Founded 1906
Archaeology Report Spring 2002
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Rocky Clump Last season's excavations continued until Christmas and cut deep into a number of features producing some very interesting finds. It had been anticipated that a further investigation would be made of the ditch running north across the field from the copse of Rocky Clump, however, what did emerge was an area of intense archaeology. Sections were cut north and south of a 2 m wide baulk. A cobbled floor was hinted at by concentrations of large flint nodules and a distinct flint area was observed in the remaining sections. The south section, north of the enclosure found in previous seasons, opened up dramatically in width as it moved north, pits and chalk platforms dominated this area, and one pit dug into the main ditch contained significant quantities of charcoal. It was from this area that the articulated burial of a Roman dog was discovered. When Jeremy Adams, of the Booth Museum, visited the Unit in January for a Day School on Bones, he told us that this was a bitch which had suffered severely from arthritis in old age and it could be assumed to be a pet as it had been carefully buried and not just discarded. In the section cut to the north of the baulk there was evidence of a flint nodule wall footing and after the silty soil had been removed the section came down on to a chalk rubble fill. Into this fill had been cut a pit, containing Samian ware. The pit had cut into the remains of an animal burial and once the chalk rubble had been removed the complete skeleton of a Roman or Iron Age cow was revealed (see photo); it could be seen from the position of the feet that the animal had been bound when buried. The large ditch cut through the earlier features and contained significant finds of disarticulated animal bones, particularly skull fragments, and quantities of oyster shell. Metal finds included large nails and a strip of bronze with a diamond shaped perforation. Geophysics at Ovingdean During field walking in 2000 significant finds of Roman and Iron Age pottery suggested that a settlement site must lie close by; unfortunately continuation of field walking was postponed as the field had not been ploughed. However, the Field Unit took up the opportunity for an alternative investigation using geophysics (see Pictures) and an area totalling 7,299 square metres was surveyed, but no features or anomalies suggesting settlement were found. A neighbouring field set down to pasture for cattle grazing, was also surveyed and results were again inconclusive but some anomalies could suggest the location of circular features. It is too early to suggest that we have located Iron Age round houses, but further investigations will continue to try to locate the settlement. Watching Briefs at Roedean A number of watching briefs were undertaken at Roedean, an area known for important discoveries, including finds from Neolithic and Roman periods. The watching briefs on small extensions to houses produced finds of a few flint flakes but no new features. Neolithic Axe from Ovingdean During the Flint Day School held at Sussex University in January, finds were examined from the field walking at Ovingdean in 2000; among these was part of a Neolithic axe. This axe fragment has been examined by Chris Butler who tells us that it is either a rough-out or, more likely, a well used implement; the piece found was the cutting end and the axe had probably been hafted. This axe was broken in antiquity and re-used as a hammer. Excavations at Stanmer House Readers will be interested to hear that the professional unit of Archaeology South East have recently conducted an archaeological assessment in the grounds to the west of Stanmer House between the house and Stanmer Museum. A number of walls of varying dates were found and the trench went down 2/3 metres to a stone footing which overlay large sarsen blocks deposited as footings; the site of a fireplace was noted. The walls with flint nodules may prove to be the foundations of the Jacobean house known to have existed on this site and excavated by Charlie Yeates in the 1950's.
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