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Contents Page
Background ..................................................................................................................3
1. Palaeotopographic Background .............................................................................4
1.1 Geoarchaeological investigation at Stinkums................................................4
1.2 Palaeoenvironmental Summary .....................................................................6
2. Investigations of Late Bronze Age Sites.................................................................8
2.1 Introduction......................................................................................................8
2.2 Stratigraphic Description................................................................................8
2.3 Finds Reports .................................................................................................12
2.3.1 Prehistoric Pottery - Lorraine Mepham ...............................................12
2.3.2 Unworked Stone - Jana Horák .............................................................13
2.3.3 Animal bone - Martin Locock..............................................................19
2.3.4 Lithic Analysis - Richard Lewis ..........................................................20
2.3.5 Molluscs - Andy Sherman ...................................................................22
3. Discussion................................................................................................................24
Figures
Figure 1. Site location (not to be included in final publication). .................................26
Figure 2. Trench and borehole locations at Stinkums – P9. ........................................27
Figure 3. Illustrations of prehistoric pottery 1-6 (scale 1:1) ........................................28
Figure 4. Photomicrographs of stone samples 1. .........................................................29
Figure 5. Photomicrographs of stone samples 2. .........................................................30
Figure 6. Grain sorting classification...........................................................................31
Figure 7. Grain shape classification.............................................................................31
Tables
Table 1. Radiocarbon dates..........................................................................................32
Table 2. Bone condition (after Locock et al. 1992, 209).............................................33
Table 3. Summary of analysed bone............................................................................33
Table 4. Animal bone catalogue. .................................................................................34
Table 5. Grain size classification scale ........................................................................33
Table 6. Summary of flint assemblage ........................................................................35
Bibliography ...............................................................................................................36
Appendix I: Palaeoenvironmental Evidence at Stinkums (Martin R. Bates, M.
Allen, J. Crowther, S. Davis, K. Griffiths, S. Jones, P. Robinson, E. Tetlow, J.
Whittaker ) .................................................................................................................38
Appendix II: Notes on the Archive...........................................................................79
1
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
2
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Background
Prologis have commissioned the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd (GGAT
Projects) to undertake the post-excavation analysis and reporting work arising from
discoveries made during archaeological and geoarchaeological investigations
undertaken in 2007 at Plot P9 Cabot Park, Avonmouth. GGAT Projects undertook an
earlier evaluation on Plot P9 as part of extensive site wide investigations carried out
in 1998 for Burford and subsequently have undertaken further evaluations, surveys,
excavations, post-excavation and watching-brief works at Cabot Park for Burford and
Cabot Property Partnership as part of the mitigation works required in fulfilment of
conditions attached to the main and various reserved matters planning consents.
This document is the outcome of post-excavation analysis and reporting arising from
the investigations at Plot 9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth undertaken in 2007. Post-
excavation assessments for the two phases of fieldwork have previously been prepared
(Askew 2007, Corcoran 2007). The following report fulfils the aims and objectives as
outlined in the associated Project Design (Marvell 2008).
For publication purposes the main body of the report will be assimilated into the final
report on works at Cabot Park which will describe the wider landscape at Cabot Park
and include sites at Kites Corner, Little Googs 1 and 2 and the pond at P11 which
have recorded more extensive remains than was recorded at Stinkums where much of
the site has been preserved through agreed construction design. The full
palaeoenvironmental report in Appendix I and the archive notes in Appendix II will
not form part of the publishable material.
The physical remains and records relating to these investigations will be incorporated
into the main Cabot Park Archive, which will in due course be deposited with Bristol
Museum.
3
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
1. Palaeotopographic Background
Phase 3: Neolithic and Bronze Age alluviation (4500 – 3800 cal BP)
A gleyed clay deposit and an alluvial silty clay deposit represented the stratigraphy of
this phase. These deposits were indicative of yet another return to estuarine and
associated salt marsh environments. Pollen preservation was poor with some
indication of arboreal pollen (Table 3). Diatom floras from these deposits are
indicative of coastal and brackish conditions. The few molluscs present also indicate
salt marsh habitats. Forams and ostracods confirm an estuarine inter tidal mudflat
environment, with initially quite a high degree of marine influence, which tails off
over time, as the site appears to become more and more peripheral to marine access
through regression of the sea and/or aggradation of the land. The environment is
gradually presenting itself as a hospitable area once again.
4
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Phase 4: Palaeochannel
A palaeochannel (08) was partially recorded on site although the details are not
conclusive and the feature not excavated. A depth was attributed to the upper level of
the palaoechannel as varying between 4.68 – 4.78m OD. It is noted in the evaluation
report (Askew 2007: 18) that the eastern edge of the palaeochannel was cut into the
gleyed clay (15) of Phase 3. During the 1998 evaluation (Locock 1998: 78) two
palaeochannels were recorded in Trench 4 (GGAT Trench No. 44). They were both
aligned north - south and were cut through the lower gley (502). One of the
palaeochannels had a width of approximately 1.5m and the other a more substantial
15m.
Phase 6: Later Bronze Age occupation layer (3800 – 3400 cal BP)
The contexts attributed to Phase 6 represent an episode of human activity at P9. The
occupation deposits comprise three thin deposits (measuring 10mm, 60mm and 100m
in depth), which can be equated to the B-layer seen elsewhere at Cabot Park. These
occupation deposits are referred to collectively as the B-layer. The compressed date
range of the pottery and the shallow depths of the deposits in this phase suggests a
short period of occupation. This is consistent with the evidence from Kites Corner and
Little Googs 1 and 2. The upper level for this phase was encountered at 5.07m OD
(approximately 1.20m below current ground level). This occupation deposit has been
dated (C14 method) to 1120–410 cal BC (Table 1) as part of the current work.
Previous dating at Rockingham Farm of the B-layer provided date ranges 1398–812
cal BC. This could suggest that the occupation at Rockingham Farm (mid to late
Bronze Age) was somewhat earlier than that at Stinkums (mid Bronze Age to mid
Iron Age). An overlap in the dates does not make this conclusive.
5
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Facies 1. Inter-tidal sand flats. Pollen is limited from this facies. Diatoms are present
and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral communities.
Forams and ostracods indicate a brackish, saltmarsh and true marine components exist
that are explained by reference to a large open estuary or embayment around the site
at this time. This infill incorporated not only the local estuarine sediments that were
forming at the time, but a great deal of marine sediment thrown in by storm surges,
including possible reworked Pleistocene material. A single date was obtained from
forams collected from the lowermost sample that provides an age for onset of
accumulation of this fossiliferous material of 7900+/-60 B.P.
Facies 2. Inter-tidal mudflats (1st phase). Pollen from this facies is limited. Diatoms
are present and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral
communities. Forams and ostracods indicate that the marine influence begins to
diminish through this facies. Also, perhaps significantly, there is no further input of
“exotic” material.
The sandflats turn to mudflats as the area becomes more and more peripheral to
marine influence and as the local estuarine intertidal scenario gradually takes over.
Facies 4. Inter-tidal mudflats (2nd phase). Pollen preservation is poor with some
indication of arboreal pollen. Diatom floras from these deposits are indicative of
coastal and brackish conditions. Forams and ostracods indicate an estuarine intertidal
mudflat environment, with initially quite a high degree of marine influence, which
tails off over time as the site appears to become more and more peripheral to marine
access through regression of the sea and/or aggradation of the land. The few molluscs
present indicate saltmarsh habitats.
Facies 5. Palaeochannel fills. Plant macrofossils associated with these deposits are
those of wet, maritime conditions but also included charred and non-charred
ericaceous material (possibly reworked). Forams and ostracods are limited but are
typical of estuarine, tidal mudflats. The few molluscs indicate saltmarsh habitats.
6
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Conclusion
The results of this investigation have supplied information on the nature and timing of
environmental changes associated with the earlier Holocene habitats represented at
the site. However, poor preservation of contained palaeoenvironmental material in the
palaeochannel fills (facies 5 and 9) as well as the saltmarsh facies (6-8) and the
uppermost occupation horizon (10) has made it difficult to determine the nature of
these environments.
The results of the assessment undertaken indicate that further investigation of the
sediments would be unlikely to add materially to the existing information already
identified at Stinkums. The results add some finer detail to the palaeotopographic
sequence identified at Cabot Park but do not lead to any revision.
7
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Stinkums (Figure 2)
2.1 Introduction
The archaeology and geoarchaeology of the Stinkums site was further evaluated in
2007 by the Museum of London Archaeological Service (MoLAS). A program of four
evaluation trenches and seven boreholes was undertaken (Askew 2007: Corcoran
2007). One of the MoLAS trenches was positioned in such a way to enable the re-
examination of the 1998 GGAT trench (44). Only c.67m of the original 125m was re-
excavated. MoLAS trenches 2 and 3 were excavated at right angles to and adjoined
the trench 4 at each end and ran at right angles from it. Trench 1 was excavated
parallel to trench 4 it but set some 100m to the northeast.
A transect of nine Terrier Rig boreholes was proposed with the intention of extending
to the base of the alluvial sequence. Ground conditions would not allow two of the
boreholes to be undertaken. The remaining seven were drilled and core samples
recovered with initial examination conducted on-site (Corcoran 2007). Wherever
possible the boreholes were excavated to 7m depth and cores were retained for
subsequent assessment and palaeoenvironmental assessment. The purpose of the
drilling was to determine the extent of the horizons of archaeological interest within
the area of proposed building construction (P9). The work was carried out by MoLAS
in 2007. The borehole survey demonstrated that the gleyed occupation layer extended
into the building footprint and can also be identified in the palaeochannel, whereas the
Baras-layer extended across the entire area examined, apart from the palaeochannel.
1
GGAT context numbers are given in three digits, MoLAS context numbers are given in two digits.
8
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
sample recovered from this facies was dated to 6980 - 6560 cal BC (Table 1, Beta
Ref. 253801) i.e. the middle Mesolithic period. These are the oldest dates measured
by radiocarbon dating for the Cabot Park region.
Overlying the sand flat deposit was an intertidal mudflat comprising sand and clay
and recorded as facies 2 in borehole 9 only. The upper surface of this deposit was
encountered at 1.10m OD. Forams and ostracods data indicate that the marine
influence of the earlier facies 1 begins to diminish through this second facies. The
sandflats turn to mudflats as the area becomes increasingly peripheral to marine
influence as a local estuarine intertidal environment gradually becomes established.
The mudflat of facies 2 was overlain in borehole 9 by an organic clay (facies 3). This
facies was also encountered in boreholes 6-7. The uppermost levels at which this was
encountered was 1.56m OD, 1.79m OD, 1.86m OD and 1.90m OD respectively.
These levels represent a gradual slope downwards towards the southwest. These
deposits comprise humic clays that contain the highest concentrations of pollen
recovered during the borehole investigation. The taxa associated with this deposit
suggest an association with agricultural activity although established agriculture on
this estuarine environment is unlikely. Taxa describing a mixed deciduous woodland,
with Oak, Pine, Alder, Birch, Lime and Hazel was also found during the
palaeoenvironmental assessment. Both of these plant macrofossil results might be
interpreted to indicate that the flora recorded persisted in the vicinity of the site
probably on the higher ground to the northwest and the foothill regions rather than on
the estuarine areas themselves. Radiocarbon investigation of the peat in this facies
was dated to 3940 – 3660 cal BC (Table 1, Beta Ref. 253800). This dates the deposit
to the early to middle Neolithic.
