Stratton, Biggleswade: 1,300 Years of Village Life in Eastern Bedfordshire from the 5th Century AD

Cover
Title Page
Copyright page
Contents Page
List of Figures
Figure 1.1: Site location, showing former dependent townships of Biggleswade and the modern parish boundary
Figure 1.2: Contextual phasing hierarchy
Figure 2.1: Selected section drawings from Period 1 and 2 features
Figure 2.2: Plan of all excavated remains from Periods 1 (Neolithic to Bronze Age) and 2 (early Iron Age)
Figure 3.1: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 3 (early Anglo-Saxon), with selected section drawings
Figure 3.2: Pottery drawings from Period 3 features. Scale 1:4
Figure 3.3: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 4 (middle Anglo-Saxon) overlain on the Period 3 plan
Figure 3.4: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 4a
Figure 3.5: Gridded layout of middle Anglo-Saxon enclosure systems
Figure 3.6: Close-up plan of land-use areas L8 and L9, with other Phase 4a features in grey
Figure 3.7: Plan of graves in cemetery L9, with radiocarbon dates
Figure 3.8: Close-up plans of the more complete skeletons in cemetery L9
Figure 3.10: Inhumation 7414
Figure 3.9: Inhumation 7412
Figure 3.11: Inhumation 7415
Figure 3.12: Inhumation 7416
Figure 3.13: Plan showing the spatial arrangement of cemetery L9, with associated structure G615
Figure 3.14: Close-up plan of land-use area L10, with section drawing of well G1095, and other Phase 4a features in grey
Figure 3.15: Close-up plan of land-use area L11, with other Phase 4a features in grey
Figure 3.16: Selected section drawings from Phase 4a features
Figure 3.17: Excavation of well G5244 in progress
Figure 3.18: Wattle lining in well G5244
Figure 3.19: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 4 (L15)
Figure 3.20: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 4b
Figure 3.21: Selected section drawings from Phase 4b features
Figure 3.22: Close-up plan of land-use areas L19–22, with selected section drawings, and other Phase 4b features in grey
Figure 3.23: Plan of graves in cemetery L19, with radiocarbon dates
Figure 3.24: Selected pottery drawings from Period 4 features. Scale 1:4
Figure 4.1: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 5 (late Anglo-Saxon to Saxo-Norman) overlain on the Phase 4/4b plan
Figure 4.2: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 5a
Figure 4.3: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 5, with section drawing
Figure 4.4: Close-up plan of land-use areas L28, L34 and L37, with section drawing
Figure 4.5: Close-up plan of land-use area L29, with other Phase 5 features in grey
Figure 4.6: Close-up plan of land-use area L30
Figure 4.7: Close-up plan of land-use area L31, with section drawing
Figure 4.8: Close-up plan of land-use area L33
Figure 4.9: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 5b
Figure 4.10: Close-up plan of land-use area L38, with section drawing
Figure 4.11: Selected pottery drawings from Period 5 features. Scale 1:4
Figure 5.1: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 6 (medieval) overlain on the Period 5 plan
Figure 5.2: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 6a
Figure 5.3: Close-up plan of land-use area L47
Figure 5.4: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 6
Figure 5.5: Close-up plan of land-use areas L49, L51 and L59, with other Phase 6 features in grey
Figure 5.6: Selected section drawings from L49 and L51 features
Figure 5.7: Close-up plan of land-use areas L50 and L56, with other Phase 6 features in grey
Figure 5.8: Close-up plan of land-use areas L50 and L54–58, with other Phase 6 features in grey
Figure 5.9: Close-up plan of land-use area L52, with section drawings; other Phase 6 features in grey
Figure 5.10: Close-up plan of land-use area L52–55, with other Phase 6 features in grey
Figure 5.11: Selected section drawings from L58 features
Figure 5.12: Selected pottery drawings from Period 6 features. Scale 1:4
Figure 6.1: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 7 (late medieval to early post-medieval) overlain on the Period 6 plan
