NHER 61660 (Monument record) - Prehistoric and medieval features and multi-period finds

January 2014-February 2015. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of various groundworks associated with the construction of new residential dwellings.
Potentially the earlier feature exposed was a probably palaeochannel that contained a compressed peaty layer.
A small number of the discrete features identified were potentially prehistoric, including an oval pit that produced a single Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery sherd and a small number of worked flints. A linear group of partially intercut oval pits elsewhere on the site was also interpreted as potentially prehistoric, although no clear dating evidence was recovered. These pits were exposed beneath deep colluvial deposits and had dark, waterlogged, charcoal-flecked fills. Finds were limited to a single worked flint, small amounts of daub and animal bone, burnt flints and a burnt quartzite pebble.
A small assemblage of mostly residual and unstratified worked flints was recovered elsewhere on the site, providing further evidence for at least limited prehistoric activity on or near the site. Most pieces were probably of later Neolithic or Bronze Age date, although there were no particularly diagnostic implements. The only potentially earlier pieces were a probable Mesolithic bladelet and two flakes of possible Early Neolithic date.

The bulk of the excavated features were of probable medieval date, with these being exposed at a number of locations in the western half of the site. These features included a substantial drainage ditch, a series of enclosure/boundary ditches and a group of discrete pits and post-holes. A gully and two clay-lined hearths or oven bases also appeared to form part of this group. Medieval pottery was recovered from most of these features, although many were fairly sterile, producing only small numbers of sherds. The medieval pottery assemblage consisted largely of coarsewares, with the high proportion of large bowls perhaps linked to dairying. Late medieval material is notably absent, with the chronological span of the assemblage suggesting that activity had probably ceased by the early 14th century. Other medieval finds recovered included lava quern fragments, a single coin and a small number of other metal objects.

No post-medieval features were identified and finds of this date were limited to two pottery sherds, a clay tobacco pipe fragment and a small assemblage of unremarkable metal objects. Single residual sherds of Roman and Late Saxon pottery were also recovered.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 October 2016.