The Archaeology of Castle Hill, Wittenham Clumps

HOMEPAGE

The Archaeology of Castle Hill

Trench 1

Trench 2

Trench 3

Trench 5

Week 5

Trench 1

Trench 6

Index

Week 2 update

Week 3 update

Week 4 update

Week 6 update

Interim Summary Reports

Photographs of people at work

NEW!

Latest from Castle Hill

Digging continues in the large enclosure ditch surrounding Castle Hill. The angle of the ditch sides has changed, the lower ditch sides being very steep, suggesting that the ditch may have been U-shaped.

In the centre of the ditch a spread of human and animal bone, pebbles and stones has been found. Tiles from just above it suggest that the bones were deposited in Roman times. Some of the bones are large and well-preserved, suggesting that they were deliberately placed here, and have not simply eroded out of the hillside above. The inclusion of a human jaw and other body parts among the bones of sheep, pig and cattle is quite a mystery.

A view of the enclosure ditch from the south. The ditch was cut through the natural chalk but over the centuries soil from the top has washed down the hill and raised the ground level at the bottom of the ditch.

We have found a dog skeleton at the bottom of the ditch. When we find intact skeletons (rather than disarticulated and loosely scattered bones) we can tell that the animal was buried in one piece.

On the outer bank we have nearly reached the old ground surface upon which the bank was piled. Any finds upon this will help date the construction of the hillfort, and we will also be looking for environmental evidence in the form of snails that may tell us whether the hill was wooded or open before the hillfort was built. We also intend to excavate the old ground surface to look for earlier finds; following the discovery of an early Neolithic leaf-shaped arrowhead in the rampart in Week 4 and Late Bronze Age pottery in Trench 3 we hope to find more evidence of the pre-Iron Age use of Castle Hill.

If you would like to help on the dig please speak to one of the team, or contact Denise Price, at Oxford Archaeology on 01865 263800. Application forms may also be obtained by e-mail from denise.price@oxfordarch.co.uk.