Monument record MLI89818 - Early Anglo-Saxon settlement remains, Evedon

Summary

A clearly defined Grubenhaus was recorded, along with numerous postholes, pits and gullies, many of which contained significant quantites of Anglo-Saxon pottery and associated artefacts.

Type and Period (7)

  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)
  • (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 475 AD to 625 AD)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Full Description

PRN 64438 Fieldwalking produced five sherds of Anglo-Saxon pottery, along with eleven sherds of Romano-British pottery and nineteen flint implements.{1}{2} Geophysical survey detected a distinct increase in susceptibility readings in this field, and magnetometry showed linear anomalies interpreted as ditches or ridge and furrow, as well as some pit-like features. These readings were concentrated in the centre of the field.{3} Four evaluation trenches were opened. Trench 15 produced a Roman ditch while Trenches 12 and 13 contained features initially undated but found to be of Anglo-Saxon date on full excavation. On the basis of the evaluation results, it was agreed to proceed to area excavation in the advance of construction.{4}{5} Topsoil stripping revealed a large number of possible postholes, pits, irregular gullies and a single grubenhaus all dated to the late 5th to early 7th century AD. 401 sherds, representing 225 vessels, were collected from the site. Two newly defined fabrics were recorded; the results suggest that the vessels have a relatively local origin, since they are chemically distinguishable from sherds of similar date from sites at Brough and Dunholme. The pottery, in main, does not seem to have been associated with cooking and may therefore either have been used for storage or display. Nine vessels were decorated, ranging from incised lines to stamps and bossing. These types of decoration are typical of the early Anglo-Saxon period. The grubenhaus was oriented roughly east to west and was approximately 4m long by 3m wide, with a maximum depth of 40cm. In profile it had steep sides and a flat base. The feature contained two fills. The base of the cut contained a relatively sterile layer of gravely silt. The remainder of the fill was dark grey-brown humic silt rich in charcoal and artefacts, including 151 sherds of early Anglo-Saxon pottery, two pig fibula pins or awls, copper fragments, fragments of crucible, four iron nails four pieces of worked flint and a quantity of iron slag. Overlying this feature was a layer of subsoil containing more Anglo-Saxon pottery, a loomweight and residual Romano-British finds. Three postholes were directly associated with the feature. Three distinct concentrations of postholes were noted which may relate to structures or fence-lines. A number of gullies were also recorded, the majority in the northern half of the site. Finds from these gullies included Anglo-Saxon pottery and a loomweight. A total of twenty-two pits were excavated. The pits varied in size, plan, profile and fill. Approximately half contained dark grey brown or grey black fills, unusually coinciding with greater quantities of charcoal. The pits were scattered across the entire site with no obvious concentrations. Pottery and smithing slag were retrieved from these features. A further five pits shared certain characteristics which imply a specific function; four of the pits appeared to have a deliberately applied, partial or full, clay lining. All five contained large quantities of heat damaged stones (pot boilers). The absence of any burning to the clay linings and the moderate amount of charcoal present suggests that the four lined pits were receiving the stones rather than being the site of the heating. The clay lined pits appear to have had their sides deliberately sealed which would imply that water was being contained within them. If it was water that was being heater with the pot boilers, it would tend to suggest that these were washing pits, either for personal ablutions, laundry or an industrial use such as wool processing.{4}{5}

Sources/Archives (5)

  •  Report: Network Archaeology Ltd. 2000. Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline. HWP98.
  •  Archive: Network Archaeology Ltd. 2000. Hatton to Silk Willoughby Pipeline. LCNCC:269.98.
  •  Report: Bartlett-Clark Consultancy. 2000. Geophysical survey of the Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline. -.
  •  Report: Network Archaeology Ltd. Apr 2003. Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief on the Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline 2001. HAT00.
  •  Archive: Network Archaeology Ltd. Apr 2003. Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Watching Brief on the Hatton to Silk Willoughby Gas Pipeline 2001. LCNCC 2000.102.

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Location

Grid reference Centred TF 09568 46637 (203m by 218m) Approximate
Civil Parish EWERBY AND EVEDON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Related Events/Activities (4)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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