346 notes

MEDIEVAL FISHING STRUCTURES AND BASKETS AT SUDBROOK POINT, SEVERN ESTUARY, WALES

The Severn Estuary contains some of the best-preserved evidence for historic fishing structures from the British Isles. The majority of these are medieval and later in date.122 During January 2007, storms and more than usually vigorous tidal currents scoured away the loose sediment from the foreshore at Sudbrook, located below the Welsh landfall of the Second Severn Crossing (Fig 18), revealing a range of exception-ally well-preserved medieval fishing structures. This is the most remarkable collection of such structures found to date in the Severn Estuary. The significance of these finds lies not just in the quantity of organic remains and the quality of their preservation, but in their variety, including several finely woven globular fishing baskets of a type never

122 Godbold and Turner 1994; Nayling 1999.

347notes

123 Godbold and Turner 1994.124 Strachan 1998; O’Sullivan 2001; McErlean et al 2002.

before recorded. The structures are also important reminders of traditional craftsman-ship in basket making that is now almost lost with the demise of traditional fishing practices within the Severn Estuary.

The area of foreshore at Sudbrook had been the subject of an intensive study in 1991 in advance of construction of the Second Severn Crossing. This survey found a number and variety of fishtraps, including V-shaped post settings, baskets and hurdling, in the first archaeological study of this type in Britain and Ireland.123 The present struc-tures at Sudbrook, which were not exposed during the 1991 survey, date largely to the 11th–14th centuries; they comprise 16 fish baskets, three areas of hurdling, two stakes, two alignments of roundwood stakes and a withy tie. These finds, when considered in the context of other finds of fishing structures from Britain and Ireland,124 further highlight the importance of intertidal estuarine fishing as a long-standing tradition around the coast of the British Isles.

location (fig 18)

The fishing structures were recorded in three distinct groups (A–C) to the north and south of the Second Severn Crossing and around the erosion scour of bridge

fig 18

(A) Location of Sudbrook. (B) In relation to Severn Estuary and sites with medieval fishing structures. (C, D) Detailed maps of Sudbrook Point showing the location of each fishing structure.

Radiocarbon-dated structures (cal ad 2σ) provided in brackets (see Tab 6). Drawing by Alex Brown.

348 notes

caisson 12 (see Appendix for summary of 1991 and 2007 structures). Each structure was assigned an ID identifying the group (A, B or C) followed by a number, as-signed sequentially, recording the order in which the structures were surveyed. Excavation was not feasible in the time available; many of the baskets were frag-mented or too delicate to lift and were visible only at low water mark for a cou-ple of hours each tide. We therefore planned and photographed all visible structures. Only photographs of the best-preserved structures appear here. We also took selected samples for wood identifica-tion (Tab 5) and radiocarbon dating (Tab 6).

group a

This group of six fish baskets, one hurdle and one stake alignment were visible across an area of foreshore 75–100 m north-east of caisson 12 (Fig 18).

Basket one (A1) (Fig 19)

Remains of a finely woven globular basket partially buried in estuarine silts, similar in form to baskets two and three (see below) but less well preserved. The basket is best preserved around the non-return throat, comprising longitudinal hazel round-wood posts spaced 30 mm apart with a maximum diameter of 11 mm. Around these was a slightly thinner, closely woven

Table 5

RESULTS OF WOOD IDENTIFICATION

Structure ID Sample type Age (years) Species

Basket 1 A1 Longitudinal rodWeave

21

HazelWillow

Basket 2 A2 Longitudinal rod/weave 1 WillowBasket 3 A3 Longitudinal rod

WeaveStakeStake

2 and 41 and 279

HazelWillowBeech ^Hazel

Basket 4 A4 Not sampledBasket 5 A5 Longitudinal rod

Weave21

HazelWillow

Basket 6 A6 Longitudinal rod/weave 1 WillowHurdling 1 A7 Not sampledStake alignment 1 A8 Not sampledBasket 7 B1 Longitudinal rod 5 and 11 HazelBasket 8 B2 Longitudinal rod/weave 1 WillowBasket 9 B3 Weave 1 WillowBasket 10 B4 Split rod 2 HazelBasket 11 B5 Not sampledBasket 12 B6 Not sampledBasket 13 B7 Not sampledBasket 14 B8 Not sampledBasket 15 B9 Not sampledStake alignment 2 B10 Not sampledHurdling 2 C1 Hurdling 4 and 6 HazelHurdling 3 C2 Not sampledStake 1 C3 Not sampledStake 2 C4 Not sampledBasket 16 C5 Longitudinal rod

Weave 1 Willow

^ cut mid-growth season. All other samples cut towards the end of the growth season.

