Archaeological Excavations at Holme Hall Quarry, South Yorkshire

This article is from Current Archaeology issue 423

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REVIEW BY KEVIN MOON

This monograph details the archaeological works undertaken by ARCUS (2004) and ARS (2015 and 2019-2022) at Holme Hall Quarry, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. It is largely focused on the Roman field system dating from the mid-late 1st century AD through to the 3rd century AD, but covers earlier lithic artefacts from the Mesolithic to the Bronze Age, early medieval remains, and a post-medieval lime kiln.

The opening chapters provide an introduction to the site and its surrounding archaeological background, and cover the initial fieldwalking and geophysical surveys that took place. They feature well-presented combined figures of the surveys which complement the text. This is followed by details of the subsequent excavations presented in chronological order, including a good variety of photographs of excavated features and wider aerial views. The site plans from the various phases of excavation are presented in different styles and can occasionally be quite busy, which is a minor distraction in an otherwise very readable account. 

The volume also includes various specialist reports detailing the finds recovered throughout the publication, which are clearly written and thoughtful, and the section on the most recent excavations (2020-2022) features some excellent plates of the artefacts and pottery illustrations. However, the book is missing a combined synthesis of all the finds, which would have been welcome.

The final chapter provides a summary of the entirety of the works divided into chronological period, which has been further subdivided into the various sections of the site. It makes helpful references to other local sites and previous research into other archaeological works on the magnesium limestone geology. The final chapter includes an excellent reconstruction drawing, too, which is in addition featured on the volume’s cover. The discussion around the presence of early medieval remains identified solely through radiocarbon dating is a useful reminder of the value of undertaking such work. The author has used the available evidence from the site to provide a well-thought-out interpretation of the field system and the site as a whole.

Archaeological Excavations at Holme Hall Quarry, South Yorkshire
Francis M Morris
Archaeopress (£40)
ISBN 978-1803279251