Monument record RGH 097 - Middle Bronze Age Cremation and Iron Age occupation evidence at Electrical Substation, Rougham

Archaeological excavation revealed a cremation debris pit with the partial remains of a juvenile, radiocarbon dated to the Middle Bronze Age, The presence of this pit is notable since no other cremation debris has been positively identified so far on the plateau and there is little evidence for contemporary Middle Bronze Age activity in the immediate vicinity. A single ditch was identified on an approximately north-west/south-east orientation, which aligns with the known Iron Age boundary ditch system. Although the ditch itself was very shallow and disappeared within the site, it is possible that it represents one of the multiple redefinitions of the boundary seen to the south-east in the excavations for the Eastern Relief Road (RGH 086). A series of pits of varying size, containing evidence of domestic waste and probable hearth debris, were also identified and date to the middle Iron Age. Similar patterns of sparse scattered pitting has previously been seen across both the nearby excavations. These results add to the picture of dispersed Iron Age occupation/settlement, previously seen in neighbouring fieldwork, which appears to extend across this plateau overlooking the Lark valley. The ditch seen in the latest site is another section of a boundary that can be traced for at least 800m and the pitting is similar to that seen on both the adjacent RGH 066 and RGH 086 excavations (S1)(S3).

An archaeological evaluation omprising four trenches revealed four pits, three of which were Iron Age and clustered in one trench. A large modern pit was also recorded in one trench, truncating some of the southern part of the site, which is believed to the sites location within the former WW2 Rougham airfield. The pits were generally well preserved under an intact subsoil deposit and the finds and environmental material recovered suggest they represent localised agricultural activity and domestic occupation. The features are further evidence of a widespread phase of Iron Age activity seen in recent fieldwork projects in the immediate vicinity, although there was no indication of a previously identified substantial Iron Age boundary ditch which was previously thought likely to cross the site. However the relatively small nature of the site and the curvilinear nature of this boundary means it may simply be located to the north-east of the site (S2).