012AD00279

Pit

Phasing

No diagnostic material culture was recovered from this feature, nor was the relationship with enclosure 012AD01006 to the south established. However, the presence of a burnt red daub layer in the pit may indicate a later Middle Saxon phase for the pit, as this type of deposit was generally later in other features across the excavated area.

Stratigraphic Matrix Diagram

     
  012AD00677  
     
  012AD00278   
     
  012AD00373   
     
  012AD00284   
     
  012AD00374   
     
  012AD00279   
     

Discussion

This was a relatively deep pit (in an area where many of the features were plough truncated), located near the northern excavation limit of Site 12AD The primary fill was 012AD00374, a dark sandy silty loam (Munsell colour 10YR 2/2), with 10% chalk inclusions. Daub and charcoal flecking was noted throughout. The only finds were a piece of red chalk and 3 burnt daub fragments, with small fragments of animal bone also recovered. Next was 012AD00284, a clay loam (Munsell colour 10YR 4/3), with 10% chalk inclusions. No daub or charcoal flecking was evident. It appears as though this deposit slumped in from the sides. Only small fragments of animal bone were recovered. Both of these contexts were then sealed by 012AD00373, a very stony deposit in a sandy clay loam matrix (Munsell colour 10YR 4/2). No daub or charcoal flecking was present, and only small fragments of animal bone were recovered. Next came 012AD00278, a reddish sandy loam (Munsell colour 7.5YR 3/2), with 10% chalk inclusions. Both daub and charcoal were present (one sample of each was taken). Again the only other finds were small and fragmentary animal bones. The final event was 012AD00677, a sandy loam (Munsell colour 10YR 4/2), with 10% chalk inclusions (0.5-7cm in diameter). Slight daub and charcoal flecking were evident, although there were no finds. This deposit may not be a pit fill, instead it appears to relate to a colluvial event, which sealed the pit below.

The pit was cut into chalk, with a shallow V-shaped profile. It was located close to the edge of the main dry valley, which was just to the west.

All Contexts and Associated Finds Totals

CUT  FILL VOLUME OBJECTS AN BONE DENSITY
012AD00279 012AD00278   2 1  
  012AD00284   0 0  
  012AD00373   0 0  
  012AD00374   4 4  
  012AD00677   0 0  

Context Details

012AD00279 Section and Notes


 
KEY_ID TYPE SHAPE L B D PROFILE NOTES
012AD00278 PIT FILL OVATE 132 112 15 UNDULATING FILL OF PIT. DARK RED FILL WITH DAUB AND CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. BONE AND DAUB FOUND. 10% CHALK INCLUSIONS.
012AD00284 PIT FILL CURVILINEAR 110 18 26 IRREGULAR FILL OF PIT. CLAY LIGHTER FILL AROUND THE EDGE OF PIT. PROBABLY SLUMPED IN AROUND EDGE ON TOP OF 374. NO DAUB OR CHARCOAL FLECKING. BONE FOUND. 10% CHALK
012AD00373 PIT FILL OVATE 82 80 16 UNDULATING FILL OF PIT. VERY STONY LENS 70% CHALK INCLUSIONS 5-10CMS. NO DAUB OR CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. SOME BONE FOUND. WIDTH MEASURED UP TO SECTION.
012AD00374 PIT FILL OVATE 80 63 20 V-SHAPED FILL OF PIT. SILTY SANDY LOAM WITH A LOT OF DAUB AND CHARCOAL INCLUSIONS. BONE FOUND + LOT DAUB. 10% CHALK INC. 1 STONE 15CMS. WIDTH MEASURE TO SECTION
012AD00279 PIT CUT OVATE 143 130 47 V-SHAPED CUT OF PIT. CUT INTO CHALK. BOWL SHAPED PROFILE ALTHOUGH W EDGE SLIGHTLY SHALLOWER GRADIENT. NO RELATIONSHIP KNOWN WITH DITCH 237.

Objects

KEY_ID OB MATERIAL PERIOD TYPE SUB_TYPE CLASS No
012AD00278 AA CHARCOAL   SAMPLE     1
012AD00278 AB DAUB   BURNT      3
012AD00374 AA DAUB   BURNT      1
012AD00374 AB STONE   STONE   RED CHALK 1
012AD00374 AC DAUB   BURNT      1
012AD00374 AD DAUB   BURNT      1

Animal Bones

KEY_ID SPECIES ELEMENT CHEW BURN BUTCH FBRK
012AD00278 Sheep/Goat Tibia P 0 0 0 0
012AD00374 Cattle N.Cuboid 0 0 0 0
012AD00374 Sheep/Goat Tibia P 0 0 0 0
012AD00374 Sheep/Goat Tibia fr 0 0 0 0
012AD00374 Sheep Calcaneum 0 1 0 0