Registered Office ... · commemorating the ‘great coup d’état’ of Graham Clark’s ‘Young Turks’, and their successful vote 75 years ago to rename and revitalise the Prehistoric

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At the epicentre of Neolithic Orkney lies the Ness ofBrodgar in the midst of some of the most iconicprehistoric monuments of western Europe -Maeshowe, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of

Stenness. The site challenges the way this remarkablelandscape is perceived, much as the discoveries atnearby Barnhouse did two decades ago.

NUMBER 66 November 2010

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PREHISTORIC SOCIETY Registered Office University College London, Institute of Archaeology, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY

http://www.prehistoricsociety.org/

The copy date for PAST 67 is 1 March 2011. Contributions to Joanna Brück, School of Archaeology, NewmanBuilding, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. Email: [email protected] Contributions on disc oras e-mail attachments are preferred (either word 6 or rtf files) but hardcopy is also accepted. Illustrations can be sentas drawings, slides, prints, tif or jpeg files. The book reviews editor is Dr Mike Allen, Wessex Archaeology, PortwayHouse, Old Sarum Park, Salisbury, Wilts, SP4 6EB. Email: [email protected] Queries over subscriptions and

membership should go to the Society administrator Tessa Machling at the London address above.

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An overall view of the main trench

4154_PAST 66_Amended:PAST 55 9/11/10 13:04 Page 3

Until recently, this large whaleback ridge (c. 250 x100m) was considered to be a natural feature.However, excavation has revealed that much of themound is artificial and comprises several phases ofNeolithic activity. During its later phases, the site wasdominated by a group of large stone buildings thatwere contained within a massive walled enclosure(c.125 x 75m). The evidence to date would suggestthat the complex was primarily non-domestic andwas an integral part of this rich ritual landscape.

This season, earlier phases of the site were identifiedwith several oval structures starting to appear under,and in some cases partially incorporated into, thelater phases already revealed. These may not be theearliest on site as the potential depth of archaeologypoints towards earlier activity below. However, all ofthe phases recognised so far seem to date to the LateNeolithic as indicated by a rich material assemblagedominated by Grooved Ware exhibiting both appliedand incised decoration.

Prior to this season, the main structures were alreadyimpressive with regards to their scale, symmetricalarchitecture, art (with over 100 stones exhibitingboth finely incised geometric designs and peckedmotifs), and walls surviving to in excess of 1m inheight. In 2010, their unusual nature was furtheremphasised by the discovery of evidence for tiledroofs and painted walls.

In two of the structures where floor deposits havebeen partially uncovered, a horizon of numerousthin stone slabs was encountered just above theoccupation layers. These slabs had been trimmedinto rectangular shapes just as can be seen today onsome traditional stone-slated Orcadian roofs. Inessence, these layers of slabs represent collapsedslated roofs. The regular nature of such a roofingsystem would be in stark contrast to that normallyenvisaged, but would seem to complement theirregular architecture.

Although the use of colour was already evident inthe central chamber of Structure 10, with naturallycoloured red and yellow sandstone incorporated inits build, this was complemented by the discovery ofseveral stones that had been ‘painted’ within two ofthe other structures. Vivid earthy colours of reds,browns and yellows were encountered that initialanalyses indicate were derived from ochre or ironores. Although some stone faces appear to have beencompletely covered in pigment, others showedevidence of designs paralleled by some of the incisedart. ‘Paint pots’ had been previously discovered atSkara Brae but these were presumed to have beenused for personal adornment. This use of colour mayhelp to explain the many very lightly incised andephemeral designs discovered at the Ness andelsewhere. If these designs were incised through a

layer of colour, the contrast between the design andthe parent rock would have been dramaticallyenhanced. Apparent multi-layered engravings couldalso be clarified if each set of engravings was‘separated’ by a layer of paint.

In addition to the three major structures (Structures1, 8 and 10) revealed previously (with several moreindicated by geophysics), in 2010 the newly revealedStructure 12 also proved to be of the samemonumental nature. In excess of 16 metres long and10 metres wide, Structure 12 exhibited the sameangular and symmetrical architecture as Structures 1and 8 at the Ness and Structure 2 at Barnhouse. Inall these buildings, stone piers were employed tocreate recesses along their inner wall faces. Structure2 at Barnhouse was interpreted as being non-domestic and for the preparation of special food andthe manufacture of unusual items such asmaceheads. This season at the Ness, theextraordinary array of finds from the two recesses so far excavated in Structure 8 - a large whale tooth, several polished stone items, a whalebonemacehead and a polished shale object - may indicatea similar function.

However, at the Ness, Structures 1, 8 and 12 wouldappear to be contemporary as indicated by theirspatial respect for each other, similarities inarchitecture (including identical dimensions betweensets of piers) and their north/south alignment,although this is not yet proven stratigraphically. Didthese similarities also reflect a similar function forthese three buildings? One possible interpretation issuggested by Colin Richards whose recent researchat the two nearby stone circles indicates that theywere composed of different types of sandstone fromvarious locations across Orkney. He sees this asevidence that the standing stones represented inputby different groups or communities from across thearchipelago contributing to the circle construction.Could the Ness of Brodgar be interpreted in a similarway as a place where different groups, probably ofrelated kin, constructed discrete but similar, special

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The ‘tile horizon’ within one of the side recesses of Structure 8


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‘family’ buildings? This multi-community-basedtheory could help to explain the wide range ofdecorative styles we see on the prolific GroovedWare assemblage at the Ness.

The final major phase at the Ness is represented byStructure 10. This shows a marked departure fromearlier phases in terms of its scale (at over 20 x 19min size, with walls over 5m thick); complexity (theincorporation of standing stones, the presence of asurrounding paved passage and its alignment withMaes Howe); design (a cruciform shaped centralchamber); and art.

This season, excavation concentrated on revealingthe floor deposits and the refinement of the centralchamber of this building. The stone ‘dresser’/altar (?)was shown to be freestanding and elaborated withpecked surface dressing to complement the use ofnaturally coloured sandstones. Central to thechamber, a large square stone hearth was revealed. Amulti-cupped stone had been placed in the middle ofthe hearth along with an upturned cattle skull toperhaps commemorate its last use. It is tempting torelate these deposits within the chamber to themassive bone layer that fills the upper levels of thepaved passage surrounding Structure 10. Preliminaryassessment of this bone by Dr Ingrid Mainland hasshown that it is predominantly cattle tibiarepresenting perhaps hundreds of individual cattle -remnants of a final ‘decommissioning’ feast?

Although art is widespread on the site, the use of cup marks is limited to Structure 10 (suggesting a chronological development of art on site). Apartfrom the stone in the centre of the hearth, a beautifulmulti-cupped stone formed part of the entrance to the central chamber while others were used in the forecourt walls and one as packing for thestanding stone.

