EAB4747 - Evaluation 2015 - PORTSDOWN

A total of 72 trenches were excavated, covering 7-10 percent of the site. Rig and furrow was recorded to the north of the site, which corresponds to Roy's map of 18th Century cultivation. To the south of the rig and furrow, two small pits with no related artefacts were recorded. Charcoal and cereal grain samples were used for radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon dates from the fills of the pits produced dates of 4234-4005 cal BC and 3646-3522 cal BC. A further two areas of undated burning were recorded to the south of the site, again with no related artefacts. A small Bronze Age pit was recorded to the south of Portsdown steading (MAB18942), producing a radiocarbon date of 1499-1310 cal BC. A flint pebble, a small sherd of thick-walled prehistoric pottery, and a flint flake were recovered from the fill of the pit. A Medieval or Post-Medieval handle sherd and a possible hone were recovered near the area of the Bronze Age pit.