Overlying the second phase of inter-tidal mudflats was a sequence of inter-tidal salt
marsh deposits (facies 6 and 8; MoLAS (015) GGAT (508)). This sequence included
an organic clay (facies 7) deposit laid down between the two periods of salt marsh
environments (facies 6 and 8). This organic clay was encountered during trial pitting,
watching briefs, evaluation trenches and borehole investigations across the Cabot Park
site at depths ranging between 4.15 - 5m OD. This deposit is referred to as the Baras-
layer, or the N-layer and has been suggested to represent a freshwater lagoon between
adjacent marshy areas (Locock 1998: 36) preceding a ripening of the soil horizon,
with vegetation cover and prone to continual periodic inundations. The pollen record
for the N-layer in borehole 9 is indicative of a salt-marsh environment with pine, oak,
alder and hazel growing in the vicinity most probably toward the foothills to the
northwest. This deposit was encountered in trenches 1-3 (MoLAS) at depths of 4.50m,
4.33m and 4.56m OD respectively. These trenches did not produce finds from this
context and samples were not presented for C14 dating from these trenches. Previous
radiocarbon dating of this deposit has produced results ranging between 3700 – 2200
cal BC i.e. the Neolithic period (Table 1). Across the Stinkums site this deposit is
quite flat with only minimal undulation (within 0.14m).
9
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Subsequent to the salt marsh deposit is a return to a stabilised land surface along with
evidence for human occupation. This organic occupation deposit is referred to as the
B-layer. It is most probable that this occupation was both short lived and limited to a
localised area. During the excavation of GGAT evaluation trench 44 (Locock 1998:
78) this deposit was encountered and extended for approximately 109m. The
occupation deposit was separated into three distinct surfaces (503, 504 and 505)
divided by two palaeochannels (506 and 509). These palaeochannels had widths of
15m and 3m respectively. It has been considered that palaeochannel 506 might be the
same palaeochannel as 531 in trench 43 located at approximately 100m to the
southwest of trench 44. The occupation layers did not reach the edges of the
palaeochannels suggesting that they were active during the period of occupation.
MoLAS trench 4 was a partial re-excavation of GGAT trench 44 (Askew 2007: 11-
14). MoLAS excavated 64.70m at the southern extent of the GGAT Trench 4 which
measured 125m in total. The records from the MoLAS excavation partially records a
single palaeochannel as being revealed during excavation. It was described as being
filled and then overlain by the B-layer. If this description is correct it cannot be either
of the palaeochannels encountered by GGAT in 1998. The B-layer in the GGAT
results respected the edges of the palaeochannels, suggesting that the palaeochannel
was still open during the occupation period of the Bronze Age.
Within trench 4 the general occupation stratigraphy comprised three thin deposits (03,
04 and 05). Held within the uppermost occupation deposit (03) was a small hearth
(02) measuring 0.80m by 0.60m and 10-20mm in depth. Charcoal was present in the
hearth, surrounding a central patch of orange baked clay. The charcoal was observed
at a height of 5.08-5.12m OD. Charcoal samples taken from the deposit have
produced radiocarbon dates (Table 1) in the range of 1120 to 910 cal BC (i.e. the later
Bronze Age). This not only gives us a date for the hearth feature, but also a terminus
post quem for the occupation layer below it (04). Each of the occupation deposits
contained similar groups of finds, each comprising late Bronze Age pottery (see
Mepham 2.3.1 below), animal bone and small quantities of unworked stone. The very
limited date range of the pottery (Mepham ibid.) and the shallow depths of the
deposits in this phase suggest a short period of occupation following the trend seen at
other sites at Cabot Park. The upper level of this occupation was encountered at
5.07m OD (approximately 1.20m below current ground level).
Further evidence for occupation was encountered some 25m to the south of the hearth
(02) in trench 4. An oval-shaped spread of blackened, fragmented stones (06)
measuring 1.80m long by 0.85m wide and 50mm in depth was found with adjacent
charcoal fragments at a height of 5.03m OD. The central area of the stones was
densely packed, compared to its periphery, which was sparsely spread and each
fragment ranged between 40-50mm in diameter. Specialist analysis of the stones has
concluded that they are unburned and so cannot be interpreted as a hearth (see Horak
2.3.2. below). Charcoal from this deposit produced radiocarbon dates (Table 1) of 780
to 410 cal BC (i.e. late Bronze Age through to early Iron Age). A small waste flint
flake (see Lewis 2.3.4 below) and eight fragments of animal bone (see Locock 2.3.3
below) were also found in close proximity to context 06.
The B-layer was then sealed by a further series of estuarine alluvium deposits.
Directly overlaying the occupation deposit in GGAT trench 44 was an upper gleyed
deposit (501), followed by weakly gleyed silty alluvial clay (500) and this in turn is
10
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
sealed by a silty clay alluvium (499). All three of the alluvial deposits were recorded
in borehole 6; in all other boreholes only the uppermost one or two of these were
present. MoLAS trenches 1-4 recorded an alluvial silt deposit (021 in trench 1 and
019 in trench 2-4). Overlying the alluvial deposits is a subsoil, followed by the
topsoil.
11
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Introduction
The pottery assemblage recovered from P9 at Cabot Park amounts to 131 sherds
(628g). Apart from one medieval sherd, all of this material is of later prehistoric date.
The condition varies from fair to poor; apart from a few modern breaks, sherd edges
are worn, and calcareous inclusions have leached out, at least from surfaces. Mean
sherd weight overall is 4.8g. The pottery derived from nine contexts.
The medieval sherd (a small, glazed body sherd in Bristol Redcliffe ware, from
deposit/backfill layer 01) is not discussed further here.
Description
The pottery has been analysed following the standard Wessex Archaeology recording
system for pottery (Morris 1994), which follows nationally recommended guidelines
for prehistoric pottery (PCRG 1997). Details of fabric, form, surface treatment and
decoration have been recorded; data are held in an Excel spreadsheet, which forms
part of the project archive.
Seven fabric types were identified, based on the range and frequency of macroscopic
inclusions. These fall into three groups, on the basis of the dominant inclusion type:
calcareous (LI), flint-tempered (FL) and sandy (QU). This small type series
incorporates and extends that created for previously analysed pottery from Cabot Park
(Mepham 1998), which comprised four calcareous fabrics (LI/1-4) and one grog-
tempered fabric (GR1). The assemblage from P9 includes three calcareous fabrics, as
previously identified (LI/1, LI/2 and LI/4), as well as three sandy fabrics (QU1-3) and
one flint-tempered fabric (FL1). Fabric descriptions are given below. In all cases,
firing is irregular, and surface colouring is patchy.
FL/1 Soft, fine matrix, slightly micaceous, containing sparse, very poorly sorted,
subangular flint <5mm, frequently protruding through surfaces, giving
irregular appearance. Rare, subrounded quartz <0.5mm; rare fine mica flecks.
LI/1 Soft, fine clay matrix, slightly micaceous and with a soapy feel; containing
sparse to moderate (3-20%), poorly sorted, subangular calcite fragments
<3mm; rare (1-3%) subrounded quartz <0.5mm; rare iron oxides and very rare
mica flecks.
LI/2 Soft, moderately coarse clay matrix, slightly micaceous with a slightly soapy
or slightly sandy feel; containing sparse to moderate, poorly sorted, subangular
calcite <3mm; sparse (3-10%), fairly well sorted, subrounded quartz <0.5mm;
rare iron oxides and very rare mica flecks.
LI/4 Soft, moderately fine clay matrix, slightly micaceous with a soapy feel;
containing moderate, poorly sorted, irregular calcareous inclusions (probably
calcite) <1.5mm; rare subrounded quartz <0.5mm; very rare fine mica flecks.
12
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
QU/1 Soft, moderately coarse, poorly wedged clay matrix, with a fairly smooth feel;
containing sparse, fairly well sorted, subrounded quartz <0.25mm; rare voids
(probably from calcareous inclusions); rare iron oxides.
QU/2 Soft, fairly coarse matrix with a gritty feel; containing moderate, fairly well
sorted, subrounded quartz <0.5mm; sparse small voids (probably from
calcareous inclusions; rare fine mica flecks.
QU/3 Soft, coarse matrix with a fairly smooth feel; containing sparse, fairly well
sorted, subrounded quartz <0.35mm; sparse iron oxides; rare fine mica flecks.
There are very few diagnostic features amongst this small assemblage – 14 rim sherds
(from a maximum of 11 vessels) and one decorated body sherd are present. Four rim
profiles were identified, of which three (inturned or hooked rims (Fig. 3, 1-2); everted,
thickened rims (Fig. 3, 3-4); and plain, upright rims (Fig. 3, 5)) conform to types
previously identified. The fourth type is upright and flat-topped (Fig. 3, 6). In no
instance, however, could the rims be attributed to overall vessel form. Two of the
hooked rims, both in the same fabric (LI/4) and both from stone spread 07, possibly
from the same vessel, have fingernail impressions on top of the rim, and one body
sherd in QU/1, from deposit/backfill layer 01, carries fingertip impressions, and
probably comes from a vessel shoulder. These are the only instances of decoration.
Discussion
This small assemblage confirms and extends the range of types identified from Cabot
Park, but is unlikely to add any significant chronological information. Sandy wares
have a fairly wide chronological range within the Severn area; they were found in all
phases at Brean Down (Woodward 1990), for example, and have been identified in
Middle/Late Bronze Age contexts at Chapeltump II (Locock et al. 2000, 23). Rim
forms seen at Cabot Park, however (all everted rims on necked forms), would fit more
comfortably with a Late Bronze Age date.
Most of the sandy wares came from deposit/backfill layer 01, with a few sherds in
hearth 02, deposit 03 and possible hearth 06. Their absence from other contexts
(alluvial deposit 04, fill 05 of feature 28, stone spread 07 and deposit 17) may not be
significant, given the small quantities of pottery involved.
Introduction
The samples submitted for examination comprise 41 pieces of rock from six contexts,
divided into 11 lots. The samples are characterised by low lithological variation, with
13
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
white quartoze sandstone dominating, but also included samples of pink dolomite, and
two impure carbonate rocks.
The samples examined were examined following the principles outlined under British
Standard EN 12407:2000. A hand lens, and where necessary illumination, was used to
observe the following features:-
Grain composition
In addition to the above an evaluation of the natural or man-made form of the lithic
samples was made.
Petrological Descriptions
In thin section the hand specimen observations are supported; the grain composition is
seen to be dominated by moncrystalline quartz, with minor polycrystalline (some
mylonitic) quartz, minor quartz-rich lithics, altered feldspar, iron oxide cubes (0.3 mm
(Figure 4, A-B). The stone shows no evidence of cracking or features that might be
attributed to heating. The form of the stone and the presence and distribution of iron
oxide are considered natural in origin.
14
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
cement/interstitial infill than the other two samples in this group. Minor red staining
by iron oxide is present on one face.
Theses three samples are all of the same lithology and show a variable presence of
natural iron oxide. The pale colour of the rock precludes attribution of a Munsell
colour code.
