| Summary : Traces of Saxon activity have been found at Abingdon during excavations at the site of the Neolithic causewayed enclosure (SU 59 NW 30). Saxon pottery was collected by ET Leeds in 1928 from gravel pits to the east of the causewayed enclosure. Earlier, in 1905 an inhumation was found between the two enclosure ditch circuits. It is undated, but has been suggested as possibly being Saxon. Excavations in 1963 recovered Saxon pottery, some shallow gullies which could be Neolithic or Saxon, plus two Saxon pits, one containing two postholes. These pits contained burnt clay, possibly daub, as well as charcoal and other finds. Artefacts recovered during the excavations included possible Iron Age or Roman pottery, a Roman bronze coin which had been perforated, bone combs, a shale spindle whorl, an amethyst bead with iron wire loop, and animal bones. The general date range for the Saxon material appears to span the late 5th century to the 7th century. |