Charred Plant Remains from a Medieval Suburb at Olney, Buckinghamshire (CTO.03)

Excavations were carried out by Northampton Archaeology directed by Alex Thorne in 2003. During the excavation samples were taken from six areas of the site for the recovery of charred plant remains which can give evidence of agriculture, diet and activities in the past. Small numbers of fish bones and scales, and occasional animal bones were also recovered from the samples. The features sampled were sub-urban contexts including pits and ditches of medieval date ranging from Late Saxon to the14th century, but mainly of 12th-13th century date. The excavation was on the site of a recently demolished tannery. The earliest features sampled were two pits of Iron Age date. Late Saxon activity consisted of a building, pits and ditches but pre-Norman and post-Norman features could not be separated so were described as two continuous phases. In the 12th century new boundaries divided the site into six plots; front plots Areas 1, 4 and 5, with back plots Areas 2 and 6. The site was covered by a great depth of soil thought to have been the product of prolonged agricultural activity. A phase of activity in the 13th century included re-defining the boundaries of Areas 4 and 6 and the infilling of a well and other pits. A long lived hearth, in use in the13th and 14th centuries, was sampled. The latest features sampled included a possible malting kiln of 14th century date and a post-medieval pit. [Taken from introduction]