Context 01 – Stone
1.4 Pink, pebbly sandstone [7.5YR7/3 pink]. Natural, angular fragment, composed
of smaller pink (iron stained) quartz grains and larger rounded white vein quartz
pebbles up to 2mm in diameter. The colour variation between different faces of the
fragment reflects different degrees of weathering. The form and characteristics of the
stone are natural in origin.
Context 04 – Stone
4.1 Grey quartzose sandstone. Natural angular fragment of grey, coarse-grained,
moderately sorted, quartzose sandstone with minor, but variable, iron staining. Iron
staining is also present on one surface, coating slickensides. The form of the fragment
and the iron oxide are natural in origin.
Context 05 – Stone
5.1 Pale grey, quartzose sandstone. Angular fragment of medium-grained
sandstone with heterogeneous pink staining. The form and texture of the sample are
natural in origin.
Thin section examination of this sample confirms the above observations. The grains
are dominated by moncrystalline quartz and the stone is variably infiltrated by iron
oxide (probably goethite, α-Fe3+O(OH), (Figure 5, A & B). There appears to be no
difference between this iron and the outer black surface. The form and black coating
to the stone are considered natural in origin.
15
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
be iron coated. The form of the fragments and the distribution of iron oxide are
natural in origin.
Context 06 - Stone
6.7 Grey quartzose sandstone. Naturally rounded, oblate cobble of coarse-grained,
well-sorted, grain-supported, quartzose sandstone. The surface is variably mottled red
by iron oxide. One end of the cobble shows a fractured and weathered surface.
Although the overall form of the cobble is natural, one face of has a flattened surface
making it slightly concave. There is no indication of polishing of this surface but it
may have been produced by use as a whetstone. The lithology is no different to other
samples in the suite, so has not been especially selected, other than for its convenient
shape and size, which fits nicely within a hand.
Context 06 – Stone
6.10 Quartzose sandstone. Rounded fragment of coarse-grained, grain-supported,
poorly sorted quartzose sandstone with cream matrix/infill. Iron staining is
heterogeneously distributed over the surface of the sample. X-ray diffraction has
confirmed that the infill is of illite/white mica composition.
16
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
6.13 Fragmental rocks. This sample comprises rounded clasts of the white
quartzose sandstone, cemented by a large volume calcium carbonate precipitate. The
composition of the precipitate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and this lithology
probably formed by the cementation of fragments, perhaps in a scree.
Context 17 – Stone
17.1 Grey quartzose sandstone. Angular fragment of medium-grained, well-sorted.
One surface is partially coated iron oxide. The shape of the block and the presence of
the iron oxide are the result of natural processes.
17
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
17.3 Orange/pink dolomite. [5YR 6/4, light reddish brown] Angular fragments,
similar to 2.11.2, but with fewer large white quartz grains. The form and colour of this
fragments are natural in origin.
17.4 Pebble. Naturally rounded pebble cracked and stained by weathering. and
burial within superficial deposits. The lithology is white when unweathered, and a
coarse-grained quartzite. The form and darkening of the outer layer of the pebble are
the product of natural processes.
Provenance of samples
With the exception of four samples (contained within 6.12, 6.13 above), all rocks in
the suite from Plot 9 Cabot Park (BT-CBK06) submitted for examination, are
sandstones. Most of these are weathered, being originally cream coloured quartzose
sandstones that have weathered a grey colour.
Local Geology
The Cabot Park site is located within an area of tidal flat deposits (BGS, 2004), with
bedrock geology exposed a few kilometres to the south west, south and west. The
strata are dominated by a variety of sandstones, limestone, dolomite, and mudstone
with a minor component of volcanic rocks present within the Pembroke Limestone
Group (Carboniferous Limestone).
The quartzose sandstone identified within this report resembles lithologies found
within the Carboniferous sequence, in particular the quartz-rich sandstones of the
Quartzitic Sandstone Group (Kellaway & Welch, 1993). These are hard, grey quartz-
rich sandstone dominated by vein quartz (mono-crystalline quartz), with outcrops
occur on the western side of Bristol from Kingsdown to Long Ashton. Grey sandstone
is also present within the Portishead Beds (Upper Old Red Sandstone), in particular
the Black Nore Sandstone exposed at Portishead. Insufficient information is available
on the texture of these sandstones to assign a precise provenance to the samples
studies, however it is highly likely that they are derived locally, from within a few
kilometers of the site. Similarly the dolomite samples are most likely derived from the
Dolomitic Conglomerate of the Mercia Mudstone Group. This unit is exposed in the
upland area immediately to the east of the site at Cabot Park.
18
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Examination was also made of the samples for evidence of fire damage. The features
observed in rocks which have been heated vary with the maximum heat of the fire, the
duration of heating and the composition of the rock.
Colour change, in siliceous igneous rocks this is often a lightening in colour, clay
rocks vary in colour depending on the actual temperature reached.
Crack initiation – this may in the form of micro- cracking, accurate cracks, or thermal
induced stress cracks be parallel to fire damage surface. In limestone cracks may
occur parallel to layers of impurity, particularly those of clay. In limestone where
quartz is also present the mineral portlandite (Ca (OH) 2.) may form under conditions
of atmospheric humidity and may result in the decay of the outer layer of the rock.
Examination of the clay/mica content of the sandstones in two samples (6.1 and 6.2
above) indicated that the white infilling was of unmodified illite/white mica,
providing an additional line of evidence for the lack of heating of these samples. As
mentioned previously, the presence of iron oxide coating on many of the samples is
considered the result of geological processes and it not attributed to the effects of man
produced heating of the rocks.
As noted in section 2, an oval cobble (6.7 above), has one concave surface, which is
not considered to have formed by natural processes. Although there is no obvious
polishing of this concave surface, the shape suggests that it may have been worn into
its current form by use as a whetstone.
Introduction
During archaeological investigations of P9, a small assemblage of animal bone was
recovered from nine prehistoric contexts within the sequence of alluvial silts.
19
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Normal
The animal bone was inspected and identified by comparison with known specimens
and atlases (Schmid 1972; Hillson 1992; Cohen and Serjeantson 1986; Amorisi 1989).
Where species could not be established, elements were assigned to size classes (large
mammal, medium mammal), based on Shackley (1981). No distinction was made
between sheep and goat and rabbit and hare. Completeness was recorded using a code
in which the parts of the bone were numbered from 1-5, from proximal to distal.
Bone counts include all fragments larger than 10mm; joining parts within a single
context were counted as one. Ribs and vertebrae were assigned to size class only.
Metrical data was recorded using Driesch (1976) and compared to published data
(University of Southampton 2003). Age classes follow Noddle (1977, 381) (N
neonatal, A juvenile, B immature, C adult); tooth wear was recorded by Grant’s wear
stages as republished in Amorisi (1989). The bone count corresponds to NISP. Bone
condition was assessed visually based on the definitions in Table 3:
Summary
The analysed assemblage comprises 48 bones, of which 16.7% were identified to
species level (see Table 4); all is from presumed domestic sources.
Species present
Three cow bones are immature (Age class B/C), probably 30 months of age (the two
teeth may have come from the mandible, this representing a single individual). The
sheep/goat bones appear to be mature.
Discussion
Previous prehistoric sites at Cabot Park have produced bone assemblages dominated
by cattle and sheep/goat, with a significant proportion of immature animals, and this
assemblage falls well within that pattern, perhaps reflecting the slaughter and
consumption of animals while summer grazing on the salt marsh.
Introduction
A small assemblage of lithic material recovered during an evaluation of Plot 9, Cabot
Park, Avonmouth has been presented for analysis. The evaluation produced lithic
material from three contexts within a single trench (Table 6). The analysis of this
small assemblage forms the subject of the present report.
20
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Methodology
The assemblage is composed of flint and was examined under x10 magnification and
recorded using a typological recording system (Andrefsky 2000). Brief details
including raw materials, condition and pertinent technological information was also
recorded. No further technical analysis was undertaken.
All of the material examined from the present assemblage can be classified as medium
quality grey flint. Two pieces of flint were recovered from context 004; one was of
medium quality grey flint and the other was glossy and of a higher quality but
essentially the same material. The third piece (06) has a significant proportion of
cortex, which is quite pitted indicating exposure to the elements. The quality of the
material and the evidence of exposure may suggest that these pieces originated from
flint pebbles recovered from streams or glacial moraine deposits.
Description of material
Trench 4, context 04, produced a flint scraper and a single piece of flint debitage.
Both pieces are of grey flint with light grey and brown mottling. The scraper is long
(43mm) and narrow, and has a slight curve with a contracted waist. It has one blade
edge with retouch on the dorsal surface and limited retouch on the ventral surface; the
opposing edge is flat. The scraper is abraded with smooth rounded edges. The
debitage fragment from this context (04) has a smooth ventral surface containing
several isolated dark spots, most likely mineral impurities in the flint. Radiating
ripples marginally indistinct but present, however, the bulb of percussion is missing.
The dorsal surface has two small crushed platforms at proximal end relating to
previous flake removal and two localised areas of radiating ripples.
Trench 4, context 06, produced a single piece of flint debitage dark grey in colour
with light grey mottling. Cortex was found to cover around 50% of the dorsal surface.
A crushed platform is present at the proximal end, the result of previous flake
removal, along with two small step fractures. The ventral surface has a clear bulb of
percussion and eraillure facet below a small platform at the proximal end, with
radiating ripples marginally indistinct but also present.
Discussion
The assemblage is too small to produce heuristic typological data sets other than the
most basic attribute and dissection strategies. Of the two debitage pieces one (04) is
glossy with well defined edges and no patina on its flaked surfaces indicating
deposition fairly rapidly once struck from the parent core. The second piece of
debitage (06) shows some minor abrading but the cortex exhibits pitting rather than
abrading/rolling indicating a short period of exposure before deposition once struck
from the parent core. The scraper (04) is well abraded and is likely to have been
exposed to the elements for a significant period, possibly as a result of attrition in a
streambed.
21
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Stratigraphically, the flint pieces from context 04 were recovered from an occupation
deposit. This might account for the abraded nature of the scraper. Overlying 04 was
an additional occupation deposit (03) which contained a hearth (02). Charcoal from
this hearth deposit (02) has been radiocarbon dated to 2840+/-40 BP indicating late
Bronze Age occupation sealing the context from which the scraper and debitage piece
were recovered. This date is further corroborated by the presence of late Bronze Age
ceramics found within contexts 02 and 03 and is indicative of the B-Layer horizon.
The abraded scraper and debitage fragment must therefore be earlier in date. Bronze
Age occupation activity along palaeochannels is attested at Stinkums from an
evaluation by GGAT 1998 (Locock et al 1998) and at similar sites on the Welsh side
of the Bristol Channel at Rumney Great Wharf on the Wentlooge Level (Allen 1996).
Context 06 contained a single piece of flint debitage and has been interpreted as an
occupation layer containing a spread of fragmented stones. Charcoal from this deposit
has been radiocarbon dated to 2490+/-40 BP indicating very late Bronze Age to early
Iron Age occupation. The presence of a single piece of flint debitage may be residual
from earlier phase of occupation activity.
