Aldermaston Wharf |
| Hob Uid: 240982 | |
Location :
West Berkshire
Beenham
|
| Grid Ref : SU6050068100 |
| Summary : Late Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman features excavated in 1976-7 in advance of destruction by commercial gravel extraction. The Late Bronze Age settlement site comprised 49 pits and around 60 post holes, although it proved difficult to isolate any clear structures from the general pattern of features. A clay lined feature. perhaps a pond, was also identified. Finds included pottery, flints (including a scraper), clay mould and crucible fragments, quern fragments. A field system of probable mid-Iron Age date was followed by evidence of Late Iron Age settlement including a rectangular enclosure, linear features and pits. Finds included pottery, animal remains, quern fragments and much burnt material. A Roman bath house of late 3rd to 4th century AD date stood within its own enclosure and clearly overlay the earlier field system. The bath house was presumably associated with a nearby villa or other settlement. Roman finds included pottery, tiles, coins, and a bronze bracelet. |
More information : 6067 6068 SU 66 NW Area centred SU 605681 BEENHAM
Parallel lines, trackways, linear features and 2 incomplete
rectangular enclosures.
Large trapezoidal enclosure with heavily marked edges and central
block mark (possibly on old gravel pit?). Block mark. Scattered pits.
ST JOSEPH 56 TD 44-45.
RM 63 CM 109, 117.
Site in process of destruction by gravel quarrying. In 1974 a series
of ditches, flint-and mortar wall footings and a timber-lined
culvert, all belonging to the Romano-British period, were briefly
observed during destruction in the vicinity of 605680.
Prior to destruction for gravel extraction a rescue excavation of
the area, known as Aldermaston Wharf, was undertaken in April/May
1976 by the Dept of Archaeology, Reading University. A further
watching brief and small excavation was carried out by the Berkshire
Arch Unit with the help of the Berks Fielf Research Group in Aug/Sept
1977.
Site I mostly consisted of features of an unenclosed late Bronze Age
Settlement (see Auth 3 for full excavation report). Two definite
pits in Site II and III respectively suggested further scattered
occupation or activities of a similar date.
Middle Iron Age pottery dated three parallel ditches in Site III
which are interpreted as part of a field system. This may have
extended across to Sites I-II.
The corner of a late Iron Age (early 1st century AD) ditched enclosurewas excavated on Site I. The rest of the settlement was lost in
gravel extraction prior to 1976. Slightly later material, suggested
an unenclosed settlement of the mid-first century or Pre-Flavian
date was recovered from Site III. The middle Iron Age field system
appeared to have been reused in this period.
The main element of the late Roman settlement was the bath-house
complex (Site II) which seems to be part of a larger farming
settlement, previously destroyed.
The bath-building stood in its own enclosure on top of the earlier
field system. A small amount of Roman material was also recovered
from Sites I and III. (4)
An area on the first terrace of the River Kennet in advance of gravel extraction. In the late C3rd or early C4th an extensive field system was laid out. One of its ditches underlay a small bath-house. This building measured circa 12m x 4m and was adjoined by a second building 4m square. beyond was a latrine pit which yielded a sherd dated to circa 350. All of these structures lay within a gated enclosure later than the field system. Further Roman buildings are thought to have been destroyed in an earlier phase of gravel extraction. (5) |