00147 Unassigned STONE 1
  011BA00296 Unassigned COPPER ALLOY 1
  011BA00296 Unassigned HUMAN BONE 1
  011BA00297 Unassigned SNAIL 1

Structural Details

011BA00023 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00013 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 36 26 7 CONCAVE PROBABLE CREMATION PIT. CHARCOAL FLECKS AND BURNT BONE VISIBLE ON THE SURFACE. VERY LITTLE DEPTH REMAINING DUE TO PLOUGH TRUNCATION.
011BA00023 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 36 26 7 CONCAVE CUT OF VERY SHALLOW CREMATION PIT. PLOUGH TRUNCATED. CUT INTO NATURAL CHALK. PROFILE GIVEN AS CONCAVE.

011BA00027 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00016 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 42 35 6 ROUND BASED HUMAN BONE FOUND. PLOUGHED OUT REMNANTS OF A CREMATION PIT.
011BA00027 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 42 35 6 BOWL SHAPED VERY SHALLOW PLOUGH TRUNCATED REMNANT OF POSSIBLE CREMATION PIT.

011BA00028 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00002 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 40 46 11 FLAT BASED V CREMATION PIT CONTAINING POTTERY AND A COPPER ALLOY FRAGMENT. ONLY ONE OTHER CREMATION (011BA00296/297) CONTAINED METAL.
011BA00028 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 40 46 11 FLAT BASED V THIS WAS CUT INTO THE CHALK BEDROCK. A SHALLOW ROUND BASED PROFILE.

011BA00029 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00003 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 58 59 18 VERT.SIDE U.BASE THIS CREM PIT CONTAINED POTTERY AND SMALL PIECES OF BONE. THE BONE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED AS HUMAN.
011BA00029 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 58 59 18 VERT.SIDE U.BASE THIS WAS CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK BEDROCK. A WIDE SHALLOW SLIGHTLY ROUNDED BASE.

011BA00030 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00004 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 45 39 13 FLAT BASED V THE FILL  PRODUCED ONE SHERD OF POTTERY. CHALK INC. 50% 0.3-1.5 CM DIAM.
011BA00030 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 45 39 13 FLAT BASED V THIS WAS CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK BEDROCK. VERY SHALLOW PROFILE.

011BA00032 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00005 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 40 40 11 FLAT BASED V LIMITED REMAINS DUE TO PLOUGH DAMAGE. PEA GRIT AT BASE. FILL OF CUT 32. (POTTERY ERRONEOUSLY TAGGED UNDER THE CUT NUMBER)
011BA00032 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 40 40 11 FLAT BASED V THE FEATURE WAS CUT INTO THE CHALK NATURAL. STEEP ALMOST VERTICAL PROFILE IN THE WEST. A FLAT BOTTOMED PROFILE.

011BA00033 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00006 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 34 36 13 ROUND BASED A VERY DARK FILL THIS WAS ONE OF THE MORE OBVIOUS CREMATIONS IN THE AREA. ALL MATERIAL FLOATED FOR MAXIMUM RECOVERY RATES. BONE NOTED.
011BA00033 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 34 36 13 ROUND BASED THIS IS THE CUT OF A CREMATION PIT. ALMOST VERTICAL PROFILE IN THE EAST RISING IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE WEST. MUCH DEEPER IN THE EAST.

011BA00034 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00007 CREM PIT FILL OVATE 68 38 14 FLAT BASED V THIS CREMATION PIT FILL CONTAINED A FRAGMENT OF SANDSTONE AS WELL AS 2 SHERDS OF POTTERY. CHALKY INCLUSION 2-3 CM IN DIAMETER.
011BA00034 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 68 38 14 FLAT BASED V CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK BEDROCK. TRUNCATED BY THE PLOUGH. SLIGHTLY DEEPER IN THE EAST.

011BA00035 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00008 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 35 39 9 CONCAVE THE CREM PIT WAS SEVERELY PLOUGH ERODED AND THUS WAS GIVEN A CONCAVE PROFILE. NO FINDS.
011BA00035 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 35 39 9 CONCAVE CUT INTO NATURAL CHALK BEDROCK. SEVERELY PLOUGH TRUNCATED THUS PROFILE RECORDED AS CONCAVE

011BA00036 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00009 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 28 50 32 FLAT BASED V CREMATION PIT. A POSSIBLE HUMAN TOOTH WAS FOUND. THE PIT WAS INITIALLY DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE BUT WAS FULLY EXCAVATED AFTER RAIN.
011BA00036 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 28 50 32 FLAT BASED U CUT INTO NATURAL CHALK THIS PIT HAD A VERTICAL NW AND STEEPLY ANGLED SE PROFILE. SLIGHTLY DEEPER IN THE CENTRE.

011BA00037 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00010 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 34 36 6 BOWL SHAPED CREM PIT SEVERELY TRUNCATED BY PLOUGHING. CHALK GRAVEL IN THE FILL 25%. CONTAINED BONE
011BA00037 CREM PIT CUT No entry 34 36 6 BOWL SHAPED THIS WAS CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK BEDROCK. PLOUGH TRUNCATED THUS PROFILE IS GIVEN AS BOWL SHAPED.