The discussion of lithic assemblages at Cabot Park is under represented and in the
main restricted to rather short and limited summaries on artefact totals (see Locock et
al 1998 and Locock 2001). However, Waban-Smith (in Yates et al, unpublished)
discusses the lithic assemblage from Kites Corner, Cabot Park, in particular detail. It
is interesting to note that of the 86 flint pieces identified 84 were of medium quality
grey flint from pebbles possibly sourced from glacial moraine deposits. This may
indicate a common source for the current Plot 9 assemblage and those recovered from
the adjacent Kites Corner site. Stratigraphical sequences also appear synonymous;
both assemblages have been recovered from the B-Layer, which is known to belong to
the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age. The radiocarbon dates recovered from Plot 9
certainly appear to support this date range.
Introduction
A small sample of terrestrial mollusca (small find number 2007/31) was recovered
from context 04 for analysis. This sample consisted of a single near intact snail shell
and several fragments of snail shell.
Analysis
The sample consisted of a single near intact Cepaea hortensis (White-lipped banded
snail) shell with a diameter of 13mm. Cepaea hortensis has a glossy, smooth shell,
which is typically yellow in colour but may be pink, brown or red, with up to five
variable spiral dark bands and an obvious white lip around the aperture (Janus 1982).
This particular specimen had a pinkish-white shell with five purplish-brown spirals,
(it should be noted that the original colouring of the specimen would probably be
somewhat darker). A total of seven fragments of similarly coloured shell (weighing
0.09g) from the same species were also recovered from context 04.
22
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Discussion
This species is common throughout Western Europe, and in England can be found in a
range of habitats, including waste ground, woodland, hedgerows and grassland, and is
often found in dense vegetation. Cepaea hortensis is active during the day in damp,
mild conditions; its preferred food plants include nettles (the Urticaceae family),
ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and hogweed (Hercaleum mantegazzianum) (National
Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary 2008).
23
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
3. Discussion
The archaeological information provided by the 2007 evaluation at P9 has added little
to the existing knowledge of the Stinkums site. Stinkums comprises distinct organic
markers within gleyed horizons, which represent periods of stability within the more
unsettled intertidal environment. The site at Stinkums has not been fully investigated
and its extents are not known. Future examination of the site will be fundamental to
further understanding the occupation patterns.
The nature of the site at Stinkums has direct correlation with the neighbouring site at
Little Googs by means of Bronze Age occupation horizons clearly divided by
palaeochannels. This was clearly seen during the 1998 evaluation at Stinkums with
two palaeochannels dividing three occupation areas. This stratigraphy is in contrast to
the larger, more diverse site at Kites Corner where the Bronze Age occupation
overlies an already filled palaeochannel.
Finds encountered at Stinkums fit into the broad range of finds types at other sites at
the Cabot Park. The prehistoric pottery types recovered add to the known range
outlined from investigations at Little Googs and Kites Corner. An additional four
pottery fabric types were identified. One was a flint tempered ware and three were
differing quartz tempered wares (Mepham, above). The animal bone assemblage from
Stinkums falls well within the general patterns encountered at Cabot Park dominated
by cattle and sheep/goat with a significant proportion of immature animals. This
pattern has been suggested to reflect the slaughter and consumption of animals during
summer grazing on the salt marsh (Locock, above). The assemblage of unworked
stone had low lithological variation with white quartoze sandstone dominating, but
also included samples of pink dolomite, and few impure carbonate rocks. This
introduces no further rock types to those already recorded at Cabot Park (Horak
above). The similarity in rock types is sufficient to suggest that they are derived from
the same source pointing to deliberate collection and transport to the site. The most
likely origin is a homogenous source such as a nearby scree slope. The closest
comparison for these rocks are in the Portishead beds of the Upper Old Red
Sandstone. These are well exposed at Woodhill Bay, northwest of Portishead
approximately 5km from the site. During the Bronze Age these would have been
clearly visible and easily accessible from the esturine plain.
The assemblage also points to periods of occupation that were seasonal and extended
over several generations with local ecotone dwellers migrating coastward during dry
seasons to exploit the resources of the salt marshes bringing livestock to graze on the
exposed vegetation.
24
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
These environmental and social characteristics are well known and have been
previously established by the archaeological investigations at Kites Corner. The
evidence from Stinkums corroborates that from Kites Corner but adds no significant
further information.
25
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Based on the 2007 Ordnance Survey 1:5000 Landplan with the permission of
The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright,
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number Al10005976
GRID
N
Area shown
in Figure 2
Area shown in enlargement
0 250 500metres
Based on the 1999 Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer 166 map with the
permission of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown
0 1.00 2.00km Copyright, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd, Licence number
Al10005976
E353980
N179930
Trench 3
Trench 1
BH9
BH8
BH6
508
BH5
BH4
BH3
505
BH2 509
510
Trench 4
BH1 Trench 2
502
E353840
N179850
504
507
506
Trench 44
Key
N
GGAT Trench Boreholes not drilled
Palaeochannel 0 25 50metres
Figure 2. Trench and borehole locations at Stinkums - P9. Palaeochannels also shown (with GGAT context locations)
27
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
1 2
5
6
0 5.00 10.00cm
28
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
29
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
30
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
31
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Beta P9 BH9 – 7900 +/-60 BP -8.9 o/oo 8160 +/- 60 BP 6980 to 6560 Cal BC Current report
253801 Facies 1 (Cal BP 8920 to 8500)
-0.21m OD
32
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
33
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
34
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
35
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Bibliography
Amorisi, T 1989 A postcranial guide to domestic neo-natal and juvenile mammals:
the identification and aging of the Old World species BAR International
Series 533
Allen, JRL 1996 Three Final Bronze Age occupations at Rumney Great Wharf on the
Wentlooge Level, Gwent. Studia Celtica 30, 1-16
Allen, MJ & Scaife, RG 2001 The physical evolution of the North Avon Levels; a
review and summary of the archaeological implications Unpubl. Ms Wessex
Archaeology
Andrefsky, W 2000 Lithics – Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis. Cambridge
Manuals in Archaeology, Cambridge University Press
Askew, P 2007 Plot 9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, City of Bristol: An archaeological
evaluation report. MoLAS unpublished report.
Audley, JA, 1921 Silica and the Silicates in: Rideal, S (Ed) Industrial Chemistry
Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, p34.
Baker, J and Brothwell, D 1980, Animal diseases in archaeology Academic Press,
London
Bell, MG 2007 Mesolithic activity at about the time of the Lower Submerged Forest
in Bell, MG (Ed) Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in western
Britain York: CBA Research Report 149 36-45
British Geological Survey 2004 1:50 000 Bristol, England and Wales Sheet 264 Solid
and Drift Geology, 1:50 000 (Keyorth, Nottingham, British Geological
Survey)
BS EN 12407:2000, Natural stone test methods. Petrographic examination. ISBN 0
580 36350
Corcoran, J 2007 ‘Plot 9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, City of Bristol: A report on the
geoarchaeological borehole survey’ MoLAS unpub. report
Dark, P 2007 Plant communities and human activity in the Lower Submerged Forest
and on Mesolithic occupation sites in Bell, MG (Ed) Prehistoric Coastal
Communities: The Mesolithic in western Britain York: CBA Research Report
149 169-182
Driesch, A von den 1976 A guide to the measurement of animal bones from
archaeological sites Harvard University: Peabody Museum Bulletin 1,
Harvard
Hajpal, M & Török A 1998 Petrophysical and Mineralogical studies of Burnt
Sandstones in Proceedings of the 2nd International PhD Symposium in Civil
Enginerering, Budapest, Hungary. (Online).
Hajpal, M & Török A 2004 Mineralogical and colour changes of quartz sandstones by
heat Environmental Geology, 46 31 1-322.
Hillson, S 1992 Mammal bones and teeth: an introductory guide to methods of
identification Institute of Archaeology, University College London, London
Janus, H 1982 The illustrated guide to molluscs Harold Starke Ltd, London
Kellaway, GA & Welch, FBA 1993 Geology of the Bristol district. Memoir of the
British Geological Survey 199pp
Locock, M, Currie, C K and Gray, S 1992 ‘Chemical changes in buried animal bone:
data from postmedieval assemblage’ International Journal of
Osteoarchaeology 2, 297-304.
Locock, M, Robinson, S and Yates, A., 1998, ‘Late Bronze Age sites at Cabot Park,
Avonmouth’, Archaeology in the Severn Estuary 9, 31-6
36
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Locock, M, Trett, R, and Lawler, M 2000 ‘Further late prehistoric features on the
foreshore at Chapeltump, Magor, Monmouthshire: Chapeltump II and the
Upton trackway’ Studia Celtica 35 17-48
Locock, M 2001 A Later Bronze Age Landscape on the Avon Levels in Brück, J,
Bronze Age Landscapes, Tradition and Transformation
Marvell, AG 2008 Cabot Park, Avonmouth P9: Post-excavation Project Design
GGAT unpublished report.
Mepham, L 1998 ‘Prehistoric potter y’ in Locock et al. 1998, 34
Morris, EL 1994 The Analysis of Pottery, Salisbury: Wessex Archaeology Guideline 4
National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (accessed December 2008):
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn
Nayling, N and Caseldine, A E 1997 ‘Excavations at Caldicott, Gwent. Bronze Age
Palaeochannels in the Lower Nedern Valley’. CBA Research Report 108,
348pp.
Noddle, BA 1977 The animal bone in H Clarke and A Carter Excavations in Kings
Lynn, 1963-1970 (Society for Medieval Archaeology Monograph 7), 376-389.
PCRG 1997, The Study of Later Prehistoric Pottery: general policies and guidelines
for analysis and publication, Prehistoric Ceramics Research Group Occas.
Papers 1/2 (revised ed.)
Schmid, E 1972 Atlas of animal bones for prehistorians, archaeologists and
Quaternary geologists Elsevier, London
Shackley, M 1981 Environmental archaeology: an introduction George Allen and
Unwin, London.
Tuck M 2006 ‘Cabot Park, Strategic Drainage Proposals; Second pond at P11 (Pond
6) and pond to the north of the former site of Poplar Farm (Pond 7),
Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation’ GGAT Report 2006/092
University of Southampton, 2003 Animal Bone Metrical Archive Project (ABMAP,
accessed from http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/abmap/search.cfm)
Waban-Smith, F unpublished, Kites Corner Lithic Analysis. In Yates, AM, Locock,
M and Walker, MJC A Later Bronze Age coastal landscape at Cabot Park,
Avonmouth, Bristol
Whittaker, JC 2007 Flint Knapping - Making and Understanding Stone Tools.
University of Texas, Austin
Yates, AM 2001a Cabot Park Phase 2: Plot P10 Avonmouth, Bristol, Archaeological
Field evaluation. GGAT Report 2001/055.
Yates, AM 2001b Cabot Park Phase 2: Plots P5/P6 Avonmouth, Bristol,
Archaeological Field evaluation. GGAT Report 2001/077.
Yates, AM Locock, M and Walker, MJC 2002 A Later Bronze Age coastal landscape
at Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol. GGAT unpublished report
Yates, AM, Locock, M and Walker, MJC Unpublished, A Later Bronze Age coastal
landscape at Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol
37
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Executive summary
This investigation was undertaken on a series of samples from boreholes previously
drilled at Cabot Park, Avonmouth Plot 9 site. Project guidelines were outlined in the
Post-excavation Project Design prepared by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust in June 2008 (GGAT, 2008). This report focuses on the sampling and
palaeoenvironmental investigation of the samples reported on by Corcoran (2007).
