Worcestershire � �Archaeology

No. �25: �October �2010: �ISSN �1468-1862

In �this �issue...Bredon’s �Norton �

Roman �Villa �Iron �Age � �

Bengeworth �

Worcestershire’s �Past...Get �Involved �Today!

Find out more online:www.worcestershire.gov.uk/archaeology

Historic �Environment �and �Archaeology �Services

Worcestershire Archaeology

How Many People Does It Take To Find a Villa?

The devastating summer floods of 2007 saw amongst many other problems, the near inundation of the Mythe Water Works which supplies drinking water to northern Gloucestershire. In an attempt to prevent the loss of drinking water in future floods, a new pipeline from Strensham in Worcestershire to Gloucestershire is being laid.

During these works, extensive remains of a Roman Villa have been uncovered near Bredon’s Norton. Discoveries such as this occur only every few decades. The remains are wonderfully preserved, with walls standing 60cm high, pillars for the under floor heating still in place and a flag-stone floored room with painted plaster walls, a central cistern and an apsidal extension. Any of these characteristics would be significant, but together, they make the site remarkable. The results of the excavations will be published in due course, and it will be the subject of one of the presentations at this year’s Archaeology Day School in November.

Given the complex chain of consultation and working partnerships, the excavation has progressed remarkably well. It has involved close consultation between the

Planning Advisory Section of the Worcestershire Historic Environment & Archaeology Service, Wychavon District Council, Worcestershire County Council and the Planning Archaeologist for Gloucestershire County Council. Archaeological contractors involved with the site were Archaeological Consultancy University of Sheffield (ARCUS) who, while the project was underway, were taken over by Wessex Archaeology, who then subcontracted the fieldwork to Geophysical Surveys of Bradford, Cotswold Archaeology and Oxford Archaeology.

This has been a complex project that required firm negotiation to deliver the results we needed and to do this important site justice. This process is by no means unusual, and layers of developers, consultants and subcontractors are the norm for archaeological works implemented through development control.

The hidden world of archaeological management that sits behind almost every archaeological discovery is a complicated place!

Mike Glyde Historic Environment Planning Officer

• The flagstone floor and cistern within the villa •

Ancient �farmstead �at �Bengeworth, �Evesham

Recently the WHEAS team has been excavating an Iron Age site in Bengeworth on the northern edge of Evesham on behalf of Worcestershire County Council Property Services. Bengeworth First School has been a victim of recent floods and the site for a new school has been selected on arable land to the north of Kings Road. The area was noted as being of archaeological interest because of some enigmatic cropmarks in fields to the east. It also lies on a gravel terrace only 400m to the east of the River Avon.

WHEAS carried out an evaluation of the site in June when nine fifty metre trenches were cut across the area.

Recorded features included a large ditch crossing two of the trenches to the south of the site and shallow post holes on the northern edge. Pottery from the Bronze Age (about 1500 BC) was found in one of the shallow post holes which also contained a worked flint flake. The ditch was 1·3m deep and over 3m wide. In the central part of the soils filling the ditch were over fifty sherds from a single cooking pot typical of the Middle Iron Age (about 500 BC) as well as five fragments of briquetage, a type of ceramic vessel used to transport and store salt. The ditch was thought to represent part of an enclosure.

Following consultation it was agreed that geophysical survey would be appropriate and a full gradiometer survey of the site was made by Stratascan Ltd. This confirmed the presence of a rectangular enclosure measuring approximately 35m x 45m. Internal features included a line of pits and a small curved ditch subdividing an area to the south. Other likely pits were picked up in the wider area as well as a number of linear features, thought to be plough furrows.

Prehistoric enclosures are common on the gravel river terraces in the south of Worcestershire and are thought to represent small defended farmsteads but it is rare to get the chance to excavate an almost complete example (only the south eastern corner lies outside the development area).

Following further guidance from the Historic Planning Advisor, excavation was targeted to concentrate on the enclosure and its immediate area. The archaeology in the wider area will be recorded during by an archaeologist who will be on site to observe the ground works as development begins.

The excavation area was stripped of topsoil by in early July and subsequent excavation has investigated about 30% of the enclosure ditch which has been excavated in sections showing that it was re-dug at least once and at a later date partially extended on its northern side. A good assemblage of Middle Iron Age pottery has been recovered including some examples of ‘duck stamped’ pottery in which a line of decorative S shapes have been stamped in a circle around a vessel. Good environmental material has been retrieved from samples of pits to the south, suggesting they were used to store grain.

From the evidence, it seems that the southern part of the enclosure, defined by the curving internal ditch was the occupied area, as it is from here that the majority of pottery was recovered.