349notes

Table 6

RADIOCARBON DATES ON SUDBROOK FISHTRAPS

Structure/Groupa

Lab Code(Beta-)

Lab age BP d13 C (‰) Calibrated dates (AD)

1-sigma 2-sigma

Basket 3 228125 580P70 −27.4 1300–1420 1280–1440Basket 6 228126 860P80 −27.9 1040–1260 1020–1280Basket 7 228127 580P70 −29.1 1300–1420 1280–1440Basket 8 228128 320P60 −28.0 1490–1650 1440–1670 Basket 10 228129 620P40 −28.0 1295–1390 1280–1410Hurdling 3 228130 780P60 −29.1 1190–1285 1150–1310

a material dated: wood. Radiocarbon dates calibrated using OxCal v.3.10 (Bronk Ramsey 2005).

willow roundwood weave measuring 8–10 mm thick.

Basket two (A2) (Fig 20)

Remains of a well-preserved, finely woven globular basket partially buried in estuarine silts, similar in form to baskets one and three, but with the non-return throat end clearly buried in estuarine silts. The basket comprises longitudinal willow round-wood rods 6–8 mm thick, spaced a maxi-mum of 40 mm apart. Around these were closely woven roundwoods, also willow, of similar thickness surviving over the top 0.30 m of the basket, largely eroded away at the base.

Basket three (A3) (Fig 21), 580P70 BP (Beta–228125) cal AD 1280–1440

Remains of a finely woven globular basket partially buried in estuarine silts. The basket is best preserved at the non-return throat end, comprising longitudinal hazel roundwood rods spaced 25 mm apart with a maximum thickness of 16 mm. Around these were closely spaced woven willow and hazel roundwoods 6–8 mm thick. At the N end of the basket are two roundwood stakes 20 mm thick, one of hazel, the other of beech, projecting into estuarine silts at 45° to the longitudinal rods. The purpose of these stakes is unclear. They may have functioned to fix the basket in place. However, the stakes are very narrow and it is uncertain whether they would have been strong enough to have held a basket in place in an estuary with the tidal range and currents of the Severn.

Alternatively, the stakes could be part of a closely associated structure, now largely eroded away, or have simply become bur-ied adjacent to the basket and are unrelated to it.

Basket four (A4)

Half a metre to the north of basket three we recorded the remains of a basket in estuarine silts, now largely eroded away. The basket comprises longitudinal round-wood rods spaced 40 mm apart and 10 mm thick. Around these were the remnants of closely spaced woven roundwoods 8–9 mm thick. Only the top of the basket remained; the body was eroded away completely.

Basket fi ve (A5)

One metre to the north of basket four were the fragmentary remains of a probable fishing basket buried in estuarine silts, now largely eroded away. It comprises a single longitudinal hazel roundwood rod 150 mm long, around which were spaced a few closely spaced roundwoods, also hazel, a maximum of 50 mm in length and 8 mm thick.

Basket six (A6) (Fig 22), 860P80 BP (Beta–228126) cal AD 1020–1280

Remains of a finely woven conical basket partially buried in estuarine silts. The basket is best preserved at the S end. It comprised a series of longitudinal round-wood rods spaced 20 mm apart with a max-imum diameter of 8 mm. Around these are closely spaced woven roundwoods of similar thickness. The body was preserved only

350 notes

fig 19

Fish basket 1 (A1). Orientation: N–S (left–right). Scale 0.1 m divisions. Photograph by Alex Brown.

fig 20

Fish basket 2 (A2). Orientation: N–S (left–right). Scale 0.1 m divisions. Photograph by Alex Brown.

fig 21

Group A, fish basket 3 (A3). Orientation: N–S (right–left). Scale 0.1 m divisions. Photograph by Alex Brown.

fig 22

Fish basket 6 (A6). Orientation: N–S (right–left). Scale 0.1 m divisions. Photograph by Alex Brown.

351notes

around the margins. Both the longitudinal roundwood rods and weave are willow. At the base of the basket is a hazel stake pro-jecting into the estuarine silt at a right angle. It is 0.40 m long and 19 mm in diameter and may, as has been hypothesised for bas-ket three, have functioned to hold the basket in place.

