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Excavations at Fordingbridge, Hampshire, just outside the New Forest National Park, have revealed an important rural settlement that was occupied from the Iron Age into the Roman period. Traces of much earlier Neolithic activity were also found, with rare 5,000-year-old Fengate-style pottery retrieved from an isolated pit.
The excavations were carried out last year by Cotswold Archaeology in advance of a new housing development. Over 2,000 features were uncovered, including the remains of at least 15 roundhouses dating to the late Iron Age/early Roman period, as well as other post-built structures. Many of the roundhouse gullies were intercutting, suggesting that they had been built over a number of years, with new buildings constructed as others fell into disuse and were possibly dismantled.
Around the settlement the team found evidence for a range of domestic activities, including textile production, as indicated by fired-clay spindle whorls and possible loom weights; cereal-processing, represented by a complete stone from a rotary quern (a rare find); and a crucible that hints at metal-working, probably casting non-ferrous metals. A significantly large pottery assemblage was also recovered, and preliminary evidence suggests that ‘wasters’ (failed pots from misfiring in kilns) are present among the Roman assemblage, a good indication that pottery production was taking place nearby.
Much earlier activity was indicated by a pit containing large sherds of Impressed Ware, a middle Neolithic style of pottery that is named after its elaborate decoration, and also has a characteristic collared rim and flat base. Notably, these particular fragments represent a sub-type known as Fengate Ware, which started being made c.3300 BC. It is named after the modern suburb of Peterborough in which it was first discovered during the early 20th century, but Fengate Ware is today considered a style of Impressed Ware rather than a distinct form in its own right.
The sherds recovered at Fordingbridge come from two different ceramic vessels, both bowls (above). The first was smaller, measuring around 10cm tall by 19cm wide, and was highly decorated with horizonal rows of small impressions made using a bone from a bird or rodent. These were seen all over its surface, while the flat base of the bowl was covered with rows of fingernail impressions. The second vessel was a bit larger, with a more pronounced collared rim. Although the base was missing, the few recovered sherds were decorated with ‘Z’ impressions, which were probably created using twisted cords. Overall, this discovery will greatly enhance our understanding of the geographical distribution of such pottery, as this type has only been recovered from 30 sites across Hampshire to-date.
Text: Kathryn Krakowka / Image: Cotswold Archaeology
