Medieval Kiln (Thirston)
12th-14th century pottery and fragments of fired clay were recovered during top soil stripping for pipeline construction. 600m south-west of Eshott moated site (NZ 19 NE 1). A rescue excavation revealed a settlement toft defined by ditches 30m apart to north and south. An ovoid hearth of a kiln clamp lay at the south end of the toft, 1.2m x 0.85m. Archaeomagnetic dating, mid to late 12th century. (1)
Topsoil stripping for the 42-inch Gas Pipeline through Northumberland, at NGR NZ 195 981, revealed a dense scatter of 12th-14th century pottery and fired clay fragments on the ground surface, this was part of an extensive scatter across the field. It represents the first medieval pottery kiln in the north-east and a rescue excavation was undertaken in advance of construction.
Modern field drains crossed the site and the furrows of medieval cultivation were also identified. Subsequent late to post-medieval arable activity had removed all traces of earlier activity except where features had been cut into the subsoil.
The toft, defined by ditches 30m apart, contained a kiln and associated pits at the south end. At the north end of the toft was occupation evidence.
The kiln survived as a shallow pit less than 0.1m deep. No trace of a stoke hole survived and the feature may be the hearth of a kiln-clamp. The adjacent pits contained firing waste but were probably originally dug to provide clay for the kiln.
Archaeomagnetic dating of the kiln hearth was carried out by the Department of Physics at the University of Newcastle and provided a date from mid to late 12th century. Samples were taken from the hearth and one of the pits for thermoluminescence dating at the Department of Archaeology at Durham University [results not published]. Radiocarbon dating of a sample from one of the pits produced a preliminary result of 810+/- 80 bp (1140 ad). The pottery was predominantly oxidised sandy wares. (2)
The pottery is in the Museum of Antiquities, University of Newcastle. (3)
Final, detailed, report recently published by the excavator Piers Dixon. (4)
Medieval pottery kiln and possible settlement recorded during pipeline construction. The site was initially indicated by a pottery scatter dating from the 12th-14th centuries. Excavations identified the kiln, comprising a shallow pit about 0.10 metres deep and measuring 0.85 metres by 1.20 metres. It may have been a clamp kiln and was in production during the mid-late 12th century. The settlement area was defined by ditches and gullies. There were also traces of a possible building. (2)(5a)
Topsoil stripping for the 42-inch Gas Pipeline through Northumberland, at NGR NZ 195 981, revealed a dense scatter of 12th-14th century pottery and fired clay fragments on the ground surface, this was part of an extensive scatter across the field. It represents the first medieval pottery kiln in the north-east and a rescue excavation was undertaken in advance of construction.
Modern field drains crossed the site and the furrows of medieval cultivation were also identified. Subsequent late to post-medieval arable activity had removed all traces of earlier activity except where features had been cut into the subsoil.
The toft, defined by ditches 30m apart, contained a kiln and associated pits at the south end. At the north end of the toft was occupation evidence.
The kiln survived as a shallow pit less than 0.1m deep. No trace of a stoke hole survived and the feature may be the hearth of a kiln-clamp. The adjacent pits contained firing waste but were probably originally dug to provide clay for the kiln.
Archaeomagnetic dating of the kiln hearth was carried out by the Department of Physics at the University of Newcastle and provided a date from mid to late 12th century. Samples were taken from the hearth and one of the pits for thermoluminescence dating at the Department of Archaeology at Durham University [results not published]. Radiocarbon dating of a sample from one of the pits produced a preliminary result of 810+/- 80 bp (1140 ad). The pottery was predominantly oxidised sandy wares. (2)
The pottery is in the Museum of Antiquities, University of Newcastle. (3)
Final, detailed, report recently published by the excavator Piers Dixon. (4)
Medieval pottery kiln and possible settlement recorded during pipeline construction. The site was initially indicated by a pottery scatter dating from the 12th-14th centuries. Excavations identified the kiln, comprising a shallow pit about 0.10 metres deep and measuring 0.85 metres by 1.20 metres. It may have been a clamp kiln and was in production during the mid-late 12th century. The settlement area was defined by ditches and gullies. There were also traces of a possible building. (2)(5a)
N11357
EXCAVATION, Excavation at Eshott 1981; DIXON, P J
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