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The ongoing topsoil stripping at Nosterfield has revealed further evidence for prehistoric activity at the quarry. A second small, rectangular enclosure has been discovered at the northern end of the watching brief area. This feature proved to be 7.8m long by 6.8m wide and was formed by a continuous ditch circuit 1.0m wide and 0.6m deep. Although there was no evidence for structures or burials inside the enclosure, the skeleton of an adult male was discovered in the western length of the enclosure ditch.
The burial lay in a narrow grave which had been cut into the partially backfilled ditch. The body lay on its back slightly flexed at the hip and knee with its head to the north. His arms were drawn up across his chest with both hands clasped under his left cheek. A single horses tooth was recovered from between his thighs. Both legs were lying sticking up at a slight angle and it would appear that the grave had only been dug long enough to fully accommodate the head and body. At some point after the burial the enclosure appears to have been possibly recut disturbing both legs at the knee. For further details, see Holst, 2004, Osteology Assessment ~ Report No 0304.
The small enclosure is currently being interpreted as a square barrow, possibly the second on the site. Unfortunately no finds of any description were recovered during the excavation of the ditch but it is assumed to be Iron Age in date. The lack of any internal burials or features is likely to be the result of heavy truncation by ploughing.
The discovery of a pit containing the remains of three horses may be further evidence for ritual activity in the Nosterfield landscape. The pit was located approximately 9m to the east from the first enclosure at the southern end of the watching brief area. It comprised a sub-square cut, 2.8m long by 2.5m wide and 0.6m deep, with steeply sloping sides and a flat base. All the horses were male. Two of the three horses were lain across the bottom of the pit on their sides, placed back to back, each with its head to the others tail. The third horse had been placed on top, centrally within the pit. Unfortunately the remains of this third animal had been badly truncated by ploughing.
As no dating evidence was recovered from the backfill, without recourse to carbon dating it is impossible to say whether this pit is part of the rich and varied ritual landscape at Nosterfield or merely represents a recent animal burial. There are known parallels for such burials in the Iron Age world. The shallow depth of the grave and its proximity to the first enclosure may also point toward a ritual interpretation of the feature.
Along the eastern edge of the watching brief area a short length of curvilinear ditch was defined and sampled. A small assemblage of prehistoric pottery was recovered from its backfill during the excavation of two sections of the feature. Although the ditch was only visible for a 25m length and survived to a depth of only 0.1m, it is hoped that other traces of the feature will be found as the watching brief continues which might allude to its function.
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| Working shot, excavation of skeleton | Working shot, excavation of skeleton | Post excavation shot of skeleton |
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| Working shot, excavation of square barrow | Post excavation shot of square barrow | Working shot, surveying at sunset |
Interactive Map: Results from current watching brief area.
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