Dear David,
in our excavation in the Alsace (France, ca. 60 km north of Basel), in
the Rhine valley, there are many structures with laying branches
(waterlogged preservation). Dating: (Early) 1st century AD, so Roman
(neraby is a military camp, but also a civilian settlement). We have
some troubles to interpret these structures, but the branches most
probably served as "draining" wet places along the branches of the river
Rhine. Findings in these structures are alwyas cereal-chaff and weeds
incl. things like Orlaya (in uncarbonised state), in low concentrations.
Very strange! If you are interested, I could send a picture (I have to
search it). This information perhaps does not help to solve your
problem, but ...
Many regards
Stefanie
ROBINSON, DavidEarle wrote:
>Does anyone have any information on "Brush Drains" - the practice of
>laying branches, often of thorny species, in ditches to keep out leaves
>etc. and help the flow of water? I suppose they could also have a
>defensive function. I have come across references to them in literature
>dealing with Roman agriculture, but was wondering if they also occur in
>other periods.
>
>Thanks
>David
>
>Dr David Earle Robinson
>Palaeoecologist
>Archaeological Sciences
>English Heritage
>Fort Cumberland
>Eastney
>Portsmouth
>PO4 9LD
>UK
>
>tel: +44 (0) 2392 856 776
>fax: +44 (0) 2392 856 701
>
>
>
>
--
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Jacomet
Institute for Prehistory and Archaeological Science IPAS
Institut für Prähistorische und Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie IPNA
Basel University / Universität Basel
Spalenring 145
CH-4055 Basel
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www.unibas.ch/arch
phone office: 0041 61 201 02 11
mobile: 0041 79 322 39 17
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