Hurdling one (A7) (Fig 23)

We recorded the remains of a very fragmentary woven hurdle structure over a c 5 sq m area of foreshore, partially exposed in a mix of estuarine silt and pebbles. We took no samples for wood identification but the roundwood appeared to be hazel.

Stake alignment one (A8)

We recorded an alignment of seven roundwood stakes c 70 m NNE of caisson 12 and 40 m west of fish basket A1. They were partly exposed in estuarine silts that form a roughly NW/SE- oriented channel eroded into the underlying bedrock. The stakes vary in diameter from a maximum of 45 mm to 25 mm. A further roundwood stake of 30 mm diameter was recorded 15 m to the south-east of this alignment.

group b

This group of nine fish baskets, one hurdling and one stake alignment were visible immediately to the north and west of caisson 12 of the Second Severn Crossing (Fig 18).

Basket seven (B1), 580P70 BP (Beta–228127) cal AD 1280–1440

This was a large V-shaped basket par-tially buried in estuarine silts. It was exposed c 5 m from the NW corner of the caisson close to the edge of the deep scour around the structure. The opening faced north towards the former channel of the River Troggy. The basket was made of woven hazel roundwood rods, alongside which were heavier axed stakes that may have held the basket in position. The form of basket was similar to context 238 of the 1991 survey, which lay c 40 m south of basket seven. It was a large V-shaped interwoven fishtrap,

1.5 m wide with a length of 2.2 m, likewise facing the outfall of the River Troggy. Although similar in form, context 238 dates slightly earlier to 960P60 bp (Beta-54832; cal ad 970–1220).125

Basket eight (B2), 320P60 BP (Beta–228128) cal AD 1440–1670

Remains of a finely woven globular basket, similar in form to baskets nine and ten, located c 6 m west of basket seven and close to the scour around the caisson. Samples of the longitudinal rods and weave were identified as willow shoot-wood.

Basket nine (B3) (Fig 24)

The remains of a finely woven globu-lar basket, its tip buried in estuarine silts. The weave, identified as willow shoot-wood, produced sharp points and was turned inwards to create an inner basket, or non-return throat. No evidence of staking was visible. Though similar in size and weave to baskets ten and fourteen, the use of an integral weave rather than a separate basket to create the non-return throat is unique.

Basket ten (B4) (Fig 25), 620P40 BP (Beta–228129) cal AD 1280–1410

Remains of a finely woven globular basket partly buried in estuarine silts. This was made of a fine roundwood weave around split and sharpened rods, making a non-return throat. Into the S end was inserted the remains of a second basket, made of hazel. This was V-shaped and an area of roundwood and heavier stakes lay 0.60 m on the line of the V to the south-west.

Basket eleven (B5) (Fig 26)

This basket was conical rather than globular in shape. It was made of finely woven roundwood around fine roundwood rods. For the last 0.12 m towards the SSE end the basket had a double rather than single weave. The opposite end looked finished and may have been closed by a bung but no tethering stake or withy tie was seen in association.

125 Godbold and Turner 1994.

352 notes

fig 23

Hurdling 1 (A7). Orientation W–E (bottom–top). Photograph by Alex Brown.

fig 24

Fish basket 9 (B3). Orientation: N–S (top–bottom). Scale 0.3 m. Photograph by Richard Morgan.

fig 25

Fish basket 10 (B4). Orientation: N–S (left–right). Scale 0.3 m. Photograph by Rick Turner.

fig 26

Fish basket 11 (B5). Orientation: NNW–SSE (left–right). Scale 0.3 m. Photograph by Rick Turner.

353notes

Basket twelve (B6) (Fig 27)

This is the truncated remains of a conical basket. Only the bottom part, lying on estuarine silt, survived. A finely woven withy tie lay alongside this basket (Fig 28).

Basket thirteen (B7) (Fig 29)

This basket lay exposed in estuarine silts 12 m south-west of caisson 12. It was finely woven and globular in shape. The cross-section of the basket would suggest that it was preserved almost upright and is therefore unlikely to be preserved in situ.

Basket fourteen (B8)

Remains of a very fragmentary woven basket, partly exposed in estuarine silts. It lies on the edge of the eroded scour of caisson 12. Three roundwood rods are closely associated with basket fourteen, located 0.75 m to the south and 1 and 2 m to the north-east. They measure 45, 25 and 20 mm in diameter respectively.

