Monument record SNP 106 - OUTLINE RECORD: Bronze Age pits and ditches, Roman Field System, Saxon Building and pit Land north of Pryors Crescent, Snape (ASE) EXC

Prehistoric remains consist of a small number of pits of the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and more substantive remains dating to the Middle Bronze Age. These include two ditches and a gully, possibly all part of a field system, and three large pits and a further gully. Prehistoric land use was replaced in the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period by a more regular and developed field system, though few discrete features associated with it were identified. This system is rectilinear in layout and appears to be broadly aligned north/south. The southwards continuation of this system was recorded in the earlier excavation area.

Early Saxon remains consist of a single sunken-featured building and a solitary pit which appear to be part of a more wide ranging settlement area, containing at least four buildings, identified in the previous excavation to the south. It is likely that occupation also continued further west of the areas excavated. The sunken-featured building contained post-holes to accommodate posts to support a central ridge and further paired post-holes in the four corners for timbers to support the roof or building ends. Pottery evidence suggests a broad 5th to 7th century date for these remains.

Little evidence for activity post-dating the Early Saxon period was identified. A large quarry pit in the north of the site is likely to be of post-medieval or early modern date, as are a number of plough marks and ruts. Recent truncation and disturbance was noted in the south of the site.


Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2015(S2).