Figure 6.2: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 7
Figure 6.3: Close-up plan of land-use areas L61, L64 and L74, with other Phase 7 features in grey
Figure 6.4: Plan of Phase 7 dovecot G3500
Figure 6.5: Dovecot G3500, looking west
Figure 6.6: Reconstruction drawing of dovecot G3500
Figure 6.7: Close-up plan of land-use areas L65–67 and L71, with other Phase 7 features in grey
Figure 6.8: Close-up plan of land-use area L68, with other Phase 7 features in grey
Figure 6.9: Close-up plan of land-use area L69, with other Phase 7 features in grey
Figure 6.10: Close-up plan of land-use areas L70 and L72, with section drawing, and other Phase 7 features in grey
Figure 6.11: Overall plan of all excavated remains from Phase 7b
Figure 6.12: Close-up plan of land-use area L76, with section drawing, and other Phase 7b features in grey
Figure 6.13: Close-up plan of land-use area L79
Figure 6.14: Selected pottery drawings from Period 7 features. Scale 1:4
Figure 6.15: Plan of all excavated remains from Period 8 (post-medieval) overlain on the Period 7 plan
Figure 6.16: Selected section drawings from Period 8 features
Figure 7.1: Plans and section drawings of Period 3 SFBs
Figure 7.2: Plan of SFB G3163 showing posthole depths
Figure 7.3: Plans and section drawings of Period 3 SFBs
Figure 7.4: Plans and section drawings of Phase 4a SFBs
Figure 7.5: Plans and section drawings of Phase 4b SFBs
Figure 7.6: Plans and section drawings of small sunken structures (Periods 5 and 6)
Figure 7.7: Plans and section drawings of Period 5 SFBs
Figure 7.8: SFB G3235, looking south-west
Figure 7.9: Plan and section drawing of Period 5 SFB G5259
Figure 7.10: Plans of Phase 4b earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.11: Mortuary structure and cemetery L9, looking east
Figure 7.12: Plans of Phase 4/4a earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.13: Building G5153, looking south-west
Figure 7.14: Plans of Phase 5 earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.15: Plans of Phase 5 earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.16: Plan of Phase 5b earthfast timber building G5108
Figure 7.17: Building G5108, looking south-west
Figure 7.18: Plans of Phase 6 earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.19: Plans of Phase 6a earthfast timber buildings
Figure 7.20: Plans of Phase 7 earthfast timber buildings
Figure 8.1: Medieval watering pot P291 and pipkin P408. Scale 1:4
Figure 8.2: Medieval helmet. Scale 1:4
Figure 8.3: Late medieval / post-medieval wooden stool or workbench. Scale 1:4
Figure 11.1: Phased plan of all features
List of Tables
Table 1.1: Date and relative sizes of the individual excavations
Table 1.2: Domesday lords (with their antecessors in 1066)
Table 1.3: Taxation and ploughs on Ralph d’Isle’s Biggleswade estate in 1086
Table 1.4: Recorded peasantry in 1086 (all estates)
Table 1.5: Descent of Domesday Book fees
Table 1.6: Analysis of the 1297 taxation in Stratton
Table 1.7: Analysis of 1297 taxation in various vills
Table 1.10: 1666 hearth tax statistics
Table 1.8: Lay subsidies: number of tax payers with assessment
Table 1.9: Taxation rankings of Stratton within Biggleswade hundred
Table 1.11: 1670 hearth tax statistics
Table 1.12: 1801 census statistics
Table 1.13: Numbers of Holme and Stratton wills 1600–1799
Table 3.1: Radiocarbon dates from Period 3 deposits
Table 3.2: Period 3 pottery quantification
Table 3.3: Radiocarbon dates from cemetery L9
Table 3.4: Radiocarbon dates from Phase 4a settlement-related deposits
Table 3.5: Radiocarbon dates from Phase 4 deposits
Table 3.6: Radiocarbon dates from Phase 4b settlement-related deposits
Table 3.7: Radiocarbon dates from cemetery G302
Table 3.8: Phase 4a pottery quantification
Table 3.9: Phase 4 pottery quantification
Table 3.10: Phase 4b pottery quantification
Table 4.1: Radiocarbon dates from Period 5 deposits
Table 4.2: Phase 5a pottery quantification
Table 4.3: Phase 5 pottery quantification
Table 4.4: Phase 5 pottery from buildings
