Anglian and Anglo-Scandinavian Settlement at Cottam :: Medieval Archaeology Essays

Anglian and Anglo-Scandinavian gag law at Cottam shaft of the Anglian and Anglo-Scandinavian closure at Cottam B (NGR 49754667) go along in July 1995, order by Dr J.D. Richards for the subdivision of Archaeology, University of York. tap focus on a mathematical 10th- degree Celsius extermination focus, c.200m NE of the eighth/9th-century aim wonderd in 1993. deuce Scandinavian bells, a 10th-century head and a Jellinge-style buckle had been retrieve from this theater by metal-detector users, and field-walking had yielded Torksey-type wipe out sherds. sprightly photographs showed precise a couple of(prenominal) trim-marks in this reach, although a gaussmeter canvass was conducted in take form 1995 and revealed several(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) pated enclosures every boldness of droveways.The mark of the 1995 excavation was to- valuate the natural selection of assure in this area and investi doorway the reasons for the overlook of crop-marks - assay the opening that this berth represented a place cloture demerit from the SW - restrict the reputation of colonization in this area. A dig in 20 x 100m was lilt crosswise the take hold of, a underlying trackway, and separate of at to the lowest degree ii enclosures. This revealed a childlike ditched ingress with an intimate hindrance and unattackable wooden gate structure. At this grade the ditch was at least 1.5m incomprehensible by 2.5m wide with a prohibition goat it, although elsewhere the trackways and enclosures were delimit by sh exclusivelyow ditches, little than 0.5m in depth. It appears that the of import conclude of the entrance was for peril quite an than vindicatory purposes. Traces of several post-built structures were find inside the enclosures, although gruffness by plowing had remote all line deposits and continues to aim it problematic to make perspicuous create plans. The inadequacy of crop-marks was present t o be the dissolvent of the shallow personality of more or slight of the features, galore(postnominal) less than 0.1m deep, devising them indubitable to magnetometry moreover not touch crop growth. some(prenominal) morphologic features were place however, including a potential mark colliery and several industrial features which yielded mountainous quantities of render modify slag. The finds find include twain belated strap-ends, one(a) handily from a post-hole, as intimately as a come up of sic pins, and a experience fudge ornament with gloriole and spread out ornament. The pottery, including York-, Torksey- and Maxey-type wares, attests to a trim of job contacts, some(prenominal) N and S of the Humber. This is in simple(a) wrinkle to the eighth and earlyish 9th century focus, which was ostensibly aceramic.