526 



A LATE CELTIC INHABITED SITE 



AT 



ALL CANNINGS CROSS FARM.i 



[Being an account of the excavations carried out by B. Howard Cunnington, 

 F.SA., Scot., in the summer of 1911.] 



By Mrs. M. E. Cunnington. 



Our attention was first drawn to this site in the spring of 1909 

 by the finding of several hammerstones, and part of a saddle quern, 

 when crossing tlie ploughed ground to visit Eybury Camp. 



As a result of several subsequent visits it became evident that 

 the site was remarkable for the very unusual number of flint and 

 «arsen hammerstones to be found there. The probability that 

 these indicated pre-historic habitation of the site was strengthened 

 by the eventual discovery that fragments of pottery were also 

 frequently turned up by the plough. It was found that although 

 hammerstones were strewn over a very large area, tliey were more 

 numerous in certain spots, and that on these spots the fragments 

 of pottery were chiefly to be met with. 



Our interest in the site was chiefly concerned with the occurrence 

 of hammerstones in such extraordinary numbers, and it was in the 

 liope of finding out for what particular purpose so many had been 

 required, that some digging on the site was eventually undertaken. 



For this purpose a small oblong area, measuring 208ft. x 144ft., 

 where hammerstones and pieces of pottery seemed more than 

 commonly plentiful, was chosen, and trenched over down to the 

 undisturbed soil. As a result of this work a considerable quantity 

 of broken pottery, a few other relics, and nine pits were found. 



In the first few inches of soil disturbed by cultivation the pottery 

 sherds were small and worn, but most of the pottery was found 

 below this, at a depth of from six to nine inches, in a layer that 

 seems to represent the surface at the time of its accumulation. 

 Here, though still fragmentary, the pieces were largei* and less worn. 



' The buildings shown on the sketch map at the side of the road, are known 

 as New Town : the field name of the site is Heather Combe. 