Although superficially similar to the interior of someLate Neolithic houses with its ‘dresser’ and central

hearth, Structure 10 seems to represent a ‘house’ ona grand scale. Other aspects and its associations withMaeshowe (alignment, use of standing stones and itscruciform chamber) would point towards a morespecial or spiritual use. Excavation of the floordeposits next year should elucidate this.

Forming the southern side of the enclosing wallaround these structures is the ‘Lesser Wall ofBrodgar’ (only 2m wide as compared to the 4m pluswide ‘Greater Wall of Brodgar’ that forms itsnorthern boundary). In 2010, its full surviving heightof over 1.7m was revealed, along with a sequence ofpaving around its exterior. The beautifully builtouter wall face gave a sense of what must have beenan awe inspiring sight as one approached the Nessfrom the Stones of Stenness 5,000 years ago.

Once again, the discoveries in 2010 at the Nesswould seem to emphasise the special nature of thesite - not only the buildings, the art and the enclosingwalls, but also the wide range of finds includingsome that indicate widespread contacts such as flintfrom Yorkshire and pitchstone from Arran.Although the Ness as it unfolds will provide newinsights into the spiritual life of the Neolithic, thelandscape in which it sits, and Neolithic society ingeneral, it is appropriate that the site is beingexcavated at the same time as the Neolithicsettlements at the Links of Noltland on Westray, theBraes of Habreck on Wyre, and Green on Eday. Onlyin the context of a range of sites will the value of theNess discoveries be fully understood.

Excavation this year was supported by OrkneyIslands Council; Orkneyjar.com; Historic Scotland;the Russell Trust; European Leader Funding; theRobert Kiln Trust; Orkney Archaeology Society; thelandowners, the Taits and Carole Hoey; andnumerous individuals from around the world.

Nick Card, Orkney Research Centre forArchaeology

One of the painted stones

The ‘Lesser Wall of Brodgar’ revealed to its full surviving height


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TTHHEE 22001100 ‘‘TTHHUUNNDDEERR RRUUNN’’

While quite probably historically accurate, StuartPiggott’s dash from Avebury to Norwich in an MGMidget borrowed from Alexander Keiller is centralto our Prehistoric Society’s founding myth. Over theweekend of 4th September 2010, society membersset out to retrace Piggott’s epic 1935 journey, the‘thunder run’, but with added value. Whilecommemorating the ‘great coup d’état’ of GrahamClark’s ‘Young Turks’, and their successful vote 75years ago to rename and revitalise the PrehistoricSociety of East Anglia, we were also to visit five wellchosen prehistoric sites en route. Furthermore,today’s Young Turks, current President AlisonSheridan, Secretary Josh Pollard and MeetingsSecretary Jonathan Last, would lead our expedition;and in the tradition of Prehistoric Society field trips,we would be joined on-site by leading specialists.

To conjure the spirit of Keiller and Piggott as wegathered on the first morning at Avebury’s NationalTrust car park, we were greeted by four sparklingvintage MG sports cars (courtesy of the Wessex MGCar Club) and several bottles of equally sparklingwine. Following convivial toasts, Josh Pollard set thescene for thunder run 2: the personalities, politicsand debate surrounding the birth of our society.Then, wandering through the stone settings of theAvebury henge, we learned of a confrontationalsocial history and the eighteenth century fire-settingand destruction of sarsen stones recorded by WilliamStukeley. A re-visioning of Avebury did not endthere. We heard that the pioneering archaeologicaland restorative work that Keiller sponsored includeda partial re-sculpting of hitherto uneven hengebanks: prehistoric monument meets twentiethcentury aesthetic! Such perfectly reasonable folies dujour would become a recurring theme of the trip.

Pausing only for an unscheduled tour of a charminghousing estate, for sports cars to catch up and towonder if the ancestral route along the Ridgewaymight be swifter, our minibus arrived at White HorseHill, Oxfordshire. After a short but energetic uphillhike, we were standing on the ramparts of Iron AgeUffington Castle hillfort with Gary Lock of OxfordUniversity, gazing at spectacular views over the Valeof the White Horse and Stuart Piggott’s birthplace.Listening to Professor Lock discuss the Hillforts ofthe Ridgeway Project suggested that the more welearn about this class of monument the moreenigmatic they become. In contrasting UffingtonCastle with close Ridgeway neighbours, SegsburyCamp and Alfred’s Castle, any simple unifyinginterpretation remained elusive.

We were told that while training excavationsrevealed evidence of Roman activity at all threeenclosures, Uffington Castle showed little or no traceof prehistoric settlement or warfare, while the giantSegsbury Camp was periodically occupied by largenumbers of people and livestock - perhaps serving asa regional centre for exchange. Meanwhile, lying just south of the Ridgeway, Alfred’s (diminutive)Castle - though densely occupied in the Earlier Iron Age - may not have been a hillfort at all.Whether prehistoric activity at Uffington Castle was episodic and archaeologically invisible - as with ahuge Victorian carnival reportedly held in the hillfort - or whether Iron Age people were onoccasion excessively tidy or shunned typologies inarchaeology text books we may never know.Pondering all this and more the group adjourned fora gourmet picnic at the adjacent iconic chalk hill-figure now, we were told, securely dated to the LateBronze or Early Iron Age.

Leaving MGs behind but still following theRidgeway, we headed for Whiteleaf Hill,Buckinghamshire. Again, we were met withbreathtaking views and an intriguing monument.Our travelling companion, Gill Hey of OxfordArchaeology, discussed the reinvestigation of SirLindsay Scott’s 1930s excavation of a small earthenEarly Neolithic barrow. Gill explained that twolevels of interpretation were needed: understandingthe methodology of a pre-war excavator (who leftfew field notes) and examining the nature andphasing of the prehistoric monument. With the helpof local volunteers and school groups, a team fromOxford Archaeology painstakingly re-excavatedScott’s spoilheap to distinguish natural fromarchaeological features. Duly impressed, andcontemplating that even with hindsight and today’stechnology, such subtle differentiation on a muchdisturbed site must be as much art as science, weheaded downhill for Cambridge, curry, beer and bed.

High status shiny impractical transport with intoxicant for the elite - familiar theme?


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Sunday morning saw thunder run re-enactorsfollowed by bells and heading for Wandlebury, ahillfort that seemingly dispensed with much of a hill.Our bus was met on-site by another yet morethrusting sports car (in this case not an MG) and bygeo-archaeologist Charly French of the Departmentof Archaeology, University of Cambridge. Here,unlike Uffington, training excavations had revealedevidence of dense Iron Age settlement. Postholes andpits were clustered within and extended well beyondthe enclosure perimeter. Wandlebury also offeredother familiar themes - putative chalk figures and adispute between distinguished archaeologists overthe interpretation of geological and archaeologicalfeatures. For the record, fellow traveller StuartPiggott and colleagues were sceptics, believingCharles Lethbridge’s ‘sleeping giants’ - the chalk cutfigures of Gogmagog on the south-facing slope of thehillfort - the probable result of soil solifluction. Withgrateful thanks to Charly French for a trulystimulating morning, and leaving the Gogmagogdebate for intellectual giants, we headed east forHigh Lodge, a site that provoked one of the longestrunning debates in archaeology.