011BA00038 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00011 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 56 57 23 VERT.SIDE F.BASE CREM PIT. ONE OF A PAIR (WITH 12/39) WHICH WAS LARGER AND DEEPER THAN OTHERS IN SURROUNDING AREA. OBJECTS INCLUDED A PIECE OF QUERN STONE.
011BA00038 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 56 57 23 VERT.SIDE F.BASE THIS IS A CREMATION PIT CUT.IT HAS VERTICAL SIDES AND AN ALMOST FLAT BASE. CUT INTO THE CHALK NATURAL.

011BA00039 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00012 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 61 68 26 VERT.SIDE F.BASE ONE OF A PAIR OF CREM PITS WHICH WERE DEEPER THAN THE OTHERS IN THE AREA AND HAD FINDS OF HUMAN BONE: POTTERY INSIDE IT. DARKER FILL THAN THE OTHERS.
011BA00039 CREM PIT CUT OVATE 61 68 26 FLAT BASED V THIS WAS A CREM PIT CUT INTO THE CHALK NATURAL. ONE OF OF A GROUP OF 23 CREMATION PITS IN THE AREA. A WIDE PROFILE STEEPER IN THE SW.

011BA00040 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00041 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 42 33 8 FLAT BASED V THE PIT DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FINDS BUT MAY BE THE REMNANTS OF A CREMATION PIT.
011BA00040 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 42 33 8 FLAT BASED V THE FEATURE WAS CUT INTO THE NATURAL YELLOW-STAINED CHALK GRAVEL. TRUNCATED BY RIG AND FURROW.

011BA00055 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00054 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 66 41 14 USHAPED THE CREM PIT CONTAINED ONE SHERD OF POTTERY. CHALK INCLUSIONS 15% 0.5-1 CM DIAM.
011BA00055 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 66 41 14 USHAPED THIS WAS CUT INTO NATURAL CHALKY GRAVEL. A VERY WIDE SHALLOW PROFILE

011BA00073 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00072 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 46 43 18 VERT.SIDE F.BASE THE CREMATION PIT HAD A DARKER FILL AND HAD POTTERY VISIBLE ON THE SURFACE AFTER CLEANING.
011BA00073 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 46 43 18 VERT.SIDE F.BASE THE CUT WAS INTO THE NATURAL CHALK: AND WAS A CREMATION PIT CUT ASSOCIATED WITH A GROUP OF OTHERS IN THE EASTERN END OF BA.

011BA00075 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00074 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 47 50 19 FLAT BASED V CREMATION: BURNT BONE IN SMALL FRAGS <2CM.: SOME GRAVEL:POTTERY. ONE OF A GROUP IN NE PART OF AREA
011BA00075 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 47 50 19 FLAT BASED V THIS WAS CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK. ALMOST CERTAINLY PLOUGH TRUNCATED. A FLAT-BASED V PROFILE.

011BA00077 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00076 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 31 31 7 VSHAPED POSSIBLE CREATION IN SHALLOW PIT. PART OF GROUP IN NE PART OF AREA: NO FINDS SEEN IN EXCAVATION: DARK SANDY PRODUCT FLOATED
011BA00077 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 31 31 7 VSHAPED POSSIBLE CREAMATION PIT: ONE OF A GROUP OF 23 IN NE PART OF AREA. VERY SHALLOW PROFILE.

011BA00087 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00086 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 51 58 48 VERT.SIDE F.BASE FILL CONTAINED AT LEAST 4 SHERDS OF POTTERY. ALSO NATURAL FLINT AND UNFIRED CLAY (POSSIBLY NATURAL?)
011BA00087 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 51 58 48 VERT.SIDE F.BASE CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK GRAVEL. A VERTICAL SIDED FLAT BASED PROFILE. THIS WAS THE DEEPEST OF ALL THE CREMATION PITS.

011BA00091 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00090 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 38 30 9 VERT.SIDE F.BASE THIS FILL HAD NO VISIBLE FINDS BUT THE CONTENTS WERE SENT TO BE FLOATED. ASSOCIATED WITH 22 OTHER CREM PITS IN EASTERN END OF 11BA.
011BA00091 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 38 30 9 VERT.SIDE F.BASE CUT INTO THE NATURAL CHALK AND SAND. A VERTICAL SIDED FLAT BASED PROFILE. VERY SHALLOW.

011BA00147 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00146 CREM PIT FILL ROUND 25 29 18 USHAPED BURNT MATERIAL PROBABLY THE REMAINS OF A HUMAN CREMATION. CONTAINED SANDSTONE FRAGMENTS.
011BA00147 CREM PIT CUT ROUND 25 29 18 USHAPED CUT INTO WHITE CHALK GRAVEL. VERY PLOUGH TRUNCATED AND SHALLOW.

