Record Details

Summary

A sub-rectangular enclosure, connected to Berth Hill (PRN 00023) by a ditched trackway (PRN 00481). Although no firm dating evidence has been recovered from the enclosure it is thought to be a probable Iron Age native farmstead.

Monument Type(s):

• FARMSTEAD (IRON AGE - 800 BC? to 42 AD?)

Associated Events:

• EST152 - Archaeological excavation of a possible Iron Age enclosed settlement at Maer in 1981. (NRHE Name - 'Maerfield Gate')

Protected Status:

Full description

Farmstead: A sub-rectangular enclosure connected with Berth Hill (PRN 00023) by a ditched trackway (PRN 00481). The enclosure is circa 71 metres long and has a v-shaped ditch over 2 metres wide and up to 1 metre deep. It has been intersected by a road running east-west through it. The road, on a sand embankment, was circa 3 metres wide, its sides battened with timber and its surface probably strengthened by wattle matting. Where the track crossed the ditch on the eastern side of the enclosure there was a wooden gateway and on the western side a clavicula entrance. An arrangement of outer ditches were probably for drainage purposes. There were shallow ditches at each side of the track. All of the ditches were silted up by the 17th century. Although no firm dating evidence has been recovered from the site it is considered likely to be a native farmstead of Iron Age date. <1> <2> <3>

A second possible enclosure and further linear feature have also been identified immediately to the north of the first enclosure. (SB, 08-Nov-2012). <4>

Cropmark photographed. A small rectangular mark with rounded corners in a field to the south of the Stone to Nantwich (A51) road. Several other marks shown on the photograph. "Work was down in 1963…The causewayed entrances were batte..ed with wood and flanked by wood structure. The enclosure is presumably related to Berth Hill." (RH, 23-June-2016) <5>

Sources and further reading

---	SST3733 - Published Book: North West Wetlands Survey (Leah, Wells, Stamper, Huckerby & Welch). 1998. The Wetlands of Shropshire and Staffordshire. Page 217.
<1>	SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 73 NE - 15 (Keele Archaeology Group NL Number 6, May 1966, page 1).
<2>	SST390 - Index: Ordnance Survey. See cards. Ordnance Survey Card Index. SJ 73 NE - 15 (BAR 20 Pt 2 - Later Prehistory from Trent to Tyne 1975 AJ Challis & DW Harding, p50).
<3>	SST144 - Aerial Photograph: National Monument Record. 1970s-1980s. National Monument Record Aerial Photograph Collection. Black and White. Oblique. SJ 7838/1 Copyright - Charlton (Copy Available).
<4>	SST1225 - Drawn: Trent Valley Archaeological Research Committee (?). Unknown. 1:10 000 Overlays. Permatace. 1:10 000. SJ 73 NE.
<5>	SST3824 - Index: Keele University. Keele University Card Index. SJ 73/15 (Multiple sources, refer to index card).

Related records

00023	Related to: Berth Hill Camp, Maer (Monument)
00481	Related to: Linear Feature / Causeway, Near Berth Hill (Monument)

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