A second timber circle, trackways, and coppicing at Holme-next-the-Sea beach, Norfolk: use of salt- and freshwater marshes in the Bronze Age

Robertson, D., Taylor, M., Tyers, I., Cook, G. and Hamilton, W. D. (2016) A second timber circle, trackways, and coppicing at Holme-next-the-Sea beach, Norfolk: use of salt- and freshwater marshes in the Bronze Age. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 82, pp. 227-258. (doi: 10.1017/ppr.2016.3)

Abstract

Since 1998 archaeological investigations on Holme-next-the-Sea beach have recorded the waterlogged remains of two Bronze Age timber circles, timber structures, coppiced trees, metal objects, and salt- and freshwater marshes. The second timber circle (Holme II) is only the third waterlogged structure of its type to be discovered in Britain and only the second to be dated by dendrochronology. The felling of timbers used in Holme II has been dated to the spring or summer of 2049 bc , exactly the time as the felling of the timbers used to build the first circle (Holme I). This shared date provides the only known example of two adjacent monuments constructed at precisely the same time in British prehistory. It also informs comparisons between Holme II and other British timber circles and therefore helps develop interpretations. This paper suggests Holme II was a mortuary monument directly related to the use of Holme I.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cook, Professor Gordon and Hamilton, Professor Derek
• Authors: Robertson, D., Taylor, M., Tyers, I., Cook, G., and Hamilton, W. D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0079-497X
• ISSN (Online): 2050-2729
• Published Online: 16 May 2016