Site Event/Activity record ESF20685 - Thunderbird Way, RAF Lakenheath, Eriswell

Archaeological monitoring of groundworks for replacement services to houses on Thunderbird Way and Kennedy Street/Nato Place, RAF Lakenheath has confirmed the presence of a substantial spread of Roman settlement extending south from that seen at Caudle Head along the western edge of the airbase towards the Late Iron Age/Roman track and field system known on sites to the north and south of Lord's Walk. Seen together with preserved elements of the fen-edge topography, this demonstrates that archaeological deposits are well preserved throughout the housing estates in this part of the airbase. The nature of the material assemblage and archaeological features indicates that they are part of the same phase of activity in the 2nd and 3rd centuries previously identified in smaller scale monitorings across the site. Features generally appeared to be pits and ditches, with one possible structure, and at times were relatively dense, suggesting a focus of settlement as opposed to agricultural enclosures. A single burial of a mature adult female has been radio-carbon dated to the late medieval period, although on excavation it was thought to be a typical example of an isolated prehistoric or Roman burial. This means it is isolated from any contemporary activity, lying in open farm or heathland to the north of a medieval trackway, suggesting that the individual may have died and been buried in somewhat dubious circumstances. The results of the monitoring will be included within the EAA publication on the archaeology of the airbase, currently in preparation. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous Yes, Future No Associated Identifiers: Sitecode ERL 211 HER event no. ERL 211 HER event no. ERL 212 Sitecode ERL 212 NMR No. 1529169 Project Type: Recording project Investigation Type: Watching Brief Reason for Investigation: Voluntary/self-interest Current Land use: Residential 1 - General Residential Monument Type(s)/Period(s): PIT Roman, DITCH Roman, POSTHOLE Roman, BURIAL Post Medieval Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): POTTERY Roman, ANIMAL BONE Roman PROJECT LOCATION Area 3.00 Hectares Grid References: TL726801 Point, TL725800 Point Height 10.00 - 14.00 metres PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body Design originator: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Team Director/Manager: Jo Caruth Supervisor: John Craven DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Environmental, Human Bones, Metal, Worked stone/lithics Media: Database, Images raster / digital photography, Text PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Environmental, Human Bones, Metal, Worked stone/lithics Media: Context sheet, Photograph, Plan, Report, Section PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Environmental, Human Bones, Metal, Worked stone/lithics BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Thunderbird Way, ERL 211 and Nato Place/Kennedy Street, ERL 212, RAF Lakenheath, Eriswell, Suffolk Author(s)/Editor(s): Craven, J. A. Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS Report No. 2010/189 Date: 2010 Issuer/Publisher: SCCAS Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds Description: SCCAS Monitoring report