Reasons for Designation
Known Iron Age settlements preserved in waterlogged conditions are rare
nationally. The Iron Age settlement at Alstone, lying as it did at the
interface between an island shore and the open water of the surrounding
flooded landscape, is an important example of a rare and valuable type of
site which exists in very limited topographical situations and has high
archaeological value. The high potential for waterlogged preservation of
organic material and a wide diversity of features and artefacts, rarely
encountered in more common dry land sites, gives such sites great importance
in increasing understanding of the skills and way of life of past
communities. The protection of this site, the only part of the area of
occupation which has not been built upon, preserves unique evidence of the
activities which took place at Alstone in the Iron Age, this evidence is
invaluable to our understanding of the period locally and nationally.
Details
The monument includes an unexcavated area of an Iron Age settlement together
with evidence of Romano-British and medieval occupation. The site is located
at the interface of a Burtle Bed island and the contemporary surrounding
water at Alstone. Excavations in the field immediately to the east produced
Iron Age occupation features and finds, including pottery of Meare Lake
Village `B' type and faunal evidence, as well as traces of Romano-British
and 12th- 14th century activity. The density of finds at the boundary
between the scheduled monument and the area of excavations confirms the
extension of the occupation along the water-edge into the scheduled area.
The monument is situated in a field with a higher, more uneven southern part
and a lower, flatter area to the north. This topography reflects the edge of
the Burtle island sloping down into the water to the north, the area of
water having long since returned to land. The land/water interface
provided a favourable environment for settlement as it permitted economic
exploitation of both zones. Excavations of comparable settlements at
Glastonbury and Meare have shown how rich such sites can be, preserving not
only a wide range of occupational and technological evidence, but also
preserving rare organic materials which can survive in the waterlogged
conditions. Modern buildings are excluded from the scheduling, although the
ground below those buildings is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
10504
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