Basket fi fteen (B9)

Although only the edges of this finely woven basket were exposed, it appears to be globular in form. There were indications of a non-return throat at the N end. Closely associated with basket fifteen is a series of larger roundwoods varying in length from c 0.1–0.5 m and c 30 mm in diameter, perhaps forming part of a larger fishing structure, such as a hurdle or leader, used to channel fish into the basket.

Stake alignment two (B10)

A series of eight roundwood stakes 20–40 mm in diameter run for c 5 m along the edge of the sediment scour, on the immediate W side of caisson 12. They are partly exposed in laminated estuarine silts, roughly 1.5 m below the level of nearby baskets seven to ten and fourteen.

group c

This group of structures lay 40 m south and SSE of caisson 12. It consisted of two areas of collapsed hurdling, two very

long stakes with circular holes bored at their former upper ends, and one fish basket made in two parts.

Hurdling two (C1)

An irregular length of hurdling com-prising 32 rods woven around one nearly complete and pointed stake. The pointed stakes suggest the hurdling had originally stood upright, and had fallen to the north-east in the direction of the flooding tide. Samples of the rods taken for wood identi-fication are hazel. The hurdling is similar to contexts 230 and 261 found in 1991 and very close to their location.

Hurdling three (C2), 780P60 BP (Beta–228130) cal AD 1050–1390

An area of hurdling 6 m north-west of hurdling two comprises hazel roundwood rods 8 courses high and 1.2 m long. There was no evidence for staking.

Stake one (C3) (Fig 30)

Very long wooden stake partly buried but with both ends visible. The whole stake measured 3.69 m long, lay roughly W/E and was roundwood with an average dia meter of 80 mm. The western 0.18 m had been sharpened to a point with flat facets showing no clear axe marks. The E end was rounded and 0.18 m from the end was a neatly bored hole 15 mm in diameter.

Stake two (C4)

Similar to stake one, lying E/W, but with only 0.37 m exposed. It was roundwood of c 7 cm diameter with a neatly bored hole 20 mm diameter, 0.22 m from its rounded W end.

Basket sixteen (C5)

The remains of a well-preserved, two-part basket buried in estuarine silts. The W end was globular in form, with part of a V-shaped second basket inserted into the E end. All made from finely woven willow roundwood.

discussion

The finds described above represent the most remarkable collection of fishing structures recorded from the Severn Estuary. The structures lay in a defined geograph-ical area, suggesting that the tide is unlikely to have moved them far from their original

354 notes

fig 27

Fish basket 12 (B6). Orientation: NNW–SSE (left–right). Scale 0.3 m. Photograph by Rick Turner.

fig 28

Withy tie found in close association with fish basket 12. Scale 0.25 m. Photograph by Richard Morgan.

fig 29

Fish basket 13 (B7). The cross-section of the basket would suggest it is preserved almost upright. Scale 0.30 m. Photograph by Rick Turner.

fig 30

Stake 1 (C3). Orientation: approximately W–E. Length of exposed stake 0.37 m. Photograph by Rick Turner.

355notes

locations, although they are not necessarily all preserved in situ. These various structures add to the list of previous finds from Sudbrook. The 1991 survey identified nine V-shaped settings, three areas of hurdling, two woven baskets, a curved post alignment and four amorphous post settings that we consider to have functioned as some form of fishing structures. The majority of structures dated from the late 13th to late 14th/early 15th centuries, with a smaller number of pre-Conquest (8th/9th–mid-11th cen-tury), 11th/12th-century and post-medieval dates.126 The fishing structures recorded in 2007 are of similar date, covering the 11th–15th centuries (Fig 18; Tab 6; Appendix).

The finds from both surveys suggest the former mouth of the river Nedern/Troggy was particularly favourable for fishing in medieval times. Migratory fish heading for the Rivers Wye and Severn would have swum close to shore. The present low sandstone cliff at Sudbrook Point will have been eroding for centuries. Some idea of the former configuration of the coastline can be made by projecting the defences of the Iron-Age hillfort (Fig 18c), suggesting as much as c 100 m of the headland has been lost to erosion. At the time the medieval fishing structures were in use the line of the fore-shore would have been further to the south-east and the estuarine pill (tidal channel) would have been more prominent. This may have provided different opportunities for catching fish, requiring different forms of traps. The dates of the various structures imply the use of a broad area of the Sudbrook foreshore during the medieval period. However, the westward movement of the pill following the 18th-century canalisation of the River Nedern/Troggy may explain the comparative lack of later, post-medieval, fishing structures.

