A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling Scheme, Somerset - Post-excavation Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake archaeological mitigation works comprising a strip, map and sample excavation across a parcel of land, in association with the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester Dualling Scheme. The excavation was centred on NGR 358537 125462.

Archaeological remains dating from the Mesolithic to post-medieval periods were recorded, covering approximately 8,000 years of human history. The earliest evidence from the excavation dates to the earlier prehistoric period, probably the Mesolithic or Early Neolithic, and was represented by a small group of worked flints found residually within later features. These finds, including tools and a probable arrowhead, add further elements to the assemblage of similarly dated material found during excavations elsewhere associated with the road scheme, highlighting the earlier prehistoric presence within the landscape.

During the Iron Age and Romano-British periods activity increased and is likely to have been associated with the scheduled settlement located to the north of the current A303 carriageway. Approximately 90 Iron Age pits were hewn into the underlying limestone bedrock. A large artefact assemblage was recovered from the pit fills that includes Iron Age pottery, animal bone and fired clay; a collection of worked bone and antler highlights craft activities within the associated settlement. The pottery assemblage indicates this activity dates to the Middle or Middle/Late Iron Age and Late Iron Age/Early Romano-British periods.

Deposits of human bone were recorded and display a range of mortuary practices. Burials were made within pre-existing pits or specific graves, and redeposited skeletal elements were also recovered. Dating this activity is problematic as no datable artefactual materials were directly associated with any of the burial remains; the stratigraphic position of most of the burials, within upper layers of pits, suggests a later Iron Age.