STANDSTED AIRPORT, ESSEX: MOLLUSCS AND AVIAN EGGSHELL
Author(s): P Murphy
Mollusc shells were identified from deep enclosure ditches and moats at four sites excavated 1985-90. At site ACS (Late Iron Age-Roman) faunas dominated by aquatic and 'freshwater slum' taxa were replaced by faunas comprising mainly open-country terrestrial species, indicating continued grazing after the site's abandonment. At the late medieval site MGS shell assemblages are interpreted as indicating that here a moat enclosed an area of meadow. The medieval moat at site CHS produced only a restricted fauna. A ditch and other contexts at the thirteenth century farmstead RWS included a high proportion of terrestrial 'shade requiring' snails related to assarting and/or woodland regeneration after the site was abandoned. Marine mollusc shells were uncommon at all sites. Medieval sites produced some eggshell fragments.
- Report Number:
- 37/1991
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 12
- Keywords:
- Animal Remains Egg Shell Mollusca