Full details of previous work and the geoarchaeological context of the site are
provided by Corcoran (2007).
Key aims of the study were to provide a chronological framework for the sequences
and to assess samples from cores inside and outside the palaeochannel. This work was
to include assessing the presence of pollen, diatoms, plant macrofossils, molluscs,
forams and ostracods and insects. In addition loss on ignition and magnetic
susceptibility determinations were to be undertaken. The assessment of these
materials was to be undertaken in order to attain a clearer idea of the potential of the
sequences to provide information on past landscapes. Key findings of the assessment
are described:
Facies 1. Inter-tidal sand flats. Pollen is limited from this facies. Diatoms are present
and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral communities.
Forams and ostracods indicate that brackish, saltmarsh and true marine components
exist that are explained by reference to a large open estuary or embayment around the
site at this time. This infill incorporated not only the local estuarine sediments that
were forming at the time, but a great deal of marine sediment thrown in by storm
surges, including possible reworked Pleistocene material. A single date was obtained
from forams collected from the lowermost sample that provides an age for onset of
accumulation of this fossiliferous material of 7900+/-60 B.P.
Facies 2. Inter-tidal mudflats (1st phase). Pollen from this facies is limited. Diatoms
are present and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral
communities. Forams and ostracods indicate that the marine influence begins to
diminish through this facies. Also, perhaps significantly, there is no further input of
“exotic” material.
The sandflats turn to mudflats as the area becomes more and more peripheral to
marine influence and as the local estuarine intertidal scenario gradually takes over.
Facies 4. Inter-tidal mudflats (2nd phase). Pollen preservation is poor with some
indication of arboreal pollen. Diatom floras from these deposits are indicative of
38
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
coastal and brackish conditions. Forams and ostracods indicate an estuarine intertidal
mudflat environment, with initially quite a high degree of marine influence, which
tails off over time as the site appears to become more and more peripheral to marine
access through regression of the sea and/or aggradation of the land. The few molluscs
present indicate saltmarsh habitats.
Facies 5. Palaeochannel fills. Plant macrofossils associated with these deposits are
those of wet, maritime conditions but also included charred and non-charred
ericaceous material (possibly reworked). Forams and ostracods are limited but are
typical of estuarine, tidal mudflats. The few molluscs indicate saltmarsh habitats.
The results of this investigation have supplied information on the nature and timing of
environmental changes associated with the earlier Holocene habitats represented at
the site. However, poor preservation of contained palaeoenvironmental material in the
palaeochannel fills (facies 5 and 9) as well as the saltmarsh facies (6-8) and the
uppermost occupation horizon (10) has made it difficult to determine the nature of
these environments.
The assessments undertaken suggest that no further investigation of molluscan
remains and insects are merited due to their general scarcity in the record. The
investigation of the forams and ostracods already provide a detailed picture of
environmental change and consequently sufficient evidence already exists on these
sources; additional work is unlikely to add materially to the story already extracted
from this source.
Both the pollen and diatom records have provided information on the nature of the
sediments. In both cases however, preservation is locally poor and the case for
additional work can only be made for diatoms with regards facies 1-3 (where
preservation is good) and facies 3 for pollen.
In both cases preservation was poor in the archaeologically sensitive parts of the
sequence and therefore additional work cannot be justified at present. Finally samples
which possibly warrant more detailed work on the plant macrofossils are the two
organic rich levels from facies 3 and level 161-166cm from the Baras-layer in facies
7. However, in all cases sample size is small due to the limitations of the core width.
Introduction
This investigation was undertaken on a series of samples from boreholes previously
drilled at Cabot Park, Avonmouth Plot 9 site. Project guidelines were outlined in the
Post-excavation Project Design prepared by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological
Trust in June 2008 (G-GAT, 2008) following a series of investigations undertaken at
the site during 2007. This report focuses on the sampling and investigation of the
39
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
borehole samples taken by staff from the Museum of London Archaeological Service
(MoLAS) are previously reported on by Corcoran (2007). Full details of previous
work and the geoarchaeological context of the site are provided by Corcoran (2007)
and the aims and objectives of this study were outlined by Corcoran and are
summarised in Section 2 of the current report.
Pertinent to the current study a number of key points can be summarised from these
previous works:
• These studies have identified evidence of human activity in the area from the
Prehistoric period onwards.
• Two relict landsurfaces (the Baras or N-layer and the B-layer or Rockingham
layer) are known to exist in the area.
• Old channels are known to dissect this landscape. Geophysical survey at Plot
9 identified the presence of such features.
• As part of the mitigation strategy for the site a series of boreholes were
drilled and these boreholes form the basis for the current assessment report.
This report attempts to consider the potential of the cores recovered for providing
information suitable for landscape reconstructions.
This work was to include assessing the presence of pollen, diatoms, plant
macrofossils, molluscs, forams and ostracods and insects. In addition loss on ignition
and magnetic susceptibility determinations were to be undertaken. The assessment of
these materials was to be undertaken in order to attain a clearer idea of the potential of
the sequences to provide information on past landscapes. In particular (although not
specified) consideration was to be given of the usefulness of the information to
address questions regarding sea level change, habitat change and periods of stability
and instability in the landscape.
In this report reporting of the results from the specialist assessments are related to
core depth and to the facies type previously assigned by Corcoran (2007). Sampling
locations for boreholes 1 and 9 are shown in Figures 1 and 2 of that report.
40
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
It should be noted that the sediments have been affected by waterlogging/gleying and
are therefore likely to have been subject to postdepositional Fe (iron) mobilisation.
These conditions will not only have inhibited organic decomposition, but may also
have favoured the preservation of organic remains through pseudomorphic
replacement by Fe (as might be evident in soil thin section analysis). On the other
hand, because of leaching and possible localised deposition of Fe, the magnetic
susceptibility recorded may poorly reflect the character of the sediments/soils at the
time of burial – i.e. the magnetic susceptibility data need to be interpreted with
caution.
Methods
Analysis was undertaken on the fine earth fraction (i.e. < 2 mm) of the samples. LOI
(loss-on-ignition) was determined by ignition at 550oC for 16 hours. A Bartington
MS2 meter was used for magnetic susceptibility measurements. In addition to c (low
frequency mass-specific magnetic susceptibility), determinations were made of cmax
(maximum potential magnetic susceptibility) by subjecting a sample to optimum
conditions for susceptibility enhancement in the laboratory. cmax broadly reflects the
overall Fe content of the soil. cconv (fractional conversion), which is expressed as a
percentage, is a measure of the extent to which the potential susceptibility has been
achieved in the original sample, viz: (c/cmax) x 100.0 (Tite, 1972; Scollar et al., 1990).
In many respects this is a better indicator of magnetic susceptibility enhancement than
raw c data, particularly in cases where soils have widely differing cmax values
(Crowther and Barker, 1995; Crowther, 2003). Under UK conditions cconv values of _
5.00% are often taken as being indicative of some degree of susceptibility
enhancement. cmax was achieved by heating samples at 650°C in reducing, followed
by oxidising conditions. The method used broadly follows that of Tite and Mullins
(1971), except that household flour was mixed with the soils and lids placed on the
crucibles to create the reducing environment (after Graham and Scollar, 1976;
Crowther and Barker, 1995).
41
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Loss-on-ignition
As would be anticipated the lowest LOI values (1.64 and 2.41%) were recorded in the
intertidal sandflats (Facies 1) at the base of the sequence, and the highest value
(18.0% at 459 cm) was recorded for one of reedbed/wetland samples (Facies 3). The
intertidal mudflat (Facies 2 and 4) and saltmarsh (Facies 6 and 8) sediments have a
broadly similar LOI, with values ranging from 2.82–4.39%, whereas in the more
recent terrestrial alluvium (Facies 11) at the top of the sequence LOI increases to a
maximum of 4.93%. It should be noted that within each of these facies there is some
variability in LOI (e.g. 2.97–3.79% in Facies 4). Of the two facies known to be
associated with periods of exposure, the Baras-layer (Facies 7) has a notably high
value of 10.3% at 164 cm (though only 3.92% at 171 cm), whereas the sample from
the occupation horizon (Facies 10) has a low value of 3.30%, which is well within the
range recorded for the saltmarsh sediments (Facies 8) that it directly overlies. These
results suggest that more organic-rich sediments are likely to be associated with
periods of exposure, though not all sediments that have been exposed show clear signs
of organic enrichment. On this basis, the variability in LOI recorded within individual
facies (e.g. Facies 4, as noted above) could possibly be related to minor phases of
exposure – examination of the relationship between LOI and the results of the pollen
and diatom analyses should provide further insight into this.
42
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
In contrast, the magnetic susceptibility values recorded (c, cmax and, consequently,
cconv) seem likely to have been affected by post-depositional gleying and provide no
meaningful insight into sediment/soil conditions at the time of burial. A case cannot
therefore be made for further magnetic susceptibility work on the sediments.
It is unfortunate that the potential of phosphate analysis was not assessed, as this is
perhaps more likely than magnetic susceptibility to provide evidence of soil
ripening/soil development within sedimentary sequences of this type. It is
recommended that an assessment of phosphate be undertaken as part any future
programme of work at Cabot Park.
Results
Pollen preservation was very variable. The lengthy laboratory preparation procedure
was designed to concentrate the pollen grains in the residues. Despite this, the pollen
concentration was very low and the state of preservation was poor in many of the
samples, with a TLP sum of 100 only being achieved in three samples from the
organic horizon (Facies 3). In all other samples TLP sums ranged from 1, to a
maximum of 59 pollen grains. Results are presented in Table 3.
43
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
certainly indicates the presence of salt-marsh locally. Other taxa commonly associated
with halophytic habitats, such as Plantago maritime (sea plantain), Asteraceae (e.g.
Aster tripolium – sea aster) and Polygonum aviculare (knotweed) are also recorded,
suggesting a continued marine influence during the onset of peat accumulation. A
mixed deciduous woodland, with Quercus, Corylus, Pinus, Alnus, Betula (birch) and
Tilia is also likely to have persisted in the vicinity of the site.
Levels 458 cm and 432 cm are dominated by tree and shrub pollen, in particular
Corylus, Quercus and Alnus, and to a lesser extent, Ulmus and Tilia. Tilia (lime) is
also well represented at 432cm. The pollen evidence therefore indicates a carr-
woodland dominated environment, which is likely to have persisted on wetter
substrates, together with mixed deciduous woodland in drier areas. Low amounts of
Poaceae and Cyperaceae (sedge) indicate the presence of grass-sedge communities,
and other open-habitat taxa, such as Hedera (ivy) and Pteridium (bracken) also
reflecting a carr environment. Herbaceous taxa commonly associated with agricultural
activities are sporadically recorded, including Cirsium (thistle) and Apiaceae (carrot
family), and is accompanied by the presence of charcoal at 432cm. Chenopodiaceae is
recorded throughout these levels, albeit at diminished levels, which may suggest a
decline in brackish/marine influence. The occurrence of the aquatic taxa Potamogeton
(pondweeds) and Myriophyllum spicatum (spiked watermilfoil) may indicate the
presence of freshwater nearby, although some species of Potamogeton are also
tolerant of more brackish conditions.
