Monument record 0243509000 - PARK WOOD

Woodland survey conducted in early 2006 in Park Wood. A total of 24 saw pits were recorded within the survey area. These are a fairly standard size and shape, measuring between 5.4 and 6m in length and 3.5 to 4m wide. Their full depth can only be determined by excavation as nearly all the pits have a deep layer of leaf mould and soil infilling the base of the pit. One pit on the east side of the survey area appears to illustrate the original profile - steeply sloping sides convergins on a narrow vertical cut at the base of the pit, perhaps just sufficiently wide for the feet of the 'underdog' i.e. the person in the pit responsible for drawing down the saw. Wherever the pits are located they always take advantage of the sloping ground so that their longest axis is along the contour and the spoil is always cast down-slope. By this means a level platform for the frame timbers supporting the log is created. The distribution of pits appears to be fairly random, though there is a slight cluster in the central area of the survey between the pond and the southern end of the suspected park pale (see CAS 02435:01). Dating the pits is difficult. There are several examples where they have been sited within the outlines of existing depressions, meaning they must post-date the feature they have been cut into. One was cut into the supposed 16th century park pale. Excavation and the recovery of dateable artefact evidence from the base of the pits is likely to provide the only firm evidence for when these pits were created (B8). NGR to centre of distribution.