Abstract
DURING the late summer, while engaged in excavating a Roman building at Finkley, near Andover, a deep trench, 100 feet in length, was found, dilating at the opposite ends into large subterranean pits, which, from the primitive character of the articles met with in them, such as flint and bone implements, spindle-whorls of chalk, and a rude form of pottery, appeared to belong to an earlier period than the Roman. One of the labourers engaged in the explorations became quite an expert in the recognition of these rude objects; and he having lately been employed in digging a yard at a new railway station, situated on a hill, about half a mile distant from St. Mary Bourne, immediately overlooking the Upper Test Valley, found the subsoil so abundant in calcined stones, broken pottery, and other evidences of early occupation, that he called my attention to the circumstance, which led to the discovery of a group of pit-dwellings or hut-circles; and it is likely, from their mode of arrangement, that they form a portion of an extensive settlement or vicus. Some knowledge of nine of these has been obtained, although, from their situation, two only have been completely investigated, and five others partially.
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STEVENS, J. Recent Discovery of Pit-Dwellings . Nature 5, 308–309 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/005308a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/005308a0