44
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Discussion
The sparsity of pollen in the sediments is not unusual for estuarine sequences. Similar
problems with low pollen concentrations were encountered at Kites Corner (Walker et
al., 1999a), Rockingham Farm (Walker et al., 1998a) and previous studies at Cabot
Park (Walker et al., 1999b). The sparsity of the pollen does limit the palaeoecological
inferences that can be made from sequence.
The only significant results emerge from the organic horizon (Facies 3) of BH9,
radiocarbon dated to 4990 ± 40 BP at 461 cm. The pollen data indicates that a salt-
marsh environment was prevalent at the onset of organic sediment accumulation
during the late Mesolithic/ early Neolithic. A subsequent decline in the
brackish/marine influence in the Cabot Park area is indicated by increasing arboreal
pollen values, reflecting the establishment of alder dominated carr-woodland on
wetter substrates, and mixed deciduous woodland in drier areas. An increasing
freshwater influence is further supported by the presence of freshwater aquatic taxa,
which indicate the presence of still or running water in the vicinity of the site.
It is unfortunate that there is no evidence in this sequence for the well-attested ‘elm
decline’ documented in many pollen diagrams from North-west Europe. This may, in
part, be due to the coarse sampling resolution employed for the assessment. However,
poor representation of Ulmus has been reflected in pollen records from elsewhere in
the Severn Estuary (Walker et al., 1997, Walker et al, 1998b) and this seems to be the
case in the Cabot Park sequence. Pollen evidence which might reflect human activity
is limited. However, the occurrence of cultural indicators commonly associated with
pastoral farming activities (Behre, 1986), such as Cirsium and Apiaceae, together with
microscopic charcoal may be indicative of anthropogenic activity in the area during
the Neolithic period.
Interestingly, an increase in Tilia is recorded at 432 cm. A similar event has been
recorded at several sites in the Severn Estuary area, and has been dated to 4670 ± 80
BP at Caldicot, 4660 ± 80 BP at Goldcliff (Nayling and Caseldine, 1997), and a later
date of 4480 ± 60 BP at Barland’s Farm (Walker et al., 1997).
Conclusions
The low pollen concentrations, together with problems, such as the incorporation of
secondary and reworked pollen, often associated with estuarine sediments has lead to
difficulties in interpretation of the results from Cabot Park, BH9. It is particularly
disappointing that pollen preservation within the Baras-layer (Facies 7) is too poor for
any reliable vegetational inferences to be made.
Only in the three samples from the organic horizon (Facies 3) was a pollen count of
100 TLP achieved during the assessment, and some tentative palaeoecological
inferences have been made from the pollen record at these levels. These organic
sediments reflect a local vegetational succession from salt-marsh to carr-woodland for
the late Mesolithic/ early Neolithic period and onwards, with mixed deciduous
woodland dominating the surrounding environment. The evidence in the pollen record
of human activity is limited.
A more detailed analysis of the organic sediments would be needed in order to clarify
the palaeoecological significance of vegetational events, such as the increase in Tilia
45
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
within the mixed deciduous woodland in the upper organic horizon, and to reveal
possible anthropogenic activity in the locality. A pollen count of 300 TLP would need
to be obtained to provide a statistically significant counting level, which would
certainly be achievable in theses horizons. This would also need to be supported by
further radiocarbon dating. The sparsity of the pollen in the remaining levels would
make full analysis a difficult task.
The cleaned samples were transferred to a volumetric flask and made up to 30ml by
the addition of distilled water. From this solution, 500μl was transferred onto a 24mm
diameter cover-slip with a variable volume pipette. The cover-slips were air-dried
overnight and mounted in naphrax, a permanent resin with a high refractive index.
Each slide was assessed under a Nikon Labophot-2 phase-contrast microscope with an
X40 objective lens and x10 eyepiece to assess homogeneity and diatom concentration.
Appropriate dilutions were made for each sample where the concentration of detritus
was too high to permit effective enumeration and identification of the diatoms.
Diatom identification and counting of 100 frustules was conducted on a Nikon
Labophot-2 phase contrast microscope using oil immersion X100 magnification with
a X10 eyepiece. Species were identified using Hartley et al. (1996) and Witkowski et
al. (2000) with ecological information from Witkowski et al. (2000) and the
Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) diatom database (2008).
Precise identification in some cases was problematic due to the low numbers of well-
preserved specimens and range of morphological diversity that blurred boundaries
between individual species. For example, it was difficult to distinguish between small
species of the genus Delphineis and small forms of Cocconeis species in some cases.
Normally, identification was made to species level, but where this was not possible
only the genus is identified. In these cases, the suffix sp. is used (e.g. Delphineis sp.).
Diatom counts were undertaken by Patrick Robson and taxonomic identifications
cross-checked with Sarah Davies. Results are presented in Figure 4.
46
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Results
There were no diatoms in any of the samples between C1/44 and C/298 (inclusive),
which covers facies 11, 10, 8, 7, 6, and the top of facies 4. Furthermore, there are no
recognisable fragments of the more resilient elements of diatom valves in these
samples. Diatoms are found in small numbers in samples C4/366 to C5/458 and
C6/504 to C7/620. Sample C5/464 contains no diatoms whatsoever, while sample
C/7648 does contain a few individual species, but too few to reach the count of 100
frustules. It is highly unlikely that any significant losses were experienced during the
processing of the samples. A high proportion of samples contained fragments of
siliceous sponge spicules even where no diatoms were present, (e.g. sample C5/464).
The diatom counts of the Cabot Park samples are presented in Figure 4, and as
outlined above, the lowermost sample does contain a few individual diatoms, but too
few for a statistically robust count. Only three Paralia sulcata and two
Dimeregramma minor were found in multiple passes across the coverslip, together
with two badly degraded and unidentifiable frustules. The slide was also scanned at
x40 magnification to ensure that a large proportion of the coverslip was checked.
Facies 1, 2 and the lowermost sample of facies 3 (represented by sample C7/648), are
dominated by P. sulcata, C. belgica and a small Delphineis species, (most likely D.
minutissima), which are widespread marine species. Paralia sulcata is a common
constituent of coastal plankton but can also occur in the benthos (MacQuoid and
Nordberg, 2003) and C. belgica is similarly tychoplanktonic, whilst the genus
Delphineis is characteristic of littoral environments. Thalassiosira oestrupii and
Dimeregramma. minor are also present in some of the samples but at less than 10% of
the total assemblage. Both are cosmopolitan marine species with the former a coastal
planktonic diatom, while the later is another species of the littoral community
(Witkowski et al., 2000). A couple of individual frustules of Navicula erifuga are the
only other significant species to be positively identified, this is cosmopolitan species
of brackish and freshwater – particularly with a high iron content, and is common on
European coastlines (GSC, 2008).
47
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Although this is a significant reduction from sample C6/504, it suggests that there
continues to be a strong influence exerted by the marine environment, likely
indicating brackish rather than full marine conditions.
Samples C5/432 to C4/366 are once again dominated by P. sulcata and C. belgica
with the small Delphineis sp and Dimeregramma minor also present. A few
individuals of Actinoptychus senarius are also seen, which like the others is widely
found in coastal waters in addition to deltas, estuarineintertidal environments and
characteristic of sub-littoral and littoral diatom communities (GSC, 2008).
Conclusions
There is a difficulty in drawing definite conclusions from the diatom analysis alone as
the question of diatom preservation is likely to strongly influence the sequence.
Unfortunately, diatom preservation was too poor in a number of samples to enable
any assemblages to be counted. Diatoms in an active environment such as the
estuarine-intertidal zone may be subjected to intense physical degradation through
mechanical breakage and chemical dissolution. Much of the sequence is dominated by
heavily silicified diatom species such as Paralia sulcata and Cymatosira belgica,
which are more likely to survive transport by tidal currents (Denys and De Wolff,
1999). However, the presence of other benthic marine taxa in association with these
species indicates that the interpretation of a shallow marine environment is justified.
Sample C5/458 presents an interesting contrast to the rest of the sequence, where the
diatom remains exhibit sigs of both physical and chemical degradation but also
greater diversity in species and morphology. The sample may still be dominated by
robust species, but the survival of species such as F. subsalina and Epithemia perhaps
indicates a change in environment to less saline conditions.
Method
The samples were taken over 5cm sections, due to the varying sizes of cores sampled,
all the sub-samples were standardised to 100ml of sediment, apart from sample 18,
borehole 9, which was sampled over a 1cm section and provided 50ml of sediment.
48
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
All the samples were sieved using 1mm and 250um mesh. The samples were scanned
using a Wild M5 stereomicroscope and the plant remains were scored on a 5 point
scale of abundance. Identifications were achieved by using standard reference texts
and modern reference material. Nomenclature follows Stace 1991.
Results
The plant macro fossils from the sub-samples were generally low in quantity. The
results of the assessment are summarised in Tables 5 and 6.
Bore Hole 1
210-215cm, facies 9. The plant remains comprised of a small quantity of
monocotyledonous root fragments and very fine root and stem fragments. 255-260cm,
facies 5. The plant remains comprised of a very small quantity of monocotyledonous
stem and root fragments. Rush seeds (Juncus spp.) were also present in small
quantities.
Bore Hole 8
114-119cm, facies 10. The plant remains comprised of fine monocotyledonous stem
and root fragments.
49
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Bore Hole 9
409-414cm, facies 4. The plant remains comprised monocotyledonous stem and root
fragments. Beaked/spiral tasselweed (Ruppia maritima L./R. cirrhosa (Petagna)
Grande) fruits were the only identifiable plant remains.
462-46ccm, facies 3. The plant remains were similar to those found in level 451-
456cm, with the presence of monocotyledonous stem and root fragments, which
included a small quantity of common reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex
Steudal). Also present were the perianth remains from marsh/golden docks (Rumex
palustris Smith/R.maritimus L.). A beaked/spiral tasselweed fruit (Ruppia maritima
L./R. cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande) also occurred in the sample. Also noted was a small
quantity of charred monocot material.
Interpretation
The plant remains from the deposits were relatively sparse which was possibly due to
the nature of the sediments and also due to the quantity of sediment available for
analysis.
The greatest quantity of remains were provided by the organic levels in borehole 9,
facies 3, a level from which a radio carbon date of 4990 ± 40 BP at 461cm was
obtained. The plant macro fossils from the lowest level of this facies to be sampled
(462-463cm) indicated that conditions were probably of a reed swamp type
environment, with brackish conditions occurring, as indicated by the presence of
tasselweed fruit. There was also evidence of burning with the presence of charred
monocotyledonous plant remains. The plant remains from the next level 451-456cm
also indicated a similar environment with evidence of reed swamp conditions, the
species present such as horned pondweed, marsh/golden dock, celery-leaved buttercup
50
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
and red goosefoot are associated with damp/wet coastal conditions, but which are not
generally brackish.
Facies 5, from borehole 1 produced plant macrofossils associated with wet, maritime
conditions, also present in level 298-303 were charred and noncharred ericaceous
material which may have been eroded out of peat deposits and carried into the
palaeochannel.
The samples from facies 6-8, from borehole 8 and 1 contained very few plant remains
apart from indeterminate monocotyledonous material and rush seeds.
Discussion
The assessment of the plant remains from the boreholes indicated that at the lowest
levels (facies 3) a reed swamp environment occurred with some brackish influence at
the lowest level. There was also evidence of charred monocotyledonous fragments.
The other facies contain too few plant macro fossils to determine the prevalent
environment. Facies 4 described as intertidal mudflats produced the minimum of rush
seeds and one tasselweed fruit. Facies 5 considered to be a possible palaeochannel fill
produced species associated with coastal conditions for example goosefoots, oraches
and sea arrowgrass, also present were fragments of heather and cross-leaved heath,
which may have been reworked into the palaeochannel from surrounding deposits.
The Baras-layer from facies 7, level 161-166cm indicated the presence of both
charred and waterlogged monocotyledonous plant remains. To support the evidence
for the presence of charred monocotyledonous remains, a charred culm node and club-
rush nutlet was identified. Facies 6-8, 9 and 10 contained very little identifiable plant
remains apart from rush seeds. All the levels however did contain monocotyledonous
plant remains.
Conclusion
The assessment of the plant remains from Unit 9, Cabot Park would seem to indicate
that the environment changed from a reed swamp, with brackish conditions in facies 3
to what may be interpreted as intertidal mudflats in facies 4. The limited quantity of
51
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
remains in facies 5 may indicate the presence of a palaeochannel, with the presence
plant remains which could have been eroded from other deposits. The Baras-layer
found in facies 7 appeared to be composed of charred and non-charred
monocotyledonous stem material.
The other facies 8, 9 and 10 produced too few identifiable plant macrofossils to be of
value.
The samples from the cores were too small to provide enough identifiable remains to
make any firm conclusions about the nature of the environment. As an example of
other work carried out in the area, the plant macro fossil samples from Kites Corner,
Avonmouth, (Walker et al., 1999) were bulk samples ranging from 0.15 to 8 litres,
even in the case of this site the waterlogged remains were sparse.
Recommendations
The samples which possibly warrant more detailed work are the two organic rich
levels from facies 3 and level 161-166cm from the Baras-layer in facies 7. However it
would be preferable to have larger samples to produce more reliable results.
Results
Borehole 1
The results of the microfossil survey through a short (c. 1.5m) sequence of BH 1 are
given in Table 7. It covers the interval 2.14m below ground level (+4.13m O.D.)
down to 3.60 below ground level (+3.60m O.D.). It is referred to two facies (9 and 5)
by MoLAS, interpreted as representing, respectively, an upper and lower
palaeochannel infill. The indigenous low-diversity foraminifera and ostracods (colour-
coded in Table 7, light grey and lime green, respectively) in all the samples are typical
of estuarine, tidal mudflats, with the uppermost sample (Facies 9) indicating some
52
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
degree of marine influence (colour-coded blue). There was little, if any, indication of
saltmarsh (foraminifera colour-coded blue-green). The faunas are very similar to those
of Facies 4 in BH9.
Borehole 9
The microfossils found in the samples from BH9, covering a c. 5.7m core, are shown
in Table 8. The sequence examined covers an interval from 0.94m below ground level
(+5.36m O.D.) down to 6.60m below ground level (-0.30m O.D.), and this was split
into nine separate facies by MoLAS (Corcoran, 2007) (in descending order, facies 11,
10, 8-6, 4-1).
The uppermost seven samples, covering almost one metre (0.94 to 1.82m below
ground level) and separated by MoLAS into five different facies - 11, 10, 8, 7 and 6
(in part), were all barren of microfossils or anything calcareous for that matter. The
samples processed down to next-to-nothing, leaving just a residue of iron mineral.
The interval 2.30m down to 4.32m below ground level (comprising the whole of
Facies 4 and parts of facies 6 and 3 of MoLAS) indicates tidal access, with evidence
of the tides finally disappearing above the former sample (2.30m below ground level).
This interval indicates an estuarine intertidal mudflat environment, with initially quite
a high degree of marine influence (as evidenced by microfossils colour-coded blue in
Table 8), which then tails off over time as the site appears to become more and more
peripheral to marine access through regression of the sea and/or aggradation of the
land.
The sample at 4.58m below ground level, within Facies 3, was barren of forams and
ostracods.
The lowermost c.1.5m of the core, as made available, comprising for the most part,
facies 1 and 2 of MoLAS, is interesting, and Facies 1 (6.48-6.60m below ground level
or -0.18m to -0.30m O.D.) quite the most interesting of all. These basal samples
contain several components (Table 8). First, there is an indigenous brackish fauna of
foraminifera (colour coded light grey) and ostracods (colour-coded lime green); it
even has the only real evidence of fringing salt-marsh within the sequence
(foraminifera colour-coded bluegreen). Second, there is a quite significant marine
component (colour-coded blue), many of the foraminifera being clinging (e.g.
Ammonia batavu, Miliolinella subrotunda) or attached forms (e.g. Planorbulina
mediterranensis, Cibicides lobatulus) which would originally have been living on
marine-algae or substrate. Finally, there is an interesting input of “exotics” (colour-
coded bright blue and yellow). A very similar picture occurred at the base of the Plot
5000, Avonmouth Western Approaches Distribution Park BH11, situated some 3.5km
to the NNE (Whittaker, 2007). The evidence suggests the presence of a large open
estuary or embayment around Avonmouth in the early Holocene which was initially
infilled as the sea-level rose rapidly. This infill incorporated not only the local
estuarine sediments that were forming at the time, but a great deal of marine sediment
thrown in by storm surges. There may also be reworked Pleistocene. The cold
indicators (colour-coded bright blue under “exotics”) are typical of the “non-
analogue” ostracods which seem to occur in all temperate interglacials, but today are
confined to North Britain, or in the case of Hemicytherura clathrata, totally absent
from the British Isles and usually considered a cool/cold indicator based on its modern
distribution. In comparison, the two “exotic” foraminiferal species (colourcoded
53
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
In Facies 2 and the lower part of Facies 3, therefore, marine influence begins to
diminish. Also, perhaps significantly, there is no further input of “exotic” material.
The sandflats turn to mudflats as the area becomes more and more peripheral to
marine influence and as the local estuarine intertidal scenario gradually takes over
(Table 8).
Methods
The specimens were examined under a stereo-binocular microscope at ×10 to ×40
magnification and compared with reference material retained by Allen Environmental
Archaeology and standard reference works (eg. Kerney, 1999; Macan, 1977; Janus,
1979). The shells were identified and quantified and are recorded in Table 9 where
were nomenclature follows Anderson (2005).
The number of shells per sample recovered is very low (6 – 18), this is a result of two
factors; general poor preservation in these deposits and the very small sample size.
Sample sizes of 1000-2000g and greater are normally analysed for snails (Evans,
1972), and in these alluvial intertidal sequences often larger samples of up to 5000g
required (Allen & Scaife, 2001). Nevertheless, if small sample size is taken in to
account then these samples probably represent c. 60 and 180 shells per kilogram, and
would contain enough shells to make significant palaeo-environmental comment.
Preservation, however is moderate.
Facies 5: Only one species was present, Ventrosia (Hydrobia) ventrosa; a species
generally associated with salt marshes and brackish pools with lowered salinities
(typically 5-25 parts per thousand NaCl; Kerney, 1999, 31), living more or less
permanently submerged.
Facies 4: Although the two samples from this facies show some differences, due to
low numbers they will be considered together as representing a single taxocene of this
facies. In contrast to the samples from facies 4. Peringia (Hydrobia) ulvae is present
with no V. ventrosa, and it is dominant in the lower sample (at 310-135cm). It occurs
with Galba truncatula; a ubiquitous amphibious species common in salt marshes, and
54
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
There does seem to be an ecological difference between the two facies, but low
numbers mean that any interpretative statements have to be made with extreme
caution. Nevertheless, both are clearly commensurate with muddy salt marsh habitats.
We can tentatively suggest that the presence of Myosotella in this facies may suggest
that this semi-marine species has been brought up a channel, but there is no clear
indication that these assemblages reflect channel as opposed to saltmarsh habitats.
Methods
The cores were sub-sampled and processed by the standard method of paraffin
flotation outlined in Kenward et al. (1980). The insect remains were then sorted from
the paraffin flot and the sclerites identified under a low power binocular microscope at
x10 magnification. The system for “scanning” faunas as outlined by Kenward et al.
(1985) was followed in this assessment. Results are presented in Tables 10 and 11.
Results
A single sample from this suite of thirteen produced identifiable Coleoptera. Two
sclera were observed in material from a sample recovered at a depth of 4.72m,
Borehole 7 (Table 11). A single elytron of the hydrophilid, genus Cercyon sp., and a
thorax of the staphylinid, Philonthus sp. were recovered from this sample, both
fragments were well preserved and, in a larger assemblage would have been readily
interpretable. This material was recovered from a sample which consisted of a ‘brown
humic clay’ (Facies 3), interpreted as ‘reed swamp’ (Corcoran, 2007). The restricted
nature of the coleopterous remains from this deposit precludes further, meaningful
interpretation.
Discussion
The limited Coleoptera from sample 4.72m, Borehole 7, would certainly support the
hypothesis that that this period was a brief episode of negative sea-level tendencies
and a period of increased terrestrial activity.
55
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
and Redwick, samples from homogenous deposits of estuarine clay were sterile, This
paucity was replicated in comparable deposits on the English shore at Minehead and
Westward Ho! (Jones et al., 2004; Tetlow, 2005).
In contrast material from organic rich lenses within the estuarine alluvium often
produced large, well preserved and readily interpretable assemblages. The closest
comparable site in the Severn Estuary is Gravel Banks which is located approximately
four kilometres from Cabot Park. Deposits from the organic rich clays directly below
the peat beds produced well preserved, interpretable palaeoentomological material
(Tetlow, 2005). Organic rich lenses within the estuarine clays of the Gwent Levels
produced similar, well preserved material which, as at Cabot Park due to assemblage
size, had limited interpretable value (Paddock, 2003; Smith et al.; 1997, 2000; Tetlow,
2005, 2007). A fine band of humic material, similar to that at Cabot Park, was found
at Goldcliff East, in the lower foreshore at site D, -4m OD, this produced an insect
and pollen assemblage indicative of transitional saltmarsh/reedswamp (Bell, 2007;
Dark ,2007; Tetlow, 2005, 2007).
Conclusions
The paucity of remains in 12 of the 13 samples precludes any further
palaeoentomological work on this material.
4.8 Discussion
The assessment of the samples from the various boreholes and identified facies at the
Cabot Park site indicates that preservation of palaeoenvironmental material is variable
both within boreholes and between boreholes. Indeed no single source of information
has provided a record of associated palaeoenvironmental change through a borehole.
Despite this variability in preservation of organic material when taken in combination
the evidence does allow the development of the site to be charted in some detail.
Facies 1. Inter-tidal sand flats. Pollen is limited from this facies. Diatoms are present
and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral communities.
