Monument record 15376 - Cluster of Early Bronze Age Pits, East of Hulme Barns Farm, Bucklow Hill

<1> Wessex Archaeology, 2017, A556 Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement, Cheshire: Archaeological Strip Map and Excavation & Post Excavation Assessment, R3920 (Client Report). SCH8111.

A cluster of pits (features 965, 969, 975, 977, 979, 982 and 984) were recorded during an archaeological strip, map and excavation undertaken in 2014-2015. This work formed part of a programme of archaeological investigations along the course of the proposed A556 Knutsford to Bowdon relief road. The pits lie to the south of a Bronze Age barrow with cremated burials (CHER 15367) and a second cluster of Bronze Age burials (CHER 15369).

A 19 m-long, north-north-west/south-south-east alignment of three regularly spaced pits formed the core of this group. Each of the three (965, 969 and 984) contained a distinctive fill of very dark, charcoal-stained silt/sand containing frequent angular heat-affected stones. These pits measured between 0.75 m and 1.07 m wide and attained a maximum depth of 0.25 m. A fourth pit, 975 contained a similar fill and lay 2.6 m to the west of this alignment. Three other pits were present nearby: 977, 979 and 982. These formed a vague, 16 m-long, east-west alignment, which crossed the north-north-west/southsouth- east orientated row of pits. Pit 977 contained a charcoal-rich fill, but relatively few heat-affected stones. Pits 979 and 982 contained sterile midgreyish brown sandy fills, more typical of those recorded elsewhere on the Site. The function of this group of pits is unclear, although they do form a marked concentration. A small number of pits containing fire-cracked stone were found widely scattered across the rest of the Site.

<2> Patrick Daniel, 2021, “What are the dead for?” Bronze Age burials in a multi-period landscape at Bucklow Hill, Cheshire, Archaeological Journal, 2021, p.1-82 (Article in Journal). SCH9099.

Article discussing the excavated remains at Bucklow Hill and the programme of radiocarbon dating which has resulted in the first high-resolution radiocarbon chronology for a prehistoric funerary site in the county. Given the paucity of excavation at such sites in Cheshire in recent decades, the opportunity to examine and date this site is regionally important. The time-depth of the exposed landscape is also significant, with indications of a human presence prior to the Bronze Age and more plentiful evidence for subsequent periods. Probable early medieval inhumations were focused upon the earlier burial sites, and these together with the remains of agriculture and iron smithing represent regionally rare glimpses of the early medieval period. They show the continued importance of this part of the landscape to local people and highlight the ‘connective’ role of funerary monuments in allowing such inter-relationships between different communities across time.

Birch and oak charcoal from pit 975 was dated to the Early Bronze Age (SUERC-82581; 3717 ± 30 BP; 2200–2030 cal BC and SUERC-82582; 3665 ± 30 BP; 2140–1970 cal BC) (combined result of 2150–2020 cal BC; Figure 14). The three other pits within the group contained relatively sterile fills; pit 977 had some charcoal but few of the heat-affected stones that characterised the other features. The pits may have been contemporary with the earlier funerary activities at the burial sites to the north (CHER 15367 and CHER 15369).

A small number of other pits containing heat-affected stone were found widely scattered across the rest of the site (523, 1014, 1016, 1034, 1036 and 1062). All are undated except for pit 1062, which contained five sherds (15 g) of rock-tempered pottery, which may be of Middle Bronze Age date. Hot stones were put to a multitude of uses during prehistory and the function of such features is uncertain, although their presence is typically read as a proxy for otherwise inconspicuous settlement activity.