Monument record DAR 030 - Medieval and undated features including two Roman cremations pits, Land West of Mill House, The Street, Darsham
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Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TM 641 270 (124m by 72m) (2 map features) |
---|---|
Map sheet | TM62NW |
Civil Parish | DARSHAM, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK |
Map
Type and Period (14)
- CREMATION (Unknown date)
- PIT (Unknown date)
- DITCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- DITCH (Unknown date)
- PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- GULLY (Unknown date)
- POST HOLE (Unknown date)
- POND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- WELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- ENCLOSURE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- TRACKWAY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- PIT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- CREMATION (Late Iron Age to Roman - 20 AD to 210 AD) + Sci.Date
- DITCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Full Description
March 2014 Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) carried out an archaeological trial trench evaluation. The majority of the features recorded during the evaluation were located in approximately the north-eastern quadrant of the site, and the medieval (11th - 14th century) features were wholly within this quadrant. Principally the features were ditches, and the medieval ditches were roughly perpendicular to each other. Four pits were recorded and were slight and undated, two of the pits were comparable and each contained burnt cremated bone; the features are undated but may represent prehistoric cremations. The features within Trenches 5 and 6 contained medieval pottery. The medieval pottery occurred in small numbers, but three features contained 208, 23 and 164 sherds. CBM, animal bone and shell were also present within the medieval assemblages. Sparse struck flint was also found. A fragment of a copper alloy post-medieval spur was found on the spoil heap derived from Trench 6 (S1).
2014: The excavation encountered an enclosed medieval (11th/ 12th to 15th century) landscape, largely confined to the north-eastern area of the site and comprising a single definable enclosure, several substantial boundary features and a short section of possible E-W aligned trackway. A number of pits, including a possible pond and a well were also dated to the medieval period. Most of the pits appeared to comprise single use features, most probably dug for refuse disposal. The bulk of the medieval finds assemblage is domestic in character, comprising pottery and animal bone, but also includes a copper alloy brooch. Two possible prehistoric cremation deposits (undated) and a small number of post-medieval/ early modern features were also encountered. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2014 (S5). Full report to follow.
Between October and November 2014, Archaeological Solutions Ltd (AS) undertook an archaeological excavation. In the event the project encountered an enclosed medieval (11th/ 12th to 15th century AD) landscape, largely confined to the north-eastern area of the site and comprising a single definable enclosure, several substantial boundary features and a short section of possible E-W aligned trackway. The enclosure may have formed part of a toft and croft-type holding inclyding backyard activity. A number of pits, including a possible pond and a well were also dated to the medieval period. Most of the pits appeared to comprise single use features, most probably dug for refuse disposal. The bulk of the medieval finds assemblage is domestic in character, comprising pottery and animal bone, but also includes a Cu alloy brooch. The medieval site declined at some point during the 14th century. Two possible prehistoric cremation deposits (undated) and a small number of post-medieval/ early modern features were also encountered. The latter included a pair of parallel ?beam slots. The cremation deposits were radiocarbon dated and produced a calibrated date range of 20-175 cal AD (93.4%) and 190-210 cal AD (2.0%) at 95.4% confidence (S2, S3, S4).
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2015 (S6).
Sources/Archives (6)
- <S1> SSF55740 Unpublished document: Thompson P & Fairclough J. 2014. Archaeological Evaluation Report, Land West of Mill House, The Street, Darsham.
- <S2> SSF55818 Unpublished document: Mustchin, A.. 2015. An Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation and Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, Land West of Mill House, The Street, Darsham, Suffolk.
- <S3> SSF58019 Unpublished document: Mustchin, A.. 2015. An Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation and Excavation, Research Archive Report, Land West of Mill House, The Street, Darsham.
- <S4> SSF58048 Unpublished document: Mustchin, A., Cussans, J. and Summers, J.. 2015. Three Medieval Village Sites in Suffolk: Archaeological Excavations at Church Farm, Brettenham; Mill House, Darsham; and Semer Road, Whatfield, 2014.
- <S5> SSF61920 Article in serial: Minter F & Plouviez J. 2015. Archaeology in Suffolk 2014, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.
- <S6> SSF56326 Article in serial: Minter, F. 2016. Archaeology in Suffolk 2015.
Finds (13)
- FSF38780: POTTERY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FSF38781: SPUR (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FSF38782: ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FSF38783: LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Later Prehistoric - 4000 BC to 42 AD)
- FSF38784: HUMAN REMAINS (Late Iron Age to Roman - 20 AD to 210 AD) + Sci.Date
- FSF45829: BROOCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
- FSF45830: NAIL (Medieval to IPS: Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
- FSF45831: QUERN (Unknown date)
- FSF45832: TILE (Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1539 AD?)
- FSF45833: BRICK (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FSF45834: TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- FSF45835: BUTCHERED ANIMAL REMAINS (Unknown date)
- FSF45836: OYSTER SHELL (Unknown date)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Aug 2 2024 12:09PM