Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:40:52.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Second Timber Circle, Trackways, and Coppicing at Holme-next-the-Sea Beach, Norfolk: use of Salt- and Freshwater Marshes in the Bronze Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2016

David Robertson ,
Maisie Taylor ,
Ian Tyers ,
Gordon Cook  and
W. Derek Hamilton
David Robertson
Affiliation:
Historic Environment Service, Norfolk County Council, Union House, Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 4DR Email: [email protected]
Maisie Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, King’s Manor, York, YO1 7EP Email: [email protected]
Ian Tyers
Affiliation:
Dendrochronological Consultancy Ltd Email: [email protected]
Gordon Cook
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, G75 0QF Email: [email protected]
W. Derek Hamilton
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, G75 0QF Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Since 1998 archaeological investigations on Holme-next-the-Sea beach have recorded the waterlogged remains of two Bronze Age timber circles, timber structures, coppiced trees, metal objects, and salt- and freshwater marshes. The second timber circle (Holme II) is only the third waterlogged structure of its type to be discovered in Britain and only the second to be dated by dendrochronology. The felling of timbers used in Holme II has been dated to the spring or summer of 2049 bc, exactly the time as the felling of the timbers used to build the first circle (Holme I). This shared date provides the only known example of two adjacent monuments constructed at precisely the same time in British prehistory. It also informs comparisons between Holme II and other British timber circles and therefore helps develop interpretations. This paper suggests Holme II was a mortuary monument directly related to the use of Holme I.

Résumé

Second cercle de bois, sentiers et taillis sur la plage de Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk: utilisation des marais d’eau de mer et d’eau douce à l’âge du bronze, de David Robertson

Depuis 1998 des recherches archéologiques sur la plage de Holme-next-the-Sea ont répertorié les vestiges saturés d’eau de deux cercles de bois de l’âge du bronze, des structures en bois, des taillis des objets en métal et des marais d’eau salée et d’eau douce. Le second cercle de bois (Holme II) n’est que la troisième structure saturée d’eau de ce type à avoir été découverte en Grande-Bretagne et seulement la seconde à être datée par dendrochronologie. La coupe des bois utilisés dans Holme II a été datée du printemps ou de l’été de 2049 av. J.-C., le moment exact de l’abattage des bois utilisés pour construire le premier cercle (Holme I). Cette date commune fournit le seul exemple connu de deux monuments adjacents construits à précisément la même période de la préhistoire britannique Ce qui nous éclaire aussi sur les comparaisons entre Holme II et les autres cercles de bois britanniques et donc facilite le développement d’interprétations. Cet article suggère que Holme II était un monument mortuaire directement lié à l’utilisation de Holme I.

Zussamenfassung

Ein zweiter Holzkreis, Wege, und Niederwaldwirtschaft am Strand von Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk: Die Nutzung von Salzwasser- und Süßwassermarschen in der Bronzezeit, von David Robertson

Seit 1998 wurden bei archäologischen Untersuchungen am Strand bei Holme-next-the-Sea die durch Feuchterhaltung konservierten Überreste von zwei bronzezeitlichen Holzkreisen, weiteren hölzernen Strukturen, auf Stockausschlag gesetzten Bäumen sowie Metallobjekte und Salzwasser- und Süßwassermarschen dokumentiert. Der zweite Holzkreis (Holme II) ist erst der dritte Nassholzbefund dieser Art, der in Großbritannien entdeckt wurde, und erst der zweite, der dendrochronologisch datiert wurde. Das Fällen der für Holme II genutzten Stämme wurde auf den Frühling oder Sommer 2049 BC datiert, was genau der Zeit entspricht, zu der die Hölzer für den ersten Kreis (Holme I) gefällt wurden. Diese übereinstimmenden Daten stellen das einzige bekannte Beispiel der britischen Vorgeschichte dar für zwei benachbarte Monumente, die zu genau der gleichen Zeit errichtet wurden. Sie helfen auch beim Vergleich von Holme II mit anderen britischen Holzkreisen und somit auch bei der Ausarbeitung von Interpretationen. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert, dass Holmes II ein Begräbnismonument war, das unmittelbar verknüpft mit der Nutzung von Holme I war.

