The excavation of two prehistoric ring-ditches and associated burials at Kilbrew, Co. Meath (original) (raw)
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Eight Ring-ditches at Four Crosses, Llandysilio, Powys, 1981–85
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 1986
Eight ring-ditches and several stretches of pit alignment have been excavated between 1981 and 1985, as part of the investigation of an extensive cropmark complex on a gravel terrace in the Upper Severn valley at Four Crosses, northern Powys. Excavation of the ring-ditches, which form part of a more scattered barrow cemetery, has revealed a long and complex pattern of development of barrow types and burial forms in the period between the Middle Neolithic and the Middle Bronze Age. This is compared with the recently published sequence from the neighbouring upland barrow cemetery at Trelystan, and subdivided into four hypothetical phases. There is evidence of activity in the vicinity of some of the sites in the Iron Age, Romano-British, and possibly the early post-Roman period.
Excavation of a Prehistoric Ring-Barrow at Kilmahuddrick, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
A prehistoric ring-barrow in Kilmahuddrick townland, west of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was excavated during 2000. Radiocarbon dates indicate activity during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. A series of cremation deposits were identified within the ring-barrow and a sequence of deposits were found in the ditch. The site was enclosed within a field system of early medieval date.
A Bronze Age ring ditch at Earls Barton Quarry, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2005
An archaeological watching brief was carried out at the southern extension at Earls Barton Quarry. A ring ditch enclosure, 10m in diameter, lay on a gravel island between two palaeochannels. It is dated to the Early Bronze Age by food vessel sherds from the ditch, suggesting that this was a funerary monument forming an outlier to the well known Grendon complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. An undated cremation deposit to the east of the palaeochannel may have been directly related to the adjacent Grendon barrows. A pit excavated in the evaluation may have dated to the Iron Age. A medieval track was also recorded.
The excavation of a medieval ring-ditch enclosure at Hayknowes Farm, Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
Excavation at a crop-mark site found close to Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, revealed evidence of a ring-ditch containing a number of intriguing internal structures. Initially this was presumed to be a prehistoric monument, but pottery and radiocarbon dating, unexpectedly, indicated that the main structural phase of the site falls between the llth-13th centuries AD. This suggests that a degree of caution is required when interpreting crop-mark sites on morphological characteristics alone. Moreover this excavation makes clear that morphological interpretation can have a constraining influence on excavation strategy, so caution is required when designing fieldwork programmes.
An Early/Middle Iron Age Ring Ditch, possible Shrine, Pits and Field System, Wrotham, Kent
In 2009 and 2010 SLR Consulting undertook a strip, map and sample investigation at Wrotham Quarry, Trottiscliffe, Kent (NGR TQ 647 596). The results of this programme of archaeological work revealed a residual lithic scatter, comprising a Levallois-style core/scraper, as well as other worked flint from the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic/Bronze Age periods. The main period of activity, however, was during the Early and Middle Iron Age, for which a segmented ring ditch 13m in diameter, coaxial field ditches, pits, cremated human bone, assemblages of pottery and carbonised wood were recovered. The pottery and radiocarbon dating of a cremation confirmed a Middle Iron Age date of 365-171 cal BC (at 95% confidence), but also a collection of decorated sherds which were assigned a slightly earlier date. Pottery manufacture might also have occurred on site. A final phase was represented by two pits with sherds from 12th century pottery vessels. The interpretation placed on the ring ditch tentatively suggests that the site might not have been domestic, and instead could perhaps have been a rare example of an Iron Age shrine.
A Middle Neolithic Ring Ditch and Settlement at King Alfred Way, Newton Poppleford
László Lichtenstein Paul Rainbird, 2018
A rare Neolithic ring ditch which was the focus of a pair of graves containing cremated human remains was uncovered during archaeological works at King Alfred Way, Newton Poppleford. In the vicinity of the ring ditch were several pits or postholes, the finds from which indicated that they were largely contemporary with the ring ditch and graves, and may represent the positions of at least two houses. A few finds, including a sherd of Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery and some sherds of later Iron Age pottery, indicate some later prehistoric use of the area. An assemblage of Peterborough ware pottery, worked flint and a radiocarbon date show that the main use of the site was during the Middle Neolithic. The detailed analyses of the human remains and palaeoenvironmental evidence are also presented.
Fieldwork at Newton Farm, Cambuslang (NGR NS 672 610) was undertaken in advance of housing development in 2005–6. A cluster of six shallow Neolithic pits were excavated, and a collection of 157 round-based, carinated bowl sherds and a quern fragment were recovered from them. The pits produced a date range of 3700 to 3360 cal BC. Most of the pits yielded burnt material, and one of the pits showed evidence of in situ burning. The pottery may form ‘structured deposits’. A Bronze Age adult cremation placed in a Food Vessel dated to 3610±30 BP (2040–1880 cal BC) was set in a wider landscape of single and multiple cremations and inhumations on the river terraces overlooking the Clyde. A possible unurned cremation was also identified. This was cut by the course of a small ring-ditch dated to the very late Bronze Age or early Iron Age 2520±30 BP (800–530cal BC).