Surrey Archaeological Society

Programme of fieldwalking by S Ford of TVAS recovered a dense cluster of struck flint located on the terrace edge of a small stream valley. The cluster comprises a strong Mesolithic component, although later Neolithic/Bronze Age material is well represented. Flint in more modest quantities and pottery sherds of several periods were also recovered dispersed elsewhere across the areas fieldwalked.

Evaluation by D Hopkinson of ASE revealed the remains of a mid 19th century farmstead building, possibly an open sided barn, and a number of pits likely to be for refuse disposal from a similar period. The building had been built over an earlier infilled sandstone quarry cut. Residual pottery and ceramic building material of medieval date recovered from the topsoil and subsoil suggest that there may have been some activity on the site prior to the 19th century, although it is more likely that the ceramics were brought on to the site during manuring.

Watching brief by T Munnery of SCAU during construction of an artificial pitch on and adjoining the Scheduled Caesar’s Camp, following evaluation in 2008. The design of the pitch was changed after the evaluation to maximise the preservation in situ of deposits indicated to be present, with the majority of the impact of the development not extending below the subsoil.

Evaluation by S Porteus of ASE undertaken following geophysical survey by D Elks of Stratascan. The geophysics revealed that the majority of the site appears to be dominated by anomalies likely to be related to its current land use as rugby pitches, but it also revealed responses that may relate to archaeological deposits. The evaluation involved the excavation of trenches around the rugby pitches and revealed a boundary ditch of probable post-medieval date, a shallow gully and evidence of plough scarring.

Watching brief by S Hind of SCAU during the formation of a footpath/cycleway. It transpired that the only groundworks involved was the stripping of topsoil. The archaeological horizon was not disturbed and any deposits present preserved in situ.

Evaluation by D Milbank of TVAS did not reveal any finds or features of archaeological interest.

Final phase of evaluation of this site by N Randall of SCAU revealed three features of potential archaeological interest, none of which could be dated. It is likely this part of the site is beyond the margins of the settlement or occupation area that the evaluation and watching brief by SCAU in 2008 and 2009 appeared to clip.

Evaluation by G Williams of JMHS revealed the edge of an undated palaeochannel or other geomorphological feature, and a post-medieval gully which may be associated with field boundaries on historic maps.

Evaluation by R Humphrey of PCA revealed undated features that are likely to represent periglacial undulations, natural hollows, root boles or bioturbated ground. The subsoil sealing these features contained mid to late 20th century artefacts, suggesting wide spread horizontal truncation across the site.