{"id":12254,"date":"2025-02-13T14:44:45","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T14:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.berksarch.co.uk\/?page_id=12254"},"modified":"2026-07-08T16:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T15:28:51","slug":"evaluation-excavations-at-wickham-house","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.berksarch.co.uk\/index.php\/evaluation-excavations-at-wickham-house\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Evaluation Excavations at Wickham House\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BAS2025_P01<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project aims to inform the residents of Wickham of the archaeology and history of the place where they live through direct participation in archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation analysis, and participation in site tours and lectures. This project also aims to provide BAS volunteers with hands on experience and training to develop the archaeological capacity within BAS Society to engage with communities across the wider Berkshire area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past analysis of Wickham\u2019s material culture assemblage and extensive geophysics surveys undertake by BAS suggest it was the location of a Roman period settlement at the intersection of two Roman roads. The focus of this settlement later \u2018shifted\u2019 northwards during the Medieval period to the location of the village centre. Evidence suggests continuous occupation at Wickham from prehistory to the present day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This excavation focuses on the \u2018building #2\u2019 geophysics anomaly to the east of Wickham House, interpreted as a sizeable multi-roomed rectilinear building adjacent to (and aligned with) the Roman road Ermin Street. The evaluation excavation of building #2 aims to reveal diagnostic evidence to confirm the building\u2019s morphology, function, chronology and the identities of its past occupants that can be used to further enhance the historic character of Wickham House. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Gradiometer survey image of building #2 (OpenStreetMap, 2024). <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Update on 2025 season<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This season of excavation ran from April through to the end of June 2025 with 83 individuals participating as volunteers from BAS, other local societies and local residents. In total 8 trenches were opened, 148 context identified and 3 (possibly 4) buildings discovered with this previously unresearched Roman roadside settlement and the later Medieval settlement built on top of it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 1. Trenches reinstated and the last wheelbarrow leaving site\u2026<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Memories of this seasons’ BAS excavations at Wickham House may already be starting to fade – but post-excavation analysis (Post-Ex) activities are already ramping up! All of the finds discovered have now been washed, and are currently being sorted into material type categories (e.g. pottery, ceramic building material, iron objects, animal bone etc) ready for post excavation analysis of each assemblage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will also be a wide range of other Post-Ex projects mobilising in the months ahead-  all of which  require no previous experience or specialist knowledge, and training will be provided to get you started. Artefact assemblages range from Roman\/Medieval pottery, metal objects to analysis of environmental soil samples – so you are free to choose any\/all areas that are of interest to you!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 2. Finds discovered at various stages of processing in preparation for Post-Ex analysis.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The first milestone for Post-Ex analysis will be the presentation of a summary of discoveries made and interim interpretation from this season\u2019s excavation at Wickham House to be presented at the BAS Day School on 11th<\/sup> October 2025 in Newbury, details of which can be found on the BAS website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-excavation analysis to refine the stratigraphic analyses of the 8 trenches excavated to develop initial interpretations of the archaeology revealed took place by 4 groups involving 15 BAS members. The results of this analysis were reported in plenary at the Study Group on 11th<\/sup> March and recommendation incorporated into the 2026 (season 2) excavation plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L1 and L2 pottery analysis have completed with initial L3 dating having been undertaken to provide sufficient information for the first iteration of phasing within the interim report that is now being drafted for season 1. TVAS have very kindly offered to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the Season 1 Roman pottery assemblage to provide not only provide more accurate dating and identification of vessel form, but to serve as a reference collection for future work on this site and other Roman period sites nearby. The small Medieval pottery assemblage will be passed to a 3rd<\/sup> party specialist for assessment in due course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specialist reports have now been drafted for Glass (Peter Clifford), Animal Bone (Paula Levick), CBM (Jo Skerry), Coins (Lindsey Bedford), Iron Slag (Peter Clifford), Clay Pipe (Geoff Anderson) and Worked Flint (Fay Heblich). Other specialist reports are in the process of being completed. A comprehensive stratigraphic narrative for the season 1 excavation is also well underway to form the basis for an interim report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026 Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BAS is undertaking a second season of excavation at Wickham to explore the archaeology of a Romano-British roadside settlement. Post excavation of last year’s excavation is telling us, from pottery, coins and other artefacts recovered, that this settlement was established during the early Roman period and likely fell into disuse before a second phase of occupation during the Late Roman period. There is no evidence so far of continued occupation of this site into the Early Medieval period, but in the late-12th<\/sup> century AD a medieval manor house was built on top of the Roman road. Not only is there evidence of domestic occupation, but there is also much evidence of industrial activity taking place nearby. The objectives for this season are focused on shedding new light on the Roman period roadside buildings that are emerging as well as the Medieval manor house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work on site starts on 31st<\/sup> March 2026, and an evening lecture\/site tour will be scheduled for June together with an opportunity to visit the sites on 14th<\/sup> June as part of the Wickham House Open Day event. Further details of these two events will be circulated to BAS members in due course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

July 2026 Project Update<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Post-excavation analysis of finds from season 1, and stratigraphic analyses of the data collected from the 8 trenches excavated is 2025 has been studied by 4 groups involving 15 BAS members. The results of this analysis have been captured in a 300-page interim report. Draft specialist reports identified have also been documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Season 2 of the excavation at Wickham house has now been completed having undertaken 37 days of excavation. To date four trenches have been opened with 583 man days of effort and participation by 82 individuals, 14 of whom are students at the University of Reading and 6 are local Wickham residents. Some 95% of participants are residents of the wider Berkshire area, and the male\/female split of participants is 52\/48%. A daily blog has been produced for the BAS website, and the daily YouTube video has been viewed by 756 individuals to date, raising awareness of the Society.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 1: Excavating a Roman corn dryer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The site was visited by Sarah Orr, TVAS and Amanda Clarke and Mike Fulford, and the site lecture\/tour on 10th<\/sup> June was attended by 91 visitors and raised \u00a31083 for the upkeep and maintenance of St Swithun\u2019s church. BAS also supported the Wickham House open day on 14th<\/sup> June, raising a further \u00a3185 for other good causes, which was attended by more than 250 people. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 2: Open day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

BAS has now completed three school visits led by the Wickham project team at St Nicolas Primary in Newbury, All Saints in Wokingham and Curridge C of E Primary is planned. The Wickham project has also given lectures to historical and archaeological societies in Newbury, Thatcham, Stockcross and Wokingham raising further funds for the \u201cpost-ex fund\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The archaeological discoveries made this season will be presented in detail at the Study Group and other forums, but overall the project is running to plan, is well supported by members and is attracting new members to the Society. BAS members continue to develop excavation skills and are increasingly engaging in post-excavation analysis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keith Abbott<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the project on our YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAILY BLOGS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Follow the progress of the project day by day<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2026<\/strong> blogs will appear on the home page of this website<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025<\/strong> blogs are available below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n