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Summary

Late Iron Age enclosures and ring ditch, South Witham Quarry.

Full description

A geophysical survey conducted in 2007 detected a well-defined set of enclosure ditches on land at South Witham Quarry. These included a sub-rectangular c.18m by 18m enclosure, with an access along its western edge. The results also indicated an internal ditch that lies close/parallel to the northern boundary of the enclosure. The eastern and southern extents of the sub-rectangular enclosure integrate with a larger complex of ditches. A partial enclosure (three sides recorded) lies to the immediate northwest of the sub-rectangular enclosure. Other probable enclosures were recorded to the north east of these, including a c.15m diameter ring ditch, with at least one entrance on its eastern side. A relatively dense group of discrete anomalies was detected in the north western part of the survey. A specific interpretation was not possible, although magnetically stronger examples could reflect some form of industrial activity. The enclosure complex, ring ditch and associated anomalies can probably be dated to the Iron Age or Romano-British period.{1}

Subsequent trial trenching in September 2016 revealed the enclosure system to be Mid-Late Iron Age in date. Moderate quantities of pottery and cattle and sheep/goat bone indicative of domestic waste was recovered from the fills of ditches and pits. {2}{3}

A further geophysical survey conducted in April 2017 on land around the 2007 survey area revealed no further evidence of features to the west, south or east of the previously encountered enclosure complex. {4}

<1> Pre-Construct Geophysics, Dec 2007, Geophysical Survey: Proposed Site of Quarry, South Witham, - (Report). SLI11740.

<2> Cotswold Archaeology, 2016, South Witham Quarry Western Extension: Archaeological Evaluation, CA Site Code: SWIT 16 (Report). SLI18857.

<3> Cotswold Archaeology, 2016, South Witham Quarry Western Extension: Archaeological Evaluation, LCNCC: 2016.139 (Archive). SLI18858.

<4> Pre-Construct Geophysics, 2017, Archaeological Geophysical Survey: South Witham Quarry Western Extension, - (Report). SLI18859.

Monument Types

• RING DITCH (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD)
• ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Iron Age - 800 BC? to 42 AD)
• DITCH (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
• PIT (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
• POST HOLE (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
• RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Finds

• MAMMAL REMAINS (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)
• SHERD (Middle Iron Age to Late Iron Age - 400 BC to 42 AD)

Associated Events

• Gradiometery survey on land at South Witham Quarry
• Trial trenching at South Witham Quarry Western Extension, South Witham
• Geophysical survey at South Witham Quarry Western Extension, South Witham

Protected Status

• SHINE

Sources and further reading

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