EXCAVATIONS IN 1999 ON LAND ADJACENT TO WAYSIDE FARM, DEVIZES 



175 



of four burials in Area 1 produced coffin nails 

 (Object No. 78) and hobnails (41) and a single 

 object, which is probably a spoon (Fig. 16.06). 



The group of material from the midden is 

 exceptional for its high proportion of objects. Many 

 of the objects from the midden derive from 

 buildings (Structural and building metalwork Cat 

 nos. 23-32), whilst others - tools, styli, the 

 hipposandal and possible lock fragment and key 

 fragment - may indicate a sophisticated settlement 

 or other high-status activity site. 



THE IRON AGE OBJECTS 



The Iron Age Ironwork from Area 1 



Only two iron objects were recovered, both derive 

 from the infilling of later Iron Age storage pits. Pit 

 F3037 yielded a small curved knife with a nailed/ 

 rivetted tang (Figure 15.1). The tang has slight 

 traces of flanging along one side. This type of knife 

 is referred to as a Class 3 knife at Danebury 

 (Selwood 1984, 349). The majority of knives from 

 Danebury are dated to ceramic phases 7-8 (cist 

 century BC). 



The solitary iron find from Pit 3016 was a nail 

 with a square, flat head; apparently chisel-ended, 

 although the shank may be incomplete (Figure 

 15.4). Iron nails are not common Iron Age finds 

 and presumably their use was specialised. 



The Iron Age Ironwork from the Midden 



Just two iron objects recovered from the midden 

 deposit excavated on Area 2 were identified as being 

 potentially Iron Age in date. Both are pins with 

 scrolled heads (Figure 15.2 and 15.3), the former 

 being more carefully finished than the latter. Both 

 compare well with mid- late Iron Age pins from 

 Gussage All Saints (Wainwright 1 979) and iron pins 

 from the Devizes Museum collections from 

 Broadbury Banks, Wilsford and Stockton 

 earthworks. 



Catalogue of Iron Age Objects 



Fig. 15.1. (Object 1). Area 1, Pit F3037, SF100. A small 

 curved knife with a nailed/rivetted tang. The tang has slight 

 traces of flanging along one side. Danebury Class 3 knife 

 (Selwood 1984, 349), compare with examples excavated 

 at Danebury (Selwood 1984, fig.7.10, 2.34 and Selwood 

 1991, fig 7.11, 2.234). Length 112mm. 



Fig. 15.2. (4). Area 2, midden seg. 4047, SF344. 

 Pin with circular-sectioned shank showing almost no taper 

 at all,The scrolled head is formed from an expanded strip, 



but does not appear to be as carefully finished as 3. above. 

 Length c.87mm. 



Fig. 15.3. (3). Area 2, midden, context 209, SF2. 

 Finely wrought pin with straight shank and delicately 

 scrolled head. Length 86mm. Similar iron pins of Iron 

 Age date are held in the Devizes Museum Collection (N. 

 Griffiths pers. comm.). 



Fig. 15.4. (2). Area 1, Pit 3016, SF 101. Nail with a 

 square, flat head; apparently chisel-ended, although the 

 shank may be incomplete. Length 105mm. 



THE ROMANO-BRITISH 

 IRONWORK 



The Romano-British Ironwork from Area 1 



Area 1 yielded two iron objects, one, a hobnail, from 

 ditch F3101 the other probably a fragment of oval- 

 linked chain comprising at least two links from the 

 buried soil 3098 (SF 109). The other ironwork was 

 recovered from the four inhumations excavated in 

 the northwestern corner of the site. With the 

 exception of one spoon (Figure 16.6), the 

 assemblage from the graves consisted exclusively 

 of timber nails from coffins and hobnails. The low 

 frequency of ferrous objects and the presence of 

 inhumations in Area 1 is notable and may reflect 

 the distance from the settlement or activity focus. 



Catalogue of Objects from Area 1 



Object 5. Layer 3098, SF109. In very poor condition with 

 little or no solid iron remaining. Appears to be at least 

 two oval links. The poor condition precludes 

 measurement. 



The Iron from the late Romano-British 

 Inhumations 



The three graves containing human all aligned 

 produced ironwork assumed to be associated with 

 burials. A fourth feature (F3 136) within this cluster 

 yielded only a group of hobnails and a single timber 

 nail. The timber nails from the inhumations are all 

 flat-headed nails. No iron coffin fittings or grave 

 goods with the exception of hobnails from boots or 

 shoes and a spoon from Inhumation 2 (Cat no. 6, 

 Fig. 16.6). Spoons from burials are very rare, and 

 iron spoons from funerary contexts are even less 

 common. It is possible that this is a unique find 

 and until other examples are recognised it is not 

 possible to make further comment. However, there 

 are often Christian associations with spoons which 

 cannot be dismissed. 



This small group of burials appear to have many 



