Middle Bronze Age to Late Iron Age occupation on land at Westbarrow Hall Farm (EHER 17440)

A fieldwalking survey in 1996 recovered 14 prehistoric pottery sherds and 31 brunt flints which were interpreted together as evidence of settlement. Subsequent trial trenching recovered a considerable assemblage of Middle Bronze Age to Late Iron Age pottery sherds, the bulk of which belonged to the Early Iron Age, and a small number of features dating from these periods. Bronze Age artefacts and features were located predominantly in the northern half of the evaluation area and included a Middle Bronze Age clay-lined pit (probably for domestic refuse) and at least one probable cremation pit. Iron Age features were distributed across the northern half of the evaluation area. Within this area were a number of undated burnt features and pits with a high concentration of charcoal in their fills, and one Late Iron Age feature that was defined as a kiln, but which may have been a hearth.

1996. Fieldwalking survey. Prehistoric and Roman (see EHER 17441) finds showed a very clear concentration in the north-east corner of the survey area. Taking the surface finds at face value there is a 3Ha spread of prehistoric pottery and burnt flints with several significant groupings centred on the fieldwalking grid square 'A50' (at NGR TQ 898 864). A total of 14 sherds of prehistoric pottery were collected, and are of a probable Late Bronze Age or possibly Early Iron Age date. 31 worked flints were also recovered. It was concluded that the concentrations of pottery and burnt flint occur together and may indicate settlement. <1> 1997. Trial trenching. In 1997 sixty-one trial trenches were excavated in two stages to determine the extent and nature of any surviving archaeological remains. The first stage consisted of excavating thirty-two trenches in the northern half of the development area. These revealed an expanse of archaeology across the whole area. This comprised features of all types with dates ranging from the Bronze Age through to the modern period. The second stage consisted of excavating twenty-nine trenches across the southern half of the development area. The density of features in this area was lower than that of the northern area, but a similar range of features and chronology was recorded. Unfortunately, the evaluation was curtailed, because the density of the archaeology in some of the trenches precluded detailed excavation. Nonetheless, the excavations produced a substantial assemblage (1502 sherds, 8.67 kg), of prehistoric pottery. The earliest pottery present is of Deverel-Rimbury character and Middle Bronze Age date (approximately 1500-1000 BC). This pottery is characterised by large thick walled, straight-sided vessels in flint or flint and grog (Fabric Q) fabrics. Material typical of this period was derived from features [9] in Trench 2, [130] in Trench 11, [237] in Trench 14 and [594] in Trench 29. Late Bronze Age (LBA approximately 1000-650 BC) ceramics are also present in the assemblage. Distinctive rim forms of this date were present in feature [1075] (Trench 35) whilst features [38] (Trench 1) and [218] (Trench 18) contained fragments of small, thin walled, highly decorated fineware cups. The bulk of the assemblage is of Iron Age date and predominantly Early Iron Age (approximately 650-300 BC). Many contexts at Westbarrow Hall Farm show assemblages with a range of fabrics typical of the Early Iron Age (e.g. context (563) in Trench 24, feature [1122] in Trench 61) often including distinctive jar rims or shoulders with finger tip decoration (e.g. features [537] and [822] in Trench 19, [1196] in Trench 13) or shoulder sherds of angular bowls (e.g. features [822] and [830] in Trench 19) which are typical Early Iron Age forms. Footring and pedestal bases are useful chronological indicators. The chronology of the prehistoric occupation on the site is as follows: The Neolithic period (see EHER 82709) was represented by a general spread of flint flakes across the whole of the northern half of the evaluation area. A concentration of flint flakes was also noted in pit [1065] in Trench 52, isolated from the rest of the scatter. This was the greatest individual concentration of flints. No features of Neolithic date were identified but the presence of the flint flakes and the scraper (Registered Find 4), which was found in the topsoil, does imply activity here at this time. Bronze Age artefacts and features were located predominantly in the northern half of the evaluation area, although isolated features were to be found in the south-eastern and western areas. This seems to correspond with the main concentrations of burnt flint recovered during the field-walking survey and may be related to a number of burnt features and features with a high charcoal content. Of these features, only pit [130] in Trench 11 could be securely dated. This clay-lined pit originated in the Middle Bronze Age and contained in its top fill a large quantity of charcoal, probably domestic refuse or hearth sweepings. This is typical of the features one would expect in the vicinity of a settlement. Feature [596] was identified as a cremation pit and may be contemporary with the other pits in this trench. These may also have been cremation pits, but they were heavily truncated and no calcined bone was recovered from them. The spread of Iron Age activity across the site encompassed not just the area defined by fieldwalking as having a concentration of prehistoric pottery, but also almost the whole of the northern half of the evaluation area, excluding its north-west corner. Within this area were a number of undated burnt features and pits with a high concentration of charcoal in their fills, and one Late Iron Age feature that was defined as a kiln, but which may have been a hearth. Trench 52, which was located in the south-eastern corner of the evaluation area also contained Iron Age material, but apparently did not belong to an area of concentrated Iron Age activity. This indicates a shift of focus to the northeast during the Late Iron Age with the settlement moving to the area defined by the fieldwalking as having a concentration of Roman artefacts. It is probable that the Late Iron Age/ Roman settlement remained inhabited into the Roman period. <2> - <3>