Driving into Suffolk and past the huge American airforce base at Mildenhall, we pulled into a leafy lay-by across from several overgrown brick pits.Expedition co-organiser Jonathan Last of EnglishHeritage took up the complicated story. Here, itseemed, the conventional typological succession ofthe British Palaeolithic was overturned. Jonathangallantly outlined a century of archaeologicalconfusion and an apparently Mousterian flintindustry which underlay an assemblage of distinctlyAcheulian handaxes. Fortunately, recentgeologically-enlightened and less typologically-determined fresh thinking by Jill Cook, Nick Astonand colleagues has finally ‘sorted out’ the 500,000year old site to most scholars’ satisfaction.

Although a grateful Palaeolithic enthusiast, I have toadmit there was not much to see at High Lodge. Notso with our final stop and as several of our partyremarked, ‘they’re saving the best till last!’ Our busarrived at an impressive moonscape of large pits farmore extensive than one imagined, and theencyclopaedic Frances Healy of Cardiff Universityand Pete Topping of English Heritage - two peopleyou would most welcome as guides to GrimesGraves - were on hand to greet us. And here was thelast salutary lesson from the historiography ofarchaeology: not to privilege any treasured, pre-conceived narrative over evidence in the ground.Easier said than done in any age, but as our guidesrecalled, Reginald Smith, pre-First World Wardirector of the British Museum, envisionedPalaeolithic miners in Norfolk despite evidence of aNeolithic groundstone axe and Holocene fauna atprimary prehistoric mining levels – and counter-

intuitively these deep shafts with complex sidegalleries seem to be among the earliest. Theargument about Grimes Graves rumbled on untilYoung Turks Grahame Clark and Stuart Piggottbecame founder members of the Prehistoric Societyand the old guard of the East Anglian Societyeventually fell silent. As a fitting climax to ourcommemoration, thunder runners descended into pit1 to see Neolithic mine workings at first hand, ouronly concern, in the unlikely event of pit collapse,that the combined learning of our assembled tourguides would be lost and Neolithic studies set back ageneration, or more.

Our thanks go to English Heritage for waivingentrance fees to Grimes Graves, Wessex MG CarClub, to our expert guides and tour organisers fortheir generosity and kindness and especially to JoshPollard for his customary erudition and unfailinggood humour through two days of tireless, skilfuldriving. We never quite reached Norwich, though weallegedly saw nine counties in two privileged,thought-provoking days.

Greg Bailey

Pete Topping explains the succession of prehistoric flint mining at Grimes Graves


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Alex Gibson in PAST 65 (page 7) mentionedLaunders Lane, one of the late Derek Simpson’sunpublished sites. Fortuitously, this excavation andfive others in the same area of the east Londonborough of Havering are soon to be published as partof an Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF)Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) projectentitled Archaeological landscapes of east London:six multi-period sites excavated in advance of gravelquarrying in the London Borough of Havering. This MOLA monograph will publish six multi-period (but predominantly prehistoric) sitesexcavated between 1963 and 1997 in advance ofgravel extraction (for full details seewww.museumoflondonarchaeology.org.uk).

Launders Lane was the first of these excavations: thefieldwork was directed by the late Derek Simpson andIsobel Smith on behalf of the Ministry of PublicBuilding and Works. This site had been discovered asa series of cropmarks in 1957 by J. K. St Josephduring a photographic aerial survey of the area. Thesecropmarks were incorrectly interpreted as a Late IronAge farmstead consisting of a ditched enclosure witha large round house inside. Instead, excavationproved that the cropmarks were actually a medievalmanorial enclosure with a Neolithic ring ditch(internal diameter of just over 15m) inside.Excavation of the ring ditch revealed a large amountof Early Neolithic (c. 3600-3300 BC) pottery and flintwork (including knapping debris). Within the ringditch was a central pit containing Beaker pottery (c.2400-1700 BC), implying that the monumentremained in use for over a millennium.

Intriguingly, the western circuit of the ring ditch wasfound to have cut through an earlier, but otherwiseundated, steep-sided pit. This pit was one of severalundated features located in the immediate vicinity ofthe ring ditch. Interestingly, the Stanwell Cursus atPerry Oaks, Hillingdon, was also pre-dated by anumber of pits and postholes probably of LaterMesolithic date (Framework Archaeology, 2006,Landscape evolution in the Middle Thames Valley:Heathrow Terminal 5 Excavation. Volume 1, PerryOaks. Framework Archaeol Monogr Ser 1). Thepresence of these undated pits and a number ofMesolithic flints (mostly recovered from the topsoil),including a finely-worked flaked adze, implies thatthe site was already privileged in some way - possiblyfollowing an earlier episode of woodland clearanceduring the Mesolithic. A second nearby, smallerNeolithic ring ditch was also partly excavated at thesame time. The late Derek Simpson did a great deal ofthe basic post-excavation work and arranged formany of the finds to be drawn; now we have built onhis legacy to bring his work to fruition.

Bruce Watson, Museum of London Archaeology

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The sprawling conurbation that constitutes the UK’ssecond city and is home to over a million people isnot immediately synonymous with Palaeolithicarchaeology. While archaeological remains from laterprehistory such as Bronze Age burnt mounds are wellrecorded, evidence for occupation from earlierprehistory is relatively unusual although not entirelyunknown, and a range of chance finds duringdevelopment work are gradually combining to fill thegaps in what is known of the earliest colonisation ofthe region. One such find is a large bi-facialPalaeolithic handaxe discovered in 2006 duringbuilding works in the centre of Sutton Coldfield tothe north of Birmingham: it was brought to theattention of Drs Martin Smith and Andy Howard atthe Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity at theUniversity of Birmingham by one of their enthusiasticstudents. The handaxe, which is made from flint,measured 168.5mm by 118mm and weighed 763g.Its characteristic elongated D-shaped flat butt andbroad tip indicate that it conforms to the bout coupétype. This form is peculiar to Britain, appearingsurprisingly during the Late Middle Palaeolithic whenLevallois techniques were otherwise the norm.

This find represents an important new entry toBirmingham’s Historic Environment Record andadds to three other handaxes recovered from theconurbation, all of which were similar chance finds.However, the Sutton Coldfield axe is the largestexample to be found in the region and, unlike otherhandaxes from the area, it is notable for its pristinecondition with edges still razor sharp. A section ofcortex left in situ at the base fits the thumb extremelycomfortably when the axe is held in the right handwith corresponding implications for the handednessof its maker.

