|
SMR Card
|
Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record.
|
| back |
|
|
WMA
|
West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record.
|
| back |
|
Geophysical Survey
|
The measuring and recording of electrical resistivity or magnetism in order to determine the existence and outline of buried features such as walls and ditches. Geophysical techniques include resistivity survey, magnetometer survey and ground penetrating radar.
|
| back |
|
|
Cropmark
|
Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.
more ->
|
| back |
|
|
excavation
|
Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.
Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
more ->
|
| back |
|
|
Radiocarbon Dating
|
Another name for radiocarbon dating is C14 dating. It is used to find out how old some archaeological remains are. Archaeologists do this by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon left in samples of organic material (from the remains of plants or animals).
All organic materials contain radioactive and non-radioactive carbon in fixed amounts while they are part of living plants or animals. When the plant or animal dies the radioactive carbon starts to decay. By comparing the amount of radioactive carbon left in the organic material with the amount of stable carbon, archaeologists can find out how old it is.
|
| back |
|
|
Aerial Photograph
|
Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical.
|
| back |
|
Iron Age
|
About 800 BC to 43 AD
The Iron Age comes after the Bronze Age and before the Roman period. It is a time when people developed the skills and knowledge to work and use iron, hence the name ‘Iron Age’ which is given to this period. Iron is a much tougher and more durable metal than bronze but it also requires more skill to make objects from it. People continued to use bronze during this period.
more ->
|
| back |
|
|
Roman
|
About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)
The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.
The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
more ->
|
| back |
|
FIELDWORK *
|
A usually temporary earthwork or fortification, the latter constructed by military forces operating in the field. Use more specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
HOUSE *
|
A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
SITE *
|
Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible.
|
| back |
|
|
SETTLEMENT *
|
A small concentration of dwellings.
|
| back |
|
|
CREMATION BURIAL *
|
The site of the formal burial of cremated bone, sometimes 'urned' in a vessel or casket of glass, wood or, more commonly, ceramic.
|
| back |
|
|
BUILDING *
|
A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
STONE *
|
Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function.
|
| back |
|
|
FEATURE *
|
Areas of indeterminate function.
|
| back |
|
|
DITCHED ENCLOSURE *
|
An area of land enclosed by one or several boundary ditches. Double index with a term to indicate the shape of the enclosure where known.
|
| back |
|
|
RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE *
|
A rectangular shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier.
|
| back |
|
|
GULLY *
|
A deep gutter, drain or sink.
|
| back |
|
|
PIT CLUSTER *
|
A spatially discrete group of pits usually containing artefactual material with little or no accompanying evidence for structural features.
|
| back |
|
|
RAMPART *
|
A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification.
|
| back |
|
|
PIT *
|
A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
FIELD *
|
An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock.
|
| back |
|
|
FIELD SYSTEM *
|
A group or complex of fields which appear to form a coherent whole. Use more specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
ENCLOSURE *
|
An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
GATEWAY *
|
A substantial structure supporting or surrounding a gate. May be ornate or monumental, and have associated structures such as lodges, tollbooths, guard houses etc.
|
| back |
|
|
DITCH *
|
A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year.
|
| back |
|
|
SQUARE *
|
An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees.
|
| back |
|
|
STRUCTURE *
|
A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type.
|
| back |
|
|
MARSH *
|
A low lying area of land that is usually waterlogged at all times and is flooded in wet weather.
|
| back |
|
|
ROUND *
|
A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England.
|
| back |
|
|
QUARRY *
|
An excavation from which stone for building and other functions, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
|
| back |
|
|
FARM *
|
A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known.
|
| back |
|
|
FENCE *
|
A construction of wood or metal used to enclose an area of land, a building, etc.
|
| back |
|
|
DOMESTIC *
|
This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms.
|
| back |
* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)