It is possible to divide the finds from the present survey into three types. The first, represented by V-shaped post settings, corresponds to the putt. This is a form of basket trap in use from as early as the 10th century, used for catching a range of fish from salmon to shrimp. The putt is made of three components: the kipe; butt; and forewheel (Fig 31). The ‘kipe’ is a wide-mouthed basket c 1.5 m wide, which fits into a smaller urn-shaped basket called the ‘butt’, which in turn fits into the ‘forewheel’. The forewheel retains the catch and is closed with a wooden stopper. Basket seven appears to be a kipe, while baskets six, eleven, twelve and probably four represent forewheels. We found wooden stoppers in some of the baskets when initially exposed. Putts can be arranged into ranks or placed at the apex of a broad V formed by hurdle fences. The 1991 survey found evidence for both types of grouping, and at different locations on the N shores of the estuary.127 The three lengths of hurdling and two stake alignments are likely to derive from this sort of trap. The withy tie, closely associated with basket twelve, may have functioned to connect the kipe with the butt section of the putt, as is documented in historical accounts.128 These describe the use of a withy, or ‘rod’, attached to a stake, or ‘pin’. The two large stakes could be elements of a rod and pin used to connect separate sections of the putt. Alternatively, they may have supported a net, tethered to the holes drilled in the top and staked into the foreshore. Putts continued in use into the 20th century, demonstrating convincingly that this specific tradition of fixed-engine fishing extends back as much as 1,000 years. Within the British Isles, putts are unique to the Severn Estuary. Similar large-scale surveys of the Shannon Estuary, Republic of Ireland; Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland or Blackwater Estuary, Essex, where medieval and later fishing structures are known to be widespread, have not encountered them.129

In these areas fishtraps are often V-shaped, the open ends facing the ebb tide (receding tide), with leaders of post and wattle fencing converging on a single-piece

126 Godbold and Turner 1994.127 Godbold and Turner 1994; Nayling 1999; Brown et al 2005.128 Waters 1947.129 O’Sullivan 2001; McErlean et al 2002; Gilman 1998; Strachan 1998.

356 notes

basket (Fig 32). They vary in size, with those in the Blackwater Estuary ranging between 100–300 m in length, 200–400 m in Strangford Lough, but much smaller in the Shannon Estuary.130 Post-and-wattle V-shaped fishtraps have also been recorded in the Severn Estuary, particularly within Bridgwater Bay and along the N Somerset coast where they date from the late Anglo-Saxon to post-medieval periods.131

Much more unusual was the survival of nine finely woven globular baskets, with evidence for the insertion of a second basket with a non-return throat (baskets 1–3, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 16), or in the case of basket nine, having an integrally woven throat. They are much smaller than those baskets considered to form sections of putts, or baskets associated with V-shaped fishtraps (Fig 33). The baskets show evidence of being staked down in the estuarine mud and it is remarkable how these delicate items have survived for 700 years. Similar baskets including one or more throats were in use in modern times to catch eels, in particular; examples from the Severn and the Fens are known.132 Most were designed for use in freshwater and were often associated with mill weirs. In the Upper Severn, the throat was called the ‘inchin’, while in the Lower Severn it was referred to as the ‘chale’. However, at Oldbury-on-Severn, out in the middle of the estuary, two types of basket were used: the wheel, measuring 0.6 m long; and the putcheon, measuring 1.35 m long. Here wheels were used to catch lampreys, which were much sought after in medieval times.133 A small basket of conical (rather than globular) form, with evidence of a non-return throat, was recorded at Magor Pill.134 However, there are no other documented instances of globular baskets from archaeological

130 Ibid.131 Brunning 2008.132 Jenkins 1974.133 Turner 2002; 2006.134 Nayling 1999.

fig 31

Putt in use on the Severn Estuary in the 20th century, showing the kipe, butt and forewheel elements. All three elements would have been connected with withy ties and fixed to the

foreshore with large stakes. Photograph by Chris Salisbury.

