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Excavations at a Neolithic Enclosure at Lower Luggy, near Welshpool, Powys, Wales

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Alex Gibson ,
Philippa Bradley ,
Robert Francis ,
Belinda Hill ,
Alex Higton ,
Alan Ogden  and
Tim Sutherland
Alex Gibson
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
Philippa Bradley
Affiliation:
Oxford Archaeology, Janus House, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0ES
Robert Francis
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
Belinda Hill
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
Alex Higton
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
Alan Ogden
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
Tim Sutherland
Affiliation:
Dept of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP
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Abstract

Excavation at a cropmark enclosure in the Upper Severn Valley was undertaken to try and obtain material from which to provide relative and absolute dating for the site. Lying within an area rich in Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeology and in close proximity to a proven long barrow, the conventional later prehistoric date postulated for the enclosure was questioned. Excavation proved the site to have been a ditched enclosure with internal bank and a possible gate structure. Post-pits ran inside the bank. Finds were few but radiocarbon dates from the floor of the ditch proved the early Neolithic credentials of the monument which seemed to have continued in use for at least some 500 years.

Résumé

On a entrepris la fouille d'une enceinte à traces dans les récoltes dans la haute vallée de la Severn pour essayer d'obtenir du matériel pour une datation relative et absolue du site. Se trouvant à l'intérieur d'une aire riche en archéologie néolithique et de l'âge du bronze et très près d'un tumulus identifié, on a remis en question les dates conventionnelles de fin du préhistorique pour ces enceintes. Les fouilles ont démontré que le site était une enceinte avec talus interne et peut-être une structure de porte. Des trous de poteaux s'échelonnaient à l'intérieur du talus. Les trouvailles étaient peu nombreuses mais les datations au carbone 14 du sol du fossé prouvèrent qu'il s'agissait bien d'un monument du début du néolithique qui semblait avoir continué à être utilisé pendant au moins 500 ans.

Zusammenfassung

Das Ziel der Ausgrabung an dieser Einhegung, die im Pflanzenbewuchs erkennbar war, und im oberen Severn Tal liegt, war es, die relative und absolute Datierung des archäologischen Materials der Fundstelle zu erhalten. Bei dieser Anlage, die in einem Gebiet liegt, das sich durch zahlreiche neolithischen und bronzezeitlichen Funde und Befunde und ein gesichertes Langhügelgrab in unmittelbarer Nähe zur Anlage auszeichnet, wurde die konventionelle Datierung dieser Anlagen in die jüngere Vorgeschichte hinterfragt. Die Ausgrabung konnte zeigen, dass es sich bei dieser Anlage um eine Kreisgrabenanlage mit innerem Wall – Pfostengruben scheinen in den Wall hinein zu laufen – und möglicher Toranlage handelt. Obwohl die Anlage nur wenige Funde lieferte, deuten die C–14 Daten vom Grabenboden auf eine frühneolithische Datierung hin, und dass sie für mindestens weitere 500 Jahre in Benutzung war.

Résumen

La excavación de la marca de cultivo de un recinto en el Upper Severn Valley se realizó para intentar obtener datos cronológicos absolutos y relativos para el yacimiento. Situado en una zona rica en arqueología de los periodos Neolítico y Edad del Bronce y cercano a un túmulo alargado, se disputaba la datación convencional de estos recintos a una prehistoria tardía. La excavación ha confirmado que el yacimiento era un recinto con foso y terraplén interno y con una posible estructura de puerta de entrada. Los hoyos para postes se alineaban en la parte interna del terraplén. Los objetos hallados fueron pocos, pero dataciones al Carbono–14 del suelo de la foso demuestran la pertenencia del monumento al primer Neolítico, y su uso continuado durante alrededor de 500 años.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 72 , 2006 , pp. 163 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2006

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