Monument record NDM 057 - Later prehistoric and post-medieval activity at Land Adjacent To 96 Stowmarket Road

2019: The earliest archaeological feature was a Neolithic/Bronze Age pit thought to be located on the northeastern edge of a relic channel cut by the former course of the River Gipping tributary.
The majority of features and finds were of later prehistoric date. It is not clear whether a settlement is located on the site from this period, however, a relic agricultural field system has been discovered.
One large post-medieval pit may prove to be a large rubbish pit or alternatively a steep sided ditch. Further late medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds and tile were recovered from the topsoil layer during the metal detector sweep of the spoil heaps and hand collected during the machining stage. (S1)
The earliest evidence of site activity is represented by a single Neolithic pit and a group of residual Neolithic to Iron Age struck flints, suggesting dispersed and intermittent site activity during the later prehistoric periods. Plant remains provide show sparse agricultural activity.
The archaeology shows the main phase of occupation on the site was during the medieval period and demonstrates a glimpse into an area of previously unknown marginal activity to the northwest of Needham Market. This new evidence reveals that the medieval footprint of the market town may have bordered the tributary of the River Gipping, now a dry valley, before retreating south-eastward. The pottery assemblage indicates that medieval activity began in the 11th - 12th centuries, with 12th - 14th century sherds present in larger numbers, suggesting an increase in site activity at this time. A water well pit and refuse pits were recorded in the southwestern corner, bounded by an enclosure ditch that had been remodelled, perhaps during de-silting events. Plant macrofossil analysis of the ditch fills reveals that the processing of cereals, including spelt, emmer wheat and barley was undertaken close to the enclosure. Faunal remains recovered further indicate the presence of cattle and sheep/goat, potentially reared on or near the site. Following cessation of the earlier medieval activity, it appears that this now vacant tract of land on the edge of town was given over to agriculture and covered by a nightsoil deposit. This material was potentially taken from the pit latrines, privy middens and pail closets of Needham Market. The registered artefacts collected from within it reveal (assuming that material came from the immediate environment and not from further away) that some of the citizens of Needham Market had a moderately high social status, driven by the wool combing industry that flourished before the onset of the plague that beset Needham Market in 1663 and led to its decline.
A few post-medieval features were recorded, the largest being a quarry pit for clay extraction. Over 40 objects were dated to this period, some of which came from the nightsoil layer, revealing a continuation of this practice on site from the medieval into the post-medieval period. Tokens recovered from the excavation reveal the presence of successful tradesmen in the locale, issued by tradesmen from Bury ST Edmunds, Ipswich, and Colchester. A collection of four book fittings from the topsoil are of particular local interest (S2).

2020: Land adjacent to 96 Stowmarket Road (TM/0855; NDM 057). An archaeological excavation followed a trenched evaluation. The excavation produced a further eight discrete medieval pits, a single water well pit, two medieval ditches and a post-medieval gully. An Iron Age ditch recorded during the evaluation was further investigated along its curvilinear course, skirting the base of the Gipping tributary that is now a dry valley. A thin layer of finds-rich material located below the topsoil was identified as a night-soil deposit, containing 23 small finds; the majority of these were of medieval origin and included coins, tokens, buckle plates, buckles, and jewellery. A post-medieval quarry pit and boundary subdivision were further recorded. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2020 (S2). Full report to follow.

2019-A trenched evaluation recorded evidence of a prehistoric field system of Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age date located on the bank of a former tributary of the River Gipping. Discrete pits of Neolithic and post-medieval date survived, with undated curvilinear features and postholes potentially indicative of settlement. Firm evidence of prehistoric activity in the vicinity has previously been limited, although several cropmarks recorded on the Suffolk HER indicate evidence of a broader prehistoric funerary landscape.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2019 (S3).