Fosse Tillery Farm Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshirelegacy-reports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/.../3705-Fosse...complete.pdf · associated with Roman occupation along the Fosse Way,

Fosse Tillery FarmFosse Way, Brokenborough,

Wiltshire

Archaeological Watching Brief

for

on behalf of DMA Developments Ltd

Mr & Mrs P. Dear

CA Project: 3705 CA Report: 12029

April 2012

Fosse Tillery Farm Fosse Way, Brokenborough

Wiltshire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 3705 CA Report: 12029

prepared by Sian Reynish, Project Supervisor and Alexandra Webster, Project Supervisor

date 24 April 2012

checked by Richard Young, Project Manager

date 24 April 2012

approved by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

signed

date 24 April 2012

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely

at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ

t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected]

© Cotswold Archaeology

Fosse Tillery Farm, Brokenborough, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 2

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3) .......................................................................................... 4

3. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 5

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6

5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 8

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ............................................................................................... 9

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM............................................................................ 10

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000)

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of groundworks and archaeological feature (1:500 and

1:50)

Fig. 3 Pit 103; section and photograph

1



SUMMARY

Project Name: Fosse Tillery Farm

Location: Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire

NGR: ST 9097 8953

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 2-3 February 2012

Planning Reference: 11/01325/FUL

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Wiltshire Heritage Museum

Site Code: FTF 12

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during

groundworks associated with the construction of a horse arena (menage) at Fosse Tillery

Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire.

A single pit/posthole was identified during the groundworks. This contained 90 sherds of

Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery and poorly-preserved fragments of cattle long

bones.

2



1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In February 2012 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological

watching brief at the request of DMA Developments Ltd on behalf of Mr & Mrs P.

Dear at Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire (centred at NGR:

ST 9097 8953; Fig. 1). The watching brief was undertaken to fulfil a condition

attached to a planning consent granted by Wiltshire Council (WC) for the

construction of a horse arena (menage) (Planning ref: 11/01325/FUL). The objective

of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the

development.

1.2 The watching brief was recommended by Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger, County

Archaeologist, WC and carried out in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of

Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2012) and approved by Melanie Pomeroy-

Kellinger. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an

archaeological watching brief (IfA 2008), the Statement of Standards and Practices

Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Wiltshire (Wiltshire County Council 1995),

the Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), the

Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project

Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006).

The site

1.3 The proposed development comprises an area of agricultural land immediately

south of the lane linking Brokenborough with the Fosse Way. The site encloses an

area of 894.6m2 and lies at approximately 95m AOD. The solid geology comprises

mudstone and limestone of the Forest Marble Formation (BGS 2012). A limestone

brash was encountered over much of the site.

Archaeological background

1.4 Archaeological interest in the site arises principally from its proximity to the Roman

Fosse Way, and from the identification during a preceding geophysical survey in the

vicinity of a number of archaeological features including part of an enclosure and

possible settlement features (Pomeroy-Kellinger, pers. comm).

3



1.5 The Wiltshire Council Historic Environment Record (HER) also records a number of

archaeological sites in the vicinity. An enclosure and features are visible as

cropmarks immediately to the south of the site (HER ST98NW603). It is not clear if

these are the same features identified in the geophysical survey. A scatter of

medieval pottery (HER ST98NW471) was found in the same location in 1983. A

further scatter of medieval pottery was found to the north-west during the same

project (HER ST98NW472). In 2000 roman pottery, tile, a hobnail and some daub

were found immediately to the south of the site (HER ST98NW311). An undated

circular cropmark is visible to the north-west of the site (HER ST98NW608) and a

bronze age thumbnail scraper was found in the vicinity of these cropmarks in 2000

(HER ST98NW151).

Methodology

1.6 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2012). An

archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks comprising the removal of

topsoil and subsoil within the horse arena (menage) (Fig. 2).

1.7 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic

records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork

Recording Manual (2007).

1.8 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their

offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will

be deposited with Wiltshire Heritage Museum along with the site archive. A summary

of information from this project, set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the

OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-3)

2.1 The natural geological substrate 102, consisting of a light to mid yellowish brown

limestone brash, was revealed at an average depth of 0.3m below present ground

level (bpgl). This was overlain by mid yellowish brown clayey silt subsoil 101, and

dark greyish brown clayey silt topsoil 100.

4



2.2 Pit 103, was identified towards the north-western corner of the site. It was cut into

the natural substrate and contained two fills, 104 and 105 (lower and upper fills

respectively). Both were similar in composition however fill 104 contained

considerably more stones. Sherds of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery

were recovered from both fills along with poorly-preserved fragments of cattle long

bones. The majority of the animal bones were recovered from fill 105.

The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence

2.3 The finds assemblage recovered from the watching brief is summarised in Appendix

B. The pottery assemblage consisted of 90 sherds weighing 788g. Forty-five

fragments of animal bone were also present. The assemblage was recovered from

two stratified deposits, the fills of a single pit, and could be dated from the Late

Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. The level of preservation was good with the

majority of sherds displaying negligible levels of abrasion.

