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The Archaeology of Castle
Hill
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Week 6 |
Trench
5 |
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Index
Week 2 update
Week 3 update
Week 4 update
Week 5 update
Interim Summary Reports
Photographs of people at work
NEW!
Latest
from Castle Hill |
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We opened this trench to examine
the change in ground level evident as an east-west bank running through
the clump, and to look for the northern side of the buried Late Bronze Age
ditch. We were hoping that the bank would be partly man-made, perhaps even
incorporating the rampart of the early enclosure within it. Unfortunately,
the bank appears to be largely natural, a rise in the underlying geology,
though the soil above it is deeper than elsewhere on the hilltop. |
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Trench 5 has not been
entirely without archaeology, however, as we have found struck flint implements
within the topsoil. These are either narrow blades or microliths, small
points used by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers in making hunting weapons. The
flint points were glued into grooves in the sides of arrow- or spear-shafts,
each weapon usually having multiple points or barbs. This activity dates
back to sometime before 4000 BC, and so represents the earliest human activity
yet found on the hilltop. |
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To find small pieces of pottery, bone and flint, such
as microliths, archaeologists often sift the spoil from excavation using
fine-mesh sieves. Here two future archaeologists practice sieving techniques
during a Family Fun day. |
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We have found various geologies under the topsoil
in Trench 5 but any trace of the ditch that runs through the other trenches
eludes us. |
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The varied soils uncovered below
the topsoil all appear to be part of the glacial geology, and there is no
trace of the ditch. Since it did not appear in the geophysical survey of
the open area north of the clump, we believe the ditch must lie between
the trench and the edge of the clump, and have asked permission from English
Heritage and English Nature to dig an extension to find and plan the ditch.
If permission comes through in time, we will open the trench later this
week. |
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If you would like
to help on the dig please speak to one of the team, or contact Denise
Price, at Oxford Archaeology on 01865 263800. Application forms may also
be obtained by e-mail from denise.price@oxfordarch.co.uk.
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