357notes

fig 32

Reconstruction of medieval fishtrap at Bunratty 6, Shannon Estuary. The reconstruction illustrates the design principal of V-shaped fishweirs of similar dimensions to those in the Severn Estuary, including

wattle fences and a basket at the apex. Painting by Simon Dick, reproduced with kind permission of Aidan O’Sullivan.

fig 33

Replica of globular baskets 10 and 16, made by Richard Morgan. Photograph by Alex Brown.

358 notes

135 Gilman 1998; Strachan 1998; O’Sullivan 2001; McErlean et al 2002; Turner 2002; James and James 2003.136 Turner 2002.137 Jenkins 1974.138 Department of Archaeology, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 227, Reading RG6 6AB, England, UK. a.d.brown@reading.ac.uk

139 Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Cadw, Plas Carew, Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff CF15 7QQ, Wales, UK. richard.turner@wales.gsi.gov.uk 140 Malcolm and Carolyn Wiener Laboratory for Aegean and Near Eastern Dendrochronology, B-48 Goldwin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-3201, USA. clp66@cornell.edu

contexts in the Severn Estuary, or, indeed, in other intertidal and wetland contexts from Britain or Ireland. This would suggest, at present, that the globular baskets were a local variant of basket, like the wheel, used to catch eel or lamprey.

The radiocarbon dates for the Sudbrook finds are similar to those obtained from medieval fishing structures elsewhere within the Severn Estuary and inner Bristol Channel, which concentrate from the 12th–14th/15th centuries. Fishtraps of middle to late Anglo-Saxon date have been recorded within the Severn Estuary and inner Bristol Channel, but also more widely within the Blackwater Estuary, Thames Estuary, Shannon Estuary and Strangford Lough.135 However, in all these locations, the major-ity of fishtraps are of 12th–14th-century date. This most probably relates to an expan-sion in urban populations within the high medieval period, the growing importance of fish within the medieval diet, and the wealth and power associated with fishing, with monastic houses and the nobility owning many fishtraps.136

Analysis of the wood samples from the baskets shows considerable standardisation in the selection of the timber (Tab 5). The fine weave was achieved with largely one-year-old willow shoots, with one example two years old, and one using hazel. Stakes and rods came from more mature hazel rods. All this timber was felled at the end of the growing season. This confirms the modern tradition that the baskets were made by the fishermen during the close season.137

It is ironic that the structures recorded in 2007, some located around bridge cais-son 12, were not observed during 1991 in advance of bridge construction. This serves to demonstrate the level of coastal erosion that has occurred in the intervening 16 years and the need to revisit sites on a regular basis to record new finds as they become exposed. This is essential following bad weather, when wave action and more than usu-ally vigorous tidal currents scour away loose sediment. Under these circumstances, we need a rapid reaction to recover what is frequently very fragile evidence. Excavation is often not feasible, but we must make every effort to adequately record exposed structures and to take samples for wood identification and radiocarbon/dendrochrono-logical dating. This is critical if we are to understand better the development of medieval fishing practices and to set this evidence within a wider social, cultural and economic context. The sheer number of fishtraps recorded from Sudbrook and the Severn Estuary demonstrates the important role fishing played in the lives of local communities, and confirms the longevity of a wide range of fishing methods whose last use is just within living memory.

alex brown,138 rick turner139 and charlotte pearson140

acknowledgements

The writers gratefully acknowledge Richard and Martin Morgan of the Blackrock Lave Net Fishermen’s Association for bringing the finds reported here to the attention of Rick Turner (Cadw), and for helping to make a comprehensive record of them. We thank Martin Morgan for guiding the fieldwork team along the foreshore, at times in difficult weather conditions. The fieldwork team comprised Alex Brown, Rick Turner, Ann-Marie Bonwick and Jodi Davidson. We are grateful to Stephen Rippon and Aidan O’Sullivan for helpful comments on an earlier version of this paper.

