All the extant cremation deposits were examined. The following details are given in the table below to convey some impression of the character of each deposit: the weight, the maximum length of the largest surviving piece of bone, and an assessment of the general size of the fragments. Large bones have a maximum dimension over 50 mm, medium are equal to or between 25 and 50 mm and small are less than 25 mm.

The excavation of a mesolithic site at Cass ny Hawin, Isle of Man, is described. Later agriculture had destroyed all but a few features including a hollow, which was certainly artificial but probably not a residential structure. There was an extensive lithic industry, dominated by microliths. The distinctive nature of the Manx microlithic industry is discussed, as well as the subsistence economy and human colonization of the island.

The fragmentary assemblage was analysed by various techniques, mostly based on pétrographie methods, the results of which are summarised. The analyses generated data which are applicable to on-site spatial and chronological problems, in addition to those concerning characterisation and provenance study.

Macroscopic examination of pottery from each individual scatter and ceramic spot finds was undertaken to establish the extent of variation within these apparently discrete spreads of material. This information was enhanced by data from microscopic techniques. The colour, surface treatment, size and temper of inclusions and any other observable fabric characteristics were recorded from the hand specimen. Surface and fabric traits were identified with the aid of a binocular microscope and colour readings were taken with reference to Munsell Soil Colour Charts. One sample from each scatter or spot find was refired, with the exception of SF182 and SF184 (both consisted of one small sherd, and were therefore only available for thin sectioning.

Mr B W Conway of the Institute of Geological Sciences has kindly made the following comments on the geology of the site:

“The causewayed enclosure is sited on the eroded terminal surface of the gravel train of the Upper Floor Plain Terrace at the junction of the Coinè and Thames river valleys (see OS 6 inch geological maps Buckinghamshire 56 SE, 58 NE and Middlesex 19 NE and SE (and Fig 2)). The late Professor Zeuner traced the profile of this terrace and claimed that it grades into the Late Monasirian sea level (7.5 metres) of the latter part of the last interglacial. The Coinè valley Flood Plain joins that of the Thames at Wraysbury and projects into the Thames as a distinct, slightly raised, delta. This delta was formed by the piling up of aggradation by the Coinè beyond the capacity of the Thames to remove it. The presence of this delta was the cause of the breaking up of the Coinè into a series of distributory channels: mainly those of the River Coinè, the Coinè Brook and Wyrardisbury River. These in turn eroded the Cclne delta and the Flood Plain gravel train. Erosion by the several distributory channels left slightly elevated gravel ridges between their valleys and clays, peats, and silts accumulated in these valleys. The eroded remnants of the delta and the Flood Plain Terrace appear as low “islands” of gravel between marshy stream valleys. The Staines causewayed enclosure is sited on the southern tip of the largest of these islands, which is approximately 4km long, has an average width of about 0.4km, and an area of approximately 182.lha.”

The partial excavation under rescue conditions in 1961–63 of the ditches and interior of an enclosure of the earlier neolithic period is described. The enclosure, covering a total area of approximately 2.4 ha, was defined by double concentric interrupted ditches, which were for the most part naturally filled. There were many traces of activity within the interior, presumed to be contemporary with the ditches, including pits, gullies, post- and stake-holes, and varying concentrations of struck and burnt flint and pottery. Human burials were found. There is a little Ebbsfleet pottery in secondary contexts and there are later prehistoric, Roman and medieval finds. It is probably not possible to ascribe a single or specific role to the site, which may have been important as a place where several activities were concentrated, including occupation, subsistence, exchange, enclosure or defence, burial and ritual.

Artefacts

D17 (pit, phase 4) Text D.5.

Chert form the Upper Greensand. Heavily battered - an effect unlikely to have been produced by natural causes. This type of chert is found in Dorset, and chert beds are reported to occur from the Maiden Newton area westwards. Lumps the size of this and D. 39 below are likely to have been imported. The chert beds of the Upper Greensand lie below the Chalk.

The area known as Dock Acres, almost immediately due west of Manor Farm, Borwick, was variously reputed to have been the site of a Roman dock, Medieval castle and/or Medieval dock. Initial field survey when the area was still permanent pasture was carried out in advance of gravel extraction by Mr B.J.N.Edwards. Subsequent observation of the first stages of quarrying was undertaken by the author (as a student) and led to the recovery of some lithic material. It is perhaps worth noting in passing that observation of a later stage of mineral extraction by the author and the newly formed Moorholme Local History Society led to the recording of the vestigial remains of the Medieval castle.

The lithic material was recovered from the top and in the vicinity of the largest topographical feature; a flat topped mound some 150 m by 50 m. This ‘mound’ was separated from a similar more extensive area to the south by a broad channel whilst flat, low lying ground lay to east, north west and north where there were two small rectangular mounds.

