Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T04:41:30.011Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Historiography & Fieldwork: Wyman Abbott's Great Fengate Ring-Ditch (a Lost Manuscript Found)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2018

Christopher Evans  and
Grahame Appleby
Christopher Evans
Affiliation:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Dept. Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CEl 3DZ
Grahame Appleby
Affiliation:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Dept. Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge CEl 3DZ
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper presents findings within Wyman Abbott's long-missing notebooks and other allied archival sources relating to his Fengate fieldwork during the early decades of the 20th century. Largely focusing upon its monuments, we here publish a manuscript concerned with his extraordinary, multiple-interment 'great' ringditch which is otherwise known from a paragraph's description in Hawkes and Fell's Antiquaries Jourual paper of 1945. Not only do these sources contribute to the further reconstruction of Fengate's renowned Bronze Age landscape, but, it is argued, the centralised multiple-lineage interment evident at his main ring-ditch site may well reflect upon the social organisation which also gave rise to Pryor's equally 'special' Flag Fen platform.

Résumé

Cette étude présente les découvertes des carnets de Wyman Abbott, perdus depuis longtemps, et d’autres sources d’archives associées ayant rapport à son arpentage de Fengate pendant les premières décennies du 20ème siècle. Essentiellement centré sur ses monuments, nous publions ici un manuscript qui s’intéresse à son extraordinaire grand fossé annulaire à enterrements multiples qu’on connaît par ailleurs par la description qu’en font Hawkes et Fell dans un paragraphe d’un article du Journal des Antiquaires de 1945. Non seulement ces sources contribuent à un avancement dans la reconstruction du célèbre paysage de l’âge du bronze de Fengate, mais, propose-t-on, l’enterrement centralisé de multiples lignées, évident sur le site du principal fossé annulaire pourrait bien refléter l’organisation sociale qui a également donné naissance à la plateforme Flag Fen de Pryor tout aussi ‘spéciale’.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Artikel präsentiert Befunde und anderes damit assoziiertes Archivmaterial, die mit seiner Feldarbeit in den frühen Jahrzehnten des 20. Jahrhunderts in Fengate zusammenhängen, und aus den lange verloren geglaubten Feldtagebüchern von Wyman Abbott stammen. Wir konzentrieren uns dabei weitgehend auf seine Bodendenkmäler, und veröffentlichen in diesem Beitrag ein Manuskript, das sich mit seinem außergewöhnlichen, ‘großen’ Ringgraben mit Mehrfachbestattung beschäftigt, der sonst nur in einer kurzen Beschreibung in Hawkes und Fells Artikel im Antiquaries Journal von 1945 erwähnt ist. Diese Quellen tragen nicht nur zur weiterführenden Rekonstruktion der bekannten bronzezeitlichen Landschaft von Fengate bei, sondern liefern auch neue Argumente für die These, dass die zentrale Mehrfachbestattung mit mehreren Abstammungslinien aus seinem Hauptringgraben sehr wahrscheinlich die soziale Organisation widerspiegelt, die wir auch in Pryors ‘speziellen’ Flag Fen Plattform sehen können.

