NHER 40433 (Monument record) - Early Neolithic to post-medieval peat, prehistoric burnt flint, Lignacite Quarry, Brandon

Lignacite Works, Brandon.
This site was subject to several phases of archaeological investigation between 2004 and 2008 as a result of proposed mineral extraction.

May 2004. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed mineral extraction area. Contexts 1-40.
Excavation of eleven trenches in northern part of site, close to the River Little Ouse. This work identified no archaeological features but a thick layer of waterlogged peat was recorded in the four southernmost trenches. Three samples of this deposit were taken (two from areas to the south of the area evaluated), with radiocarbon yielding dates ranging from 5740 to 280 years before the present. It therefore appeared that the onset of wetland conditions had occurred by at least 370-3650 BC.
See report (S1) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 14 May 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 May 2013.

October 2005. Trial Trenching and Test Pitting.
Evaluation of proposed mineral extraction area (Phase 1 area; south-eastern corner of the site). Two trenches and four trial holes excavated. Contexts 50-62.
The trenching targeted a former island on the flood plain (centred at approximately TL 789 869) where the peat cover was 1m or less. The trial holes were placed on the eastern and northern margins of the island. No features were identified and the only archaeologically significant deposit revealed was a small patch of burnt flint. No artefacts were recovered.
See report (S2) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 8 March 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 May 2013.

April-May 2008. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of overburden stripping and gravel extraction in the Phase 1 and Phase 2 quarry areas.
The earliest deposits observed were riverine gravels that extended across the site. A pair of linear features were cut into the natural sand and gravel in the south-west corner of the site, at the southern edge of the quarry excavations. One was a short length of a north-to-south aligned feature, the other appeared to be the terminus of a curvilinear feature and had sloping sides and a flat base. These features were filled with similar brown silty deposits and both produced several worked flints of Mesolithic or Early Neolithic date. A further 30 Neolithic flints were recovered from an overlying layer of brown silty sand. Above this deposit was a 0.2m thick layer of dark brown to black sand with frequent small fire-cracked flint and silty ash. This layer of burnt material extended c. 11m east to west and produced 15 pieces of worked flint, including a Late Neolithic core. Overlying this was a thin layer of greyish white sand containing a large quantity of small angular fire-cracked flint. It is possible that these deposits were the remains of a 'burnt mound', although there was no evidence of an accompanying trough. It is also possible that this feature was associated with the two linear features, although there was no direct evidence for this.

Two further features were cut into the gravel in the western section of the site; a ditch c. 1m wide and 1m deep and a second, larger and wider ditch c. 1m to the north. Both features were filled with very dark brown/black sandy peat and contained no dating evidence, but their dark peaty fills are in contrast to the light sandy earlier prehistoric features.

A total of 57 struck flints were recovered during this phase of work, these likely to represent at least two industries. Several pieces including two long, systematically-produced blades are typical of Mesolithic examples, although the bulk of the assemblage can be attributed to the Neolithic. The majority of the material, including a burin, long-end scrapers, a blade core and several blades, is characteristic of Early Neolithic industries. A discoidal Levallois-type core is probably Late Neolithic. The assemblage indicates both tool production and tool use on the site during the Early Neolithic.
See report (S3) and summary (S4) for further details.
S. Howard (NLA), 24 June 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 29 May 2013.

June 2010-February 2012. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of topsoil stripping prior to mineral extraction.
Buried soil and an undated pits exposed, overlain by a thick peat layer.
Report awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 June 2017.