A Late Iron Age to Romano-British rural site in Cambridgeshire

CFA has published a new article in Volume 144 of The Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society (PCAS). 'A Late Iron Age–Roman Transitional Period rural site at Common Barn Farm, Southoe, Cambridgeshire', by Kathleen O’Donnell and Oliver Rusk, examines the results of an archaeological excavation and watching brief undertaken in 2018 prior to the construction of a wind farm.

The excavations uncovered evidence for agricultural activity dating from the Iron Age to the post-Roman period across four areas of the site, and provided an interesting view into a period which saw dramatic changes in agricultural practices and social organisation.

Many exciting artefacts were recovered from the site, including a 3rd-century circular spindle whorl, made from antler bone and decorated on both sides with lathe-turned concentric rings, and a decorated Samian ware bowl which originated in Southern Gaul (modern-day France).

Antler spindle whorl

Samian ware decoration and stamp rubbings

Overall, we found that, from the late Iron Age into the 1st century, the site was rural in nature, with animal bone reflecting the pastoral activities that were taking place there. A discrete farmstead was recorded, dating to the early Roman period, which showed evidence of specialisation - the people there moved away from mixed husbandry to almost exclusively cattle farming. This way of life continued into the 3rd and 4th centuries.

You can learn more about PCAS on the Cambridge Antiquarian Society's website.