Monument record WTL 005 - Medieval pottery and features at Anglian Water Pipeline (The Wratting pipeline)

March 1997: Monitoring of area of stripped topsoil for Anglian Water pipeline located mass of medieval pottery and features to the N of road opposite Hill's Farm and Hilltop Farm. At least three discreet(?) scatters noted in initial survey (S1).

Following a monitoring visit an archaeological excavation was undertaken which identified occupational activity on the site, which had been at its most intense between the 11th and 14th centuries. This was represented by spreads of material, probably representing yards associated with domestic or agricultural buildings or activities. A number of heat affected pits, interpreted as hearths, possibly indicate small scale industrial activity may have taken place. Evidence was also recorded which indicated that the majority of the layout of the present day landscape could have its roots in the field system which was first laid out at this time. Following the medieval period the occupation in the area declined and the are returned to agricultural use., with post-14th century finds recovered consistent with manuring or a scatter of domestic waste from nearby houses. A number of spreads were also identified containing modern material , which were in the immediate vicinity of a building shown on the 1st edition 1891 Ordnance Survey Map. In addition to the occupational evidence, a metal detector survey identified a number of Late Medieval to early post-medieval artefacts, indicative of causal loss (S2).