TEST PITS
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TEST PITS IN BINGHAM
List of Test Pits
LA14
8, LONG ACRE EAST
SUMMARY
- Indications from the site history suggest that there was no habitation on this site until the 18th C, the first record being 1776. Thereafter there was continuous occupation, though it is not known to what extent there was any rebuilding on the site, other than the conversion of two cottages into one at some time.
- The archaeology of the pit is dominated by the discovery of the organic shadows of tree roots and piles of stones also possibly associated with the tree. The likelihood is that this tree was present in medieval times. The basal, glacial clay is much disturbed in the top 10 cm and contains carbonised rootlets and worm tubes. Underneath it is a layer of stones produced by weathering of the underlying clay.
- The archaeological content shows no clear distribution pattern, which is a result either of the tree disturbance or agricultural processes. Although there is more medieval pottery than any other kind the age range covers 250 years meaning that for any period within this span there is very little pottery. It is likely that it got here as a manure scatter over a long period.
- A single sherd of Roman pottery and one of Stamford Ware A (900-1030)were the only old pottery. All the medieval pottery pre-dates the Black Death (1348-49), suggesting that this land became either waste of pasture after that event.
- The oldest pottery after medieval is Midland Yellow Ware (late 16th—17th C).
- The oldest clay pipe can be dated 1650-1670, but there are indications among the finds that there was continuing activity on this site from this time onwards to the present.
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