The excavation of a large circular dished earthwork near Carnforth, North Lancashire, in 1982, has revealed a substantial Bronze Age funerary monument. The earliest structure was a sub-rectangular enclosure of limestone boulders dated to c. 1740–1640 BC cal. and associated with parts of two poorly preserved inhumation burials lying on the previously cleared ground surface. Both burials were accompanied by typologically early metalwork. The central inhumation was associated with a flat axe and dagger, suggesting an individual of high status as well as providing an important link between the early stages of development of both bronze types. The subsequent overlying cairn of smaller stones included eleven fairly discrete concentrations of inhumed bone, and seven of cremated bone and pottery. All this material was extremely fragmentary, and was probably derived from later re-use of the cairn.

A group of predominantly Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age pottery from Hog Cliff Hill, including sherds from haematite-coated bowls, was submitted for detailed fabric analysis in thin section under the petrological microscope. In addition, heavy mineral separation was carried out on four of the larger sherds. The object of the analysis was threefold: (1) to confirm the validity of a provisional fabric identification of the handspecimen (Table 1, printed), (2) to see if the fabrics might have been locally made or not, and (3) to compare the Hog Cliff Hill fabrics with certain other analyzed assemblages of roughly the same period in the region, e.g. Longbridge Deverill Cow Down, Eldon's Seat, Gussage all Saints and Rope Lake Hole. The site at Hog Cliff Hill lies partly on the Upper Chalk and partly on Bagshot Beds, closeby to Upper Greensand deposits, just southeast of Maiden Newton.

SF35 Context 002

An inhumed mandibular right second molar from the permanent dentition. There was slight polishing of the occlusal surface which indicated that it came from an adult individual.

SF37 Context 002

1. Two fragments of inhumed human cranium, one of them from the parietal bone. Both fragments could be aged as adult but it was not possible to say whether this represented more than one individual or not.

2. A few fragments of inhumed human long bone shafts.

1) Soil samples

AM600732 (E quadrant IV)

No evidence for any industrial activity was found on examining the five samples. A small number of red particles were present in sample 2, the latest fill of pit E2 (phase 4), and these were analysed using powder x-ray diffraction (X.R.D.). Only quartz was detected which was presumably form the soil which contained sand. If haematite (∝-Fe 2O3) was present it was at too low a concentration to be detected (less than about 5%) even after selective sampling of the particles which appeared most likely to contain it. No other evidence of industrial activity, such as hammer scale, was found in any of the samples, although a few fragments of charcoal were present in sample 1, the fill of post hole E36 (phase 4).

Two Bronze Age cremation cemeteries excavated between 1968 and 1975 are reported and discussed. At Coneygre Farm, Notts., fifty-one cremations were excavated, thirty-one in pots, six in cists, and fourteen uncontained. Cremations were deposited in a roughly linear arrangement and no barrow was found. At Pasture Lodge Farm, Lincs., twenty-seven pots were found, of which twenty-five had associated cremations, and fifteen further sherds could represent burials. Vessels in this cemetery form a small cluster. Pottery from these two cemeteries is broadly similar to Deverel-Rimbury ware and with vessels from other sites in the region is considered to form an East Midlands group of Bronze Age pottery. Vessels of this type from Frieston and Grantham, Lincs., are illustrated for the first time. Examination of thin sections of the pottery from the two cemeteries suggests that most, although not all, of the materials used could have been found locally. Organic remains found in thin sections provide environmental information. The effect of soils on durability of pots and their probable function is discussed. A direct relationship is noticed for the first time between the age of the cremated individual and the capacity of the pot in which the cremation was deposited.

A small sample of snail shells were retained from context 002, It represented the complete, or almost complete shells of not less than 172 individuals. From this samples six common and widespread species were identified and two further species recognised but not identified.

The best represented species was Cepaea, with both C.hortensis (represented largely by its yellow unbanded form) and C.nemoralis present. Helix aspersa, Cernuellavirgata?, Oxychilusallianus and Trichiahispida? were also represented; of these H.aspersa was present in the greatest numbers. All of these species are now widespread and occupy a wide range of habitats.

Terms used

Grog relates to clay inclusions within the pottery which appear as discrete pieces of varying sizes. Usually such entities are assumed to be crushed parts of pre-existing pots.

Sizes of quartz, grog, shell or other inclusions referred to in the analysis concern measurements taken on the longest axis of the grain or piece. In each case the maximum measurement stated is the longest observed in that particular section, and does not infer that other grains in the sample were all of this size, unless stated.

Percentages of materials shown as included in the clay matrix are estimates expressed by area using comparison charts (Terry and Chilingar 1955, and Flugel 1982, 247-257).