Table 4.5: Phase 5b pottery quantification
Table 4.6: Evidence for horse-riding in Period 5
Table 4.7: Residual and intrusive Other Artefacts in Period 5 (intrusive items in italics)
Table 5.1: Phase 6a pottery quantification
Table 5.2: Phase 6 pottery quantification by feature type
Table 5.3: Phase 6 pottery quantification by land-use area
Table 5.4: Phase 6 CBM quantification by land-use area
Table 5.5: Knives from Period 6
Table 5.6: Lead spills and droplets
Table 5.7: Weight of lava quern by Period
Table 5.8: Earlier medieval coinage in date order
Table 5.9: Horse-related equipment in Phase 6 (italics indicate intrusive; * indicates residual)
Table 6.1: Phase 7 pottery quantification by feature type
Table 6.2: Phase 7 pottery quantification
Table 6.3: Phase 7b pottery quantification
Table 6.4: Phase 7 CBM quantification by land-use area
Table 6.5: Phase 7b CBM quantification by land-use area
Table 6.6: Comparison of frequency of building materials and fasteners and fittings in the early medieval and late medieval periods at Stratton
Table 6.7: Distribution of building materials and fasteners and fittings in Period 7
Table 6.8: Household-related finds in Period 7 (items in italics are intrusive; * items are residual)
Table 6.9: Craft-related finds in Period 7
Table 6.10: Subsistence-related finds in Period 7
Table 6.11: Dress-related finds from Period 7 (items in italics are intrusive; * items are residual)
Table 6.12: Period 8 pottery quantification
Table 6.13: Post-medieval pottery fabrics
Table 6.14: Post-medieval forms by vessel count (all periods)
Table 7.1: Summary of SFB dimensions
Table 7.2: Summary dimensions of small sunken structures
Table 8.1: Pottery quantification by Phase
Table 8.2: Early and middle Anglo-Saxon pottery fabrics (from all periods)
Table 8.3: Anglo-Saxon pottery quantification by Phase
Table 8.4: Late Anglo-Saxon pottery fabrics (all phases)
Table 8.5: Medieval pottery fabrics (all periods)
Table 8.6: Medieval pottery quantification from Period 6
Table 8.7: Medieval forms by vessel count — all phases
Table 8.8: Functional attributes by ware group
Table 8.10: Late medieval forms by vessel count (all periods)
Table 8.9: Late medieval pottery fabrics (all periods)
Table 8.11: CBM quantification for Phased deposits
Table 8.12: Roman CBM quantification by fabric type and form
Table 8.13 Medieval and post-medieval CBM quantification by fabric and form
Table 8.14: Quantity of phased flint by Period
Table 9.1: Summary of fully analysed charred environmental samples from all periods of Stratton excavations
Table 9.2: Summary of fully analysed waterlogged environmental samples from all periods of Stratton excavations
Table 9.3: Comparison of Anglo-Saxon economic plants from Stratton with other sites in the region
Table 10.1: Mammal NISP counts by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.2: Mammal NISP counts and percentages by Phase (excluding ABGs, rabbits and small mammals)
Table 10.3: Cattle element counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.4: Cattle mandibular ageing data
Table 10.5: Sheep/Goat element counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.6: Sheep/Goat mandibular ageing data by Period
Table 10.7: Pig element counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.8: Pig mandibular ageing data
Table 10.9: Horse element counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.10: Dog element counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.11: Cat elements counts (NISP) by Phase (including ABGs)
Table 10.12: Red deer element counts (NISP) by Phase
Table 10.13: Bird NISP counts by Phase
Digital Appendices
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Preface
About this publication
Date of writing
Figures and Tables
Location of the archive
Structure
Terminology and abbreviations
Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
Introduction
Location, topography and geology
Project background and nature of the investigations
Nature of the phasing structure and contextual hierarchy
