'GBA' SAMPLES FROM EVALUATION TRENCHES AT DIMMER, CASTLE CARY, SOMERSET (CCD10) Internal Report for C & N Hollinrake

Matt Law, May 2010

Introduction Three 'GBA' (General Biological Analysis, sensu Dobney et al. 1992) samples were taken from Trench 7 at Dimmer, near Castle Cary, Somerset for assessment of the environmental material contained within them. Methods The samples were air dried and then a standard weight of 1 kg was extracted from each and processed following standard procedures (Kenward et al. 1980) using a 500 m mesh, and rapidly scanned under a microscope for biological evidence. Mollusca were identified as closely as possible by comparison with a reference collection. Principle sources consulted for ecological information are Kerney and Cameron (1979), Kerney (1999), and Davies (2008). Nomenclature follows Anderson (2008). Results The samples were very low in inclusions in general, yielding only very little residue, however a few shells and shell fragments were recovered from sample 1, context 703; and sample 2, context 701. MNI (minimum number of individuals) values for recorded taxa are listed below.
SAMPLE <1> Context (703) MOLLUSCA Cornu aspersum (Mller, 1774) fragmentary Helicid sp. fragmentary Ecological notes Terrestrial, ubiquitous 1 0 0 SAMPLE <2> Context (701) SAMPLE <3> Context (702)

Terrestrial, ubiquitous 1

Planorbis cf. Planorbis (L.)

Freshwater, especially 4 pools and ditches, tolerant of seasonal dryness Freshwater, especially 3 pools and ditches, tolerant of seasonal dryness

Anisus leucostoma (Millet, 1813)

Discussion In general, the number of shells recovered is far too low to carry any interpretative value. Cornu aspersum and an unidentifiable Helicid snail were recovered as small shell fragments only. C. aspersum, while tolerant of a wide range of habitats, is notable as it is an introduced species in the British Isles, arriving in the Romano-British period. Planorbis planorbis and Anisus leucostoma are both common lowland species found in a variety of aquatic habitats, but especially well-vegetated pools and ditches which dry out seasonally. The low biodiversity and low number of shells from these samples is likely to be due to poor conditions for survival. Statement of Potential and Recommendations. The assemblage is to small to warrant further work. References ANDERSON, R., 2008, Annotated List of the Non-Marine Mollusca of Britain and Ireland (London: Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland) DAVIES, P., 2008, Snails: Archaeology and Landscape Change (Oxford: Oxbow) DOBNEY, K., HALL, A., KENWARD, H., AND MILLES, A., 1992, A Working Classification of Sample Types for Environmental Archaeology, Circaea 9 (1), 24-6 KENWARD, H.K., HALL, A.R., AND JONES, A.K.G., 1980, A Tested Set of Techniques for the Extraction of Plant and Animal Macrofossils from Archaeological Deposits, Science and Archaeology, 22, 3-15 KERNEY, M.P., 1999, Atlas of the Land and Freshwater Molluscs of Britain and Ireland (Great Horkesley: Harley Books) KERNEY, M.P., AND CAMERON, R.A.D., 1979, A Field Guide to the Land Snails of Britain and North-West Europe (London: Collins)