Monument record MLI81846 - Iron Age enclosures and quarrying activity, Brauncewell Quarry

Summary

Iron Age enclosures and quarrying activity, Brauncewell Quarry

Type and Period (11)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 61820 (includes PRNs 61821 61818 61822) A geophysical survey and subsequent excavation recorded the southern and eastern ditches of an Iron Age rectangular enclosure and associated features, adjacent to (and respecting the existence and possible use of) a multiple ditch system (PRN 61813). The enclosure measured 52m in width, with a length of between 34m and 80m (the northern arm was not located), defined by a ditch with a v-shaped profile, measuring circa 1-1.8m in width. The ditch was recut at least once, in the Late Iron Age, probably representing cleaning and maintenance. An entrance measuring 2.3m was located in the eastern arm, close to the south-east corner. Two postholes, 1.75m apart and 1.4m from the ditch terminals, were recorded opposite the entrance, probably representing the position of a former gate. The entrance design appears too narrow for cows, sheep being a more likely option, but other entrances may have existed, so this is not certain. A line of postholes representing a fence line runs parallel with the inner edge of the ditch at a distance of 1-2.5m. Evidence for a bank was inconclusive.{1}{2}{3}{4} A trapezoidal structure found in the south-east corner of the enclosure, represented by 30 postholes and two shallow gullies or slots, measured 32-35m by 10-12m. A large gap in the south side may have been an entrance, but a large pit occupied the space, so this is uncertain. The east side would have been a more likely place for an entrance, closest to the enclosure entrance. The structure had a substructure of earthfast posts, or a combination of these and sill-beams. No evidence for a roof was found, but external postholes suggest some form of lateral support. A lack of artefacts suggests that the building was probably for livestock.{1}{2}{3}{4} A flake of hammerscale recovered from a ditch fill is suggestive of metalworking in the vicinity.There is evidence for the structure being dismantled and the enclosure being deliberately backfilled during the construction of a second later enclosure. {1}{2}{3}{4} A watching brief identified further enclosures to the east of the triple ditch system.{3}{4} The northern and eastern arms of a later enclosure were uncovered. Westerly projections from a slight south-westerly bend in the eastern arm coincided with two short gully stretches recorded in a 1994 excavation, probably representing the southern arm of the enclosure. The eastern ditch of a triple ditch system (PRN 61813) was used as the western enclosure boundary, suggesting that this enclosure post-dates the construction and use of the triple ditch system. A 4m gap in the eastern arm is probably an entrance. The enclosure cuts through an earlier enclosure (PRN 61820), thought to have been in use when the triple ditch system was still active.{1}{2}{3}{4} The enclosure is trapezoidal, measuring 55m north/south and 25-35m east/west.The ditches have a v-shaped profile, and no evidence for a bank was found. The northern arm of this enclosure used the southern arm of enclosure 61820, which was probably out of use by this time. The builders of the later enclosure may also have backfilled sections of the ditch of the earlier enclosure and dismantled a structure within it. The only features within the enclosure were a possible pit and some areas of burning. A sherd of Late Iron Age pottery was found near the top of one of the enclosure ditches, providing some tentative dating.{1}{2}{3}{4} A complex of pits was identified by geophysical survey and excavation. Some of the pits were overlain by postholes relating to the triple ditch system (PRN 61813), suggesting they may predate it.{5}{6} Further geophysical survey and excavation revealed three intercutting pits filled with limestone slabs and rubble. Although a sherd of Late Iron Age pottery was found in the fill of one of these pits, the pits were cut by a Late Iron Age feature, and so may be earlier. {1}{2}{3}{4} A geophysical survey and subsequent excavation identified postholes thought to represent structures. The first structure consisted of 4 postholes forming a square, although more postholes may exist. The second structure consisted of 6 postholes forming a rectangle, although more postholes may exist. The postholes are thought to represent a four-post and an eight-post structure. Structures such as these normally represent small granaries, although equally they may be storage sheds, weaving rooms or cooking shelters. These are generally found at the periphery of settlements, often against the boundaries, and the structures here are positioned against the boundary of an enclosure (PRN 612820), with their long axes aligned with the enclosure ditches. Dating evidence was absent and phasing was difficult, however, so these structures may not be related to this enclosure.{1}{2}{3}{4} The final structure consisted of 5 postholes and 3 short gully stretches. The curving shape of the gullies suggests that they are the north-west and north-east corners of a sub-rectangular structure circa 4.25m by 3m. Three postholes in a row run down the centre of the structure, possibly for a row of supporting timbers, perhaps for a raised floor. A fragment of Late Iron Age pottery in one of the gullies provides tentative dating. The function of the building is thought to be similar to that of the above structures.{1}{2}{3}{4} A large hollow of unknown function appears to have truncated the postholes and gullies of the final structure. All of these features were sealed by a layer thought to date to the Late Iron Age/early Roman period from the few fragments of pottery within it. A large pit of unknown function also contained fragments of Late Iron Age pottery. Another pit was filled with possible fire waste, and had been reopened twice. Late Iron Age/early Roman pottery was recovered from the fourth and final fill. A final pit had a clay lining.{1}{2}{3}{4} An excavation was undertaken at Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension 2001-2 prior to mineral extraction. Two more enclosures were uncovered. They are of different dates and the structures within also have at least two phases. There were over six roundhouses within the enclosures. The main phase of activity is thought to date to the mid Iron Age, and the lack of fine wares and wheel made wares bare this out. The bone assemblage shows a concentration of young sheep and cattle bones. Fragments of quern stones were recovered, including a fragment of a beehive quern and a rotary quern. This, together with the environmental evidence of charred cereal remains, implies that crop processing was undertaken in the area. There was an iron sword found deposited in a domestic pit, which is highly unusual. It is thought to date to the 3rd to 2nd century BC and bares some resemblance to the sword found in the River Witham. {7} {8} Two substantial ditches believed to be of Iron Age origin were discovered during a watching brief and excavation in 2005. One ditch contained sherds of 2nd century AD pottery, but this may belong to the period when the ditch was out of use and silting up. {9}{10} An east to west aligned ditch was recorded during a programme of strip, map and record in 2008 (TF 02797 52064). The ditch was undated except for a sherd of medieval pottery recovered from the secondary fill, but its alignment was similar to previously recorded Iron Age ditches. The ditch was cut by a curvilinear gully containing two sherds of late Iron Age to early Roman pottery. Two more gullies centred on the ditch, and representing possibly associated activity, remained undated. A number of undated features were also recorded (see PRN 61823). {11}{12} The area has since been destroyed through quarrying. {13}

