The Archaeology of Castle Hill, Wittenham Clumps

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The Archaeology of Castle Hill

Week 6

Trench 6

This trench has been excavated through the north-south planting ridges of the 18th-century clump. It is believed that these ridges were made to increase the depth of topsoil over the glacial sand and gravel that caps the hilltop, and which provided a very poor soil in which to plant. Below the ridges a thin layer of soil and pebbles survives, interpreted as the remains of the ploughing that took place before the clump was established.

Below the ploughing is a concentration of archaeological features: a large ditch, a small circular pit to each side, and a larger group of Middle Iron Age pits at one end. The ditch had the same dark grey fill in its top as the buried ditch in Trench 3, an occupation deposit containing animal bones, charcoal and Early Iron Age pottery. Below this were more animal bones, and in the middle ditch fills two infilled postholes were found. These are interpreted as part of a fence, perhaps erected to help define the limits of the enclosure now that the ditch was partly silted up. Below this again much of a large decorated pot was found scattered along the ditch, together with some charcoal. This may have been a cooking pot broken in the fire and dumped into the ditch, or perhaps a deliberate offering. It dates to the Late Bronze Age, firm evidence that this is the west side of the Late Bronze Age hilltop enclosure.

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Several parts of a large decorated pot dating to the Late Bronze Age were scattered along the bottom of the ditch.

Excavating and measuring Trench 6. The undulations of the planting ridges are clearly visible in the sides of the trench and the ditch and archaeological features have been found below these.

The small pits contained very few finds, but the larger pits have produced animal bones, pottery and two fragments of human leg bone. We now have bones from eight individuals in the excavations, six probably Iron Age and two Roman.

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.