Waterlands: Prehistoric Life at Bar Pasture, Pode Hole Quarry, Peterborough

Presenting the results of a decade-long archaeological investigation at Bar Pasture Farm, Pode Hole Quarry, Peterborough, this book represents one of the most significant landscape excavations carried out in recent years. The 55-hectare site was the scene of human activity on the fenland edge from the Mesolithic through to the Late I

Waterlands: Prehistoric Life at Bar Pasture, Pode Hole Quarry, Peterborough recounts a decade-long archaeological investigation at Bar Pasture Farm, Pode Hole Quarry, Peterborough, and represents one of the most significant landscape excavations carried out in recent years. The 55-hectare archaeological dig was the scene of human activity on the fenland edge from the Mesolithic through to the Late Iron Age, although the majority of the evidence covered the period from the Early Neolithic through to the Middle Bronze Age. Throughout prehistory, the fen edge has represented a landscape at the margins of human habitation and exploitation. During the Early Neolithic, a substantial waterhole complex with signs of later visitation was established on the fen edge. Traces of several Beaker buildings provided elusive evidence of slightly later activity further inland, whilst during the Early Bronze Age proper, a number of impressive burial mounds were constructed within a dedicated ‘Barrow Field’. One barrow contained the nationally significant remains of an infant burial on a birch bark mat with associated grave goods. The Middle Bronze Age saw the entire re-organisation of the surrounding landscape by the creation of an extensive, rectilinear field system, served by multiple droveways and associated with a classic enclosed farmstead. The placement of later Middle Bronze Age cremation burials within the remains of earlier burial monuments bears witness to the intimate connection of this small community to their ancestors’ sacred landscape. By the 4th century BC, settlement was all but abandoned due to marine inundations, although one slightly elevated part of the landscape formed an area of refuge for an Iron Age smith and his family, who created an isolated and significant smithy.

