Projects - Cerney Castle
Phase 2: First Archaeological Dig, May 2019
The first dig investigated signs of the post holes or pits and the ring ditches revealed by the initial site survey.
Unfortunately none of the finds confirmed the results of the geophysical survey and were largely confined to worked flint, pots sherds dating to the Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon periods and a clay pipe fragment.
A pit/post hole was detected but only by careful trowelling.
Unexpectedly, an iron smelting furnace measuring 50cms in diameter and 15cms high with a clay core and surrounded by stones, was uncovered together with a quantity of iron pan.
The range of finds does suggest a history of human activity across the site but that the weathering and movement of the sand sub-soil had removed all traces of any principal features, leaving only a slight magnetic response as evidence.
The lack of evidence of any of the ditches suggested by the geophysics survey, and of any artefactual material found dating from the Bronze Age, would rule out there having been any Bronze Age activity within the excavated areas.
Further reading
Hill View Farm:
Archaeological Evaluation, May 2019.
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