Nature of the post-excavation analysis
Archaeological background
Anglo-Saxon
Earlier prehistoric
Iron Age and Romano-British
Medieval
Historical background
Domesday estates
Introduction
Later manorial history
Ecclesiastical organisation
Economy and demography
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Pre-Settlement Landscape
Early Iron Age (Period 2)
Neolithic to Bronze Age (Period 1)
Period 3 artefacts
Pottery
Period 3 structural narrative (early Anglo-Saxon: c. AD 400–600)
Chapter 3. Early–Middle Anglo-Saxon Settlement
Other artefacts
Period 4 structural narrative (middle Anglo-Saxon: c. AD 600–850)
Phase 4a
Phase 4
Phase 4b
Period 4 artefacts
Pottery
Other artefacts
Chapter 4. Late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman settlement (Period 5: c. AD 850–1150)
Period 5 structural narrative
Phase 5a
Phase 5
Phase 5b
Artefacts
Pottery
Other artefacts
Chapter 5. Medieval settlement (Period 6: c. AD 1150–1350)
Period 6 structural narrative
Phase 6a
Phase 6
Artefacts
Pottery
Ceramic building material
Other artefacts
Chapter 6. Late medieval to post-medieval settlement (Periods 7–8: c. AD 1350–1700)
Period 7 structural narrative
Phase 7
Phase 7b
Period 7 artefacts
Pottery
Ceramic building material
Other artefacts
Period 8 artefacts
Pottery
Other artefacts
Period 8 structural narrative
Chapter 7. Building forms
Sunken-featured buildings (SFBs)
Introduction
Period 3: early Anglo-Saxon
Period 4: middle Anglo-Saxon
Period 5: late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman
Period 6: Medieval
Earthfast timber buildings
Introduction
Period 4: middle Anglo-Saxon
Period 5: late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman
Period 6: medieval
Period 7: late medieval
Chapter 8. Overview of the artefacts
Pottery
Early and middle Anglo-Saxon (Periods 3 and 4)
Introduction
Late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman (Period 5)
Medieval (Period 6)
Late medieval / early post-medieval (Period 7)
Ceramic building material
Introduction
Assemblage by date
Tiles
Brick
Other artefacts
Chapter 9. The vegetational history of Stratton
Introduction
Environmental sampling at Stratton
Woodland Resources
Early Anglo-Saxon (Period 3)
Middle Anglo-Saxon (Period 4)
Late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman (Period 5)
Medieval (Period 6)
Late medieval / early post-medieval (Period 7)
Post-medieval (Period 8)
Summary
The surrounding environment
Early Anglo-Saxon (Period 3)
Middle Anglo-Saxon (Period 4)
Late Anglo-Saxon/ Saxo-Norman (Period 5)
Late medieval / early post-medieval (Period 7)
Medieval (Period 6)
Post-medieval (Period 8)
Summary
Cultivation of crops
Comparison with other Anglo-Saxon sites in the region
Continuity of CPR results between the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods
Conclusions
Chapter 10. Faunal remains
Animal exploitation at Stratton
Introduction
Cattle
Cattle abundance
Cattle Associated Bone Groups (ABGs)
Cattle element representation
Cattle ageing and sexing evidence
Cattle metrical data
Sheep/Goat
Sheep Associated Bone Groups (ABGs)
Sheep/goat abundance
Sheep/goat element representation
Sheep/goat ageing and sexing evidence
Sheep metrical data
Pig
Pig Associated Bone Groups (ABGs)
Pig abundance
Pig element representation
Pig ageing and sexing evidence
Pig metrical data
Horse
Horse Associated Bone Groups (ABGs)
Horse abundance
Horse element representation
Horse ageing evidence
Horse metrical data
Dogs
Cats
Deer
Birds
Domestic fowl (chicken)
Goose
Other birds
Pigeon
Hares and rabbits
Other mammals
Amphibians and fish
Chapter 11. Discussion
Introduction
Settlement origins, development and demise
Early to middle Anglo-Saxon (Periods 3–4)
Late Anglo-Saxon / Saxo-Norman (Period 5)
Late medieval to post-medieval (Periods 7–8)
Medieval (Period 6)
Farming economy, diet and the surrounding environment
Woodland resources
Farming economy and land use
Diet
Manufacturing, consumption and exchange
Exchange and consumption of traded goods
Manufacture of goods
Death and burial
Bibliography
Back Cover