Monument record SEY 035 - Large Medieval structure and ditches at Flixton Quarry

Large Medieval structure and ditches identified during evaluation trenching at Flixton Quarry. The structure is presented by a series of seventeen post-holes. Although it is difficult to determine from the single evaluation trench, the post holes possibly were part of more than one phase of building. Pottery associated with the post holes is of 13th to 15th century date. Three ditches also containing pottery of this date were located in this area of the site (S1).

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

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2016 (S3).

An evaluation for a proposed 4.5 hectares extension to the existing quarry on land that sloped relatively steeply down from SW to NE from 26mOD down to 17mOD. The underlying drift geology was predominantly sand and gravel with clay till encountered in a small area towards the SW corner of the site. Except in the clay till area, an intervening colluvial layer was recorded between the topsoil/ploughsoil and the underlying sand and gravel. Generally, the archaeology was sealed by the colluvial layer, although features were seen to cut the basal 10cm of weathered material at the interface with the clean sand and gravel.
The earliest features recorded may be earlier Neolithic, although most of the pottery was not particularly diagnostic. Early Bronze Age pottery was recovered from a single feature interpreted as a tree-hole. In addition, unstratified worked flints of later prehistoric (Neolithic and Bronze Age) date were recovered. Later Iron Age and earlier Roman features, comprising a low to medium concentration of pits, post-holes and occasional ditches, were recorded over the eastern two-thirds of the site. This was similar in character to the archaeology previously recorded at the quarry in areas FLN 056, 057 and 059 that occupied a similar topographic position to the NE of the proposed extension. Five blue glass beads were recovered from a pit that also contained Iron Age pottery. A significant concentration of medieval features was identified central to the S edge of the site. These included substantial ditches which possibly formed an enclosure surrounding a post-holed structure/building. While the limited nature of the trenches meant that the form and function of the building could not be ascertained, the substantial size of some of the post-holes suggests a significant structure. A N-S orientated double-ditched boundary that is shown on early Ordnance Survey maps is known to have become redundant in the second half of the 20th century. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2011 (S4).