Description

Summary: The animal bone assemblage from Trench 12, recovered during excavation of the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age midden site at Blackberry Field, Potterne.

Research results

Due to the homogenity of soils on the site contexts were not visible and the midden was excavated using a system of arbitrary 1m grid squares and spits, meaning discussions of site formation are challenging. Madgwick & Mulville (2015) utilitised statistical techniques to analyse data on the weathering of animal bones from spits in a 16m^2 sample in the North West corner of Trench 12. They suggest that the differencial patterns of wear allow for the identification of 4 broad phases: the first two relating to a human presence on the site and a gradual build up of refuse, followed by the probable start of midden deposition and ending with one or more episodes during which vast quantities of remains were deposited, before the site's eventual abandonment.

The animal bone assemblage recovered from Trench 12 during excavations of the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age midden site at Blackberry Field, Potterne, by Lawson et al., 1983-85. Middens are a phenomena particularly associated with the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age in central southern England, and are thought to represent build ups of refuse from large scale feasting events held repeatedly over a long period of time; the midden at Potterne covers 3.5ha and is in excess of 1m deep in places. Lawson et al.'s excavations produced in excess of 100,000 pieces of animal bone, and yet covered only c. 1% of the midden.