Page 63 - John Barber's Oakham Castle and its archaeology

One example of 4c/6a has an incised ‘T’ on the
base, and is probably a Bristol type. Of the later LOCATION OF CLAY PIPES

types, one bowl, type 11b, had a decoration of oak Type Date 1(a) 1(b) 1(c) Loose Wall
leaves, and another, type 9b/11a, with a scroll
decoration, was made by James Tailor of Yarmouth 2 1600-30 - - - 1 -
(1844-53). A useful piece of dating evidence for the 4a 1600-40 - - - 6 -
final stage of the retaining wall was a fragment of
decorated stem, of Chester type, dated c. 1700, 4c 1630-50 - - - 1 -
which was found within it.
4d 1640-70 13 1 1* 4 -
STONE AND FLINT 4c/6a 1650-70 1 - 1 2 -

The character of worked stones found in the course 6a/b 1660-80 3 - 1 - -
of excavation has been discussed above. Other stone
objects were: 6b/7a 1660-90 1 - - - -

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1. Two whetstones, one considerably used (Fig. 6b 1670-90 1 1 - 3 -
10. 7), both of micaschist. The illustrated
example was discovered in the debris layer 6c 1670-90 1 - - - -
abutting on the entrance retaining wall. The 7a 1670- - - - 1 -
other, a fragment, came from an unstratified 1700
layer of the moat. 9a 1690- - - - 1 -
2. Numerous pieces of Colleyweston slates, from 1730
same layer as stratified whetstone. By a Chester c1700 - - - - 1
fortunate coincidence, similar slates were 9b/11a c1750- 1* - - - (stem)
-
being laid on the roof of the new Post Office 1800
when these were discovered. The two series 11b 1780- - - - 1 -
were almost identical, although the excavated 1840
ones were rather thicker (up to 0.7in), but this 11a 1820-50 - - - 1 -

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may have no significance. Slates from this (*= variant)
area have been used since Roman times.

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A total of 17 pieces of flint were discovered both in the rampart and on the old ground surface beneath. Of these,
six were fragments of blades or flakes, two of which are illustrated. One of two nodules found may have been used as
a rough end scraper, but most of the pieces were naturally fractured.

BONE OBJECT

An awl, 4.9in long, was found loose in the moat. It is perforated at the upper end, and has been re-sharpened (Fig.
10.10).

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THE ANIMAL BONES

Although considerable quantities of bones were found in the moat, none of them were datable to stratified deposits.
Few bones were found in 1954, a total of thirty fragments only, all either in the rampart or on the old ground surface
beneath it, and most of these were small and insignificant. The following is a list of the most important pieces:

Rampart (2C): Horn core of young ox (in fragments); phalange of sheep.
Rampart (1953): Canine of boar (fragments); antler of roe deer, two to three years old.
Old ground surface (3): Scapula (right) of ox; scapula (left), humerus (right), tibia (fragment) and carpal
(fragment), with knife cuts, of sheep; mandible of dog.

Two complete dog skeletons were found, both buried into the top of the rampart and well dated to the nineteenth
century.

THE STONE HEAD

by S E Rigold MA

This is a head of Oolite, about half life-size, broken off at the top of the neck. Both head and what remains of the neck
are fully modelled in the round. The underchin is long, which suggests that the original position was upright, or even
raised. At the back of the head is attached the stump of a narrow, horizontal rib. The head was definitely neither a
hood-mould terminal nor a corbel, but possibly part of an almost free-standing figure. There is no trace of colouring
nor of a gesso surface, but a slightly greater weathering or decomposition on the upper surface, but not enough to
suggest prolonged exposure. The head represents a fairly young, clean-shaven male, the hair is not tonsured but falls

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