Remarkable Ancient Wooden Structure Unearthed in Oxfordshire

The discovery of a well-preserved wooden structure (1200-700 BC), dating back to the Bronze Age in Oxfordshire, England, has been deemed remarkable. Wood typically doesn’t survive well over such extended periods, and its accompanying structure – a well and its potential use for agricultural irrigation, shed light on the sophistication of ancient societies in managing resources and adapting to their environment.

A Lesson in Scientific Dismemberment

“Preservation of wooden structures from this period is rare and the remains have survived all this time, due to being buried in waterlogged ground. When investigating what appeared to be a standard pit for the site, the archaeological team started exposing the remains of a preserved wooden post driven vertically into the ground,” said John Boothroyd, senior project manager at heritage practice Oxford Archaeology, which conducted the excavations, in a press release.

Archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology excavation the well. (Oxford Archaeology/Oxfordshire County Council)

He elucidated how fascinating it is to imagine how these early communities utilized such structures to sustain their settlements. The excavations unveiled that the posts constituted the uprights of a wattle structure bordering the pit, and their remarkable preservation was attributed to the waterlogged soil conditions. Subsequently, the timber structure underwent digital recording before undergoing a meticulous manual dismantling process for transportation to the Oxfordshire Museum Service.

A Tough Find

The Benson Relief Road project, a collaborative effort between Oxford Archaeology and the Oxfordshire County Council, incorporated an archaeology “strip, map, and sample” exercise as a planning condition, integrating archaeological considerations into infrastructure development projects.

“Despite the extremely challenging conditions, the team were able to expose and fully record the well in the ground,” Boothroyd said in the release. “The specialist soil samples that were collected will also help establish what the surrounding landscape would have been like, and the intensity to which it was settled, when the well was actively being used.”

The archaeologists carefully dismantled the wooden well for further analysis. They analyzed the wood composition and potential tool marks, which could offer additional clues about the construction methods and technological capabilities of the Bronze Age inhabitants. The artifacts uncovered at the site, included struck flint, animal bones, and pottery.

The discovery has provided valuable insight into the historical land use of the area. It was believed that the well might have served agricultural irrigation purposes for nearby settlements.

Judy Roberts, a member of the Oxfordshire County Council, explained the significance of archaeological surveys in the execution of construction schemes, emphasizing their role in identifying and comprehending past residents of the area, thereby ensuring their documentation for future generations.

Earlier examinations of the vicinity encompassing Benson and extending to Wallingford have uncovered indications of Bronze Age activity and settlement. By conducting excavations as part of the road construction process, the project is fulfilling regulatory requirements and contributing to the preservation and documentation of local history and heritage.

The Bronze Age in Britain: A Momentous Historical Transformation

The Bronze Age in Britain, spanning from around 2500 BC to 800 BC, marked a significant period of prehistoric development characterized by the widespread use of bronze for tools, weapons, and other artifacts.

During the early Bronze Age, communities in Britain began to adopt metallurgy, refining copper and tin to produce bronze, an alloy prized for its durability and versatility. This technological innovation revolutionized tool-making, enabling the production of sharper and more durable implements such as axes, daggers, and spearheads. The emergence of bronze also facilitated trade networks, as tin, a crucial component of bronze, was sourced from distant regions like Cornwall.

The latter part of the Bronze Age in Britain witnessed social upheaval and cultural transformation, marked by the decline of some established settlements and the emergence of new cultural traditions. This period saw the construction of hillforts and the intensification of warfare, reflecting increased competition for resources and territorial control.

Ultimately, the transition to the Iron Age heralded further changes in material culture, social organization, and settlement patterns, shaping the trajectory of British history into subsequent millennia.

Top image: The Bronze Age wooden structure found in Oxfordshire, England.                 Source: Oxford Archaeology via Oxfordshire County Council

By Sahir Pandey