THE MACRO-BOTANICAL EVIDENCE FROM LATE SAXON AND EARLY MEDIEVAL STAFFORD.
Author(s): L C Moffett
Excavations in the town of Stafford produced many rich macro-botanical assemblages, primarily from the late Saxon and Medieval periods, but also including two four-post structures thought to be possible granaries, which were dated to the Iron Age. Most of the material was charred, although there were waterlogged assemblages in some wells and pits. In Phase I, the Iron Age four-posters produced remains of emmer (Triticum dicoccum),spelt (T. spelta), bread wheat (T. aestivum), rye (Seca-le cereale) and barley (Hordeum sativum). In Phase III,there were five oven/ kiln structures dated to the ninth century which contained rich deposits of charred cereals and arable weeds. A pit and a sunken feature building also produced many cereals and weed seeds. Plums(Prunus domestica s.l.), cherries (Prunus cf. cerasus),apple pips (Malus sp.) and dill (Anethum graveolens)came from the two Saxon wells along with a range of rud-erals, some plants of damp ground and a few charred cereals and segetals. In the 12th century a sand quarry was partly backfilled with an immense dump (about 10square metres) of charred grain. Two more oven/ kilns came from later phases, although they were associated with relatively smaller amounts of grain. Two medieval wells and a pit produced dill and fennel (Foeniculumvulgare), as well as ruderals, damp ground plants and heather.
- Report Number:
- 169/1987
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 23
- Keywords:
- Grain Plant Remains Seed
