Report by A Hall in SyAC 94, 225–249

Report by A Hall in SyAC 94, 225–249

Continuing excavation by G Hayman of SCAU revealed further features of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman date, as well as some of early medieval origin. Most features dated to the Bronze Age, and included ditches, waterholes, and numerous small pits and postholes. An area of concentration of pits and postholes is likely to have once been a Middle Bronze Age settlement, although no dwellings were recognised, and only one four-posted structure was identified.

Evaluation by H Clough of PCA in advance of the construction of a workshop extension revealed two ditches of probable Bronze Age origin, a palaeochannel which may be prehistoric, medieval agricultural features, a late 18th or early 19th century wall, and residual burnt and worked flint, abraded Roman pottery and a piece of unabraded Saxo-Norman pottery. Subsequent monitoring of two geotechnical test pits within the proposed footprint of the workshop revealed only modern deposits.

Ongoing evaluation, continuing from the work carried out in 2003, by A Taylor of TVAS in advance of possible mineral extraction on this site. Material recovered included stray and residual finds of Upper Palaeolithic date, as well as Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age flintwork. Prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval pottery was also found as well as occupation evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age, Saxon, medieval and post-medieval dates.

Excavation by P Jones of SCAU prior to residential development. The substructure of a substantial Roman tile kiln and associated features were discovered in an area where evidence of tile production had been found previously, but no standing kiln had previously been recorded archaeologically. The surviving remains were of a rectangular updraught structure, including stokehole, fire tunnel, combustion chamber and drainage system.

Evaluation by J Stevenson of ASE prior to the submission of a planning application for residential development. Evidence for Iron Age utilisation of the landscape was revealed, including some limited settlement evidence in the form of a ring gully, although it seemed that the main focus of occupation was likely to be off-site. One area contained an extensive series of pits, postholes and ditches of Late Iron Age to Early Roman and 3rd–4th century dates. A buried former water channel was also recorded, as was evidence for 13th century activity on the site.

Phase I of a large-scale evaluation by A Ford of OA prior to the submission of a planning application for residential development. A small number of worked flints were recovered, suggestive of low-level early prehistoric activity in the general vicinity. Of more significance was evidence of a Late Iron Age to 1st century Roman settlement, with indications that an intensification of activity might have occurred towards the end of this period.

Metal detector survey under the direction of D Williams of SCC recovered only three objects pre-dating the 17th century. These were a buckle plate of medieval or Tudor date, a brooch dating to the 1st century AD, and an Early Iron Age, c 600–450BC, bow brooch.

Watching brief by M Nicholls of LPA, undertaken during the redevelopment of a site adjacent to a Roman villa excavated in previous years. Little of archaeological interest was revealed, with evidence for a palaeochannel suggesting that this may have formed a boundary to the focus of settlement activity in the past. Roman building material was found scattered sparsely across the site.