Monument record LMD 233 - Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age features and peripheral rural activity of Roman date at Chilton Woods, Long Melford

Geophysical survey identified anomalies indicative of archaeological activity across three locations in the central and eastern parts of the site. These locations correlated with clusters of prehistoric and Roman pottery recovering during fieldwalking undertaken in 1996 and 2004. The form and density of anomalies at two of the locations possibly suggest settlement activity. Linear areas of strong magnetic disturbances located the position of parts of the runway, munitions dump and other infrastructure forming part of the USAAF Sudbury. Other anomalies were caused by agricultural practice and field boundaries (S1).

2014: An evaluation by trial trenching was carried out at Chilton Woods. The evaluation covered c.121.8 hectares, consisting of 356 trenches targeting anomalies detected by the geophysical survey conducted by WYAS as well as sampling apparent blank areas. The works crossed four parish boundaries revealing areas of Late Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman and medieval archaeology as well as showing disturbance and levelling from the USAAF base which was located towards the east of the site. There were a total of eight main areas of archaeological interest identified with a few additional isolated features. These consisted of five areas of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age archaeology located mostly in the western part of the site, a Late Iron Age enclosure and associated pits in the eastern part of the site, a Roman enclosure and possible settlement area within the central area of the site, along with medieval enclosures located in the central areas of the site crossing Acton Lane. The evaluation produced moderate quantities of finds from most periods with three partial vessels found (Roman, Iron Age and Bronze Age), two possible loom or thatch weights dating to the Iron Age, copper alloy objects (a Roman coin, a possible ceremonial rattle and a nail gouge) and prehistoric flint tools. A single human cremation was also found, most likely to be prehistoric in date. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2014 (S2). Full report to follow.

2014: The evaluation identified two areas of archaeological activity within the site in the parish of Long Melford.
Area 5: This area of archaeology was mostly characterised by low density pitting spread over a large area. Most of the features were small pits and postholes which date from the Late Bronze Age to the Middle Iron Age. As well as pits a relatively low number of ditches were recorded in comparison to the rest to the site. Four ditches could be seen which all contained Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age pottery. Two ditches on an east to west orinetation seemed to run uniformly parallel in this area and may form a droveway or routeway. This area fell within the ‘bomb dump’ area associated with Sudbury airfield to the east and thus included areas of disturbance and truncation. In addition, the parish boundary between Sudbury and Long Melford was also identified but not excavated.
Area 8: This small area of archaeology consisted of small ditches and pits dating to the early or middle Roman period (1st to 3rd century). The activity seen within this area is most indicative of peripheral rural activity with small ditches and a small amount of domestic waste. See ACT 033, CHT 022, SUY 138 for other areas of archaeological activity from the evaluation. (S3)