Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief at Cobb House Bampton Oxfordshire

Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval features were found to the north of Cobb House during monitoring of machine excavation for a swimming pool. In the light of these discoveries, the watching brief was changed to a small excavation that targeted the earlier, that is the Late Saxon and medieval features for sampling by hand. Surface finds were gathered from post-medieval features to provide rough dating, and a small number of post-medieval features were also part-excavated where their date was not immediately apparent from surface finds. Once it was clear that they were post-medieval, excavation ceased. When the characterisation of the earlier features was completed, machine excavation under archaeological watching brief resumed. Three principal phases of activity were discovered: Late Saxon, characterised by large pits with domestic debris, mid 13th-14th century, characterised by large and smaller pits, and again producing domestic debris, and later 17th-early 19th century, comprising pits and occasional postholes, a partial horse burial, a ditch and a stone drain. Given the small area examined, however, the remains from other phases of the medieval and post-medieval periods may be represented elsewhere on the property. The finds of the Late Saxon period included marine fish and shells and traded pottery, evidence that the site was tied into the long distance trade network of the period. Among the medieval finds was part of a 13th/14th century stylus, which are most commonly associated with either ecclesiastical or urban sites. Here, it may indicate a link with the adjacent church, or a person of unusual education. The post-medieval finds included a spur found with a horse burial.