Romano-British Livestock Butchery Site Discovered on Wetland Edge

This month at Killerby Quarry, we have discovered evidence for Romano-British activity in and around the edge of one of the ancient wetlands on the site. The immediately adjacent area contains a network of enclosure ditches designed to manage livestock. This livestock control system appears to have utilised the wetland edge where water was available.

A sealed organic layer around the wetland edge contained a dense assemblage of over 2000 animal bones, primarily comprising cattle but also sheep, horses and pigs, many of which bear clear butchery marks. It seems likely that the slaughter, butchery and processing of animals took place here, with unwanted remains discarded at the wetland edge.

In addition to the animal bone assemblage we have also recovered quantities of Roman pottery as well as a decorated bone comb and a coin. On the raised gravel terrace above the wetland two rectilinear Romano-British enclosed settlements were discovered indicating nearby farmsteads. A quern fragment was found in the topsoil above one of them indicating that cereal production also took place.

Earlier, prehistoric worked flint and chert artefacts are continuing to reveal themselves, including the discovery of two axe heads. One, shown below left is Early Mesolithic in date and the other, below right, is a Neolithic Group VI ground and polished axe head which would have been produced in Cumbria using Langdale tuff.

We are also conducting ancient DNA analysis on the sediments within one of the large peat-filled ponds. This will give us an insight into the type of vegetation in and around the pond throughout prehistory. We will couple this with pollen analysis which will help provide an accurate picture of land use and land use change around the pond including the impact and activities of people during prehistory.

Keep checking our website for regular updates as our progress continues on this bountiful site!