Monument MPM1698 - Iron Age Occupation, The George Inn, Portsdown

Evidence of a small Iron Age occupation site consisting of a hearth, storage area and living or manufacturing area, revealed during excavations close to the George Inn in 1966/67. Finds consisted of weaving equipment, pottery, fragments of quern stone and animal bones.

Iron Age features and occupation debris revealed during archaeological excavations prior to the redevelopment of the A3 near the George Inn in 1966/67. The features and finds were thought to represent a small occupation site consisting of a hearth, storage area and living or manufacturing area. Stake and post holes suggested the presence of at least one domestic structure. The finds consisted of weaving equipment, pottery, fragments of quern stone and animal bones, most of which were recovered from features cut into the chalk.

The presence of at least one structure was indicated by a number of stake and post holes concentrated in two groups to the west and south of a later Anglo-Saxon burial (grave 2, see MPM126). The post holes ranged between 6 - 18 inches deep, and had mostly been cut vertically into the chalk. Two of the post holes contained loom weights which had been used as packing for small posts. Other post holes contained daub impressed with the marks of wicker work or twigs, suggesting the presence of walling or fencing. It was not possible to determine the exact type of structure the post holes represented, and they may have related to a series of successive structures on the same site. However, it has been suggested the post holes may have belonged to a roofed structure, such as a hut, or free standing structures such as corn ricks or a loom frame.

To the east of the main concentration of post holes were two features described as hollows, one of which had been cut by the Anglo-Saxon burial. The first of these features measured 3ft 9in long x 1ft 9in wide x 12in deep. It contained pottery, three pieces of loom weight and a fragment of quern stone. Its fill was black and contained fragments of charcoal. This feature was interpreted as a hearth which had later been used as a rubbish pit. The second hollow was circular, measuring 36in x 23in x18in deep. The remains of a pot, the top of which had been sheared off, was found in situ surrounded by the bones of a butchered sheep or goat. The pot was filled with dark burnt material. This area of the site was interpreted as having been used for cooking.

To the north-east of the hollows and Anglo-Saxon grave were three features, two of which were thought to have been small storage pits, possibly used for storing water away from the main area of occupation. The first of these pits was oval with straight sides and a flat bottom, 27in deep. The second was circular, measuring 2ft 6in in diameter and 10in deep. Its fill contained ash, pot boilers and a chalk spindle whorl.

Accession No: 1967/32

Bradley, R, Lewis, E, 1969, Excavations at the George Inn, Portsdown Hill, Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society Volume XXV for 1968, p27-50 (Bibliographic reference). SPM336.