Normanton
Golf Course
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Zone 3 was allocated to a rectangular area around the enclosure which measured 380m by 205m. This zone was evaluated with a number of interventions which ranged from a main north-south road pull (Intervention 12) to a series of hand-excavated trenches over extant ridge and furrow across the golf course (Intervention 4, Intervention 5, Intervention 11).
Phase 1 (Neolithic to Early Iron Age)
The earliest deposits to be exposed within Zone 3 were characterised by a series of features which were natural in origin. These consisted of twenty three sub-circular and irregular shaped tree boles which varied in size between 0.6m and 1.6m in diameter. The majority of these features measured approximately 1.0m in width and shared the same characteristics as others recorded at the southern end of Intervention 10 (Zone 4). A further three anomalies were detected within the sample area. These appeared as extensive patches of grey mineralised clay, sub-circular in shape, with distinctive feathered edges which varied in size between 5.15m and 7.9m (F174, F179 and F180) (Figure 49). A series of 1.0m wide sondages were excavated across these features.
The results from these sondages showed that these features were shallow, well defined, irregular scoops between 0.4m and 0.6m deep, filled with a deposit of mottled, heavily oxidised sandy clay. The interface between the natural subsoil and deposits above was marked, in at least one case (F179), by a layer of concreted iron pan (C1198) (Figure 50a). These large scoops may have represented the remains of larger tree boles.
Possibly contemporary with this was a meandering linear feature formed by three lengths of poorly defined gully (F171, F176 and F183). F176 comprised an irregular curvilinear deposit of dark grayish brown clay, poorly defined against surrounding subsoil and heavily truncated by later furrows. This feature was excavated in five 1.0m sondages positioned at appropriate points along its length. F176 was filled with a series of heavily oxidised clay deposits, some of which appeared gleyed. Only the latest fill episode (C1190) was visible in plan. The base of the feature was irregular and well defined against layers of weathered bedrock and firm clay. F176 had a shallow profile and varied in width between 6.0m and 3.0m and in depth between 0.3m and 0.5m (Figure 50b and 50c). Its uneven base and variable oxidised fills suggested that it may represent the remains of a shallow stream or watercourse running southwards then eastwards across the development area. F183 produced a similar profile and the stretch between the two features had been truncated by later furrows.
Together these features produced a possible stream which could be followed for 120m. At its southern end F176 turned eastward for 20m, where it was recorded as F221 before being cut and probably canalised by a later ditch F219. The southern continuation of this feature appeared to have been completely destroyed by the later ditch and a medieval furrow.
It is assumed that this watercourse, like the ditch that cut it, fed into another stream at its southern end. This was investigated in Intervention 15. The results from this trench showed that the present Whin Beck had a long lived and complex history having been managed and recut in several major episodes. The earliest version of this stream was heavily disturbed by later management and modern trees but would have consisted of a broad shallow uneven-based waterway in excess of 4.5m wide. A total of six tree boles (F263) were recorded lining the northern bank of the stream at this time.
This first phase of Zone 3, therefore, may have been a lightly wooded landscape bound to the west and south by watercourses. Zone 2 in this context would have existed as a small island of higher ground within this environment.
Phase 2 (Late Iron Age/Romano British)
It is not known for how long the landscape remained in this form. It is also not clear whether the first phase of enclosure within Zone 2 was created while the rest of the landscape was still woodland. However, what can be said is that by the end of the Iron Age and beginning of the Romano British period, the area of Normanton was divided by a series of ditched boundaries linked to a second possible enclosure. This reorganisation of the landscape must have involved the clearance of woodland and the management and canalisation of existing water courses.
Unfortunately only two sherds of pottery were recovered from any of the ditches sampled within Zone 3. These comprised two fragments of Romano-British fabric one of which was dated to the 3rd century AD in the disuse of F243 (Intervention 19) (see Appendix E). Several stratigraphic relationships, however, were recorded which indicated the sequence and development of several of the ditches.
The earliest element within Zone 3 appeared to be the east-west aligned length of ditch which extended from the entranceway of the enclosure (F78/F34) (Figure 51). This feature was discussed within Phase 4 of the enclosure (F235). F78 comprised a well defined U-shaped ditch between 1.1m and 1.4m wide and between 0.5m and 0.8m deep, backfilled with a deposit of mottled light brownish grey clay (C1088) (Figure 52a and 52b). In plan F78 had an L-shaped appearance and ran for 25m east before turning south at 90 degrees for a further 12m. At this point the ditch ended in a well defined rounded butt end.