Resumen

Un segundo círculo de madera, senderos y trasmochos en la playa de Holme-next-the Sea, Norfolk: el uso de humedales salinos y dulces en la Edad del Bronce, por David Robertson

Desde 1998 las investigaciones arqueológicas desarrolladas en Holme-next-the-Sea han documentado los restos anegados de dos círculos de madera de la Edad del Bronce, estructuras de madera, árboles trasmochos, objetos de metal y humedales de agua dulce y salada. El segundo círculo de madera (Holme II) constituye la tercera estructura sumergida de este tipo que se ha descubierto en Inglaterra y la segunda que ha sido datada por dendrocronología. La tala de los troncos empleados en Holme II ha sido datada en la primera o el verano del 2049 BC, exactamente el mismo momento en el que se produjo la tala de las maderas empleadas en la construcción del primer círculo (Holme I). Esta datación compartida proporciona el único caso conocido en la Prehistoria Británica de dos monumentos adyacentes construidos precisamente en el mismo momento. También permite comparar Holme II con otros círculos de madera británicos y ayuda a desarrollar interpretaciones. Este artículo sugiere que Holme II constituyó un monumento funerario directamente relacionado con el uso de Holme I.

Keywords

timber circle2049 bcBronze Agewaterlogged woodmortuary monumentburial moundwoodworkingcoppicingtrackwaysaltmarshfreshwater marshdendrochronology
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 82 , December 2016 , pp. 227 - 258
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2016 

