Information for record number MWA5510:
Excavation of Iron Age Settlement at Ryton

Summary The site of an Iron Age settlement which was found during an excavation. Pits and post holes were found within an enclosure. Finds from the site included pottery, quern stones, pins and a glass bead. The site is located 500m south east of Bubbenhall.
What Is It?  
Type: Settlement
Period: Iron Age (800 BC - 42 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Ryton on Dunsmore
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 37 72
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Site threatened by gravel extraction and excavated by CADAS from 1965-7. An Iron Age enclosure complex overlay a Bronze Age cremation cemetery and enclosure (PRN 1842). The upper fill of the Bronze Age enclosure ditches contained Iron Age intrusions and debris, and the enclosure ditch could have been recut in places. A number of pits and post holes and an annular trench with central pit were found inside the enclosure and some of these contained Iron Age pottery. Several other Iron Age enclosures abutted onto this enclosure and some of these contained internal features. The final enclosure (D) probably dated to the 1st century AD. Finds included five parts of stone querns, Iron Age pottery, a knife, a split pin, a looped pin, a glass bead, Mesolithic flints (PRN 6040), Neolithic/Bronze Age flints (PRN 5511) and a ?Neolithic axe (PRN 6057).
4 Aerial photograph.
5 More than 30 crude fragments of fired clay of unknown function found in a penannular enclosure ditch on the Site. Some of these clay lumps have now been joined together to form two main ceramic groups. It is likely the two groups are from the same vessel.
6 enclosures and other features mapped as part of the English Heritage National Mapping Project.
 
Sources
Source No: 6
Source Type: Aerial Photograph
Title: SP3772 Frame 13
Author/originator: CUCAP
Date: 7 July 1963
Page Number: Frame 13
Volume/Sheet: SP3772
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Aerial Photograph
Title:
Author/originator: J Pickering
Date: 1962
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP4489 C/D/E/X
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Configuring the disassembled: An enigmatic Iron Age vessel and tube
Author/originator: Bateman J
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 88
Author/originator: Bateman J
Date: 1976
Page Number: Fig 3
Volume/Sheet: 88
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: Archaeological Journal 1964
Author/originator: Webster G and Hobley B
Date: 1964
Page Number: 22
Volume/Sheet: 121
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 88
Author/originator: various
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique 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.
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technique 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
period Mesolithic About 10,000 BC to 4001 BC

Mesolithic means 'Middle Stone Age'. It is the period that comes between the Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) and the Neolithic (New Stone Age).

The Mesolithic period is a period of transition from the way people were living during the Palaeolithic period as hunter-gatherers to the development of farming in the Neolithic period.
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period Neolithic About 4000 BC to 2351 BC

The word ‘Neolithic’ means ‘New Stone Age’. Archaeologists split up the Neolithic period into three phases; early, middle and late. The Neolithic period comes after the Mesolithic period and before the Bronze Age.

People in the Neolithic period hunted and gathered food as their ancestors had but they were also began to farm. They kept animals and grew crops. This meant that they were able to settle more permanently in one location instead of constantly moving from place to place to look for food.
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period Bronze Age About 2500 BC to 700 BC

The Bronze Age comes after the Neolithic period and before the Iron Age.

The day to day life of people in the Bronze Age probably changed little from how their ancestors had lived during the Neolithic period. They still lived in farmsteads, growing crops and rearing animals.

During the Bronze Age people discovered how to use bronze, an alloy of tin and copper (hence the name that has given to this era). They used it to make their tools and other objects, although they continued to use flint and a range of organic materials as well. A range of bronze axes, palstaves and spears has been found in Warwickshire.
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period 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.
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monument CREMATION CEMETERY * A cemetery comprising exclusively cremated human remains, some or all of which may be contained within pottery vessels. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument 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
monument POST HOLE * A hole dug to provide a firm base for an upright post, often with stone packing. Use broader monument type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record