Site Event/Activity record ESF25646 - Archaeological Monitoring of 40-42 Loop, RAF Lakenheath

Eight monitoring visits were carried out between July and September 2011 in order to observe ground works relating to the enhancement of the runway (Loop 40-42) at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. The development area measured 65m by 70m and was lowered by an approximate depth of 0.7m. The monitoring observed a severe degree of modern truncation and disturbance across the development area. This disturbance originates from a series of modern pipes and cables across the area whilst the truncation is due to landscaping for the original runway. The soil profile comprised a modern mid/dark greyish-brown sandy-silty topsoil (0001) overlying a mixed mid/pale orangey-greyish-brown silty-sand subsoil (0002) from which all the finds were retrieved. Under this subsoil, where not disturbed by modern activity, lay the natural geology of fine yellow sand (S1).