Monument record MDO8725 - Bargates, Christchurch (site X17); late Neolithic occupation

Excavation at Bargates, Christchurch, during 1977 (site X17), revealed evidence for late Neolithic occupation. This comprised a pit [353] and a small concentration of sherds [143]. Some of the small undated features recorded during excavation could also be late Neolithic. Occupation debris in the pit suggests the presence of a small settlement nearby.

K Jarvis directed an excavation at Bargates, Christchurch, during 1977-8 (site X17) in advance of development. The results were subsequently published in DNHAS monograph 5 (Jarvis 1983).

The excavations revealed evidence for late Neolithic occupation. This comprised a pit [353] and a small concentration of sherds [143]. Some of the small undated features recorded during excavation could also be late Neolithic.

The pit [353], which was cut by the Bronze Age ring ditch 2, was almost circular with a diameter of 1.65m and was cut 0.37m into the natural gravel. It contained ten small sherds of grooved ware, 21 worked flints, carbonised hazelnuts, charcoal and much burnt flint. The charcoal was identified as oak, hawthorn type, hazel/alder, and holly.

The second feature [143] consisted of six small sherds on the surface of the weathered natural sand confined to an area of 0.5m and was interpreted as a small ploughed out pit or similar.

A radiocarbon date was obtained for the pit [353] from a mixed sample of charcoal and hazelnut. The uncalibrated date of 2220 +/- 80 bc (HAR-2907) is very early for a grooved-ware site, but the date is considered acceptable, although the fragmentary nature of sample may mean that some earlier material was included.

Occupation debris in the pit suggests the presence of a small settlement nearby.

Keen, L, 1977, Christchurch; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 120 (Article in serial). SDO10167.

Keen, L, 1978, Christchurch; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, p112 (Article in serial). SDO10168.

Jarvis, K S, 1983, Excavations in Christchurch 1969-80, 102-141 (Monograph). SWX4028.

Record last edited

Oct 29 2024 4:10PM