F78 was recut along its entire length after being deliberately backfilled at its western end. This recut (F34) consisted of a U-shaped ditch up to 1.7m wide and 0.5m deep backfilled with a sterile deposit of olive brown sandy clay (C1035). F34 appeared to be related to the extension of F78 to the south and east by two lengths of shallow gully (F161 and F110).
F161 was located 1.9m to the south of F34 and comprised a length of shallow ditch 6.2m long by 0.9m wide which survived to a depth of 0.2m. F110 was located 1.5m to the east of its southern terminus and was a similar feature 10.8m long and 0.65m wide (Figure 52c). Several burnt rounded cobbles were recovered from the otherwise sterile backfills of these features. The butt end of F34 appeared to be contemporary with a short length of U-shaped gully 1.4m long by 0.35m wide (F112). Although the southern side of this feature was lost through modern disturbance, F112 appeared to form a possible overflow to the main ditch.
Together these features resembled a form of annexe to the main enclosure which was contemporary with the final phase of ditch (F236). Within this arrangement F110 lined up with the southern side of the enclosure.
Possibly contemporary with F78, at the northern end of Zone 3, a NE-SW aligned ditch was identified and sampled (F243) (see Figure 48). This feature could be followed in plan for a distance of 245m across the site into Zone 4 where it was recorded and excavated as F111 (Intervention 10). At its western end, F243 turned sharply and continued southwards for a further 120m before swinging westward for a further 45m where it continued beyond the site boundary. Along its southern length F243 became less regular in shape and proved increasingly difficult to define, resembling the watercourse F176 in plan. At its northwest limit a second ditch (F254) was identified continuing the NE-SW line of F234. This feature could be followed for 30m at which point it continued beyond the western site boundary. A further three ditches/gullies were identified running westwards from F243 midway along its southern leg (see Figure 49). These features (F248, F249 and F250) were parallel and offset from each other between 1.1m or 3.0m. In plan the general arrangement of these features appeared to form a major NE-SW boundary across the northern half of the site, with subsidiary ditches which formed an apparent enclosure, 130m long, with a series of internal subdivisions. F243 clearly cut at least two of the treeboles identified within Zone 3.
When sampled in various Interventions, F243 appeared to be the latest recut in a series of three ditches (F243, F244, F245). This arrangement was visible in sections along entire length of the ditch and was mirrored in the sequence of recutting identified in both the western continuation of F243 (F254) (Figure 53a, 53b and 53c) and the series of gullies (F248, F249 and F250) (see Figure 49). These boundaries were initially cut and then maintained along their full length in two separate episodes. The recorded sections for these features are shown in Figures 54 and 55).
The earliest ditch (F245) was badly truncated by later recutting and was only identified in section. It comprised a wide shallow U-shaped ditch with a slightly irregular, stepped profile, up to 2.5m wide and 0.65m deep. This feature was backfilled with a variable deposit of sandy clay (C1387) which contained occasional charcoal flecks and pebble inclusions. At its northwestern corner F255 was joined with F245. This extension of the boundary continued the main SW-NE alignment and proved to be 2.1m wide and 0.4m deep backfilled with two deposits of yellow brown clay (C1413, C1414). The third element within this arrangement comprised the first of three east-west aligned gullies (F248). This gully comprised a shallow U-shaped feature, 0.6m wide and 0.2m deep backfilled two deposits of sandy clay (C1398, C1402). A study of the excavated levels from F248 showed that this gully drained water from west to east into the main ditch F245. The levels from the rest of this ditch phase suggested a tendency for water within the ditches to drain towards the south and east.
The second phase saw a recutting of the whole system of ditches and may have been contemporary with the recutting of F78 to the east of the enclosure. A study of the excavated sections showed that this occurred after the original boundaries had almost completely silted up. The main ditch (F245) was replaced with a ditch of a similar scale and form (F244). F244 recut F245 but veered off the line of the original by up to 0.8m in some places. It was backfilled with a series of mottled sandy clay deposits similar in composition and matrix to C1389. Contemporary with this and recutting F255 at the northwestern corner was F253, and replacing gully F248 was a second gully (F249). F249 was off set 3.0m to the south of its predecessor and was of much the same form and dimensions.
