PLANT MACROFOSSILS FROM A MEDIEVAL WELL AND POTTERY KILN, POUND LANE, CANTERBURY, KENT.

Author(s): W Carruthers

A 12th century well was found to be lined with hazel wickerwork. A sample from the well contained decayed wood and crop processing waste. Wheat, barley, oats and rye were represented by the waterlogged cereal remains, the wheat being both the tetraploid and hexaploid free-threshing varieties. The accompanying arable weeds were numerous, in particular the seed pods and seeds of charlock. Several carbonised cereal grains and weed seeds were recovered, but the presence of a single spelt glume base suggests that some redepostion of Roman carbonised remains may have occurred. Charcoal recovered from a medieval pottery kiln was identified as being primarily oak branch wood. The uniformity in the diameters and ages of the fragments indicated that coppiced or pollarded trees had been the source of the fuel. A few pot impressions are also included in the report.

Report Number:
104/1990
Series:
AML Reports (New Series)
Pages:
14
Keywords:
Plant Remains Wood

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