Monument record RKN 011 - Calke Wood (IA)

Calke Wood is a multi period site consisting of an area of hollows of varying sizes and depths, many of which contain features. The area is encompassed within an earthwork, possibly Med boundaries, and has been used extensively as a source of pottery clay throughout the settlement periods and into modern times. Calke Wood had been kept under excavation by Basil Brown for IPSMG since the mid 1930's with excavations by him from time to time and in 1956 an excavation on behalf of MOW was undertaken by J S Wacher. This site has obvious connections with the Cottage Field site, Wattisfield, WSF 001 and Foxledge Common, Wattisfield, WSF 003, with the parish boundary running between them (S1)(S2).
IA pottery found in 1936 and taken to NWHCM by Mr Shepherd Frere was exchanged with IPSMG, card 962-181. This was found beneath a silty black layer containing Rom sherds. In 1952 Basil Brown investigated features in some of the hollows and found evidence of supposed hut sites with hearths and pottery and a fired clay object which was conical in shape with a hole or indentation in the top - use not known (S1)(S2).
The MOW excavation in 1956 directed by Mr J Wacher consisted of a trench across the hollows from W to E with a N-S cross trench at the E end. This revealed 3 postholes and a clay floor upto 1 foot thick, with a small area of burnt flints, the whole surrounded by a bank. It is possible that this is an IA hut but more likely to have been Rom. IA pottery was found during this excavation and many small sherds of flint gritted IA pottery are to be found in the archive (S3)(R1).
See also other periods cross referenced below.
(S1) See below.
(S2) IPSMG, map M6, plans M104,M132,M140,M142,M143
(S3) PSIA, 28, 1959, (1), 1-28