The pottery

2.4 The pottery from deposits 104 and 105 consisted of sherds in a fossiliferous

limestone-tempered fabric. Identifiable forms included a vessel, probably a jar, with

an everted rim with internal thickening and a second featuring an upright, simple rim.

Sherds from a carinated vessel, possibly a bowl, were also recorded. All of the

pottery was identified as material dating from the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age

and compares to previously recorded material from archaeological investigations in

Malmesbury (Brown 2006 and McSloy 2011).

Other artefacts

2.5 Forty five fragments of animal bone were recorded from deposits 104 and 105, the

majority (42 fragments) from fill 105. All comprise poorly-preserved fragments of

cattle long bones from which no further information could be derived.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 Pit 103 contained 90 sherds of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery with

identifiable forms including a jar and a carinated bowl. This material was spread

equally between the two fills and suggests that deposition occurred within a limited

5



timescale. It is possible that the pit was utilised as a rubbish pit with material being

deposited in two main events. The large stones in the lower fill may represent

material eroded into the pit from the spoil heap which is likely to have been located

next to the pit. Whether the feature was deliberately dug as a rubbish pit or had

another primary use could not be determined. Another possibility is that it could be a

cess pit with larger stones being deliberately deposited at the base to aid drainage.

However given the two distinct fills and the amount of finds retrieved this scenario

seems less likely.

3.2 The absence of further archaeological deposits may indicate that structural remains

associated with Roman occupation along the Fosse Way, cropmarks and findspots

(see above background above) either do not extend as far as or were not exposed

by the development.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Sian Reynish. The report was written by Sian Reynish

and Alexandra Webster. The illustrations were prepared by Jon Bennett. The finds

report was written by Angus Crawford. The archive has been compiled by Sian

Reynish, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed

for CA by Richard Young.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2012 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology viewer_google/googleviewer.html Accessed 10

February 2012

Brown, L. 2006, ‘The Later Prehistoric Pottery’, in Longman 2006, 131–4

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire:

Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching Brief

6

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geology%20viewer_google/googleviewer.html


7


Collard, M. and Havard, T., 2011 ‘The prehistoric and medieval defences of Malmesbury:

archaeological investigations at Holloway, 2005-2006’, Wiltshire Archaeol. Natur.

Hist. Mag. 104, 79–94

Longman, T. 2006 ‘Iron Age and later defences at Malmesbury: Excavations 1998-2000’,

Wiltshire Archaeol. Natur. Hist. Mag. 99, 104–64

McSloy, E, ‘Finds’, in Collard and Havard 2011, 87–8



APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1 Present ground level, west end: 95.40m AOD; east end: 95.33m AOD No. Type Description Length

(m) Width (m)

Depth (m)

Spot-date

100 Layer Topsoil 0.18

101 Layer Subsoil 0.12

102 Layer Natural substrate

103 Cut Circular pit/posthole 0.92 0.87 0.37

104 Fill Lower fill of 103 0.64 0.14 LBA-EIA

105 Fill Upper fill of 103 0.92 0.87 0.23 LBA-EIA

8



APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Count Weight(g) Date

104 Prehistoric pottery: fossiliferous limestone-tempered Bone: animal

45 3

411 3

LBA-EIA

105 Prehistoric pottery: fossiliferous limestone-tempered Bone: animal

45 42

377 395

LBA-EIA

9


10


APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire Short description

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a horse arena (menage) at Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire. A single pit/posthole was identified during the groundworks containing 90 sherds of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery and poorly-preserved fragments of cattle long bones.

Project dates 2-3 February 2012 Project type Watching brief Previous work None Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire Study area (M2/ha) 894.60m2 Site co-ordinates ST 9097 8950 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Wiltshire Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Richard Young Project Supervisor Sian Reynish MONUMENT TYPE none SIGNIFICANT FINDS none PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical Wiltshire Heritage Museum pottery, animal bone Paper Wiltshire Heritage Museum Trench sheet, context

sheets, sample sheets, photographic registers, WSI, section and plan

Digital Wiltshire Heritage Museum digital plan, digital photos

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2012 Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief. CA typescript report 12029

site

Wiltshire

CotswoldArchaeology

t 01285 771022

f 01285 771033

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATE

REVISION

SCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.

DRAWN BY

APPROVED BY

N

0 1km

Site location plan

Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse WayBrokenborough, Wiltshire

24-02-2012001:25,000

3705JBPJM 1

Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109

c

105

Section AA

104

pit103

W E95mAOD

0 1m

CotswoldArchaeology

Cirencester 01285 771022

Milton Keynes 01908 218320

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE

FIGURE TITLE

FIGURE NO.DATE

REVISION

SCALE@A4

PROJECT NO.

DRAWN BY

APPROVED BY

Pit 103: Section and photograph

Pit 103, looking north (scale 0.4m)

Fosse Tillery Farm, Fosse WayBrokenborough, Wiltshire

24-02-2012001:20

3705JBPJM 3

Documents

Fosse Tillery Farm Fosse Way, Brokenborough, Wiltshirelegacy-reports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/.../3705-Fosse...complete.pdf · associated with Roman occupation along the Fosse Way,