011BA00297 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00296 CREM PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR 40 40 12 BOWL SHAPED BURNED BONE & CHARCOAL SPREAD THROGHOUT MATRIX. BONE VISIBLE ON SURFACE SO POSSIBLY ONLY PARTIAL REMAINS.
011BA00297 CREM PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR 40 40 12 BOWL SHAPED CUT FOR CREMATION.SITUATED CLOSE TO SIMILAR CREM.UNIFORM SHAPE CUT INTO AN AREA OF NATURAL HARD PACKED SAND.

011BA00299 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID
TYPE
SHAPE
L
B
D
PROFILE
NOTES
011BA00298 CREM PIT FILL SUB-CIRCULAR 35 34 9 FLAT BASED U PRIMARY FILL BURNED BONE & CHARCOAL MIXED THROUGHOUT MATRIX.BONE VISIBLE ON SURFACE POSSIBLY SUGGESTING PARTIAL LOSS OF CREM.FILL REMOVED FOR FLOTATI.
011BA00299 CREM PIT CUT SUB-CIRCULAR 35 34 9 FLAT BASED U CREMATION PIT SITUATED ADJACENT TO SIMILAR CREM.CUT INTO NATURAL HARD PACKED SAND.UNIFORM CUT.

 

Objects By Context

 
KEY_ID OB PERIOD1 PERIOD2 MATERIAL TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
011BA00002 AA     COPPER ALLOY C/A OBJECT BUCKET HANDLE?   1
011BA00002 AB     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00002 AC ROMAN   POTTERY SHERD   ROMANO-BRITISH 1
011BA00003 AA     STONE STONE   NAT IRON 1
011BA00003 AB PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00003 AC ANGLIAN   DAUB DAUB     1
011BA00004 AA IRON AGE   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00006 AA PREHISTORIC   HUMAN BONE BONE FRAGMENTS BURNT CREMATION 20
011BA00007 AA     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00007 AB     STONE STONE     1
011BA00007 AC     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00007 AD     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00007 AE ROMAN   POTTERY SHERDS   ROMANO-BRITISH? 2
011BA00007 AF     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00010 AA PREHISTORIC   HUMAN BONE BONE FRAGMENTS BURNT CREMATION 30
011BA00011 AA     FIRED CLAY SPINDLE WHORL FIRED CLAY   1
011BA00011 AB     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00011 AC     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 11
011BA00011 AD     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00011 AE     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00011 AF     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 10
011BA00011 AG     CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE     1
011BA00011 AH     STONE STONE   RED SANDSTONE 1
011BA00011 AI     STONE STONE   RED SANDSTONE 1
011BA00011 AJ MIDDLE SAXON?   POTTERY SHERD   MIDDLE SAXON? 1
011BA00011 AK PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00011 AL ANGLIAN   DAUB BURNT DAUB     6
011BA00011 AM     STONE STONE     2
011BA00011 AN     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 8
011BA00011 AO PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00011 AP     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00011 AQ BRONZE AGE MIDDLE SAXON POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00011 AR BRONZE AGE MIDDLE SAXON POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00011 AS     CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE     1
011BA00011 AT MIDDLE SAXON   POTTERY SHERD   MIDDLE SAXON 1
011BA00012 AA     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00012 AB     SNAIL SNAIL SAMPLE     2
011BA00012 AC     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00012 AD     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00012 AE ANGLIAN   POTTERY SHERD   ANGLIAN III? 1
011BA00013 AA     CHARCOAL CHARCOAL SAMPLE     1
011BA00013 AB     HUMAN BONE CREMATION     10
011BA00016 AA     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00016 AB     HUMAN BONE CREMATION     6
011BA00032 AA     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00032 AB     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00054 AA PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERDS   FTW 2
011BA00072 AA LATE NEO EBA POTTERY SHERD   NEO/EBA 1
011BA00072 AB     HUMAN BONE CREMATION     30
011BA00074 AA     STONE STONE     2
011BA00074 AB PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00076 AA     HUMAN BONE CREMATION     5
011BA00076 AB     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00086 AA ANGLIAN   UNFIRED CLAY UNFIRED CLAY     1
011BA00086 AB PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERD   FTW 1
011BA00086 AC PREHISTORIC   POTTERY SHERDS   FTW 2
011BA00086 AD     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 2
011BA00086 AE     POTTERY SHERDS     2
011BA00086 AF     POTTERY SHERD     1
011BA00086 AG     FLINT NAT FLINTS     2
011BA00146 AA     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00147 AA     STONE STONE   SANDSTONE 1
011BA00296 AA     COPPER ALLOY C/A FRAGMENTS WITH CREMATION   2
011BA00296 AB     HUMAN BONE BURNT BONE   CREMATION 200
011BA00297 AA     SNAIL SNAIL SAMPLE     1

Cremation Pit Cut numbers


 

Cremation Pits containing Human Bone recognized during excavation


 

Cremation Pits containing Pottery Sherds


 

Cremation Pits containing Copper Alloy Fragments


 

Cremation Pits containing Stone Fragments (mostly sandstone)


 

Cremation Pits containing no discernible finds