Résumen

Este trabajo presenta los hallazgos contenidos en unos cuadernos de Wyman Abbott que habían desaparecido hace tiempo, y en otras fuentes de archivo relacionadas. En ellos se relata su trabajo de campo en Fengate durante las primeras décadas del siglo XX. Centrado principalmente en sus monumentos, publicamos aquí un manuscrito que se ocupa de su extraordinario, gran foso anular con varios enterramientos, conocido también a través de su descripción en un párrafo de un artículo de Hawkes y Fell aparecido en el Antiquaries Journal en 1945. Estas fuentes no sólo contribuyen a la mejor reconstrucción del famoso paisaje de la Edad del Bronce de Fengate, sino que también sugieren que el enterramiento centralizado y de múltiple-linaje, evidente en este yacimiento de foso anular, bien pudo repercutir en la organización social que también dio origen a la igualmente “especial” plataforma de Flag Fen de Pryor.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 74 , 2008 , pp. 171 - 192
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbott, G.W. & Smith, R.A. 1910. The discovery of prehistoric pits al Peterborough and the development of Neolithic pottery. Al'chaeologia 62, 332–52 Google Scholar
Akerman, J.Y. & Stone, S. 1857. An account of Ihe investigation of some remarkable circular trenches, and the discovery of an Ancient British cemetery, at Stanlake, Oxon. Archaeologia 37, 363–70 Google Scholar
BalTett, J. 1987. The Glastonbury Lake Village: models and source criticism. Archaeological Journal 144,409–23 Google Scholar
Barrelt, I., Bradley, R. & Gteen, M. 1991. Landscape, VI Aonuments and Society. Cambtidge: University Press CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradford, I.S.P. 1942. An Early Iron Age settlement at Standlake, Oxon. Antiquarirs Journal 22,202–14 Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 1998. The Passage a/Arms. Oxford: Oxbow Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 2007. The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Univcrsity Press Google Scholar
Bradley, R. & Yates, D. 2007. After ‘Celtic’ fields: the social organisation of Iron Age agriculture. In Haselgrove, C. & Pope, R. (eds), The Ear-fier Iron Age in Britain and the Near Continent, 94-102. Oxford: Oxbow Google Scholar
Burkitt, M., Fox, C. & Abbott, G. W. 1926. The early occupation of Huntingdonshire. The Victoria County History of Huntingdonshire, 193-215 Google Scholar
Catling, H.W. J982. Six nng-ditches at Standlake. In Case, H.I. & Whittle, A.W.R. (eds), Settlement Patterns in the Oxford Region: excovatiOI1S of the Abingdon causewayed enclosure and other sites, 89-102. Oxford/London: Conncil for British Archaeology Research Report 44Google Scholar
Clarke, D. 1970. Beaker Pottery oj” Great Britain. Cambridge: University Press Google Scholar
Cooper, A. & Edmonds, M. 2007. Past Clnd Present: excavations at Broom, Bedjordshire. 1996-2005. Oxtord: Oxbow Google Scholar
Cooper, S. 1998. A Ring Ditch at Third Drove, Fengate, Peterborough. Cambridge: Cambridgeshirc County Council Archaeological Field Unit Report 153Google Scholar
Crawford, O.G.S. 1912. The distribution of Early Bronze Age settlements in Britain. Geographical Journal 40, 184–97 Google Scholar
Cunliffe, B. 1968. Early Pre-Roman Iron Age communities in eastem England. Antiquaries Journal 47, 1–44 Google Scholar
Cunliffe, B. 1974. Iron Age Communities in Britain. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Google Scholar
Donaldson, P. 1977. Excavation of a multiple round ban'Ow at Barnack, Cambs. 1974-1976. Antiquaries Journal 57, 197–231 Google Scholar
Evans, C. 1988. Monuments and analogy: The interpretation of causewayed enclosures. In Burgess, C., Topping, P., Mordant, C. & Madison, M. (eds), Enclosures and Defences in (he Neolithic of Western Europe, 47-73. Oxford: British Archaeological Report S403Google Scholar
Evans, C. 1997. The excavation of a ring-ditch complex at Diddington, near Huntingdon, with a discussion of second millennium Be pyre burial and regional cremation practices. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Sociery 85, 11–26 Google Scholar
Evans, C. 1998. Constmcrillg honses and building context: Bersu's Manx roundhonse campaign. Proceedings of the Prehistorie Society 64, 183–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, C. 2002. Metalwork and ‘Cold Claylands': Pre-Iron Age occupation on the Isle of Ely. In Lane, T. & Coles, J. (eds), Through Wet and Dry: Proceedings a/Cl conference in honour of David Half, 33-53. Lincolnshire Archaeology & Heritage Report 5/WARP Occasional Paper 17Google Scholar
