Archaeological investigations at Huntsman’s Quarry, Kemerton, south
Worcestershire during 1995-6 recorded significant Late Bronze Age
occupation areas and field systems spreading across more than 8
hectares. Limited evidence for Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic,
Neolithic and Beaker activity was also recovered together with an
Early Bronze Age ring-ditch. Waterholes and associated round-houses,
structures and pits were set within landscape of fields and droveways
radiocarbon dated to the 12th–11th centuries cal BC. Elements of
this field system probably predated the settlement. Substantial
artifactual and ecofactual assemblages were recovered from the upper
fills of the waterholes and larger pits . The settlement had a
predominantly pastoral economy supported by some textile and bronze
production. Ceramics included a notable proportion of non-local
fabrics demonstrating that the local population enjoyed a wide range
of regional contacts. Wider ranging, national exchange networks were
also indicated by the presence of shale objects as well as the supply
of bronze for metalworking, perhaps indicative of a site of some
social status. Together the evidence indicates a small settlement
within which occupation of individual areas was short-lived with the
focus of the settlement shifting on a regular basis. It is proposed
that this occurred on a generational basis, with each generation
setting up a new ‘homestead’ with an associated waterhole. The
settlement can be compared favorably to those known along the Thames
Valley but until now not recognized in this part of the country.
Cropmark evidence and limited other investigations indicate that the
fields and droveways recorded represent a small fragment of a
widespread system of boundaries established across the gravel terraces
lying between Bredon Hill and the Carrant Brook. This managed and
organized landscape appears to have been established for the
maintenance of an economy primarily based on relatively intensive
livestock farming; the trackways facilitating seasonal movement of
stock between meadows alongside the Carrant Brook, the adjacent
terraces and the higher land on Bredon Hill.
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A Late Bronze Age settlement and landscape in Worcestershire
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781782979951
Publisert
2016
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxbow Books
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter