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A Middle Bronze Age House and Burnt Mound at Bestwall, Wareham, Dorset: an Interim Report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Lilian Ladle  and
Ann Woodward
Lilian Ladle
Affiliation:
Bestwall Archaeology Project, 28 Worgret Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 4PN
Ann Woodward
Affiliation:
Ann Woodward, Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
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Abstract

A Middle Bronze Age house and burnt mound were excavated in 2001 within the large-scale prehistoric landscape under investigation at Bestwall Quarry, Wareham, Dorset. The house was succeeded by the burnt mound which was associated with two large pits. All the structures were associated with a substantial and well-preserved assemblage of Deverel-Rimbury pottery. Most of this pottery, and two copper alloy bracelets, also of Middle Bronze Age date, comprised remarkable closing deposits that marked the abandonment of the structures.

Résumé

Dans le cadre de l'investigation d'un paysage préhistorique à grande échelle à la carrière de Bestwall, à Wareham, on a fouillé, en 2001, une maison datant de l'âge du bronze moyen et un tertre brûlé. Le tertre brûlé, auquel étaient associées deux grandes fosses, a succédé à la maison. Toutes les structures étaient associées à un assemblage substantiel et bien préservé de poterie de type Deverel-Rimbury. La plus grande partie de cette poterie, et deux bracelets en alliage de cuivre, datant également de l'âge du bronze, faisaient partie de remarquables dépôts finals, qui marquaient l'abandon des structures.

Zusammenfassung

In der großflächig untersuchten Landschaft von Bestwall Quarry in Wareham, wurde 2001 ein Haus und ein verbrannter Hügel ausgegraben. Der verbrannte Hügel folgte unmittelbar auf das Haus, und stand mit zwei großen Gruben in Verbindung. Beide Strukturen waren mit einer beträchtlichen und gut erhaltenen Kollektion von Deverel-Rimbury Keramik assoziiert. Der größte Teil dieser Keramik sowie zwei Armreifen aus einer Kupferlegierung stammen aus der Mittleren Bronzezeit, und beinhalteten Ablagerungen, die eine Aufgabe der Strukturen anzeigen.

Résumen

Dentro del amplio paisaje prehistórico que se está investigando en Bestwall Quarry, Wareham, se excavaron en el 2001 una casa y túmulo quemado de la Media Edad del Bronce. La casa estaba cubierta por el túmulo quemado, que a su vez se encontró en asociación con dos grandes pozos. Todas las estructuras aparecieron asociadas con un grupo sustancial y bien conservado de cerámica del tipo Deverel-Rimbury. La mayoría de la cerámica, y dos pulseras de aleación de cobre, también de la Media Edad del Bronce, formaban destacados depósitos finales que marcaban el abandono de las estructuras.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 69 , 2003 , pp. 265 - 277
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2003

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