Loak

NO 07400 33200 A monitored topsoil strip was carried out, March to May 2019, in advance of the formation of a borrow-pit on land at Loak Farm, Bankfoot. This monitored topsoil strip was undertaken within two conjoined areas, with the eastern area being designated for a concrete plant, asphalt plant and stocking area, and the western area being designated for the borrow pit and wash-plant. Cropmarks identified from aerial photographs suggested that there was a prehistoric pit alignment (Canmore ID: 239560) within the eastern area consisting of at least seven pits, and that there were a further two prehistoric pit alignments (Canmore ID: 27032 and 82087) located immediately to the S of the proposed development area.

There were features identified within both the eastern and the western areas. They consisted of seven roundhouses, eight four-post structures, two six-post structures, two ring ditches, an oval post-built structure, a lightweight post-built structure, a post and post-trench structure, and numerous isolated pits and groups of pits. These features indicate an extensive settlement of later prehistoric (Late Bronze Age or Iron Age) date.

A number of finds were recovered from these features. They consisted of burnt animal bone, prehistoric pottery, a saddle quern and two possible saddle querns, two possible hammer-stones, two pierced stones (possibly loom weights), a grinding stone, and a number of pieces of iron slag. This would indicate various activities taking place on the site including small-scale iron smelting, grinding of grain-crops, and possibly weaving. All the finds recovered are consistent with the later prehistoric date indicated by the type of feature.

Archive: NRHE (intended). Reports lodged with Council HER

Funder: Breedon Aggregates

Magnus Kirby − CFA Archaeology Ltd

OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-372969

(Source: DES Volume 21)