Archaeologists found a rare wooden well that apparently stayed preserved for millennia.
Rare Wooden Structure in Well-Preserved Condition
The exact wooden structure uncovered by the archaeologists was a well-preserved wooden well. It was discovered during excavations at an archaeological site in Oxfordshire County, England. These efforts were done as part of a road construction project.
The well is believed to be from the latter half of the Bronze Age. In Britain, this period lasted from roughly 1200 B.C. to 700 B.C.
It is unusual to discover such an ancient and preserved wooden structure because wooden materials usually decay quite quickly. However, in some conditions, the material can actually persist for prolonged periods.
John Boothroyd, the senior project manager of the heritage practice Oxford Archaeology, which was behind the recent excavations, explained that it is rare to have wooden structures preserved from this period. Moreover, the remains were able to survive all throughout due to staying buried in the ground that was waterlogged.
The wooden well's first sign that the archaeologists were able to uncover was a wooden post. This substructure was preserved and was observed to be vertically driven into the ground. It was then subsequently covered with a larger wooden structure, which determined it was a well.
Boothroyd explains that though the conditions were extremely challenging, the archaeologists were able to record and expose the ground fully. The soil samples collected from the area will also aid in establishing the landscape surrounding it and the intensity of its settling.
🧵A Bronze Age well has been discovered in Benson during excavations by Oxford Archaeology for @OxfordshireCC for the Benson Relief Road. Cllr Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development, said: “This find gives fantastic insight into the area’s past 1/ pic.twitter.com/y7obVgA65w
— Oxford Clarion (@OxfordClarion) May 7, 2024
Rich History
The area is situated close to Benson village and contains an area that yielded other Bronze Age findings.
Judy Roberts, an Oxfordshire County Council member, explains that the excavations help enrich understanding of the rich landscape and show the widespread extent of Bronze Age activity.
She also says that the discovery offers great insight into the area's past land use. The well, it is believed, could have served agricultural irrigation purposes for nearby settlements.
Such types of archaeological surveys are crucial to the process of offering construction schemes. They aid in the identification and understanding of past area residents and record their stories for future generations.
After uncovering the wooden structure, the experts carefully dismantled it for removal from the site. A preserved wood sample was sent for further analysis, which could help shed light on the wood type used and any evidence regarding the tools used for shaping it.
Other artifacts were also uncovered in the site. These include struck flint pieces, pottery for waste and storage, and animal bones.
The wood and the other uncovered artifacts will be kept at the Oxfordshire Museum Service. A full excavation report could be released later on.
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