Archaeological Mitigation & Excavation, Wiltshire
As part of our on-going programme of quarry works in Wiltshire, we undertook Archaeological Mitigation & Excavation in a phase measuring c. 12,000m². Numerous pits and post-holes were uncovered, which likely represented peripheral settlement activity.
In Brief
Key Points
- Multi-year programme of archaeological works
- Wider area has revealed a wealth of archaeology from Prehistoric to Post-medieval activity
- Individual phase of c.12,000m²
- Ritualistic burials and deposition indicate a votive offering by a wealthy tribe for reasons that remain unknown
Summary
A programme of Strip, Map & Sample Excavation was undertaken in advance of gravel extraction within one phase at the quarry. Numerous features were revealed during excavations and of particular interest were the animal remains that appeared to be a form of ritual deposition.
Results
The works carried out revealed evidence for sporadic activity during the Late Bronze Age/Iron Age, Romano-British, early/middle Anglo-Saxon and Post-medieval periods. This likely represented peripheral settlement activity associated with the features previously excavated across the quarry.
The main features of interest were the undated pits, both of which contained faunal remains that were likely deposited in ritual acts. While animal remains would have been disposed of in a variety of different circumstances with different associated meanings and values, the fact that the adult cow was not processed for consumption is of interest. It is possible that this animal was simply diseased and was therefore unfit for
ingestion, being buried away from the main settlement to avoid further contamination; however, if it did indeed die whilst calving, this may have been seen as an unfavourable omen that required some special act of deposition in a specific location.
The burial of the nine cattle skulls in another pit, on the other hand, suggest definite ritual deposition, as these valuable animals were seemingly intentionally killed and processed at the same time, with only their skulls warranting deposition.