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

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Albone, J., Massey, S. & Tremlett, S. 2007. The Archaeology of Norfolk’s Coastal Zone: Results of the National Mapping Programme. English Heritage/Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service unpublished reportGoogle Scholar
Alexander, J., Ozanne, P.C. & Ozanne, A. 1960. Report on investigations of a round barrow on Arreton Down, Isle of Wight. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 26, 263–302 Google Scholar
Ames, J. & Robertson, D. 2009. The Archaeology of Holme Beach: an archaeological monitoring survey of the intertidal zone, 2003-08. NAU Archaeology unpublished report 1444Google Scholar
Ashbee, P. 1960. The Bronze Age Round Barrow in Britain. London: Phoenix House Google Scholar
Ashwin, T. 1996. Neolithic and Bronze Age Norfolk. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 62, 41–62 Google Scholar
Ashwin, T. & Bates, S. 2000. Excavations on the Norwich Southern Bypass, 1989-91. Part I: Excavations at Bixley, Caistor St Edmund, Trowse, Cringleford and Little Melton. Gressenhall: East Anglian Archaeology 91 Google Scholar
Baillie, M.G.L. 1988. The dating of the timbers from Navan fort and the Dorsey, Co. Armagh. Emania 4, 37–40 Google Scholar
Baillie, M.G.L. & Pilcher, J.R. 1973. A simple crossdating program for tree-ring research. Tree Ring Bulletin 33, 7–14 Google Scholar
Barrett, J.C. 1996. The living, the dead and the ancestors: Neolithic and Early Bronze Age mortuary practices. In R.W. Preucel & I. Hodder (eds), Contemporary Archaeology in Theory, 394–412. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Google Scholar
Booth, T.J., Chamberlain, A.T. & Parker-Pearson, M. 2015. Mummification in Bronze Age Britain. Antiquity 89, 1155–1173 Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 2000. An Archaeology of Natural Places. London: Routledge Google Scholar
Bradley, R. 2007. The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Google Scholar
Brennand, M. & Taylor, M. 2003. The survey and excavation of a Bronze Age timber circle at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, 1998–9. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 69, 1–84 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal Program. Radiocarbon 37, 425–430 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1998. Probability and dating. Radiocarbon 40, 461–474 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2001. Development of the radiocarbon program OxCal. Radiocarbon 43(2A), 355–363 Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51, 337–360 Google Scholar
Bush, L. & Diffey, J. 2011. Archaeological Watching Brief at Titchwell Marsh RSPB Reserve, Norfolk. Oxford Archaeology East unpublished report 1132 Google Scholar
Christie, P.M. 1967. A barrow-cemetery of the second millennium bc in Wiltshire, England. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 33, 336–366 Google Scholar
Coles, J.M. & Hibbert, F.A. 1968. Prehistoric roads and tracks in Somerset, England: I. Neolithic. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 34, 238–258 Google Scholar
Coles, J.M. & Orme, B.J. 1976. The Meare Heath trackway: excavation of a Bronze Age structure in the Somerset Levels. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 42, 293–318 Google Scholar
Clare, T. 1986. Towards a reappraisal of henge monuments. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 52, 281–316 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clough, T.H.M. & Cummins, W.A. 1988. Stone Axe Studies: Volume 2. London: Council for British Archaeology Research Report 67 Google Scholar
Curl, J. 2015. Animal Bones from Holme Beach. Sylvanus unpublished reportGoogle Scholar
Elgee, H.W. & Elgee, F. 1949. An Early Bronze Age burial in a boat-shaped wooden coffin from north-east Yorkshire. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 15, 87–106 Google Scholar
English Heritage 1998. Dendrochronology: Guidelines on producing and interpreting dendrochronological dates. London: English Heritage Google Scholar
French, C. 1994. Excavation of Deeping St Nicholas Barrow Complex, South Lincolnshire. Heckington: Lincolnshire Archaeology and Heritage Report Series 1 Google Scholar
Fryer, V. 2014. Plant macrofossils. In Robertson 2014, 16–17 Google Scholar
Gibson, A. 2005. Stonehenge and Timber Circles. Stroud: Tempus Google Scholar
Glasbergen, W. 1954. Barrow Excavations in the Eight Beatitudes: The Bronze Age cemetery between Toterfout and Halve Mijl, North Brabant. Groningen: J.B. Wolters Google Scholar
Groves, C. 2002. Dendrochronological Analysis of a Timber Circle at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. Centre for Archaeology unpublished report 6/2002 Google Scholar
Gregory, T. 1986. An enclosure of the first century ad at Thornham. In T. Gregory & D. Gurney (eds), Excavations at Thornham, Warham, Wighton and Caistor St Edmund, Norfolk, 1–13. Gressenhall: East Anglian Archaeology 30 Google Scholar
Healy, F., Cleal, R. & Kinnes, I. 1993. Excavations on Redgate Hill, Hunstanton, 1970 and 1971. In R. Bradley, P. Chowne, R. Cleal, F. Healy & I. Kinnes (eds), Excavations on Redgate Hill, Hunstanton and at Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, 1–77. Gressenhall/Sleaford: East Anglian Archaeology 57 Google Scholar
Healy, F. & Housley, R. 1992. Nancy was not alone: human skeletons of the Early Bronze Age from the Norfolk peat fen. Antiquity 66, 948–955 Google Scholar
Hillam, J. 1998. Tree-ring Analysis of Oaks from Langford Quarry, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Ancient Monuments Laboratory unpublished report 7/98Google Scholar
Lawson, A. 1979. A Late Bronze Age hoard from Hunstanton, Norfolk. In C. Burgess & D. Coombs (eds), Bronze Age Hoards: Some finds old and new, 43–71. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports British Series 67 Google Scholar
Lawson, A. 1981. The barrows of Norfolk. In A. Lawson, E. Martin & D. Priddy (eds), The Barrows of East Anglia, 32–63. Gressenhall: East Anglian Archaeology 12 Google Scholar
Lawson, A. 1986. Barrow Excavations in Norfolk 1950-82. Gressenhall: East Anglian Archaeology 29 Google Scholar
Lynch, F. 1993. Excavations in the Brenig Valley: A Mesolithic and Bronze Age landscape in North Wales. Bangor: Cambrian Archaeological Monographs 5 Google Scholar