The third phase saw a replication of the entire arrangement. In this final phase F244 was recut by F243, F253 was recut by F254, and gully F249 was replaced by F250, offset 1.0m to the south. This final recut was of a slightly smaller scale than previously seen with F243 proving to be 1.4m wide and 0.5m deep. This final phase is thought to have fallen into disuse by the 3rd century AD.
The final phase of the enclosure ditch (F236) was characterised by its incorporation into a wider system of boundaries. In addition to the recutting of the entire enclosure circuit a further two north-south aligned ditches were recorded running from the northwest and southwest corners (F220 and F219 respectively) (see Figure 48). F219 was followed in plan running for a distance of 76m before joining Whin Beck to the south. F220, meanwhile, could be followed running northwards for a distance of 52m before joining a third ditch running east-west across Zone 3 (F175/F262). The western end of F175 butt ended 5.0m before the western boundary of the site. The eastern end ran beyond the limit of excavation some 85m to the east. The recorded sections for F219 and F220 are shown in Figure 57).
F219 was masked by a medieval furrow along its length. It comprised a U-shaped cut with a concave base which survived up to 1.3m in width and up to 0.6m in depth. F219 was backfilled with a series of orange grey clay backfills (C1300, C1306, C1307, C1308) which contained charcoal and burnt cobble inclusions. The resulting sections through this feature suggested that it may have been recut at some point. Approximately 16m to the south of the enclosure F219 was cut through F176, the line of as pre-existing stream and in effect formalised its route to Whin Beck to the south (Figure 53d).
The profile and form of F219 continued northwards as ditch F220 until it joined ditch F175 (Figure 56). This ditch appeared as a deposit of light grey clay which varied in width between 1.8 and 2.5m. Upon excavation F175 comprised a broad, shallow concave ditch with well defined sloping edges, 0.6m deep and backfilled with three deposits (C1446, C1447, C1449). The western end of F175 became poorly defined in the vicinity of the possible stream F176.
This system of boundaries was allowed to silt up before the east-west ditch F175 was recut (F264). F264 comprised a shallow U-shaped cut 1.5m wide and 0.5m deep with a concave base and was backfilled with a single deposit of mottled grey clay (C1450).
At the southern end of Zone 3 various channels were recorded within Intervention 15. These channels appeared to be related to alternating episodes of management and silting of Whin Beck (Figure 58 and 59). The original form of this feature consisted of a wide shallow watercourse (F226) running from west to east. The profiles recorded in a 5.5m long section, suggested that this feature had gradually silted up until it was recut in two distinct episodes (F225 and F227). Neither episode can be dated in its own right but a wet-preserved log recovered from the fill of a later channel within the stream (F224) provided a radiocarbon date of between 645AD and 687AD (see Appendix H).
The results from elsewhere in Zone 3 have shown that during the Late Iron Age and early Romano-British period a significant campaign of land division was occurring within the Normanton landscape. In this context it is likely that F225 and F227 were part of this process. In fact, F219, the ditch which canalised the meandering watercourse of F176 and from the enclosure into Whin Beck, is probably represented by one of these cuts.
F225 comprised a well defined cut in excess of 2.4m wide, 0.8m deep. F225 had a broad U-shaped profile with evidence for 0.3m V-shaped channel cut into its base along its southern side (Figure 60a). This feature was filled with a deposit of sandy clay which comprised at least fifty percent gravel and pebbles (C1360). The lower half of this material was allocated C1368 as a result of it being heavily iron stained.
F225 was truncated along its northern edge by F227. This consisted of an irregular cut, defined against natural clay, which varied in width between 1.4 and 0.7m and in depth between 0.7m and 0.9m. The fills of F227 contained very few gravel or pebble inclusions comprising mainly of a sequence of heavily mottled sandy clay deposits (C1353, C1438) separated by layers of gleyed clay (C1437, C1439). In plan, the base of F227 appeared to narrow into a 0.3m wide channel towards the western end of the section. This appeared to correspond with a flat shelf on the northern side of the ditch through which three postholes were cut (F258, F259, F260).
Together these features appeared to form the eastern component of a bridge or crossing on the northern bank of the stream. F258 comprised a double posthole, sub oval in plan, 1.1m x 0.6m, which was aligned along a north-south axis (Figure 60b). This feature survived to a depth of 0.5m at its northern edge. Located either side of F258 were two shallow flat bottomed scoops (F259 and F260). F259 (Figure 60c) appeared to be set with the northern post socket within F258 while F260 (Figure 60d) was set with the southern one. All the features were backfilled with a similar dark grey sandy clay which contained occasional gravel inclusions.