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The Sutton Coldfield handaxe (max. length: 168.5mm; max. width:118mm; max. depth at base: 44mm; weight: 763g)


The axe remains the finest example the presentauthors have seen and the apparent ‘freshness’ of thisfind initially prompted our suspicions that it mightbe a modern reproduction. Therefore, the presentauthors arranged to meet with the workmen whodescribed finding the axe lying on an undisturbedsandy layer approximately 3m below the currentground level as they dug down adjacent to thefoundations of an Edwardian house. Although thefootings had been filled in by the time of our visit,consultation of the local British Geological Surveymemoir and 1:50,000 map (Sheet 168, Birmingham)suggested that the find was from sediments eitherrelating to deposits classified as ‘Head’ or‘Glaciofluvial’ sands and gravels. It is unlikely thatsuch an artefact would remain in such pristinecondition if it had been reworked by periglacialprocesses, which opens up the tantalising possibilitythat the artefact may well have been preserved in situon a Middle Palaeolithic land surface lying beneaththe centre of Sutton Coldfield.

Dr Mike Hodder, the Planning Archaeologist forBirmingham City Council, already has specialresearch interests in the archaeology of SuttonColdfield and so paid particular attention to thehandaxe. Mike is now keenly awaiting anopportunity to learn more about the vicinity of thefindspot by requiring archaeological investigationshould further building or road works be proposedin the area.

Although just a single object, the Sutton handaxeadds to a gradually emerging picture of theoccupation of the West Midlands during the Lowerand Middle Palaeolithic outlined by Alex Lang andthe late Professor David Keen in PPS 71.Furthermore, recently documented new discoveriesin the wider region, particularly those made fromquartzite, including examples from Waverley Wood,the Middle Trent, and in Leicestershire and Rutland,as well as the reappraisal of existing museumcollections through funding from the ALSF,demonstrate a hitherto unrealised density ofoccupation and activity. The Sutton Coldfieldhandaxe highlights the potential for many morediscoveries across the West Midlands region, evenfrom what are now heavily urbanized areas.

AcknowledgementsThanks are due to Victoria Dixon for recognising theaxe as a prehistoric find and ensuring that it wasbrought to wider attention.

Martin Smith, Bournemouth University,[email protected] Howard, University of Birmingham,[email protected] Hodder, Birmingham City Council,[email protected]

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At the 2010 AGM, the Presidency of the Societypassed from Professor Clive Ruggles to Dr AlisonSheridan, of National Museums Scotland

It is an immense privilege to be taking up thePrehistoric Society reins during this, its 75thanniversary year, and my task over my term of officewill be to ensure that the Society continues toflourish. When, in February 1935, Stuart Piggott andhis fellow Young Turks forced through the vote totransform the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia tothe Prehistoric Society, they set out its aim aspromoting the study of prehistory worldwide, withmembership open to all.

This aim continues to be fulfilled admirably, andcurrent membership stands at around 1500, fromover 40 countries. The Proceedings, expertly editedby Dr Julie Gardiner, continue to present the resultsof important research; PAST, masterminded by Dr JoBrück, keeps members abreast of latest developments;and the recently-established Prehistoric SocietyResearch Papers series goes from strength to strength,thanks to Herculean efforts from Dr Mike Allen. Thelectures, study tours, conferences and researchweekends remain a popular way of keeping membersand others in touch with what’s new in prehistoric

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Palaeolithic axe findspots in the Birmingham area: 1 Sutton Coldfield (2006); 2 Court Lane, Erdington (1981);

3 Saltley (1890); 4 Brook Lane, Edgbaston (c.1912).


archaeology, both here and abroad, and the awardsand grants recognise and promote excellence inprehistoric research. The Society is especially keen tofoster a passion for the past among students ofarchaeology, and Dr Alex Lang has been beaveringaway, bringing 21st century ways of communicatingto our venerable Society. And in line with the Society’scommitment to operating at an international level, Iam delighted, nay ravie, to announce that we aretwinning with our sister organisation across theChannel, the Société Préhistorique Française. One ofour first acts will be to co-host a conference onNeolithic cross-Channel links in Bournemouth nextMay (6th-8th), called ‘Hands across the Water’,which examines communities on either side of theChannel during the fifth and fourth millennia, andthe issue of cross-Channel links. See the flier andwatch the website for updates.

The Society also faces challenges, particularly inthese recessionary times. The cost of producing theProceedings has meant that alternative publishershave had to be sought, and negotiations continue toensure that the membership receive the best deal.Tied up with this is the question of how best to makeprevious editions of PPS available on-line. Thewebsite is also currently undergoing a majormakeover, the results of which will be launchedbefore the end of 2010. This will include a facilityfor online renewals and subscriptions by credit card:please see www.prehistoricsociety.org for furtherdetails. Much hard work continues to be undertakenbehind the scenes, and I pay tribute to the dedicationof the Council, of our Membership andAdministration Secretary, Dr Tessa Machling, of ourTreasurer, Alastair Ainsworth, and of all who help toorganise events.

The 75th anniversary celebrations have been hugefun so far, with the re-creation of Stuart Piggott’s‘Thunder Run’ in September featuring a feast both ofarchaeology and of classic cars (see report by GregBailey in this edition). At the time of writing, we arelooking forward to the sell-out Sara ChampionDebate (20th October), between heavyweightProfessors Clive Gamble and Tim Champion, on‘This House believes that the study of the Stone Ageshas contributed more to our knowledge of thehuman condition than study of the Metal Ages’.

The Council is open to suggestions as to how theSociety can best continue to serve the membershipand to go forward into its next 75 years. Commentscan be sent to the President directly [email protected] (or at the Department ofArchaeology, National Museums Scotland,Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF) or to TessaMachling ([email protected]).

Alison Sheridan

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This year saw one of the most successful of our newformat AGM/Europa lecture/day conferencemeetings so far. It unashamedly reflected some of themany enthusiasms of our new President, AlisonSheridan, and although the title is a reference to thepan-European Projet Jade with which she has beenso closely associated, the scope of the day was muchwider, and covered practically everything one couldconsider about the sourcing, use and trade ofprestige axes in the Neolithic.

2010 saw the final stage of Projet Jade, a researchprogramme led by our Europa Prize winner, DrPierre Pétrequin of CNRS, the progenitor andcoordinator of the project. More than 80% of allknown axes of Alpine rock in Europe have beenstudied and non-destructively analysed by membersof the project team, with stunning results. Forexample, three axes from widely spaced findspots inGermany were found to have originated from thesame jadeite source, high on Monte Viso in Italy, asan axe found in Pitreavie near Dunfermline. Thesehighly valued prestige objects were derived fromrocks in high ‘special’ places, worked with intenselabour, spread throughout Europe, never used forchopping wood, and sometimes reworked into otherobjects, presumably to spread their magic more

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widely. Some unfortunate axes have, however, hadtheir status diminished in the course of this project:the spectroradiometric analysis has unmasked somepreviously revered specimens as recent incomersfrom places like New Zealand!

