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Summary

Over 100 cut features containing pottery and other finds dating from the 8th-12th century AD were recorded during an archaeological evaluation in 2008.

Monument Types

• DITCH (EMED:AS/MED, Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• PIT (EMED:AS/MED, Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• POST HOLE (EMED:AS/MED, Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)

Protected Status - None

Associated Finds

• SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• LOOMWEIGHT (Early Medieval/Dark Age - 500 AD to 700 AD)
• POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 700 AD to 1250 AD)
• ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• DAUB (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• ICE SKATE? (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• PLANT MACRO REMAINS (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• SLAG (Early Medieval/Dark Age to Medieval - 750 AD to 1199 AD)
• TILE (Medieval - 1150 AD to 1350 AD)

Associated Events

• Trial Trenching at Seaforth, 91 Barrow Road, Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, 2008 (Ref: BHBR 07)

Full description

Lindsey Archaeological Services carried out an evaluation at 'Seaforth', 91 Barrow Road, in 2008. This was in advance of a proposed residential development. Archaeologically significant remains were encountered in 14 of the 16 trenches, dating mainly from the mid 8th to the 12th century. Over 100 cut features, mainly linear ditches, pits and postholes were recorded.

The results were reported by trench rather than by phase.

Trench 1 was located at the north-western corner of the plot. It caontained three small undated pits, probably postholes; an undated circular pit 0.56m in diameter, probably a hearth; a recut N-S ditch containing mainly 9th-11th century pottery; a NW-SE boundary ditch containing iron slag and 7th-9th century pottery; and a N-S ditch containing slag and fired clay.

Trench 2 was at the northern end of the plot. An undated NW-SE ditch and another ditch or pit were recorded, with no finds.

Trench 3 was located at the north-eastern corner of the trench. Three N-S ditches were recorded at the western end of the trench, with Late 9th - 10th century pottery in the earliest. It was not clear if they were recuts of the same ditch, or dug during different phases of occupation.

Trench 4 was immediately south of Trench 1. Two parallel E-W boundary ditches were undated.

Trench 5 was east of Trench 4 and south of Trench 1. A shallow NW-SE ditch may have been a continuation of a boundary ditch in Trench 1. There were fragments of fired clay in the fill. There was a parallel ditch with a rounded terminus 0.40m to the east. A substantial N-S boundary ditch was recorded at the western edge of the trench, measuring 1.95m wide and 0.70m deep. It may have been a continuation of a Trench 1 feature; the lower fill contained a mid Saxon sherd of the 8th-9th century AD.

Trench 6 was south of Trenches 2 and 5. It contained three E-W parallel ditches, either maintenance of a single boundary, or the same alignment through different phases. The southern ditch produced a single late 9th - 10th century sherd and some fired clay.

Trench 7 was east of Trench 6, at the eastern side of the plot. The earliest feature was an undated, truncated ditch in the southern half of the trench. Two NE-SW ditches were above it, the upper one a major boundary ditch 2.75m wide and 1m deep, containing mid 8th to mid 9th century pottery. This was cut by an E-W ditch on the same alignment as two in Trench 6; it had been recut, and the upper fill contained one late 9th - late 10th century sherd. The northern end of the trench contained a major NE-SW ditch at least 4.5m across, which was interpreted as the medieval Castledyke. It contained 9 fills, some indicating deliberate backfilling. Its actual width may have been at least 8m, taking into account another recorded feature that may have also been part of this ditch.

Trench 8 was south of Trench 6. The earliest feature was an undated pit or possible ditch terminus. Four other similar features may have formed a group or structure, but this could not be proven. Five ditches on the same NE-SW orientation were recorded in the central and northen part of the trench. The youngest ditch was substantial, measuring 1.5m wide and 0.70m deep. Iron slag and a sherd of 11th-12th century pottery were found in the upper fill.

Trench 9 was in the western central section of the plot, and contained the most complex sequence of deposits. The oldest feature was an E-W ditch containing fragments of fired clay. It was cut by one of a group of four postholes whose function could not be established. Three N-S boundary ditches were in the southern part of the trench, the upper two containing sherds from late 9th - 10th century vessels, a fragment of loom weight, fired clay and iron slag fragments. The latest ditch was the largest, 1.65m wide and 0.56m deep. To the north were two parallel E-W ditches; one had a sherd of 8th-9th century pottery in the fill. A sample of this fill was later found to contain a small quantity of carbonised barley and other cereal remains. The other ditch produced a sherd of late 9th- late 10the century pottery, a loom weight fragment and a possible ice skate made from a horse bone. In the southern end of the trench, and extending beyond it, was a substantial NE-SW ditch, likely to be part of the Castledyke. A narrower ditch or gully was cut into the western upcast from the Castledyke. Its function was unknown, but must have been present when the ditch was in use or still visible.

Trench 10 was east of Trench 9, and was dominated by the Castledyke. At this point it measured 4m wide and 1.60m deep, and contained 15 fill deposits. Late 11th - 12th century pottery, fired clay and slag fragments were found in some of these fills. A possible upcast or deliberate bank deposit was recorded on the eastern side, and a similar ditch or gully to that in Trench 9 was on the western side, here measuring 0.42m wide and 0.35m deep.

Trench 11 was south of Trench 7. Five ditches were recorded in the eastern part of the trench, all but one having a N-S orientation. One of these ditches may have had an associated bank. Three sherds of Mid 8th - 11th century pottery were found in their fills, and one of two small postholes also contained a sherd of 8th-9th century date. The western part of the trench was dominated by a NW-SE feature, 2.60m wide and 0.20m deep. It was interpreted as a medieval plogh furrow.

Trench 12 was south of Trenches 9 and 10. An undated NE-SW ditch was located in the western end. A series of eight undated postholes were found throughout the trench. They may have formed a NW-SE fence line or part of a building.

Trench 13 was located south-west of Seaforth, and Trench 14 was south of Trench 11. Neither contained archaeological features.

Trench 15 was located between Seaforth and Barrow Road. A large pit and a possible N-S boundary ditch were both undated.

Trench 16 was east of Seaforth. At the southern end was an E-W boundary ditch that was cut by the corner of a later enclosure ditch. At the northern end was a T-junction of field ditches or an enclosure that cut through an earlier posthole; two other postholes were also found in the trench. There were no pottery finds to date any of these features.

The evaluation at Seaforth determined that activity may have begun as early as the 8th century AD, continuing until perhaps the 11th century. An earlier excavation at Number 89, immediately to the west, showed that activity there did not begin until the later 9th century. The Castledyke was revealed in Trenches 7, 9 and 10, running NE-SW across the site. The date of its origin was not determined, although it was seen to cut through late 9th - late 10th century features. An absence of pottery on the site dating to the mid 11th - early 12th century suggests either that the site was cleared in order to dig the Castledyke, or that it had already been abandoned.

Although buildings were not confirmed on the site, it was evident that iron smithing was being carried out in the vicinity during the mid-late Saxon period. 16 pieces of slag and hearth bottom were found. The hearth bottoms were generated by iron smithing, but there are few similarities between the pieces. Some of the slag was of unusual type, being very glassy and cindery. Hammerscale was also present in environmental samples. [1]

<1> Glover, G. & Field, N., 2008, Seaforth, 91 Barrow Rd, Barton on Humber, N. Lincs, Archaeological Evaluation, 1 - 18, Appendix 3 - 7 (REPORT - INTERIM, RESEARCH, SPECIALIST, ETC). SLS3432.

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