Phase 3 (Early Medieval)
There is little evidence to indicate how long the channel and crossing represented by F227 were in use. If these features followed the general pattern that was recorded throughout the later ditches at Normanton, then F227 had probably silted up by the 3rd century AD.
This notion is supported in the sections of Intervention 15. Sometime after F227 had fallen into disuse, the stream was recut to produce a broad east-west aligned channel, in excess of 6.0m wide and 0.8m deep, which had a distinctive U-shaped profile (F244) (Figure 60a). The earliest fill of this stream comprised C1351, a greasy deposit of yellow brown clay sand and water-borne gravel which had been dumped along the northern side of the base. This deposit was sealed by an undulating layer of dark greyish brown sandy clay (C1357) which varied in depth between 0.15 and 0.35m. In turn C1357 was covered along its northern edge by a third deposit. This mottled grey silty clay (C1358) with frequent charcoal inclusions, contained numerous small pieces of wood along its base. One large fragment which measured 1.9m long by 0.4m wide, was allocated C1435 and lifted whole (Plate 16). When analysed C1435 comprised the outer part of an oak trunk which would have originally had a circumference of 2.5m. Bark was still visible on the wood and no evidence for working or tool marks were found during further investigation. The conservation assessment report for C1435 is shown in Appendix K. A sample of C1435 was sent for radiocarbon dating which provided a date of between 645AD and 687 AD (see Appendix H).
Plate 16. Excavation of C1435.
The latest fill of F224 consisted of a 0.5m thick deposit of compact sticky greyish brown clay (C1350). This deposit contained no gravel or pebble inclusions and appeared to be the product the settling of fine water-borne particles.
The sequence within F224 suggested that the energy of the initial flow within the stream was quite considerable and had resulted in the deposition of gravel, pebbles and clay along the northern edge of the base. The flow then appeared to have slowed until it eventually stopped. This was reflected in the deposition of the detritus within C1358 followed by the accumulation of fine clay (C1350). This process of stagnation may have occurred relatively quickly if F224 had not been managed after its initial construction.
Accepting the fact that the oak (C1435) within C1357 is likely to have represented heartwood of a tree which could have lived for a considerable time before being deposited within the stream, its date is still significant. It suggests that F244 was created sometime after the late 7th century, possibly up to 200 years afterwards and as such may represent the original later Saxon township boundary.
Contemporary with F224 were a series of drainage features running into the stream along its northern bank. F266, F267, and F268 comprised an arrangement of three shallow gullies with U-shaped profiles, each on average 6.0m long, 1.2m wide and 0.3m deep, which converged into a single ditch (F269). F269 ran for a distance of 10m becoming progressively narrower (0.6m) before joining F224. All of the gullies were backfilled with a reddish brown clay which was punctuated with occasional lenses of plastic grey clay. It was considered that these features would have formed a series of drains which would originally have continued northwards into Zone 3, but later truncation caused by medieval ridge and furrows in addition to modern ploughing had removed any trace.
Phase 4 (Medieval)
The line of approximately twenty separate furrows were mapped within Zone 3 (see Figure 54). These features followed the same pattern recorded within the earthwork survey of the golf course (Intervention 1). Pottery recovered during the topsoil stripping of Interventions 14, 19 and 20 produced a small quantity of 13th or 14th century pottery from the tops of the furrows. A sample of extant ridge and furrow was excavated by hand in an area of the golf course immediately to the east of Zone 2 (Intervention 4, Intervention 5, Intervention 9, Intervention 11). The fill of one furrow produced the handle of a 14th century jug. This feature measured 6.5m in width and was filled with a light yellowish brown clay which contained charcoal and gravel inclusions in addition to two sherds of 13th century pottery. Where the ridges had survived they suggested that up to 0.3m of subsoil had been truncated through modern ploughing in the arable field to the west.
Phase 5 (Post-medieval)
The excavation of the extant ridge and furrow in Intervention 4 showed that the earthworks had undergone a scheme of ploughing prior to them becoming grassland within the golf course. This system of ploughing was either not intensive or long-lived enough to have resulted in the eradication of the ridge and furrow earthworks as seen in the adjacent fields to the south and west. The pattern of ceramic land drains recorded within Zones 1 and 2 continued across most of Zone 3.
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