Dr Pétrequin’s fieldwork in the high southern Alps inNorth Italy, with his wife Anne-Marie and othercollaborators, makes clear the difficulty of accessingthe rock sources, the care with which particularsources were sought out, and even the way that axesof lighter-coloured jadeite tended to travel to Brittanyand Britain, while axes of darker-coloured Alpinerocks (mostly eclogite and omphacitite) werefavoured further south. In his Europa lecture, he wasable to tell us that although the Alpine axes studied inthe present project are often stray finds or otherwiseunprovenanced, the development of a typology nowallows dates to be proposed. Alpine axes are seldomfound in settlement contexts and, except inMorbihan, seldom in funerary ones. Some axes arefound more than 1700km from their source but, fromtheir peak of popularity in the fifth millennium, bythe middle of the third millennium BC theycontracted to distribution in the more local area. DrPétrequin suggested that the Golfe du Morbihanmight have been a focal point for the reworking andredistribution of the axes in the fifth millennium.

The Europa lecture was preceded by other speakers,the majority of them Projet Jade collaborators, whoprovided a marvellous summary of what is knownabout prestige axes in Neolithic Europe. Serge Cassenoutlined the contexts of the Morbihan finds and thenYvan Pailler reviewed the contrasting forms and usesof jadeite, fibrolite and dolerite axes in Brittany.While fibrolite is readily available in local outcropsand does not require mountaineering, the local forms,especially the large green fibrolite axes, may refer toAlpine originals. This was followed by FrançoiseBostyn and Hélène Collet, who discussed the sourcesand forms of flint axe heads in France and the waytheir distribution appears to mirror the boundaries ofMichelsburg and Chasséen ceramic material. GabrielCooney presented Lutz Klassen’s paper on therelationship of the fifth and fourth millennium jadeaxes with copper ones from the east. Theirdistributions are almost mutually exclusive but by themiddle of the third millennium BC, copper copies ofAlpine axes are found in Denmark, indicating verylong survival and curation of the originals.

Following this, Frances Healy reviewed the results ofthe excavations at Grimes Graves, emphasising thatonce again the deep mines, as with Continentalexamples, were not necessary to obtain perfectlydecent flint for axe manufacture. The exploitationof the deep mines appears to start in the earlier thirdmillennium: could this represent an assertion orexaggeration of traditional ‘flint’ values in the face of

disconcerting ‘metal’ ideas coming in from overseas?Alison Sheridan presented a paper with GabrielCooney and Yvan Pailler reviewing the sourcing andmanufacture of the Alpine axes, emphasising the1000 hours of labour need to produce a jadeite axe,and the indications that not all stages of manufacturewere carried out in the same place. Although thesegreat axes are clearly not for practical use, anexample apparently found in a log boat nearGlasgow suggests that it had been set in a haft beforethe ends on either side of the hafting were polished.The source of the jadeite axes high in the Alps mayhave influenced the exploitation of other localsources in difficult places or magic mountains, suchas Langdale or Tievebulliagh. The last contributioncame from Alasdair Whittle and Frances Healy,relating the timing of the spread of prestigeContinental axes to Britain and the localmanufacture of early flint axes (which precede stoneones) to that of the spread of the earliest Neolithicenclosures, the subject of their recent researchproject. They argued that the surge in theintroduction and circulation of prestige axescoincides with the main phase of causewayedenclosure construction, and it falls away before theend of this phase, c. 3500-3400 BC.

The whole day was held in the rather wonderful iflabyrinthine surroundings of the ChemistryDepartment at Cardiff University - an organisationsurely to be cherished in its own right in thesedifficult days. It was excellently organised, withspecial convoys to guide people from the entrancehall to the remote lecture theatre we occupied. Theentrance hall also provided a fine location for thefinal event of the day: a friendly wine receptionwhich allowed the large audience to catch up onnews and digest the day. Although the AGM will beformally reported elsewhere, particular mentionmust be made of a few high points: the presentationof the Europa Prize itself to Dr Pétrequin; thepresentation of the R. M. Baguley Award to LekkyShepherd on behalf of her husband, the late andmuch missed Ian Shepherd, for his paper on V-perforated buttons in the last Proceedings; andfinally the presentation of a most magnificent newly-made axe to Alison. This had been made by entirelytraditional methods by a specialist axe producer inNew Guinea and, because one is not supposed tohandle such sacred axes directly, it was presented inwhat we can only suppose was the equallytraditional wrapping of a woolly sock. It was asuper day, and this was a great way to thank our newPresident for organising it.

Frances Griffith and Eileen Wilkes


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The R. M. Bagueley Award, a fine engraved goblet, ispresented for the best contribution to the Proceedingsof the Prehistoric Society on the basis of a ballot heldby the Council. Following a unanimous vote, theaward for volume 75, 2009, was made posthumouslyto Ian Shepherd for his article on ‘The V-boredbuttons of Great Britain and Ireland’, and waspresented to Alexandra Shepherd on Ian’s behalf.

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Hands across the water: the archaeology of thecross-channel NeolithicSchool of Applied Sciences, Bournemouth University,Bournemouth, Dorset, Friday 6-Sunday 8 May 2011A major international conference organised by thePrehistoric Society and Bournemouth UniversityArchaeology Group in association with the SociétéPréhistorique Française and the Neolithic StudiesGroup

Archaeological work on both sides of the EnglishChannel/La Manche in recent years has started tothrow new light on the origins and development ofearly farming communities in the region during thefifth and fourth millennia BC, and on the issue ofcross-channel contact. Consideration will be given toartefacts, burial monuments, enclosures andceremonial sites from the coastlands of southernBritain and northern France. What are thesimilarities and differences? How do the datescompare? Can we see the source of ideas taken up inBritain amongst the continental material? What werethe processes and social practices that promoted orrestricted cross-channel contacts? And how dorecent discoveries impact on available models forexplaining and understanding the Neolithic of theChannel coastlands? The conference aims to poolknowledge from archaeologists working on bothsides of the Channel, exposing new discoveries andthe results of recent research to new audiences.Further details and booking arrangements will beavailable via the Society’s website in the earlyautumn www.prehistoricsociety.org.

