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JOHNSTOWN 1

Archaeological Excavation

Excavation commenced at Johnstown 1 in February 2006 and is currently ongoing. 

Preliminary Summary Excavation Results

An area of settlement activity has been revealed on the western side of the landtake which comprises a complex of pits, postholes, stakeholes and curvilinear features, enclosed by a sub-circular ditch of c. 50m diameter. The curvilinear features have been provisionally interpreted as structures.

Almost 200 individual pieces of flint or chert have been recovered from the upper levels and the initial cleaning of the site, with only two such artefacts securely stratified. One of these is a spectacular flint hollow scraper with a natural perforation and no apparent wear. It has been suggested that this represents a high status item, probably worn as an item of personal adornment. Other more recent finds, including a small pair of iron shears, suggest a late Iron Age / early medieval date.

Burnt mound activity, including a rectangular trough, substantial postholes and large sub-rectangular pit, has been uncovered on the eastern side of the landtake. The burnt mound itself has suffered extensive truncation and survives as a very shallow deposit along the easternmost edge of the site. The large sub-rectangular pit measured 7m x 5m and may represent a combined quarry pit and well serving the adjacent trough. Fragments of wood, pieces of animal bone and a small quantity of flint artefacts have been recovered from the deposits within this pit. Two pieces of worked timber, a small whittled stake and a post with tapered end, were recovered from a smaller, deeper pit located in the southwestern corner of the quarry pit.

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Final Report

Please click on the link to access the final archaeological report for Johnstown 1