Sources/Archives (13)

  •  Report: Oxford Archaeotechnics. Oct 1996. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry. BQA96.
  •  Archive: Oxford Archaeotechnics. Oct 1996. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry. LCNCC 129.96.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jan 1998. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension Excavations 1997. BQ97.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jan 1998. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension Excavations 1997. LCNCC 101.97.
  •  Report: Landscape Research Centre Ltd. Feb 1994. Magnetometer survey, Brauncewell.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Aug 1994. Archaeological excavations at Brauncewell Limestone Quarry.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jan 2004. Excavations at Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension 2001-2. BCQ01 BQN01.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Jan 2004. Excavations at Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension 2001-2. LCNCC 2001.277.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2005. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension: Archaeological Watching Brief and Excavations 2005. BCQ 05.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 2005. Brauncewell Limestone Quarry Extension: Archaeological Watching Brief and Excavations 2005. LCNCC 2005.90.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Dec 2008. Brauncewell Quarry: Archaeological Evaluation and Recording. BCQ08.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Dec 2008. Brauncewell Quarry: Archaeological Evaluation and Recording. LCNCC 2008.8.
  •  Website: Google. 2006->. Google Maps and Street View. www.google.co.uk/maps.

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Grid reference Centred TF 0321 5212 (522m by 520m)
Civil Parish BRAUNCEWELL, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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