The team are now investigating a trackway to the north of the enclosure, but excavation is now almost over and the team will be off-site by mid September when the main contract for the school begins.

Tom Rogers Project Officer

Worcestershire Archaeology

Archaeology �Day �School

This year’s event will be on Saturday 13th November and the Bredon’s Norton Villa and the Bengeworth site will both feature. Other subjects include talks on �geoarchaeology, evidence of averting evil on buildings and the Porcelain works at Lowesmoor. Details are available now and it’s always popular, so early booking is recommended.

For further information contact: -

General enquiries:By telephone:01905 855499 By post:Historic Environment and Archaeology ServiceWoodbury, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester WR2 6AJ By emailarchaeology@worcestershire.gov.uk

This document can be made available in other languages (including British Sign Language) and alternative formats (large print, audio tape, computer disk and Braille) on request

from Corporate Diversity Manager on01905 766938 or at diversity@worcestershire.gov.uk

Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service is the main contact point for all information about archaeology in the county. For information on projects mentioned in the newsletter, or to join in as a volunteer in our activities for all ages and abilities, please contact us - we will send details, or put you in touch with staff who can help.

Unless otherwise stated all photographs and images are ©Worcestershire County Council.

If you would like to receive your newsletter by email as a PDF file, please send an email to our address below with the subject ‘NEWSLETTER PLEASE’.

Cover photos: Main photo - Oxford Archaeology excavations at Bredon’s Norton; left: Richard Bradley excavating at Bengeworth; centre: an Iron Age ceramic loom or thatch weight from Bengeworth; right: Roman finds on display at the Butts, Worcester.

Council Chamber displays

If you are visiting County Hall or the Record Office in the next few weeks, you might take a detour to view the two display cases outside the Council Chamber.

Photos show the Roman remains discovered during the excavation at the Butts Dig in 2008, including a large rectangular building and several smaller domestic houses. Artefacts on display include the rare remains of a Roman oven.

A second display case shows how new sites are being revealed using Lidar Survey which can be fine tuned to show ground surfaces within areas obscured by trees. The display shows the prehistoric site discovered in Wassell Wood near Bewdley as part of the Grow With Wyre Project.

Join us!

At our base in Worcester, we deal with finds from sites from all over the County ranging from prehistoric to modern.

Helping with finds processing is a great way to work with our team of specialists. Training is given, so even if you are completely new to archaeology you will soon learn about all kinds of finds. You may volunteer for as much or as little time as you wish, although we are currently limited to our normal

working hours of Monday to Friday 8.30-17.00.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, please contact Deborah Overton at the WHEAS office.

• Reconstructing the Roman oven •

ANNUAL ARCHAEOLOGY DAYSCHOOL 2010 SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER from 9.45 to 5.30

at the University of Worcester

Revealing hidden landscapes of the Severn Valley

Iron Age settlement at Bengeworth, Evesham

Portable Antiquities Scheme– recent Worcestershire finds

Bredon's Norton Roman Villa excavations

Public involvement in archaeology: the future?

Averting Evil: evidence from Worcestershire buildings

Redditch New Town and the archaeology of the 20th century

Archaeological sites 'spotted' on Leopard Hill

A bomb-aimer's view of Worcestershire

Excavations at the Grainger Porcelain Works, Worcester

During the day there will also be an opportunity to explore several bookstalls, exhibitions and displays.

Booking essential - Tickets £15 (includes tea/coffee and biscuits) Contact Mo Bogaard on 01905 855455 or mbogaard@worcestershire.gov.uk

The Annual Archaeology Dayschool is aimed at an adult audience and is suitable

for anyone with an interest in finding out more about their local heritage.

WORCESTERSHIRE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT & ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICE

BOOKING FORM

ANNUAL ARCHAEOLOGY DAYSCHOOL 2010

On Saturday 13th November 9.45am to 5.30pm University of Worcester

Tickets £15: which includes tea/coffee & biscuits on arrival, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Please bring your own packed lunch and cold drinks I WOULD LIKE TO BOOK …………………… DAYSCHOOL PLACES I enclose a cheque for total amount of £ ………………………….…… made payable to Worcestershire County Council. Name: …………………………………………….………….…................. Phone No:……………………Mobile:…………….……………………… Address:……………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code: ………….….... Email: ……………………………………… Please return the booking form part of this flyer with your cheque to Mo Bogaard, Worcestershire Historic Environment & Archaeology Service, Woodbury, University of Worcester, Worcester WR2 6AJ Any queries: 01905 855455 or mbogaard@worcestershire.gov.uk This document can be made available in other languages (including British Sign Language) and alternative formats (large print, audio tape, computer disk and

Braille) on request from the Corporate Diversity Manager on 01905 766938 or at diversity @worcestershire,gov.uk