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Summary

Late Iron Age site on land south of Heath Lane, Normanton

Full description

PRN 35519
Magnetometry survey revealed a large number of linear and curvilinear features indicating a possible enclosure.{1}{2} Three 12m x 4m trial trenches were excavated revealing two small Iron Age pits, these contained burnt pottery and cremated bone. The burning and condition of the sherds are consistent with those having been on a cremation pyre, the pottery is of the common shell-gritted fabric type. There was also oolitic-gritted ware which is rarer but contemporary with the more common fabric types. One shell-gritted rim sherd had a burning flame-mark on the rim. Marks on other oolitic gritted sherds show evidence for burning. Oolitic ware is not common in Lincolnshire. Taking the evdience of the burnt pottery and cremated bone it is tempting to identify the pits as cremation burials.{3}{4}
An archaeological watching brief and subsequent excavation on the route of the Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline identified a pit alignment which crossed the easement on a northeast to southwest alignment. Ten pits were mapped, although only two were excavated. The remains of the pit alignment suggest this was a major landscape structure, consisting of substantial rock cut pits up to 1.00m deep. Pottery taken from the upper fills of the pits suggest a late Iron Age date for their construction.{5}{6}

<1> The University of York, 2000, Reconnaissance Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline - Phase 2, SSP99 (Report). SLI7293.

<2> The University of York, 2000, Reconnaissance Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline - Phase 2, LCNCC:252.99 (Archive). SLI7294.

<3> The University of York, 2001, Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3, SSP99 (Report). SLI7291.

<4> The University of York, 2001, Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3, LCNCC:252.99 (Archive). SLI7292.

<5> Field Archaeology Specialists, Aug 2006, Excavation and Watching Brief, Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline, SSP01 (Report). SLI10133.

<6> Field Archaeology Specialists, Aug 2006, Excavation and Watching Brief, Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline, LCNCC 252.99 (Archive). SLI10134.

Monument Types

• CREMATION? (funeral pyre, Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• PIT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• PIT ALIGNMENT (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• CREMATION (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• SHERD (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Events

• Fieldwalking along the route of a pipeline between Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe
• Geophysical survey along a pipeline route from Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe
• Archaeological evaluation along a pipeline route - Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe
• Archaeological Watching Brief, Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline
• Archaeological excavation, Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline

Sources and further reading

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.