Timothy Darvill & Alison Sheridan

Later Iron Age ceramics and settlement in south westBritainJoint meeting of Devon Archaeological Society andthe Prehistoric Society, main Council Chamber,County Hall, Exeter, Devon, Wednesday 26 January2011Wine reception at 7.30pm followed by lecture at8pm by Henrietta Quinnell, ArchaeologicalConsultant and Honorary Research Fellow,University of Exeter

Middle Iron Age South Western Decorated Ware isvisually the most attractive of later prehistoricceramics, but most published work only refers to itschronology, sources and development in very broadoutline. It has been regularly linked to the adoptionof enclosed settlements (Cornish rounds) andmultiple enclosure hillforts. Over the last decade,work in Cornwall and Devon has provided a largenumber of new radiocarbon determinations. These,allied to studies of stratified deposits, especially atTrevelgue cliff castle near Newquay, have providedmore detailed chronology and an insight into stylisticvariations. Some decorative styles/forms are morelikely to occur in ‘structured depositions’ thanothers. The date for general adoption of this ceramicstyle can now be placed at c. 300 BC rather than c.400 BC, with consequent implications for the studyof settlements. Petrological work by Roger Taylorhas built on Professor Peacock’s seminal study in the1960s and confirmed that Lizard gabbroic clayswere used almost universally in Cornwall. In Devon,a wide range of clays were used, and a very probablesource for Peacock’s Group 5 has been located inExeter’s Ludwell Valley.

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We are sorry to have to report that Barry Raftery,Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at UniversityCollege Dublin, has died after a long illness. Barrywas one of the founding members of WARP, theWetland Archaeology Research Project, in the mid-1980s, and the first modern Irish archaeologist totackle the major wetland peatbogs of central Ireland.His work at Corlea, on a massive Iron Age trackway,led to important developments in the conservation ofwood, the preservation of structural remains, thepresentation of results through the Corlea VisitorCentre, and the recognition that Irish peatlandsdeserve major attention within the widerarchaeological community.

Barry collaborated with Bryony Coles through theiruniversities, Dublin and Exeter, with European SocialFund support, to promote post-graduate training inwetland archaeology. This combined work came toinvolve Dutch and Danish archaeologists incollaborative and fruitful training and research.

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Barry’s attendance at conferences at Silkeborg inDenmark and Gainesville in Florida, and his frequentvisits to the Somerset Levels, led on to the 1998WARP conference in Dublin, a major event. His ownresearch resulted in a fine series of publications on theIrish wetlands. His visit to the wetlands of Japan withAkira Matsui was profitable to the development ofwetland archaeology in both countries.

In addition to his work on wetland archaeology,Barry was an authority on the Irish Iron Age and hispublications include A Catalogue of Irish Iron AgeAntiquities (1983), La Tene in Ireland: Problems ofOrigin, Development and Chronology (1984) and hislandmark publication, Pagan Celtic Ireland (1994).His excavation of the critically important hillfort siteof Rathgall, Co. Wicklow, is currently in the finalstages of preparation for publication. Barry’s work onthe Irish Iron Age was always set in its widerEuropean context and he had a wide network ofcolleagues and friends across Europe. He played amajor role in the international Celtic exhibition inVenice in the early 1990s and was an editor of thelarge volume on The Celts (1991) that resulted fromthis event.

In his leadership role at a national and internationallevel, Barry played a key role in the funding anddevelopment of archaeological research. He was amember of Council for the Prehistoric Society from1981 to 1984 and made a major contribution to thePrehistoric Society’s hugely successful week-longstudy tour to Ireland in 1980, including jointlycompiling a comprehensive handbook and leadingsite tours to Rathgall and other hillforts. He was onthe Directorate of the Discovery Programme in

Ireland, along with John Coles, and this encouragedthe emergence of wetland research projects, such asthat at Loch Kinale. Throughout his long career,Barry lectured widely in Europe and helped in thedevelopment of wetland archaeology in manycountries. Members of his field and laboratory teamare now working to promote wetland studies, and weof the Wetland Archaeology Research Projectacknowledge the enormous contribution made by ourgood friend and colleague, Barry Raftery.

John and Bryony Coles, August 24 2010

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The 2005 Stonehenge World Heritage Site: anarchaeological research framework highlighted a lackof current knowledge about the human remainsexcavated from and around Stonehenge. Partly as aresponse to this, the Stonehenge People Project (SPP)was recently commissioned by English Heritage. Theaims were to locate, catalogue and osteologicallyassess the extant human remains from the area.

The assessment was limited to remains from theStonehenge landscape, an area defined in the researchframework as a 135 km2 plot, the southwest corner ofwhich is at SU 405000 138000 and the northwestcorner at SU 420000 147000. Chronologically, theassessment was limited to remains dating to 3700-1600 BC. Numerous museums and organisationswere contacted to establish where relevant remainswere held.

Approximately 300 separate deposits of human bonewere assessed by the SPP, ranging from single bonefragments to complete burials and cremations.Contextual data relating to the remains wereexamined and the condition and completeness of thebone was recorded. Some of this material came fromantiquarian excavations and hence was poorlyprovenanced, compromising its research value.However, there were approximately three standardboxes (approximately 500 x 220 x 220mm) ofdisarticulated material along with 116 articulated fullor partial skeletons and 103 cremation deposits forwhich provenance was secure or (in a minority ofcases) could likely be ascertained following workwith the paper archive. Much of the bone was foundto require processing (washing, drying and markingfor inhumations; sieving and sorting for crematedbone) before any osteological analytical work couldbe done. The condition of the unburnt bone wasgenerally good, with little surface erosion.

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Current theories are increasingly viewing the primaryuse of Stonehenge as funerary. The human remainsidentified by the SPP form an important resource forincreasing our knowledge of the use of the monumentand the surrounding landscape.

The full results of the assessment are contained in Vincent, S. and Mays, S. 2010. Assessment of human remains from the Stonehenge landscape:3700-1600 BC. Research Department Report Series34/2010. English Heritage: London. The documentis available on request from English Heritage athttp://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/strategies/eh-research-reports/

Stefanie Vincent and Simon Mays, English Heritage

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The Stonehenge landscape is one of the most famousprehistoric ritual landscapes in the world, withrecent research highlighting how important the RiverAvon was for connecting various monuments andsites. Results from small-scale fieldwork by the OpenUniversity between 2005 and 2010 at Vespasian’sCamp, previously primarily classified as an Early-

Middle Iron Age hillfort, add more detail to the ideaof this ‘connecting’ landscape and suggest that asignificant new part of it has been discovered. Theuse of the site in earlier prehistoric periods and afterthe Iron Age has been steadfastly under-researched.This is odd, as even a cursory glance at the OS mapsuggests that this substantial hill was in a potentiallyhighly significant position topographically in theSalisbury Plain landscape.

Our results provide evidence for earlier prehistoricuse of the site and point to a longer occupation of thehillfort in the Iron Age possibly continuing into theRomano-British period. The site is situated 1.8 kmfrom both Stonehenge and Durrington Walls. Itoverlooks the Avenue, Bluestonehenge and KingBarrow Ridge on its western flanks, and the RiverAvon on its eastern and southern sides.

The initial aim of the investigation was to gauge theextent of Charles Bridgeman’s eighteenth centurylandscaping of the Camp. Assumptions about theextent of it have contributed to the lack of researchat the Camp as it has been a dominant view that thesite’s early archaeology had been largely destroyedby it. Our research into eighteenth century recordsfor the site revealed that though Bridgeman’s 1738plans for the camp and the adjoining park andgardens were extensive, only certain sections of themwere fully carried out and overall it was apparentthat the landscaping was less intrusive than had beenpreviously assumed.

Vespasian’s Camp and environs, showing features discussed in the text. Contours in metres.


We were then able to plan excavation targets. Weparticularly wished to establish the nature of thepond feature (located at A on map) to the northeastof the Camp and to investigate a field to its west (B),as both areas lie outside of the landscaping plans andthe Scheduled Monument area. We also wanted toreassess the dating of the site. Since 2005, 14 testpits in and around the pond feature have been dugand a further 5 pits dug in the field directly to itswest. A geophysical survey of both areas wasconducted in 2009 and field walking surveys werecarried out along the western ramparts and in thesoutheast and southwest areas of the camp.

Our work at the pond feature revealed conclusivelythat it is in fact a natural spring (Hoare, pers.comm.) and is the largest of a number of springs inthe immediate area. Work in early 2010 revealedthat this spring is also thermal, with probes showingconsistent readings of 10ºc across the spring areadespite the outside temperature being -10ºc.

The excavations in the spring resulted in the retrievalof over 900 flint tools and worked flints rangingfrom the Early Mesolithic to Early Bronze Ageperiods. Over 700 of these were found in threedifferent layers within one 2m x 2m trench, wherethey had been seemingly deliberately mixed togetherin an act or acts suggestive of a ritual related to aneed to connect back to ancestors. The latest flints inthe assemblage dated to the Early Bronze Age,providing a possible date for deposition andpotentially placing the spring as a place of ritual atthe same time as Stonehenge and Durrington Walls(Field, Bowden, McOmish, pers. comm.). In light ofParker Pearson’s attention to the ways variousbinary oppositions were set up in the area –life/death, wood/stone, etc. – perhaps the springrepresented a further one, wet/dry, at this time?

A broken Middle Bronze Age dagger was found inthe spring, refashioned from a rapier and engravedwith a chevron. This dagger only had one rivet holeand is likely to have had a ceremonial function(Barrowclough, pers. comm.). A likely Middle

Bronze Age chisel fragment was also found in thespring, suggesting a ritual function to the site duringthis period. Further, a lead object, likely to be aRomano-British curse (Hurst, pers. comm.), wasdiscovered. Another significant find from one of thesmaller springs close to the site was a 5th centuryAnglo-Saxon disc brooch (Chester-Kadwell, pers.comm.) and a small number of medieval artefactshave also been found at the spring. Overall our findspoint to an undiscovered part of the Stonehengeritual landscape which provides evidence of thedeliberate deposition of items into water during theBronze Age and possibly later.

Geophysics, field survey and excavation work in afield to the west of the spring since 2009 haverevealed that though much of it was covered by anunrecorded chalk dump from the A303 road re-widening in the area in the 1960s, its eastern edgepreserves early Celtic field systems whose origins maylie in the Bronze Age (Field, McOmish and Bowden,pers. comms). A 3m x 3m trench in this area mayhave picked up part of a Celtic field including 1 metrerich agricultural soil containing abraded Middle IronAge pottery and some Early Bronze Age flintwork.Some likely hollow ways and trackways were alsodiscovered in this area, the north eastern corner ofwhich leads down to the spring.

Observations in the southeast part of the Camp havealso resulted in potentially significant discoveries.This area abuts the present Stonehenge road andhere we discovered a previously unrecorded BronzeAge barrow (E) close to another possible barrow (F)on the other side of the road (though unrecorded,both are evident on Dury and Andrews 1773 map ofthe area). A hollow way (G) discovered in thesoutheast corner appears to be following a trajectorybetween both barrows and lies parallel to theStonehenge road.

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The Bronze Age blade

Open University students excavating the spring


Interestingly, the Iron Age ramparts on theVespasian’s Camp side of the road do not appear toextend as far as the barrow there. It may be that theramparts respected the position of both barrows andthat the gap between them could have provided anentry point across this part of the Camp in the IronAge (the ramparts in the south-west corner of the siteindicate that any routeway there would have beencut off or controlled by the Camp). It is also possiblethat there was a pre-Iron Age context to this route asit follows the most topographically desirablecrossing point on the hill, potentially connecting amajor ancient fording point (H) on the Avon in onedirection with the Avenue and Salisbury Plain in theother. Indeed, the Stonehenge road, known to be avery early route way connecting Amesbury with theSalisbury Plain, may have been situated here forsimilar reasons of topographical advantage.Conclusions are necessarily tentative at this stage,but it is possible that a significant ancient routewaythrough the landscape has been discovered.

Since 2007, field surveys of the western ramparts ofthe Camp have led to the finding of over 50 sherdsof Iron Age pottery, which extend the range of theIron Age occupation of the site from the Early IronAge through to 50BC (Mepham, pers. comm.). Thisresult suggests that the hillfort may have been thefulcrum of the landscape for most of the Iron Age.

In conclusion, during our 10 long weekend fieldseasons, funded on average with £700 per year, andassisted by enthusiastic and skilful Open UniversityAA309 students as well as experts, local residentsand the custodian of the site, all of whom have giventheir time and expertise freely, we have foundevidence which starts to extend and develop existingknowledge about Vespasian’s Camp. In our view,this evidence indicates that the site was a highlyimportant place in a significant topographicalposition in the Salisbury Plain landscape from atleast the Early Bronze Age ontwards.

AcknowledgementsWe are extremely grateful to Sir Edward and LadyAntrobus for so generously giving us regular accessto Vespasian’s Camp, which is such a magical place.We also wish to acknowledge our gratitude to theOpen University, Amesbury Town Council, theQinetiq group (Amesbury) and Wolfson College,Cambridge, for providing funding for this project.For space reasons I don’t have the opportunity tothank the many academics, archaeologists and otherspecialists for their contributions to our work inperson. You all know who you are and I will beexpressing our thanks to you personally. DJ.

David Jacques (Open University), Tom Phillips(Oxford Archaeology East) & Mike Clarke(Custodian of Vespasian’s Camp)

RRUUNN OOFF PPPPSSKent Archaeological Society would like to dispose ofa spare run of volumes of PPS. This comprisesvolumes 1 (1935) to 58 (1992), with the exception ofvolumes 8, 9, 15, 24, 41, 42 and 50 which aremissing. All of the volumes are complete as publishedand in good condition. They are for sale as a set at aprice to be negotiated. For further information,please contact Dr. F. H. Panton CBE, Hon. LibrarianKAS, Grove End, Tunstall, Sittingbourne, Kent ME98DY; tel. 01795472218; email [email protected].

