Journal 22.

Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/

CAMELFORD SCHOOL EXCAVATIONS – SUMMER 2008 -

IRON AGE ACTIVITY REVEALED
Andy M Jones & Sean R Taylor

Introduction
During the course of the summer of
2008 archaeologists from the Historic
Environment Service [HES], Cornwall
County Council excavated the
remains of an extensive Iron Age
settlement at Sir James Smith’s
School at Camelford (SX 10224
83672), in advance of the
redevelopment of the school’s fields
for sports pitches. The project was
funded by Cornwall County Council
and the team worked closely with the
principal contractor Kier Western who
assisted with the removal of modern
layers from the site, which covered Figure 10-1: . Iron Age house (front) and the
approximately 1 hectare. attached smaller iron working structure. The area of
the field system is in the background (the ‘island’
An earlier archaeological assessment encircled by temporary fencing) (Copyright HES,
and geophysical survey by HES had Cornwall County Council).
indicated the potential for significant
buried archaeological remains to survive across the site. The geophysical survey undertaken
by GSB Prospection Ltd located a later prehistoric (Iron
Age) or Romano-British rectilinear enclosure on the
western side of the development area, as well as several
circular ditched structures and fragments of a field system.
Excavation
The large enclosure identified by the geophysical survey
was unaffected by the development, which meant that the
archaeological excavations have been focussed upon the
investigation of a fragmentary field system, two circular
ring-gullied features, and two larger circular enclosures
defined by ditches.
The excavation of several linear features at the eastern
Figure 10-3: Showing the end of the stripped area revealed what appeared to be part
northern side of the large of a field system. Intriguingly, one section of one of the
penannular enclosure ditches had been revetted with stone along its internal
(Copyright HES, Cornwall County face. Finds recovered from this part of the site are probably
Council). Iron Age in date (circa 100 cal BC – AD 42) and the field
system is likely to be contemporary with the archaeological features that lay to its west.

Journal 22.
Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/
Journal 22.
Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/

Unexpectedly the investigation of the four circular

features
atures revealed several different types of site, some
probably associated with circular buildings but also
two larger enclosures, which may well have been
used for ceremonial purposes.
Two structures were found to be surrounded by ring-
Figure 10-2: . Cleaning the baulk gullies (Figure 10-1). The larger of these was 15m in
section of the large penannular diameter and appears to have contained a substantial
ditched feature (Copyright HES, post-built roundhouse with a south-facing doorway
Cornwall County Council). and a paved entrance. Attached to the eastern side of
the large structure was a second smaller ring-gully 9m in diameter, which contained a hearth
with evidence of iron working. Both structures were associated with pottery and stonework,
including notched slates and rubbing stones and are believed to be of later Iron Age date
(circa 100 cal BC – AD 42).
A large penannular enclosure 20m in
diameter was located to the north of
the ring-gullied structures (Figures
10-2 and 10-3). It was defined by a
deep ditch, which was up to 1m
deep, with an outer bank. The
enclosure does not seem to have
been a settlement site as the
external bank would have rendered it
indefensible, and the only feature
within it was a single central pit,
sealed by two large holed slates
(Figure 10-4). A deposit of burnt
bone and broken pottery was found
in the terminal of the ditch, which
might suggest feasting activity. The
pottery from the upper fill of the ditch
appears to be late Iron Age in date
and this is supported by a preliminary Figure 10-4: Holed slate from the pit in the centre of
radiocarbon determination from the large penannular enclosure (Copyright HES,
residue on one of the potsherds 2015 Cornwall County Council).
± 35 BP: 110 cal BC- AD 70 (SUERC-20414). However, further radiocarbon dating will be
necessary to establish when the enclosure was constructed. The site is very unusual for
Cornwall and is perhaps comparable to the smaller ‘Royal’ sites which are found in Ireland,
or possibly the ring-barrows, which are often associated with them. If this analogy is correct
it is likely that the enclosure was a communal site used for ceremonial gatherings and feasts.

Finally, a multiple ring-ditched enclosure up to 15m in diameter, comprised of three

concentric ditches, which were up to 0.95m deep, was uncovered to the north-east of the
other sites (Figure 10-5). This enclosure was only partially exposed. Apart from tree bowls it
was devoid of features, which might suggest that it contained a small clump of trees.

Journal 22.
Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/
Journal 22.
Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/

However, the chronological relationship between

the trees bowls and the enclosure is uncertain.
Again, artefacts recovered from the site are
comprised of Late Iron Age pottery and stonework
There was some evidence for earlier activity on the
site. A small quantity of Middle Bronze Age
Trevisker Ware pottery, probably dating to around
circa 1500 cal BC, was also recovered from a small
group of pits that underlay the large roundhouse.
This evidence suggests that an earlier Middle
Bronze settlement may well be located in the near
vicinity.
Summary
The excavations at Camelford School have
provided an important opportunity to study the
character of unenclosed Iron Age settlement
activity in the north of Cornwall. It has revealed
evidence for domestic architecture and perhaps as
Figure 10-6: Recording in progress in a
ditch terminal of the multiple ring- importantly has also shed some light on hitherto
ditched enclosure (Copyright HES, unknown Iron Age ritual activity in the same area.
Cornwall County Council). Further study of the remains recovered from the
site work should determine chronological
relationships between the sites and help identify the activities which took place within them.
[Andy M Jones and Sean R Taylor are with the Historic Environment Service, Cornwall
County Council.
Kennall Building, Old County Hall,
Station Road
Truro, TR1 3AY]

Figure 10-5: Excavation of part of the multiple

ring-ditched enclosure (Copyright HES, Cornwall
County Council).

Journal 22.
Downloaded from the Council for British Archaeology (South-West) website.
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbasw/