Monument record 0618600000 - S of Stoke Grange

Ditches, pits and gullies, dated to Romano-British period from C1-C2 pottery found during Wessex Archaeology trial trenching. Features concentrated in SE corner of field (B1-2).
The identified features in the northwest of the survey area. These include rectilinear and curvilinear anomalies that are characteristic of those caused by ditches and similar cut features that have been backfilled with more magnetically enhanced material. They appear to form subrectilinear enclosures, with one sub-circular enclosure in the northwest, and small discrete anomalies, suggestive of pits [Continuation of features in the northern field from B1-2] (B4).
Settlement site appears to have developed from the late Iron Age to early Roman period and started to decline after the 2nd century. Although residual finds of late Bronze Age to early Iron pottery may indicate earlier activity. The site was bounded by a large enclosure ditch with further ditches sub-dividing the interior. Two roundhouses, smaller structures, pits and a cremation burial we identified within this phase of settlement. Animal bone recovered from within the features was mainly cattle, with some fragments of sheep/goat and pig, and a relativley high proportion of dog. Possible gaps in the main boundary ditch one the east and west sides may indicate entrance ways. Two roundhouses, represented by circular gullies, had diameters of c8m and 11m. A well, oval in plan, was deliberatly backfilled using organic material. 1.65kg of pottery, animal bone and a copper-alloy brooch were recovered from the fill. A heavilly truncated cremation contained 3g of created bone, thought to be from a child. Ecofactual evidence suggests the main acitivity was pastoral farming. Later Roman activity comprised agricultural bedding trenches on the western side of the enclosure, with quarrying on the eastern side. The bedding trenches were aligned ENE-WSW, 0.35-1.15m wide and 0.05-0.45m deep and indicate a change in farming practices towards the end of the settlements use (B5).