MMAARRVVEELLSS AATT MMAARRDDEENNHHEENNGGEE This summer saw excavations at one of the largesthenges in Britain: Marden. It is located in the heart ofthe Vale of Pewsey in Wiltshire and lies on Greensandbetween the two more famous chalk sites ofStonehenge and Avebury. The work is theculmination of a two-year multi-disciplinary projectcomprising staff from English Heritage, and followsthe investigations of Richard Colt Hoare andcolleagues at the site in the early 19th century andsubsequently those of Geoffrey Wainwright andcolleagues in the late 1960s.

Unlike Stonehenge and Avebury, Marden does nothave any surviving stone settings; however, it didhave a large conical mound, said to be the secondlargest in Wiltshire after Silbury Hill. Nowdemolished, it was known as the Hatfield Barrow,and some estimates put it at as much as 15m high.Another notable feature within the henge is theSouthern Circle, an earthwork set hard against thesouthern boundary. This, we now know from therecent work, is a smaller but extremely well-preserved ‘inner’ henge.

The new surveyThe recent multidisciplinary survey (which includedtopographic, aerial and geophysical surveys) hasintroduced a considerable amount of fresh evidence,clarified certain points and provided the basic datafor new interpretations. Detail of the henge enclosurehas revealed a new entrance in the southeast andquestioned one that had been proposed in the east.The main henge structure itself is now considered tobe a series of separate but conjoined lengths ofearthwork rather than a monument of formal plan.Although very little of the mound is now discernibleat the surface, the ditch of the Hatfield Barrow waslocated by all surveys and accurately positionedwithin the enclosure. In plan, the Southern Circlematches the Hatfield Barrow for overall size and itssurviving earthwork is probably one of the moredramatic features on site, resembling in some ways anamphitheatre.

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The recent excavationsThis year we targeted three areas for excavation: thelocation of the Hatfield Barrow, the southeast hengeentranceway and ditch end, and the bank of theSouthern Circle.

The Hatfield BarrowThe location of the Hatfield Barrow was confirmedby excavation of a trench placed from its centre to thelip of its surrounding ditch. Dateable remains wererecovered from the remnants of the mound itself(approximately 0.15m of mound material waspreserved towards the centre), and a posthole cutthrough this material, hinting that, like Silbury Hill,the Hatfield Barrow was formed of a number ofphases. Features (possibly tree-throw pits) wererecorded below the mound, as were patches of burntmaterial, which should provide good radiocarbon ageestimates.

The southeast entrance and ditch endA section was excavated through the henge ditch nextto the newly identified south-east entrance, revealingthe ditch to be 2m deep. Good organic preservationwas recorded from the lower fills, and a number oflarge animal bones and pieces of antler had beenpreserved, albeit in a very soft and fragile state.

This trench also exposed a small section of thesoutheast entranceway, revealing a thick deposit ofgravel sitting within a shallow cut. This may well bea similar feature to the gravel roadway recorded at

Durrington Walls, which led from the henge down tothe River Avon; the feature at Marden is certainlyorientated towards the Avon on a southeasterlyalignment.

The inner henge bank and buildingThe most remarkable part of the whole excavation,however, was in the southern part of the monumenton the bank of the newly identified inner henge. Hereexcavations revealed the chalk surface of anextraordinarily well-preserved Neolithic building.The central part of the surface was sunken into the ground by about 20cms, and this sunken area

The Marden building. The sunken area can clearly be seen, as can the central hearth.

The ripple-flaked oblique arrowheads, both with tips and barbsmissing, but with the barb fragment (which is clearly from a third

arrowhead) ‘fitted’ onto the lower example.

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measured approximately 3m x 4m. The sunken areais utterly dominated by a large hearth, which wassurrounded by a feature - presumably the location forsome sort of fireguard.

Close to the chalk surface were spreads of organic-rich midden debris, which incorporated three elegantbone pins or needles and a bone awl, as well as flintflakes. In one area was an assemblage of bones fromseveral pigs - some bones were clearly articulated,suggesting that for the large part they were depositedin a single episode and presumably represent feastingdebris.

Two exquisitely crafted ripple-flaked oblique flintarrowheads were also recovered from this trench, butwith broken tips and one missing barb each.However, if an intriguing broken fragment of flintfrom another part of the site is correctly interpreted,these arrowheads may have once sported grosslyelongated barbs on one side. This long and narrowsurface-flaked ‘barb’ fragment closely matches thecharacter and width of the stubs on the arrowheads -so much so that it almost refits with one of them.Such an overstated feature places the artefact wellbeyond the realms of practicality, and must have beenthe ultimate show-off item. As far as we know,nothing similar exists in Britain - and even the barbson elaborate continental barbed-and-tangedarrowheads are small by comparison. We lay achallenge here at the feet of all flint knappers outthere to try to recreate a similar arrowhead and barb.

The potteryPrehistoric pottery was recovered from across thesite, and apart from a couple of possibly laterprehistoric sherds in late contexts, the assemblage iscomposed entirely of Grooved Ware in theDurrington Walls sub-style. The pottery from themidden debris is of particular interest since thereappears to be an unusually large number of sherdswith decoration on their inner surfaces. One vessel,for instance, has finely executed incised pendant-filled triangles, while another has a complex schemeof horizontal or vertical incised lines filled withtransverse or diagonal lines between reserved bands.

A lug handle with two small holes top and bottom isquite unlike the horizontally pierced lugs notedwithin the sub-style, and is possibly unique andanthropomorphic – the holes look like eyes andnostrils and are probably too small to accommodatea cord for suspension. Further still, several sherdshave a thin surface coating, possibly a slip.

Although Wainwright’s assemblage is similar to thepottery from this year’s excavations, reflectingcommonalities of potting tradition and style, thematerial (particularly that from the inner henge bank)appears to be different, perhaps specialised, andmight hint at functional or chronological variationacross this huge site. This and other researchquestions will be addressed in a forthcomingprogramme of assessment and analysis.

Future work and implicationsOnly one quarter of the internal surface of thebuilding was exposed during this season of work andthe possibility remains that the location of furnitureand other internal building elements may be evidentfrom the unexcavated area. Another season of workwould elucidate this. Equally only a very small portionof the midden debris was excavated. Any further workwill also include trial trenching outside the hengealong any possible route between the southeasternentrance and the River Avon to confirm the suggestionthat a metalled road exists between the two.

The structure on the bank of the inner henge isundoubtedly one of the best preserved Neolithicbuildings in Britain outside Orkney, but its purposeremains to be explained, while its location on top ofa henge bank now questions the very nature of suchearthwork banks and the degree to which similarstructures might be incorporated both at this site andelsewhere.

Jim Leary, David Field and Michael Russell

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Grooved Ware sherd with applied lug pierced with smallholes top and bottom, possibly anthropomorphic.


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