Evans, C. 2004. Modelling monnments and excavations. In de Chadarevian, S. & Hopwood, N. (eds), Models: The third dimension a/science, 109-37. Stanford, California: University Press (Writing Science Series)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, C. 2007. ‘Dclineating objects': ninereenth century antiquarian cnlture and the project of archaeology. In Pcarce, S. (ed.), Visions of Antiquity: The Society of Antiquaries of London 1707-2007. Archaeo﹛ogia 111,266–305 Google Scholar
Evans, C., Edmonds, M. & Boreham, S. 2006. ‘Total archaeology’ and model landscapes: excavation of the Grcat Wilbraham causewayed enclosure, Cambridgeshire, 1975-76. Proceeding ofthe Prehistoric Sociery 72, 113–62 Google Scholar
Evans, C. & Hodder, I. 2006a. A Woodlcmd Archaeology. Cambridge: McDonald Institute Monograph/The Haddenham Project Volume IGoogle Scholar
Evans, C. & Hodder, I. 2006b. Marshland Communities and Cultural Landscape. Cambridge: McDonald Institnte Monograph/The Haddenham Project Volume ITGoogle Scholar
Evans, C. & Knight, M. 2000. A Fenland delta: later prehistoric land-use in the lower Ouse reaches. In Dawson, M. (ed.), Prehistoric. Roman and Saxon Landscape Studies in the Great Ouse Valley, 89-106. Conneil for British Archaeology 119Google Scholar
Evans, C. & Knight, M. 2001. The ‘Community of Builders': The Barleycroft post alignments. In Bluck, J., (ed.), Bronze Age Landscapes: tradition and transformation, 83-98. Oxford: Oxbow Google Scholar
Evans, C. with Beadsmoore, E.. Bludenell, M. & Lueas, G. forthcoming a. Fengate Revisited: fiJrther fen-edge excavations, Bronze Age fieldsystems & settlement and the ‘Wyman Abbott/Leeds Archives. Oxford: Oxbow/CAU Landscape Archives Series: Historiography & FieldworkGoogle Scholar
Evans, C. with Appleby, G., Lucy, S. & Regan, R. forthcoming b. Process and Histoi'.” prehistoric and Roman well-edge communities Colne Fen, Earith. Cambridge: MeDonald Institute Monograph/The Archaeology of the Lower Ouse Valley Volume 1Google Scholar
George, T.J. 1917. Early man in Northamptonshire, with particular reference to the late Celtic period as illnstrated by Hunsbury Camp. Northampton HislOlY Society & Field Club 19,18–19,29-38Google Scholar
Gibson, D. & Knight, M. 2006. Bradley Fen Excavations 2001-2004, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Cambridge: Cambridge Archaeological Unit Report 733Google Scholar
Hall, D. 1987. The Fen/and Project, Number 2: Cambridgeshire Survey, Peterborough 10 lvfarch. Cambridge: East Anglian Archaeology 35Google Scholar
Harden, D.E. 1956. Edward Thurlow Leeds, 1899-1955. In Harden, D.B. (ed.), Dark-Age Britain: studies presented to E. T. Leeds with a bibliography of his works, ix-xiv. London: Methuen Google Scholar
Hawkes, C.F.C. & Fell, C.I. 1945. The Early Iron Age settlement at Fengate, Peterborongh. Antiquaries Journal 100, ! 88-223 Google Scholar
Healy, F. 1996. The Fen﹛and Project, Number II. The Wissey Ell'lbayment: evidence for pre-Iron Age occupation accumulated prior to the Fenland Project. Gressenhall: East Anglia Archaeology 78Google Scholar
Healy, F. & Harding, J. 2007. A thousand and one things to do with a round balTow. In. Last, J. (ed.), Beyond the Grave: !lew perspectives on barrows, 53-71. Oxford: Oxbow Google Scholar
Hudson, K. 1981. A Social History of Archaeology. London: Macmillan CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knight, M. 2000. Henge to house - post-circles in a Neolithic and Bronze Age landscape at King's Dyke West, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. Past 34, 3–4 Google Scholar
Knight, M. 2008. Recovering past environments. In Institute of Field Archaeologists Yearbook & Directory 2008, 23–5 Google Scholar
Last, J. 1998. Books of Life: biography and memory in a Bronze Age barrow. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 17,43–53 Google Scholar
Lawson, A.J., Martin, E.A. & Priddy, D. 1981. The Barrows of East Anglia. Norwich: East Anglian Archaeology 12Google Scholar
Leeds, E.T. 1910. Communication on objects from a Bronze Age tumulus at Eyebury, near Peterborough. Proceedings of the Society Antiquaries of London 23, 283Google Scholar
