Site Event/Activity record ESF20815 - Church Hill, East of River Fromus, Saxmundham

During June 2010, Archaeological Solutions Limited (AS), conducted an archaeological evaluation (trial trenching) of land at Church Hill, East of the River Fromus, Saxmundham, Suffolk (NGR TM 3889 6317). The evaluation was undertaken in compliance with a planning condition attached to planning approval for commercial and residential development (Planning Ref. C/07/0362). The evaluation revealed archaeological features distributed widely across the site with marked concentrations in the centre of the southern field (Trenches 22, 24 and 25), the western sector of the middle field (Trenches 12 - 13, 15 and 18) and the centre of the northern field (Trenches 6 - 8). The features were predominantly early Bronze Age pits (Tr.25), and the large enclosure ditches to the north contained Roman pottery (Trs. 6-8). The principal features were early Bronze Age and were contained in Trenches 25 where a tight cluster 16 pits were recorded. The features were located in a small valley between two promontories close to, and leading on to, the river flood plain. The pits appeared to form a linear band aligned north/south which traversed Trench 25. They were sealed by a dark occupation layer (L1033) which also contained early Bronze Age pottery. L1033 was also present in Trenches 22 (to the north) and 24 (to the east) (Fig. 2). Trench 22 contained a gully (F1051) which was also sealed by the dark occupation layer and contained early Bronze Age pottery. Trench 18 contained an early Bronze Age pit, F1056, which was located on the edge of the river flood plain. Similarly undated pits and linear gullies were located on the edge of the flood plain in Trenches 12, 13 and 15, and also occurred in clusters. A large natural depression, F1114, was located at the edge of the flood plain (Trench 5) and contained a worked flint core (Lithics report below). It was adjacent to a dark layer (L1106) similar to the early Bronze Age layer, L1033, recorded in Trenches 22, 24 and 25. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous No, Future Not known Associated Identifiers: Contracting Unit No. P3909 Sitecode SXM 022 NMR No. 1532711 Project Type: Field evaluation Development Type: Housing estate Methods and Techniques: Targeted Trenches Position in the Planning Process: Not known / Not recorded Reason for Investigation: Planning condition Current Land use: Cultivated Land 1 - Minimal cultivation Monument Type(s)/Period(s): PITS Early Bronze Age Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): STRUCK FLINT Early Bronze Age , POTTERY Early Bronze Age PROJECT LOCATION Area 5.23 Hectares Grid Reference: TM38896317 Point Height 16.00 - 16.50 metres PROJECT CREATOR(S) Organisation: Archaeological Solutions Ltd Brief originator: SCC AS Conservation Team Design originator: Jon Murray Director/Manager: Jon Murray Supervisor: Matthew Adams DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeology Store Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Worked stone/lithics Media: Images raster / digital photography, Text PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeological Store Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Worked stone/lithics Media: Context sheet, Map, Microfilm, Photograph, Plan, Report, Section, Survey PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Archaeology Store Contents: Animal Bones, Ceramics, Worked stone/lithics, other BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Church Hill, East of River Fromus, Saxmundham, Suffolk Author(s)/Editor(s): Adams, M. Other Bibliographic Details: AS Report No. 3578 Date: 2010 Issuer/Publisher: Archaeological Solutions Ltd Place of Issue or Publication: Hertford Description: A4 Ringbound Document