Chapter 1: Introduction Background to the Project Project Aims Methodology Report Structure Chapter 2: The Project Area The Landscape Context The Geological Context Implications for Archaeological Survival The Archaeological Context Chapter 3: The Excavations Summary PERIOD 0: MESOLITHIC (c. 9000 to 3500 BC) PERIOD 1: EARLY TO LATE NEOLITHIC (c. 3800 to 2000 BC) PERIOD 2A: BEAKER (c. 2400-1900 BC) PERIOD 2B: EARLY BRONZE AGE (1916-1640 cal BC) PERIOD 3: MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (c. 1600-1100 BC) PERIOD 3A: EARLY MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (1623-1463 cal BC) PERIOD 3B: LATER MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (1400-1130 cal BC) PERIOD 4: LATE BRONZE AGE TO EARLY IRON AGE (c. 1100 - 500 BC) PERIOD 4A: LATE BRONZE AGE (c. 1100 - 800 BC) PERIOD 4B: LATE BRONZE AGE / EARLY IRON AGE (c. 800-500 BC) PERIOD 5: MIDDLE TO LATE IRON AGE (EARLY LA TENE) PERIOD 5A: EARLY LA TENE IRON AGE 1 (511-207 cal BC) PERIOD 5B: EARLY LA TENE IRON AGE 2 (350-53 cal BC) Chapter 4: Material Culture Introduction PREHISTORIC POTTERY - Elaine L Morris CLAY WEIGHTS - Elaine L Morris FIRED CLAY - Elaine L Morris BRIQUETAGE - Elaine L Morris ROMAN POTTERY - Ruth Leary STRUCK LITHICS - Hugo Anderson-Whymark QUERNS - Karen Francis METALWORKING RESIDUES - Gerry McDonnell Chapter 5: Environmental Archaeology THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL REMAINS - John Summers POLLEN - Rob Scaife and Catherine Langdon CARBONISED PLANT MACROFOSSILS - John Summers WATERLOGGED PLANT MACROFOSSILS - John Summers CHARCOAL - John Summers PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY - John Summers WATERLOGGED WOOD - Michael Bamforth and Maisie Taylor ANIMAL BONE - Julia E M Cussans and James Rackham Chapter 6: Human Bone - Katie Keefe, Elina Petersone-Gordina and Malin Holst, with contributions by Harriet Jacklin Chapter 7: Discussion and Synthesis INTRODUCTION THE EARLIEST EVIDENCE EARLY TO LATE NEOLITHIC BEAKER EARLY BRONZE AGE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE LATE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE LATE BRONZE AGE LATE BRONZE AGE / EARLY IRON AGE EARLY LA TENE IRON AGE 1 EARLY LA TENE IRON AGE 2 RE-USE OF A ONCE ABANDONED LANDSCAPE Appendix A: Prehistoric Pottery, Ceramic Phases 1-5 Appendix B: XRF Methodology Appendix C: Table 22. Waterlogged plant macrofossil remains from selected contexts Appendix D: Table 23. Quantified charcoal data from selected contexts Appendix E: Table 53. Radiocarbon results Bibliography, Chapter 1: Introduction Background to the Project ;
Project Aims ;
Methodology ;
Report Structure ;
Chapter 2: The Project Area The Landscape Context ;
The Geological Context ;
Implications for Archaeological Survival ;
The Archaeological Context ;
Chapter 3: The Excavations Summary ;
PERIOD 0: MESOLITHIC (c. 9000 to 3500 BC) ;
PERIOD 1: EARLY TO LATE NEOLITHIC (c. 3800 to 2000 BC) ;
PERIOD 2A: BEAKER (c. 2400-1900 BC) ;
PERIOD 2B: EARLY BRONZE AGE (1916-1640 cal BC) ;
PERIOD 3: MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (c. 1600-1100 BC) ;
PERIOD 3A: EARLY MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (1623-1463 cal BC) ;
PERIOD 3B: LATER MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (1400-1130 cal BC) ;
PERIOD 4: LATE BRONZE AGE TO EARLY IRON AGE (c. 1100 - 500 BC) ;
PERIOD 4A: LATE BRONZE AGE (c. 1100 - 800 BC) ;
PERIOD 4B: LATE BRONZE AGE / EARLY IRON AGE (c. 800-500 BC) ;
PERIOD 5: MIDDLE TO LATE IRON AGE (EARLY LA TÈNE) ;
PERIOD 5A: EARLY LA TÈNE IRON AGE 1 (511-207 cal BC) ;
PERIOD 5B: EARLY LA TÈNE IRON AGE 2 (350-53 cal BC) ;
Chapter 4: Material Culture Introduction ;
PREHISTORIC POTTERY – Elaine L Morris CLAY WEIGHTS – Elaine L Morris FIRED CLAY – Elaine L Morris BRIQUETAGE – Elaine L Morris ROMAN POTTERY – Ruth Leary STRUCK LITHICS – Hugo Anderson-Whymark QUERNS – Karen Francis METALWORKING RESIDUES – Gerry McDonnell Chapter 5: Environmental Archaeology THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL REMAINS – John Summers POLLEN – Rob Scaife and Catherine Langdon CARBONISED PLANT MACROFOSSILS – John Summers WATERLOGGED PLANT MACROFOSSILS – John Summers CHARCOAL – John Summers PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY – John Summers WATERLOGGED WOOD – Michael Bamforth and Maisie Taylor ANIMAL BONE – Julia E M Cussans and James Rackham Chapter 6: Human Bone – Katie Keefe, Elina Petersone-Gordina and Malin Holst, with contributions by Harriet Jacklin Chapter 7: Discussion and Synthesis INTRODUCTION ;
THE EARLIEST EVIDENCE ;
EARLY TO LATE NEOLITHIC ;
BEAKER ;
EARLY BRONZE AGE ;
MIDDLE BRONZE AGE ;
LATE MIDDLE BRONZE AGE ;
LATE BRONZE AGE ;
LATE BRONZE AGE / EARLY IRON AGE ;
EARLY LA TÈNE IRON AGE 1 ;
EARLY LA TÈNE IRON AGE 2 ;
RE-USE OF A ONCE ABANDONED LANDSCAPE ;
Appendix A: Prehistoric Pottery, Ceramic Phases 1-5 Appendix B: XRF Methodology Appendix C: Table 22. Waterlogged plant macrofossil remains from selected contexts Appendix D: Table 23. Quantified charcoal data from selected contexts Appendix E: Table 53. Radiocarbon results Bibliography