Monument record 2469/1 - Possible Medieval Charcoal Production &/or Ironworking

Extensive evidence of iron working, from finds of slag, and hundreds of 'black patches', which appear to be the remains of charcaol burning clamps, have been identified within Brigstock Great Park. An excavated charcoal burning clamp was dated to the medieval period by pottery and a C14 date.

{1} Iron working would appear to have been practised to some considerable extent in the park area since slag samples have been collected from most of the fields walked. Typical features are the hundreds of "black patches". Their diameter averages 10 to 12m. Their blackness is due not only to their high charcoal content, but also to the fact that the soil and subsoil have been heated under reducing conditions. The black patches would appear to be the remains of charcoal burning clamps. Two were excavated. The dating of them is still under review, but some sherds of medieval pottery have been found by fieldwalking in association, on a high proportion walked. A fragment of 14th century pottery was found stratified in undisturbed charcoal layers at the base of the totally excavated patch. A carbon 14 date returned from charcoal samples on the one trenched by D. Jackson [see Mon 2469/1/3] was also a mid medieval one.

<1> Bellamy B.; Foster P.; Johnston G., 1983, The Royal Deer Parks of Brigstock: an Archaeological Landscape Survey, p.15-18 (unchecked) (Report). SNN43744.

Record last edited

Feb 10 2020 2:15PM