Monument record WMH 057 - Roman and post medieval features at Land off Blackheath Road

2019: An archaeological evaluation identified evidence of Roman activity which is a continuation of a rural Roman settlement previously identified to the east (WMH 005, WMH 038). Roman activity was represented by several ditches, some of which wre approximnately parallel with Blackheath Road possible indicating an early origin for the route. The presenc eof these features would suggest the area of the Roman settlement to the east continues into the proposed development area. However, concentrations of finds were limited which could imply that this site was on the periphery of the settlement and that the ditches are related to agricultural division of land into fields and droveways.
In addition, two ditches of post-medieval date were recorded as well as a late post-medieval well. (S1)

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2020 (S2).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2019 (S3).

Archaeological excavation revealed a series of Roman period enclosure and/or boundary ditches, dated by finds to the end of the 1st to the 3rd centuries; a small number of pits were also encountered. Like the ditches, these contained a considerable quantity of finds, probably representing domestic debris and suggesting that occupation was present within close vicinity to the site. Imported ceramics (samian and amphora) and colour-coated wares (from Colchester and the Nene Valley) would be unusual finds for a rural setting and gives weight to suggestions that Wenhaston was an urban centre, a possible Roman ‘small town’. An unusual jet loop, possibly a pendant or hair ring, was a notable find. Jet was sourced from the Yorkshire coast and points to coastal trade and (with the ceramic imports) to Wenhaston’s association with a navigable section of the River Blyth and the Roman road network (S4).