Watermead Country Park, Birstall, Leicestershire
English Heritage ALSF summaries. 2002/2003
| EH Project Number: | 3380MAIN |
| Funded Unit: | Leicester University |
Abstract
An intriguing combination of Bronze Age 'activities' have been excavated at a gravel quarry in North Leicestershire, including a burnt mound with structural evidence, an adjacent timber bridge, a collection of butchered animal bone (including a decapitated horse skull and aurochsen) and human skeletal remains with evidence of decapitation / de-fleshing.
These events evoke a unique image of a Bronze Age ritual landscape, suggesting a ceremonial aspect to the function of burnt mounds. To characterise the riverine environment in this area of the Soar will provide predictive information to enable curators to manage future extractions. This information will significantly contribute to a number of agenda addressed in the East Midlands Regional Research Frameworks (http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/east_midlands_research_framework.htm).
To assure that this information is disseminated to a wide body of people a threefold project is proposed:
i. A display (including artefacts) will be prepared for local museums, libraries and schools. The display will be supported by a published pamphlet.
ii A web page with a visual focus will be compiled. The WWW has excellent potential for reaching a wide audience including socially excluded and disadvantaged groups.
iii .To inform a national audience with an academic paper in a national journal such as the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society.
The project will aim to encourage community involvement, help the understanding of the historic environment in an area where gravel extraction has taken place, disseminate knowledge to the academic and wider public and help predict future impacts
Introduction
Waterlogged human remains were discovered during gravel extraction of a pre-PPG16 permission quarry in Watermead Country Park, Leicestershire in 1996. The collection represented the remains of at least two adult males with one of the skulls including a series of cut marks suggesting some form of either de-fleshing or decapitation. These were dated to cal BC 1040-810 (OxA-6831). Subsequent investigations established that the bones came from a peat deposit within a former channel of the River Soar and a programme of environmental and sediment sampling ensued. Dated samples suggest a profile from the Late Upper Palaeolithic to the late Bronze Age.
As the extraction process continued, further archaeological features were observed. A remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age burnt mound was located on the adjacent riverbank including a shallow mound of fire-cracked stones and charcoal, two hearths, water channels and a timber and wattle lined trough. Immediately adjacent to the mound two parallel rows of oak posts extended across the palaeochannel - perhaps the remains of a bridge or jetty. Animal bones were recovered from the palaeochannel silts including a decapitated horse skull and the remains of butchered cattle and aurochsen. A small quantity of animal bone was also recovered from the trough.
The fieldwork and assessment was jointly funded by ULAS, LMARS, Ennemix Construction Materials Ltd., Leicestershire County Council, Property Department and Charnwood Borough Council). English Heritage provided advice, C14 dating and pollen analysis. Numerous local volunteers also supported the fieldwork.
Project Aims
To contribute to a better understanding of Bronze Age ceremonial activities and ritual depositions in watery contexts.
To aid the development of the East Midlands Regional Research Frameworks.
To contribute to regional research into Bronze Age floodplain activity entitled "Changing Use of the Valley Bottom in the East Midlands in the Third and Second Millennia B.C.: Neolithic Landscape to Bronze Age Eco-niche" (Beamish forthcoming).
To ensure a continued public interest in and enjoyment of the archaeological resource.
Specific Objectives
To establish the spatial, stratigraphic and chronological relationship between the burnt mound, bridge, animal bone deposits and human skeletal remains.
To more fully understand the palaeopathology of the human remains (e.g. whether decapitation / de-fleshing occurred pre or post mortem. The survival of a mandible and a brain endocast suggests deposition while soft tissue was present).
To establish the range of animal species exploited for butchery and identify Bronze Age butchery practices and tools used.
To identify evidence for woodworking practices and analyse tree rings to provide information for research in Bronze Age timber working practises.
To establish the character of the local environment (climate, hydrology, alluviation, water conditions, flora and fauna) and any environmental change.
To analyse faunal and floral material to establish burnt mound activities.
To date the alluviating conditions of this area of the Soar.
Methodology
It is proposed to complete the analysis of the fieldwork. Based on this information publication (academic and popular), a web site and displays will be provided.
Project Outcomes
The data collected will be publicised within the academic community with an article for a national journal such as the Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society (c.f. Wells C. and Hodgkinson D.,'A Late Bronze Age Human Skull and Associated Worked Wood from a Lancashire Wetland,' PPS 67, 2001, pp163-174).
The site also particularly lends itself to a 'narrative' that will be of interest to the wider public. A web page with a visual focus will be targeted at the general readership.
Press releases during the fieldwork and the location of the site within a public park generated a great deal of local interest in the excavations. It is therefore also proposed to develop a touring display of six panels and two cases for local museums (Charnwood Museum, Jewry Wall Archaeology Museum), libraries (Birstall and Thurmaston public library) and schools. A popular low cost pamphlet (folded A3) will accompany the exhibition.
Project team
Matthew Beamish, timber analysis (University of Leicester Archaeological Services), Patrick Clay, project management (ULAS), Dr. Annie Grant, animal bone specialist (University of Leicester), James Greig, pollen and plant macrofossils (University of Birmingham), Pete Liddle, museum display (Leicestershire County Council), Angela Monkton, environmental project officer (ULAS), Susan Ripper, excavations director (ULAS), Dr. David Smith, insect analysis (University of Birmingham).
Susan Ripper
University of Leicester Archaeological Services
University of Leicester
University Road
Leicester LE1 7RH
Tel: 0116 252 2848
Fax: 0116 252 2614
e-mail: SAR6@LE.AC.UK
12.5.2003
http://www.leics.gov.uk/property/country_parks/watermead/
http://www.le.ac.uk/archaeology/east_midlands_research_framework.htm
This page was published 05/08/03
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