Summary of the Archaeological Report of the excavations

An artistic impression of life during the Iron Age for those living on the site excavated at Stoke Lane, Wychbold – reproduced by permission of Archaeological Investigations Ltd (original artwork Brian Bryon).

Before building commenced, trial pits were dug, and these revealed sufficient archaeological remains for a more detailed excavation to take place before the site was developed for housing. The archaeological excavation undertaken in June and July 2000 was funded by the developer, and a full report has been published.

A ditched enclosure dated to the Middle to late Iron Age appeared to be a small farmstead. Also found were a series of roundhouses and the evidence suggested that the site was occupied over a reasonably long period. The easterly facing doorways of these roundhouses probably overlooked the causeway entrance to the enclosed site.

Wychbold seems to be in the general vicinity of two Iron Age tribes, the Dobunni tribe to the south, and the Cornovii to the north who apparently used very little pottery compared with their Dobunnic neighbours . Pottery found at the Stoke Lane excavation suggests a rural settlement in the locality of the Iron Age salt production site at Droitwich. Surprisingly, however, only a small amount of Droitwich salt container (briquetage) was found on the Wychbold site. Despite this the domestic character of the site occupation was demonstrated by the presence of burnt stones (‘pot boilers’)which were used in cooking by first being heated in the fire before being transferred to the cooking pots where they would heat up and cook the contents.

Pottery found shows trading links with Malvern and Martley, and this is similar to other sites of the same date.

The site was occupied, or re-occupied, in Roman times as gullies were dug then which line up with earlier features. It may have gone out of use by AD 120. As only part of the settlement site was excavated, we cannot be certain. It seems to have been a low-status farm area.

To view the Archaeological Report – click here