Forams and ostracods indicate that brackish, saltmarsh and true marine components
exist that are explained by reference to a large open estuary or embayment around the
site at this time. This infill incorporated not only the local estuarine sediments that
were forming at the time, but a great deal of marine sediment thrown in by storm
surges, including possible reworked Pleistocene material. A single date was obtained
from forams collected from the lowermost sample that provides an age for onset of
accumulation of this fossiliferous material of 7900+/-60 B.P. (Table 1).
Facies 2. Inter-tidal mudflats (1st phase). Pollen is limited from this facies. Diatoms
are present and indicate marine and coastal conditions, some associated with littoral
communities. Forams and ostracods indicate that the marine influence begins to
diminish through this facies. Also, perhaps significantly, there is no further input of
“exotic” material. The sandflats turn to mudflats as the area becomes more and more
peripheral to marine influence and as the local estuarine intertidal scenario gradually
takes over.
56
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Facies 4. Inter-tidal mudflats (2nd phase). Pollen preservation is poor with some
indication of arboreal pollen. Diatom floras from these deposits are indicative of
coastal and brackish conditions. Forams and ostracods indicate an estuarine intertidal
mudflat environment, with initially quite a high degree of marine influence, which
tails off over time as the site appears to become more and more peripheral to marine
access through regression of the sea and/or aggradation of the land. The few molluscs
present indicate saltmarsh habitats.
Facies 5. Palaeochannel fills. Plant macrofossils associated with these deposits are
those of wet, maritime conditions but also included charred and non-charred
ericaceous material (possibly reworked). Forams and ostracods are limited but are
typical of estuarine, tidal mudflats. The few mollusks indicate saltmarsh habitats.
The results of this investigation have therefore supplied information on the nature and
timing of environmental changes associated with the earlier Holocene habitats
represented at the site. However, poor preservation of contained palaeoenvironmental
material in the palaeochannel fills (facies 5 and 9) as well as the saltmarsh facies (6-8)
and the uppermost occupation horizon (10) have made it difficult to determine the
nature of these environments.
Both the pollen and diatom records have provided information on the nature of the
sediments. In both cases however, preservation is locally poor and the case for
additional work can only be made for diatoms with regards facies 1-3 (where
preservation is good) and facies 3 for pollen. In both cases preservation was poor in
57
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
the archaeologically sensitive parts of the sequence and therefore additional work
cannot be justified at present. Finally samples which possibly warrant more detailed
work on the plant macrofossils are the two organic rich levels from facies 3 and level
161-166cm from the Baras-layer in facies 7. However, in all cases sample size is
small due to the limitations of the core width.
58
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
9.2 Hard greyish brown iron-stained silty clay some heavily iron
0.25 - 1.10
concreted patches and occasional modern roots.
(P/D/F+O) 94cm *
(P/D/F+O) 114cm *
1.10 - 1.18 9.3 Firm to hard smooth greenish grey clay FACIES 10
(P/D/F+O) 122cm *
(P/D) 140cm * 9.4 Firm to hard grey brown silty clay. Iron and Manganese
1.18 - 1.62 precipitations; occasional disrupted sand laminations and FACIES 8
(P/D/F+O) 158cm * occasional charcoal inclusions
(P/D/F+O) 163cm *
(P/D/F+O) 170cm * 1.62 - 1.66 9.5 Soft black clay with grey gleyed veins
FACIES 7
1.66 - 1.76
9.6 Soft pale blue grey clay
(P/D/F+O) 182cm *
(P/D) 204cm *
9.7 Pinkish grey brown (sandy downwards) silty clay; faintly
1.76 - 2.34 FACIES 6
laminated + faint sand lenses. Deposit breaks into layers
(P/D/F+O) 230cm *
(P/D/F+O) 238cm *
9.8 Brownish grey silty clay with fine sand laminae - often
2.34 - 3.10 FACIES 4
including shells
(P/D) 298cm *
59
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
(P/D) 366cm *
(P/D/F+O) 426cm *
(P/D/F+O) 432cm *
9.10 Pale blueish grey (cross) laminated silty clay. Some sand
4.30 - 4.46
laminae, otherwise like 8.11
(P/D/F+O) 458cm *
9.11 Brown humic clay becoming peaty humic silt downwards -
4.46 - 4.68
diffuse interfaces with 9.10 and 9.12
(P/D/F+O) 464cm *
FACIES 3
9.12 Moderatley soft pale blue grey sandy clay. Some organics,
4.68 - 5.15
including rooting from humic deposit above
(P/D/F+O) 504cm *
60
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
(P/D/F+O) 520cm *
FACIES 8 - Saltmarsh
FACIES 6 - Saltmarsh
61
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Facies 8: Saltmarsh
Facies 7: BARAS
Facies 6: Saltmarsh
Facies 3: Reedbeds/wetland
433 5.40 12 392 3.06
459 18.0 4 1750 0.23
465 5.44 5 674 0.74
505 3.01 18 275 6.55
62
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
63
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
64
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
65
Depth (mm)
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Ac
ti
Th nop
al tyc
as h
20
sio u s
Cy sir se
m a na
at o e riu
20
os st s
ir a ru
pi
be i
40
lg
Cabot Park Diatom Counts
ica
60
Pa
ra
lia
20
su
SPA Table 3. Diatom assessment results
lca
ta
40
60
80
De
l ph
in
20
ei
s
sp
40
De
lp
Di hin
m ei
O er e s su
pe gr r
ph a m ir e
20
or m lla
a a
m m
40
a r in
ty or
i
66
Fr
ag
ila
20
ria
so
Fr po
ag te
ila ns
20
ria is
Na cf
v .s
Rh icul ub
ap e a sa
h r lin
Di o if
p l n ug a
o n ei a
Di e s
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
p l is nit
Pl o ne sp ida
eu is
O ro s inte
do ig r
u
Ni nte ma pta
tz lla sp
Co sch sp
s ia
Am con p a
r
p od v u
Ep ho isc la
ith r a us
Ac en sp sp
h ia
Rh n an sp
o th
Na ico es
v sp d e
Pl icul h en lica
an a ia tu
Su oth sp ab la
ri id re
Co re lla ium via
ta
cc s lill
on p je b
ei or
s ge
co i
Facies
Facies 1
Facies 2
Facies 3
Facies 4
Facies 6
Facies 7
Facies 8
Facies 10
Facies 11
st
at
a
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Erica tetralix L. - - - + - -
(Cross-leaved heath)
charred leaf
Triglochin maritimus L. - - - - + -
(Sea arrowgrass)
Juncus spp. - + + + - -
(Rushes)
67
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Chenopodium rubrum - - - - - - - - - - + -
L.
(Red goosefoot)
Chenopodium spp. - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Goosefoots)
Atriplex spp. - - - - - - - - - - + -
(Oraches)
Rumex palustris - - - - - - - - - - ++ +
Smith/R. maritimus L.
(Marsh/golden dock)
perianth
Zannichellia palustris - - - - - - - - - - + -
L.
(Horned pondweed)
Juncus spp. + - - - - + - - - - - -
(Rushes)
68
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Bolboschoenus - - + - - - - - - - - -
maritimus (L.) Palla/
Schoenoplectus sp.
(Reichb.) Palla
(Sea club-rush/Club-
rushes) Charred frag.
Typha sp. - - - - - + - - - - - -
(Bulrushes)
69
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
tidal access
70
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
71
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Paradoxostoma spp. o
Semicytherura striata o
72
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Sample depth (O.D.) +5.36m +5.16m +5.08m +4.72m +4.67m +4.60m +4.42m +4.00m +3.92m +2.04m +1.92m +1.72m +1.26m +1.10m +0.53m -0.18m
Miliolinella subrotunda x x x x x x xx essentially marine species, but can penetrate outer estuaries
Elphidium margaritaceum x x x
Ammonia batavus x x x x xx
lagenids o x x o x
Cibicides lobatulus o o x
Ophtalmidium balkwilli o
Planorbulina mediterranensis x x x x x xx
Cyclogyra involvens o o o
bolivinids x x
discorbids o x o x
Elphidium excavatum x
Patellina corrugata x
Trifarina angulosa x
73
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
"EXOTIC" FORAMINIFERA
FACIES 11 10 8 7 6 4 3 2 1
Sample depth (bgl) 0.94m 1.14m 1.22m 1.58m 1.63m 1.70m 1.82m 2.30m 2.38m 4.26m 4.32m 4.58m 5.04m 5.20m 5.78m 6.48m
Sample depth (O.D.) +5.36m +5.16m +5.08m +4.72m +4.67m +4.60m +4.42m +4.00m +3.92m +2.04m +1.92m +1.72m +1.26m +1.10m +0.53m -0.18m
Elphidium crispum x warm "southern" marine species
Elphidium fichtellianum x
"EXOTIC" OSTRACODS
FACIES 11 10 8 7 6 4 3 2 1
Sample depth (bgl) 0.94m 1.14m 1.22m 1.58m 1.63m 1.70m 1.82m 2.30m 2.38m 4.26m 4.32m 4.58m 5.04m 5.20m 5.78m 6.48m
Sample depth (O.D.) +5.36m +5.16m +5.08m +4.72m +4.67m +4.60m +4.42m +4.00m +3.92m +2.04m +1.92m +1.72m +1.26m +1.10m +0.53m -0.18m
Hemicytherura clathrata o x cold "northern" marine species
Finmarchinella angulata x
Finmarchinella finmarchica o
Robertsonites tuberculatus o
Aurila convexa o warm "southern" marine species
74
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
75
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Bibliography
76
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
Moore, P D, Webb, J A & Collinson, M D 1991 Pollen Analysis (2nd ed) Blackwell,
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Stace, C 1997 A New Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge
Tetlow, E A 2005 The Palaeoentomology of the Coastal Woodlands and Salt marshes
of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. Unpublished PhD Thesis,
University of Birmingham.
Tetlow, E A 2007 ‘Insect assemblages from the lower and upper peats’ In Bell, M G
(ed) Prehistoric Coastal Communities: The Mesolithic in western Britain CBA
Research Report 149 201-208. York
Tite, M S 1972 ‘The influence of geology on the magnetic susceptibility of soils on
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Tite, M S and Mullins, C 1971 ‘Enhancement of magnetic susceptibility of soils on
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Tuck, M 2006 Cabot Park, Strategic Drainage Proposals; Second pond at P11 (Pond
6) and pond to the north of the former site of Poplar Farm (Pond 7),
Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation GGAT Report 2006/092
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investigations at Barland’s Farm, Magor, South Wales Report prepared for
GGAT
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1998a Palaeobotanical assessment of Late Flandrian sediments from
Rockingham Farm, Avonmouth, near Bristol Report prepared for the
Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd 20pp
Walker, M J C, Bell, M, Caseldine, A E, Cameron, N G, Hunter, K L, James, J H,
Johnson, S and Smith, D N 1998b ‘Palaeoecological investigations of middle
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77
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
78
Plot P9, Cabot Park, Avonmouth: post excavation analysis
The site archive (including artefacts and ecofacts subject to the agreement of the site
owners) will be deposited with an appropriate receiving institution (Bristol Museum),
in accordance with the UKIC and IFA Guidelines (Archaeological Archives: a guide
to best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation (2007)), and also
subject to the agreement of the legal landowner.
A copy of the report and archive index will be deposited with the National
Monuments Record, RCAHMW, Aberystwyth, and the Regional Historic
Environment Record, curated by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust.
79