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The Archaeology of Castle
Hill
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Week 5 |
Trench
5 |
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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 |
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Trench 5 is being excavated to investigate
where the buried inner ditch surrounding the hilltop runs on the north side.
The geophysical survey shows the ditch in the open grassland to the south
and east, and in a clearing within the clump on the west, but not on the
open ground to the north, indicating that it must lie within the clump.
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The varied soils uncovered
below the topsoil all appear to be part of the glacial geology, and there
is no trace of the ditch. Since it did not appear in the geophysical survey
of the open area north of the clump, we believe the ditch must lie between
the trench and the edge of the clump, and have asked permission from English
Heritage and English Nature to dig an extension to find and plan the ditch.
If permission comes through in time, we will open the trench later this
week. |
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The geophysical survey shows the inner ditch along
the east, south and west of the hilltop. We are investigating its location
in the north of the site. |
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The dark lines running through the trench are plough
marks dating from the planting of the clumps. |
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The excavations in Trenches
5 and 6 are also intended to look at the preservation of any buried archaeology
within the clumps. All of the hillfort was ploughed in the medieval period,
but the planting of the clump in the mid 18th century protected this area
from further ploughing, while the surrounding area continued to be ploughed
until very recently. We hope to ascertain whether the protection has resulted
in better preservation of the archaeology here, or whether damage from tree
roots has been more detrimental. If the bank crossing the clump is man-made,
perhaps forming a boundary to a ploughed field in the medieval period, any
archaeology beneath it may be better-preserved than anywhere else in the
hillfort interior. |
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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.
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