Martin, E.A. 1977. The excavation of two tumuli on Waterhill Farm, Chippenham, Cambs, 1973. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 66, 1–26 Google Scholar
McKinley, J.I. 1997. Bronze Age ‘barrows’ and funerary rites and rituals of cremation. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 63, 129–145 Google Scholar
Meddens, F.M. 1996. Sites from the Thames estuary wetlands, England, and their Bronze Age use. Antiquity 70, 325–334 Google Scholar
Melton, N., Montgomery, J., Knüsel, C.J., Batt, C., Needham, S., Parker Pearson, M., Sheridan, A., Heron, C., Horsley, T., Schmidt, A., Evans, A., Carter, E., Edwards, H., Hargreaves, M., Janaway, R., Lynnerup, N., Northover, P., O’Connor, S., Ogden, A., Taylor, T., Wastling, V. & Wilson, A. 2010. Gristhorpe Man: an Early Bronze Age log-coffin burial scientifically defined. Antiquity 84, 796–815 Google Scholar
Mook, W.G. 1986. Business meeting: recommendations/resolutions adopted by the Twelfth International Radiocarbon Conference. Radiocarbon 28, 799 Google Scholar
Morgan, R.A. 1988. The case for wattling – what tree-ring studies could reveal. In P. Murphy & C. French (eds), The Exploitation of Wetlands, 77–91. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports 186 Google Scholar
Norfolk Archaeology & Environment 2003. Holme-next-the Sea Archaeological Project Design. Norfolk Archaeology and Environment Division unpublished reportGoogle Scholar
Parker-Pearson, M. & Ramilisonina, 1998. Stonehenge for the ancestors: the stones pass on the message. Antiquity 72, 308–326 Google Scholar
Petersen, F. 1972. Traditions of multiple burial in Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age England. Archaeological Journal 129, 22–55 Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 1998. Etton: Excavations at a Neolithic causewayed enclosure near Maxey, Cambridgeshire, 1982-87. London: English Heritage Archaeology Report 18 Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 2002. Seahenge: A quest for life and death in Bronze Age Britain. London: Harper Collins Google Scholar
Pryor, F. 2003. Britain bc: Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans. London: Harper Collins Google Scholar
Pryor, F., French, C.A.I.F., Crowther, D., Gurney, D.A., Simpson, W.G. & Taylor, M. 1985. The Fenland Project No.1: Archaeology and environment in the Lower Welland Valley. Cambridge: East Anglian Archaeology 27 Google Scholar
Rackham, O. 1977. Neolithic woodland management in the Somerset Levels: Garvin’s, Walton Heath, and Rowland’s Tracks. Somerset Levels Papers 3, 65–71 Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Blackwell, P.G., Bronk Ramsey, C., Grootes, P.M., Guilderson, T.P., Haflidason, H., Hajdas, I., Hatté, C., Heaton, T.J., Hoffmann, D.L., Hogg, A.G., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, K.F., Kromer, B., Manning, S.W., Niu, M., Reimer, R.W., Richards, D.A., Scott, E.M., Southon, J.R., Staff, R.A., Turney, C.S.M. & van der Plicht, J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0-50,000 years cal bp. Radiocarbon 55, 1869–1887 Google Scholar
Robertson, D. 2014. Scientific Dating of the Holme II Timber Circle: End of project report. Norfolk County Council Historic Environment Service unpublished reportGoogle Scholar
Robertson, D. & Ames, J. 2010. Early Medieval inter-tidal fishweirs at Holme Beach, Norfolk. Medieval Archaeology 54, 329–345 Google Scholar
Robertson, D. & Ames, J. 2015. Timber monuments and coastal processes: recording and monitoring of archaeological remains at Holme Beach, Norfolk, UK 2003-2008. Journal of Wetland Archaeology 15, 34–56 Google Scholar
Roe, F.E.S. 1966. The battle-axe series in Britain. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 32, 199–245 Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Kra, R.S. 1986. Editorial comment. Radiocarbon 28(2B), ii Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Polach, H.A. 1977. Reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19, 355–363 Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Reimer, P.J. 1986. A computer program for radiocarbon age calculation. Radiocarbon 28, 1022–1030 Google Scholar
Stuiver, M. & Reimer, P.J. 1993. Extended 14C database and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon 35, 215–230 Google Scholar
Taylor, M. 2001. The wood. In F. Pryor, The Flag Fen Basin: Archaeology and environment of a Fenland landscape, 167–228. London: English Heritage Archaeological Reports Google Scholar
Taylor, M. 2010. Big trees and monumental timbers. In F. Pryor & M. Bamforth (eds), Flag Fen, Peterborough – Excavation and research 1995-2007, 90–97. Oxford: Oxbow Books Google Scholar
Thomas, C. & Rackham, J. 1996. Bramcote Green, Bermondsey: A Bronze Age trackway and palaeo-environmental sequence. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 61, 221–253 Google Scholar
Tyers, C. 2011. HOLME BEACH 2 3525 / HOLME II (HER 38044). Sheffield University unpublished reportGoogle Scholar
Tyers, I. 2014. Timber Circle II, Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk: Dendrochronological analysis of oak timbers. Portsmouth: English Heritage Research Report Series 26–2014 Google Scholar
Varley, W.J. 1938. The Bleasdale circle. Antiquaries Journal 18, 154–171 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vyner, B.E. 1988. The Street House Wossit: the excavation of a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age palisaded ritual monument at Street House, Loftus, Cleveland. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 54, 173–202 Google Scholar
Watson, C. 2005. Seahenge: An archaeological conundrum. London: English Heritage Google Scholar
White, D.A. 1969. Excavations at Brampton, Huntingdonshire, 1966. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society 62, 1–20 Google Scholar
Wilkinson, T.J. & Murphy, P.L. 1995. The Archaeology of the Essex Coast, Volume I: The Hullbridge survey. Chelmsford: East Anglian Archaeology 71 Google Scholar
Wymer, J.J. 1996. The Excavation of a Round Barrow at Bawsey, near King’s Lynn, 1984. In J.J. Wymer (ed.), Barrow Excavations in Norfolk 1984-88, 58–89. Gressenhall: East Anglian Archaeology 77 Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Robertson supplementary material

Figures S1-S2

Download Robertson supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 309.1 KB