Monument record MLI127644 - Late Saxon and Saxo-Norman activity, Wrangle
Summary
Features of 9th-11th century AD date representing agricultural activity and shellfish processing.
Type and Period (3)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
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Full Description
Geophysical survey and auguring conducted in 1998 revealed a number of linear features and areas of burning on land to the south of the A52, Wrangle. A subsequent programme of trial trenching conducted in December 2001 revealed these anomalies to be a series of ditches and gullies. Pottery recovered from the site is from local Lincoln kilns and dates from the late 10th century to the middle too late 11th century. Environmental samples taken revealed what is thought to be domestic waste, consisting mainly of grain and shellfish remains. This evidence seems to intimate that during the late Saxon period that there was activity here. Burnt clay was also recovered from the site and although it is highly speculative it may be associated with salt making. {1}{2}{3}
An archaeological excavation conducted in 2005 encountered a dense array of features of 9th-11th century date in this location. Three phases of Late Saxon and Saxo-Norman activity were identified. The first phase, dating from the late 9th century AD to the late 10th century AD, consisted primarily of a perpendicular enclosure system of paddocks or small fields separated by shallow ditches and gullies. It was suggested that these features were replaced by deeper ditches as a response to worsening coastal flooding during the 10th century. The larger and more well-defined fields of the second phase of activity (mid 11th century AD) may be a result of these environmental changes, but could also be a reflection of the wider changes in farming practices during the period. There is limited evidence for the presence of post-built structures within two of the enclosures dated to this period, including a single small possible domestic hearth. The third and final phase of activity from this period appears to reflect the more tidal landscape of the 11th century. The upper fills of a number of pits and ditches from the earlier field boundaries contained dense layers of marine shell remains, indicating a shift in focus from agriculture to the processing of shellfish gathered from the nearby shoreline. No features on the site appear to post-date the mid 11th century until the later Medieval period (see MLI127645). This was attributed to the site having been completely inundated by the sea in the intervening centuries. {4}{5}
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SLI17481 Article in Serial: 1883. 'Petty Sessions, Saturday, 25th August.' in the Lincolnshire Chronicle. -.
- <2> SLI7482 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2002. Archaeological Evaluation Report: Land at Wrangle, Boston. PCA Site Code: LAWB01.
- <3> SLI7483 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2002. Archaeological Evaluation Report: Land at Wrangle, Boston. LCNCC: 2001.442.
- <4> SLI18932 Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2007. Archaeological Excavation: Land to the South of the A52, Wrangle. -.
- <5> SLI18933 Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln). 2007. Archaeological Excavation: Land to the South of the A52, Wrangle. LCNCC: 2007.121.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 4249 5112 (49m by 61m) Estimated from sources |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WRANGLE, BOSTON, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Apr 16 2025 2:01PM
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