359notes

Appendix: Catalogue of fi shing structures recorded from the 1991 and 2007 Sudbrook surveys

Struc-ture ID

Ordnance Survey NGR

Structure type Dimensions (m) 14C date

Breadth length

2007 survey

A1 ST 50264 87053 Globular basket 0.22 0.55 –A2 ST 50261 87061 Globular basket 0.22 0.49 –A3 ST 50272 87045 Globular basket 0.26 0.73 580P70 bp

(Beta–228125)ad 1280–1440

A4 ST 50274 87042 Basket (eroded), forewheel section of putt

0.2 0.2 –

A5 ST 50277 87040 Basket (eroded) 0.05 0.15 –A6 ST 50274 87042 Conical basket, forewheel section

of putt0.35 0.64 860P80 bp

(Beta–228126)ad 1020–1280

A7 centred on ST 50265 87020

Hurdling (eroded), probably part of fi sh weir

5 5 –

A8 ST 50222 87062 to ST 50213 87057

Alignment of upright roundwood stakes, possible eroded remains of fi sh weir

0.3 10 –

B1 ST 50206 87001 Basket, kipe section of putt 0.9 1.3 570P70 bp

(Beta–228127)ad 1280–1440

B2 ST 50201 87001 Globular basket (partially exposed)

0.2 0.3 320P60 bp

(Beta-228128)ad 1440–1670

B3 ST 50186 86990 Globular basket 0.3 0.3 –B4 ST 50180 86983 Globular basket 0.25 0.3 620P40 bp

(Beta–228129)ad 1280–1410

B5 not accurately located

Basket, forewheel section of putt 0.15 0.5 –

B6 ST 50166 87005 Basket, forewheel section of putt 0.2 0.6 –B7 ST 50163 86962 Globular basket 0.25 0.25 –B8 ST 50194 86994 Basket (eroded) –B9 ST 50158 86965 Globular basket 0.2 0.6 –B10 ST 50206 86985 to

ST 50197 86990Alignment of upright roundwood stakes, possible eroded remains of fi sh weir

0.4 5 –

C1 ST 50167 86905 Hurdling, probably part of fi sh weir

0.85 1.5 –

C2 ST 50168 86914 Hurdling, probably part of fi sh weir

0.5 1.2 780P60 bp (Beta–228130)ad 1150–1310

C3 ST 50157 86910 Stake 0.08 3.69 –C4 ST 50156 86913 Stake 0.07 0.37 _C5 ST 50162 86916 Globular basket 0.22 0.7 –

1991 survey (after Godbold and Turner 1993)

S1 ST 4966 8664 Hurdling 3 75 150P50 bp

(Beta–54826)ad 1666–1955

S2 ST 4996 8677 V-shaped setting,possible fi sh weir

10 25 620P50 bp

(Beta–54823)ad 1285–1398

S4 ST 4941 8674 5 V-shaped post settings, remains of putts

1.5–2 2_3 620P60 bp (Beta–54825)ad 1283–1401

S5 ST 5002 8667 Curving linear post alignment, remains of fi sh weir

0.70–1.5 30 1203/04 felling date

360 notes

Struc-ture ID

Ordnance Survey NGR

Structure type Dimensions (m) 14C date

Breadth length

S6 ST 4993 8677 2 V-shaped post settings, remains of putts

1.71.5

22

640P60 bp

(Beta–54824)ad 1279–1395

S7 ST 4954 8703 Discontinuous row of stakes, possible remains of fi sh weir

0.2–0.4 26 –

S8 ST 5027 8700 V-shaped post setting, remains of putt

2.4 3.2 280P60 bp (Beta–54833)ad 1514–1660

S9 ST 4975 8675 3 roundwood stakes, eroded remains of fi shing structure

0.3–0.08 ≤ 0.8 –

S10 ST 4982 8667 3 roundwood stakes, eroded remains of fi shing structure

0.3 ≤ 0.47 –

S12 ST 4954 8638 Dense grouping of 230–50 round-wood timbers, possible remains of fi sh weir

11 12 960P70 bp

(Beta–54831)ad 1007–1163

S13 ST 4953 8637 Linear alignment of 70 round-wood timbers, possible remains of fi sh weir

0.7 6 –

C230 ST 4983 8667 Interwoven timber hurdle, probably part of fi sh weir

1.2 3.5 1120P90 bp

(Beta–54828)ad 789–1008

C234 ST 5018 8696 Small interwoven basket 0.44 0.82 590P70 bp

(Beta–54830)ad 1287–1414

C238 ST 5020 8695 Interwoven timber structure, remains of a putt-type trap

1.5 2.2 960P60 bp

(Beta–54832)ad 1012–1160

C260 ST 4954 8639 Small interwoven basket 0.29 0.39 –C261 ST 5020 8695 Timber hurdle, probably part of

fi sh weir1.5 1.9 1090P80 bp

(Beta–56188)ad 883–1051

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361notes

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