NHER 67115 (Monument record) - Undated trackways and enclosures and post-medieval field boundaries

November 2016. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of proposed development. It is suggested that the site has a moderate to high potential for previously unidentified remains of prehistoric to Roman date.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 June 2023.

January 2017. Geophysical Survey
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site.
This survey identified a number of archaeologically-significant responses in the northernmost part of the site, including a probable trackway and several linear anomalies to the north that potentially represent elements of an associated field system. The north-east to south-west aligned probable trackway ditches correspond with features visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs (recorded as NHER 30302 and regarded as potentially Late Prehistoric in date). One of the linear anomalies recorded in the area to the north corresponds with another pair of cropmarks thought to represent a second trackway (also recorded under NHER 30302). None of the other linear geophysical anomalies recorded in this part of the site coincide with previously recorded cropmarks. These include two possible north-to-south aligned trackways and elements of what were potentially contemporary rectilinear fields or enclosures. A number of weaker, ill-defined sub-circular linear anomalies were also recorded in this part of the site, although the identification of these as potentially archaeological is tentative.
No responses of definite archaeological interest were identified across the remainder of the field. Although a number of weak linear trends were noted these responses are all regarded as being of uncertain origin, although it is possible that some represent infilled ditches. These include a sinuous roughly east-to-west aligned response at the southern end of the site that appears to coincide with one of several cropmarks thought to represent trackways of possible prehistoric date (NHER 49258).
Three extensive, straight, east-to-west and north-to-south aligned linear anomalies correspond with former field boundaries depicted on the Bradwell tithe map (S2).
Although numerous other cropmarks have been mapped in this field the probable trackways at the northern end of the site were the only features associated with evidence for surviving sub-surface remains. Those for which the survey revealed no evidence include a possible ‘D’-shaped enclosure in the northern most part of the field (NHER 45225) and a possible ring-ditch at the southern end (NHER 45210). There was also no evidence for surviving remains associated with numerous other fragmentary linear cropmarks mapped at this location (including a group of potentially Late Prehistoric to Roman date remains recorded as NHER 45215 and various undated cropmarks recorded as NHER 45216).
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 11 June 2023.

March 2019. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The seventeen trenches excavated revealed only a small number of scattered linear and discrete features, none of which produced any dating evidence.
The most notable remains were three north-north-east to south-south-west aligned ditches, at least two of which were possibly associated with one of the two potentially prehistoric trackways visible as cropmarks visible on aerial photographs at the southern end of this field (NHER 49258). If this was the case it is clear that the associated ditches survive only intermittently. There was no evidence for surviving sub-surface remains associated with the more extensive east-to-west aligned trackway to the south. The same was true of the various other cropmarks examined (all part of the extensive, fragmentary groups recorded as NHERs 45215 and 45216), with no corresponding features identified.
The form and alignments of the other small number of other ditches recorded suggested that they were most likely of relatively recent date.
The discrete feature identified were all fairly unremarkable and mostly of probable natural origin.
The only other feature of note was a substantial east-to-west aligned palaeochannel.
Unstratified finds were limited to a small quantity of 'modern' pottery, a medieval or post-medieval roof tile fragment and two undatable brick fragments.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 11 June 2023.