Monument record HAD 208 - Iron Age occupation features and Roman occupation and burial on Land off Ellen Aldous Avenue

Archaeological features were recorded in thirty-nine trenches and comprised ditches, pits and possible postholes. A close correspondence between the archaeological evaluation and geophysical survey results was evident, though smaller features such as pits and postholes had generally not been detected as geophysical anomalies.

Remains of Early Iron Age ditched enclosures, a possible trackway and a few pits were found in two distinct concentrations in the west and east of the evaluated area. Remains of Roman ditched field/enclosure systems were recorded across the west half of the evaluated area. A further Roman ditch was found in the east. The significant quantity and range of artefacts and plant remains recovered from these Roman period features (especially from a few ditches in the west) suggests that they relate to a rural settlement, such as a farmstead, located in the near vicinity.

A number of ditches defining former field boundaries, along with quarries and other pits, relate to the agricultural use of this landscape in the late post-medieval and early modern periods. The boundary ditches are shown on historic mapping from the earlier 19th century onwards .

Following evaluation by Archaeology South East, excavation identified occupation that started during the Iron Age, but with most material of 2nd-century AD date. A series of enclosures were recorded, with post-holes relating to structures between them. Midden-like deposits, possibly related to light industrial activity, were identified within the centre of the excavation area along with 2 kilns. This suggests that the excavated area was beyond the core of settlement which may have been located further to the S. A single burial was excavated, with Early Roman pottery recovered from the grave backfill (S1).

2021:Archaeological features were recorded in thirty-nine trenches and comprised ditches, pits and possible postholes. A close correspondence between the archaeological evaluation and geophysical survey results was evident, though smaller features such as pits and postholes had generally not been detected as geophysical anomalies. Remains of Early Iron Age ditched enclosures, a possible trackway and a few pits were found in two distinct concentrations in the west and east of the evaluated area. Remains of Roman ditched field/enclosure systems were recorded across the west half of the evaluated area. A further Roman ditch was found in the east. The significant quantity and range of artefacts and plant remains recovered from these Roman period features (especially from a few ditches in the west) suggests that they relate to a rural settlement, such as a farmstead, located in the near vicinity. A number of ditches defining former field boundaries, along with quarries and other pits, relate to the agricultural use of this landscape in the late post-medieval and early modern periods. The boundary ditches are shown on historic mapping from the earlier 19th century onwards (S2).

The excavation revealed remains of an Early Roman settlement, represented by enclosure and boundary ditches. The site appears to represent a rural site which was active during the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD and was largely abandoned by the mid‐late Roman period. Evidence for processing/craft activities was identified within the enclosures, including the remains of two possible corn dryers. Groups of post holes dominated the southern part of the enclosure complex, suggesting the presence of structures, with evidence for intensive activity diminishing towards the northern part of the site. Roman funerary activity was represented by a single inhumation burial, radiocarbon dated to the later 3rd or 4th century AD. Although the main phase of activity was Romano‐British, earlier periods were represented by Mesolithic and Neolithic worked flint and Early Iron Age pottery as well as a small number of Late Iron Age/Early Roman features. Following the Roman occupation of the site, there was evidence of post-medieval agricultural land use in the form of field boundaries and quarries. Material culture recovered by the excavation included a large assemblage of Roman pottery belonging to the main phase of activity – the late 1st to early 2nd century AD. In addition, there was a small assemblage of Early Iron Age and Late Iron Age pottery. Metalwork was dominated by nails and iron fittings, but a 1st to 2nd century AD continental plate brooch and a chariot terret were also recovered. Additional material included building and worked stone and ceramic building material, as well as small quantity of vessel glass, clay tobacco pipe, oyster shell and a bone scale tang knife. The faunal assemblage included remains of goat/ sheep, cattle, pig as well as horse, dog, bird and red deer. The charred plant remains from the site included cereal grains, weed seeds and processing waste (chaff), representative of typical Roman farming regimes in the region (S3).