Waste disposal in late Iron Age and early Roman Silchester: a geochemical comparison of pits, post holes, ditches and wells in Insula IX

Van Zwieten, C., Cook, S. R., Voss, J., Fulford, M. G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8780-9691, Pankhurst, N. A. and Barnett, C. M. (2017) Waste disposal in late Iron Age and early Roman Silchester: a geochemical comparison of pits, post holes, ditches and wells in Insula IX. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 15. pp. 1-7. ISSN 2352-409X doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.06.044

Abstract/Summary

Bulk chemical analysis was undertaken on samples taken from 143 negative features (wells, pits, post-holes, cess pits and ditches) across the area of excavation at Silchester Hampshire in order to help us understand the disposal of waste during late Iron Age and earliest Roman occupation. Results show that it is possible to split features into waste disposal which included animal/human waste and those which probably did not. It is also possible to identify post-holes based on organic matter content. This work forms part of the larger Town Life project run by the University of Reading.