Site Event/Activity record ESF25642 - Archaeological Monitoring of Building 1217, RAF Lakenheath

Archaeological monitoring of rectangular extension to the north-west side of building 1217. Trenches reached a maximum depth of 0.95m. The area displayed two distinct soil profiles. To the north-east side the profile comprised a 0.35m thick layer of mixed silty-sands, below lay a pale-brownish-grey-yellow fine sand containing several darker sandy lenses. The layer appears to have been formed from windblown deposits and had a max depth of 0.2m. Greyish-brown slightly silty-sand which resembles buried topsoil commonly found across the airbase. The layer contained moderate quantities of small, rounded flint pebbles and was approx 0.15m deep. Below the undisturbed natural was a light orangey-brownish-yellow, fairly fine loose sand. The natural contained a dark reddish-brown mineralised sand, this is common across Lakenheath and is formed through heathland scrub drawing minerals out of the sand through root action. The second profile towards the south-west appears heavily truncated and comprises 0.5m of natural sand. Traces of mineralsied sand and watermarks were present (S1).