IRBY, THE WIRRAL (SITE 30): THE CHARRED PLANT REMAINS FROM PREHISTORIC TO 4TH CENTURY AD SAMPLES
Author(s): J P Huntley
163 samples from a multiperiod (6th century BC to 4th+ century AD) settlement site at Irby, The Wirral were analysed. Features analysed consisted largely of fills from post holes, pits and gulleys but no significant differences in distribution of plant content were determined. Charred plant remains were especially common in the earlier Bronze Age to Iron Age deposits with the Romano-British deposits being relatively clean. The earlier assemblage was dominated by grains of naked barley and emmer type wheat with little chaff or weed material although one or two samples probably had the remains of fine sieving debris in them. Preservational conditions are considered to account for at least part of this evidence. Later material contains hulled barley, bread wheat type and oats with very little evidence for spelt wheat. This is atypical when compared with sites in north east England, in particular, where spelt is the dominant wheat species throughout the Romano-British period. Comparable sites in the north west are absent. Consideration of whether this site relates to cultural, social or taphonomic factors is presented in the discussion.
- Report Number:
- 31/2002
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Pages:
- 48
- Keywords:
- Grain, Carbonised Plant Remains
