Coombe Bissett 2021
By David Weston.
Recently the WAFG started up fieldwork again after the easing of measures put in place during the Covid 19 pandemic.
The dig was directed by Alyson Tanner on a windswept, and at times very wet, chalk hill just outside Coombe Bissett, south of Salisbury. The intention was to carry out an evaluation of features identified in aerial photographs and geophysical surveys carried out by David Sabine, Mike McQueen, and others. The site straddles 2 landowners’ fields, both of whom were extremely supportive and interested in the project. Six trenches were opened over features pinpointed by the geophysical survey results, and it is now clear that the features previously identified can be considered as significant archaeology.
Although the post-ex work has only just begun, it seems likely that the site is a Romano-British farmstead. The trenches revealed significant amounts of pottery (mostly Black Burnished Ware) which has yet to be dated, but probably extends from the early Roman period (if not late Iron Age), through to the 4th century AD. Other finds included a few later Roman small coins, and some small pieces of brooches/buckles. Some of the archaeological features were somewhat enigmatic. There were a number of scoop shaped pits (not deep enough or the correct shape for storage pits) and it had been suggested that some may indicate quarrying for chalk, or even natural features, but so far their purpose is not clear. The small rectilinear feature in the centre of the site was partly excavated, and ended up being a shallow U-shaped ditch. No signs of post-holes or masonry were found, and the ditch contained very few finds. Over the years many late Roman coins have been found on the site, and given the shape of this feature, and that the geophysical surveys appeared to show it surrounding a central dark blob, there was a clear potential for something significant to be found here. However, the excavations revealed no signs of structures, nor were any high status, ritual, or votive artefacts discovered. At first sight, some of the Black Burnished Ware seemed to be in fairly good quality, but a lot were in poor quality.
Phil Andrews (Project Manager at Wessex Archaeology) was on site for most of the week in an advisory and excavator capacity. Phil continued at the site after the excavations had finished, excavating a storage pit, a probable crop dryer, and finishing the recording left to be done.
We now need to wait and see what the finds experts say, and what plans might be made for future work.
Recently the WAFG started up fieldwork again after the easing of measures put in place during the Covid 19 pandemic.
The dig was directed by Alyson Tanner on a windswept, and at times very wet, chalk hill just outside Coombe Bissett, south of Salisbury. The intention was to carry out an evaluation of features identified in aerial photographs and geophysical surveys carried out by David Sabine, Mike McQueen, and others. The site straddles 2 landowners’ fields, both of whom were extremely supportive and interested in the project. Six trenches were opened over features pinpointed by the geophysical survey results, and it is now clear that the features previously identified can be considered as significant archaeology.
Although the post-ex work has only just begun, it seems likely that the site is a Romano-British farmstead. The trenches revealed significant amounts of pottery (mostly Black Burnished Ware) which has yet to be dated, but probably extends from the early Roman period (if not late Iron Age), through to the 4th century AD. Other finds included a few later Roman small coins, and some small pieces of brooches/buckles. Some of the archaeological features were somewhat enigmatic. There were a number of scoop shaped pits (not deep enough or the correct shape for storage pits) and it had been suggested that some may indicate quarrying for chalk, or even natural features, but so far their purpose is not clear. The small rectilinear feature in the centre of the site was partly excavated, and ended up being a shallow U-shaped ditch. No signs of post-holes or masonry were found, and the ditch contained very few finds. Over the years many late Roman coins have been found on the site, and given the shape of this feature, and that the geophysical surveys appeared to show it surrounding a central dark blob, there was a clear potential for something significant to be found here. However, the excavations revealed no signs of structures, nor were any high status, ritual, or votive artefacts discovered. At first sight, some of the Black Burnished Ware seemed to be in fairly good quality, but a lot were in poor quality.
Phil Andrews (Project Manager at Wessex Archaeology) was on site for most of the week in an advisory and excavator capacity. Phil continued at the site after the excavations had finished, excavating a storage pit, a probable crop dryer, and finishing the recording left to be done.
We now need to wait and see what the finds experts say, and what plans might be made for future work.