Soaking in the pond: New evidence of hemp and nettle retting in an East Anglian Early Modern ‘pingoid’ depression

Anthropogenic activities and changes in climate since the 20th century have either erased or progressively endangered wetland sites of archaeological and biodiversity value. Encouragingly, promising campaigns are undertaken, particularly the results demonstrated by the Ponds Restoration Research Group and partnerships in restoring ‘pingoids’: depressions of cryogenic or karstic origin that were backfilled during agricultural land reclamations. During their efforts, Bronze Age features such as heat-crackled flint concentrations were found in the immediate vicinity. Considering the depositional context and the Bronze Age sites in the region, the pingoid pond sediments were initially assumed to be associated with contemporaneous anthropogenic activities. Despite its importance, the pingoids vegetation history and its records of potential plant exploitation remains largely unknown. This study analysed microbotanical remains (pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs) from the second pingoid...Show moreAnthropogenic activities and changes in climate since the 20th century have either erased or progressively endangered wetland sites of archaeological and biodiversity value. Encouragingly, promising campaigns are undertaken, particularly the results demonstrated by the Ponds Restoration Research Group and partnerships in restoring ‘pingoids’: depressions of cryogenic or karstic origin that were backfilled during agricultural land reclamations. During their efforts, Bronze Age features such as heat-crackled flint concentrations were found in the immediate vicinity. Considering the depositional context and the Bronze Age sites in the region, the pingoid pond sediments were initially assumed to be associated with contemporaneous anthropogenic activities. Despite its importance, the pingoids vegetation history and its records of potential plant exploitation remains largely unknown. This study analysed microbotanical remains (pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs) from the second pingoid depression at Woodland Farm, Norfolk, England. The results correlated to the radiocarbon date, prior studies and historic events showed that sediment deposition probably took place from the early 17th to late 20th century. Initially, the local vegetation was likely an open woodland dominated by grasses (Poaceae) and birches (Betula sp.), while anthropogenic activities remained relatively low. Subsequent changes in the microbotanical signal, especially the elevated amounts of nettle (~50%) and hemp (~20%) pollen grains and the increased deposition of sediment have suggested the water-retting of hemp and nettle for its bast fibres in the pond, grazing by sheep and rabbits in pastures and meadows, and the cultivation of cereals. This led to a landscape characterized by sparse trees and patches of grass with weeds and ruderals. When retting ceased and overall anthropogenic activities decreased, an open grassland returned with natural and planted trees. The findings in local vegetation, environmental land-use and retting of hemp adds to the established knowledge from historic accounts and previous studies. Consequently, the retting of nettle at this site may be the first archaeobotanical evidence in East Anglia. This study re-evaluates the current understanding of nettle exploitation and highlights the importance for studying pingoid deposits.Show less

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Soaking in the pond: New evidence of hemp and nettle retting in an East Anglian Early Modern ‘pingoid’ depression