Alverstone Marshes, Isle of Wight - An assessment of the timbers recovered from archaeological excavation at Alverstone

The post-excavation assessment 1 (2011) details the methodology adopted for recording and sampling the timbers, presents a methodology of assessment and discusses the assessment results, including species identification and the dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating. The post-excavation assessment 2 (2024) covers the artefactual and ecofactual evidence recovered from the site - the finds, plant macrofossils, microflora and fauna. The site is located at Alverstone Marshes on the floodplain of the Eastern Yar, Isle of Wight. Archaeological fieldwork at the site was a response to remains being uncovered during the excavation of a flood relief pond as part of Environment Agency works. Excavation in 2005 recovered a multi-phase timber structure comprising both vertical and horizontal timbers and a cobbled surface, both Saxon to Saxo-Norman in date. Historic England (HE) (formerly English Heritage) assumed responsibility for funding post-excavation work in 2009 and commissioned Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) to undertake the work. The assessment was conducted in two stages. The most pressing requirement was that the timbers, should be recorded and assessed, enabling their preservation by record and rationalisation of those that were to be physically retained. This constituted the first phase of assessment work. The second phase covered the artefactual and ecofactual evidence recovered from the site - the finds, plant macrofossils, microflora and fauna. These assemblages broadly corroborate the Saxon to Saxo-Norman dates for the site. The site's significance is seen as being high at a local, regional and national level.