Monument record BSE 782 - Sediments dating to the Neolithic, Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods at the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds

In March 2009 a programme of coring was carried out on the floodplain of the River Lark within the grounds of the abbey precinct, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The site was divided into two parts: site A was located on the eastern river bank just outside the main abbey wall; and site B which was located on the western side of the river within the abbey gardens. Using a percussion drilling rig, 5 cores were recovered for analysis out of a total of 40 that were drilled. The results from site A show that the any in situ deposits of palaeoenvironmental value have been removed since the basal gravels were overlain by made ground containing clinker, sand and crushed brick. Site B revealed a more promising range of sediments relating to natural processes of floodplain development as well as human activity at the site. A potential small infilled channel was identified aligned parallel with the river Lark, which contained a highly humified silty peat. Radiocarbon dating indicates sediment accumulation began during the Neolithic, with later deposition during the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval periods, although it is unlikely that sediment accumulation has been continual. To the south of this channel a sequence of silts and peats reflect both in situ organic sedimentation and the later presence of a 'fishpond' at this location. The pollen spectra from the organic deposits indicate that the floodplain environment was dominated by sedge and grass vegetation communities but that cultivation/processing of crops including wheat/oats and rye was taking place during the Anglo-Saxon­Medieval periods. (S1)