MEM24362 - Possible Mesolithic Fire Pit on Wintershead (Monument)

An oval shaped pit was excavated in trench 4 during the Mires Project excavations on Wintershead. The cut measured 0.6 metres by 0.4 with a bowl shaped profile in a north to south direction, with a steeper northern side and a maximum depth of 0.3 metres. The sides of this pit show signs of intense heating and a slightly vitrified surface and 80 percent of the fill included stone and fragments of baked clay. The surrounding silt contained charcoal inclusions. The trench yielded a single burnt flake, and a 100 percent sample was taken for environmental evidence. Whilst no plant remains were identified, it did reveal further fragments of charcoal. A representative sample of these was analysed and the results indicate they were derived from mature oak trunk wood with a minimum age of 20 years. Two charcoal fragments were submitted for radiocarbon dating and returned Mesolithic dates. It is suggested that this was possibly a fire pit in use during the Mesolithic period. Other features close to this pit include possible post and stake holes, tentatively suggestion occupation. [1-4]