Leeds, E.T. 1912. Excavation of a ronnd ban'Ow at Eyebury, near Peterborough. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London 24, 80–94 Google Scholar
Leeds, E.T. 1915. Further excavations in round barrows near Eyebury, Peterborough. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries ofLondon 27, 116–55 Google Scholar
Leeds, E.T. 1922. Further discoveries of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages at Peterborough. Antiquaries Journal 2, 220–37 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leeds, E.T. 1956. The Leeds Collection of Fossil Reptiles from the Oxford Clay of the Peterborough. Oxford: Blackwell Google Scholar
Levine, P. 1986. The Amateur (lnd the Professional: antiquarians. historians and archaeologists in Victorian England, 1838-1886. Cambridge: University Press Google Scholar
Middleton, R. 1990. The Walker Collection: a quantitative analysis of lithic material from the MarchlManea area of the Cambridgeshire Fens. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 79, 13–38 Google Scholar
Moore, W.R.G. 1980. Northampton Museum and T.J. George. Northamptollshire History News 45,14–17 Google Scholar
Mortimer, J.R. 1905. Forty Years’ Researches in British and Saxon Burial Mounds ofEast Yorkshire. London, Hull & York Google Scholar
Rivers, Pitt, Lt-Gen, A.H.L.F. 1898. Excavations in Cranborne Chase Volume IV. Privately printedGoogle Scholar
Pryor, F. 1974. Excavation at Fellgate. Peterborough, England: the first report. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum Archaeological Monograph 3Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1978. Excavation at Fengate, Peterborough, England: the second reporl. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum Archaeological Monograph 5Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1980. Etcavation at Fengate, Peterborough, Englaud: the third report. Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum Archaeology Monograph 6Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1988. Earlier Neolithic landscapes and ceremonial in lowland Britain. In Barrett, I. & Kinnes, LA. (eds), The Archaeology of Context in the Neolithic and Bronze Age: recent trends, 63-72. Sheffield: Collis Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1993. Excavations at Site II, Fengate, Peterborongh, 1960. In Simpson, W.G., Gurney, D.A., Neve, J. & Pryor, F., The Fenland Project Number 7. Excavations in Peterborough and the Lower Weiland Valley. 1960-1969, 127-40. Cambridge: East Anglian Archaeology 61Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1997. Peterborough East: a guide to curation in an area of outstanding archaeological importance. Peterborough: Fenland Archaeological Trust for English HeritageGoogle Scholar
Pryor, F. 2001. The Flag Fen Basin: archaeology and en vironmenr landscape. Swindon: English Heritage Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 2003. Britain Be: life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans. London: HarperColiins.Google Scholar
Pryor, F. & French, C.A.!. 1985. Fenland Project, Number I. Archaeology and Environment in the Lower Weiland Valley. Cambridge: East Anglian Archaeology 27Google Scholar
Robinson, I. 2007. Middle Bronze Age Cremation Practice in East Anglia: continuity and change in cemetery form and development. Unpublished MPhil. Dissertation, University of CambridgeGoogle Scholar
Royal Commission on Historical Monuments 1969. Peterborvugh New Town: a survey of the antiquities in (he areas development. London: HMSO Google Scholar
Smith, I.F. 1956. The Decorative Art of Neolithic Ceramics in South East England and its Relations. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Institute of Archaeology, LondonGoogle Scholar
Smith, P.J. 1997. Grahame Clark's new arcbaeology: the Fenland Research ComlUittec and Cambridge prehistory in the 1930s. Antiquity 71, 11–30 Google Scholar
Stone, S. 1857. Account of certain (supposed) British and Saxon remains … Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London 4 (1856-9), 92-100 Google Scholar
Taylor, E. & Aaronson, I. 2006. Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation at Stanground South, Peterbolvugh, Cambridgeshire, September-December 2005. Northamptonshire Archaeology Report 06/35Google Scholar
Yates, D.T. 2007. Land, Power and Prestige: Bronze Age field systems in southern England. Oxford: Oxbow Google Scholar