Autumn 2010
Thornaugh Quarry
A medieval bloomery site used for the
reduction of iron ore to produce wrought iron has been recently
excavated at Thorney Quarry by staff of Phoenix Consulting Ltd. The
site was characterised by the presence of roasting hearths (for
roasting metallic ore before smelting) and shaft furnaces
(constructed as clay shafts with the fire at the bottom and the
fuel and ore added from the top).
Bretton Way
An Iron Age and Romano-British site
characterised by the presence of a late Roman ritual stone-lined
tank has been recently excavated off Bretton Way by staff of Oxford
Archaeology East. Iron Age activity was characterised by the
presence of at least two roundhouses in the eastern part of the
site, with a possible shift of settlement in Roman times. The Roman
settlement was not identified, although the quantity and
composition of the finds (namely pottery, animal remains and coins)
from the associated field system indicate that this would have been
located in close proximity. Interesting features included an aisled
barn and a stone-lined tank. The organic fill of the tank has
produced remains of at least half a dozen leather shoes in
exceptionally good condition of preservation, three complete pots
possibly part of placed deposits, and a considerable amount of
large mammal bones, including cows' skulls, which could also
represent ritual deposits, although tanning should not be
discounted.