The past week spent at Milton has provided us with some insightful discoveries. We appear to be near, but not on top of, a major villa complex. The density and quality of finds remain at a level consistent with significant high-status occupation and associated cattle farming and dairying. A substantial amount of cattle bone continues to be unearthed from the enclosure ditches, suggesting at least a portion of the herd was slaughtered for its meat. A lower proportion of other domesticates (sheep/goat, pig, fowl etc.) likely derive from kitchen waste, and, in addition, at least a portion of the diet includes scallops, oysters and marine fish.
Soil samples have produced an interesting balance of wild/cultivated seed grains. The majority have been barley grains with some naked wheat and possible einkorn spikelets. There has been no evidence for crop processing, although the wild seeds derive from crop contaminants, suggesting little effort in processing for human consumption and perhaps were imported onto site for use as animal feed.
The network of ditches under investigation represents a series of animal enclosures with an overall grid-like pattern. These enclosures were laid out, modified, expanded, subdivided, and re-laid out at various points during the occupation, serving either the requirements of the villa estate or for commercial purposes, and reflecting changes in local markets or the regional economy at different times. Comparable Roman sites often yield large quantities of split meat-bearing limb bones, as well as deposits primarily composed of head and foot bones. These findings are often indicative of butchery for meat, and utilisation of bone marrow, but also of secondary production of skins for hide/leather tanning and bone/horn for carving. At present the assemblages at Milton suggest these raw materials were generated, perhaps for market, but craft waste or associated processing evidence has not yet come to light.