BEDFORDSHIRE

(1) Bedford, Cranfield Air Park (TL 01730 43536): a trial trench evaluationFootnote ¹⁴³ followed a geophysical survey undertaken in 2002, which had revealed a concentration of potential archaeological features in the south-eastern area of the site. A total of 31 trenches were investigated, spanning an area of approximately 16 ha across the two fields. Archaeological features were recorded in 26 of those trenches, which appeared to represent two general activities: a late Iron Age/early Roman settlement to the south-east, with patterns of undated agricultural activity to the west. The former was represented by at least five roundhouses within two phases of enclosure ditch; the latter by a mixture of possible early Roman horticultural trenches and medieval furrows.

EAST SUSSEX

(1) Willingdon, Brodricklands and Hamlands Farm (TQ 5950 0360): fieldworkFootnote ¹⁴⁴ in advance of housing development on a roughly 4 ha plot has revealed an extensive complex farmstead or ladder-type settlement of Iron Age to Roman date, comprising a series of ditched enclosures and paddocks, and other features such as ring gully roundhouses.

(2) Ringmer, Bridge Farm (0 144): the 11th season of investigationsFootnote ¹⁴⁵ saw a return to Trench 7, opened in 2018, but with a new area extended 20 m by 25 m to the north.Footnote ¹⁴⁶ A partially excavated deep pit, F38N, revealed a deep deposit of burnt clay mixed with fragmented CBM (tile) overlaying several thin layers of alternate charcoal grey silt layers suggesting the clearing of a hearth/fire beneath the possible debris from a demolished structure. This feature appeared to be cut by a later shallower pit F38E which will be further investigated in 2023. An ovoid pit in the extended area was overlaid by a deposit of iron slag and another pit revealed compacted CBM/burnt clay at 1 m deep, potentially of an earlier phase, that will require major excavation works once the upper features are fully resolved. A further 18,744 sherds of Roman pottery were collected giving a total of 58,251 sherds from this 1400 m² area so far. This includes a high frequency of fine wares, including colour-coated beakers, some with barbotine hunting images. A total of 131 kg of ceramic building material included a further 853 tesserae (making 3,612 in all). A total of 168 artefacts were recorded as Special Finds, including dress ornaments, coins and glass; in particular two sherds of rare blue ‘snake thread’ glass, possibly Rhenish,Footnote ¹⁴⁷ and a horse head harness strap slide of cast copper alloy, probably military, dating to the second–third centuries a.d.

KENT

(1) Great Chart, Chilmington Green Secondary Academy (TQ 97097 40576): evaluationFootnote ¹⁴⁸ revealed ditches and pits dating to the later Iron Age/early Roman period, concentrated in the north-eastern part of the site, along Chilmington Green Road, which follows the projected route of a possible Roman or earlier road or track. Additional features of similar date were present in the south-western part of the site although without the concentration seen in the north-east. The most frequently encountered features were linear ditches representing field boundaries indicative of agricultural use of the land, but the presence of fired clay and charcoal in some of the contexts in the north-east would point to domestic or limited industrial activity as well. Later use of the site was reported in the form of two second-century ditches, located also in the north-eastern part of the site, which may suggest some continuity in the use of the study area.

(2) Herne Bay, Land south of Greenhill Road (TR 16001 66336): evaluation in 2021 revealed two phases of Roman activity, divided broadly into the earlier (first century) and later phase (second century onward). The subsequent excavationFootnote ¹⁴⁹ recorded further evidence of human presence within the study area from the prehistoric times, with the earliest feature in the form of a Neolithic pit (3700–3400 b.c.). Remains of Bronze Age ring ditches and a possible roundhouse were encountered in the easternmost part of the site. Three large enclosures dominated the archaeological landscape of the site. The structures were characterised by their rectangular shape, with the entrance to each of them located in the middle of the eastern side the features. Concentric rows of foundation trenches and post-holes defined the perimeter of each building. Similar structures are well known in the subject literature and are associated with votive deposition in wet places.Footnote ¹⁵⁰ These enclosures were therefore interpreted as sanctuary buildings. The preliminary analyses suggest that the structure recorded in the eastern portion of the site was the earliest of the three and dated to the late Iron Age/early Roman transition period. A concentration of first-century cremations, containing fragments of fibulae and bracelets was recorded in the south-west corner of this feature. In the western part of the site, another large rectangular structure, enclosing a smaller circular feature was excavated. Artefactual evidence indicates that the shrine remained in use in the late Roman period. A multitude of wells and waterholes were found within the perimeter of this building. Features interpreted as ritual shafts, characterised by sharp edges and homogenous infills suggestive of rapid backfilling, were also identified inside the enclosure. Few finds were recovered from contexts of this type, but where encountered, they would be found at the bottom of the cuts and comprised objects such as a third/fourth-century coin hoard, terra sigillata fragments or broken metal tools, indicating purposeful, sacrificial deposition. The third structure, situated between the eastern and western building, was not completely excavated, as it remained partially outside of the limit of excavation. As it dated to the period between the late Iron Age and second century a.d., it was thought that it may have been an intermediary between the two other buildings. The three enclosures demonstrated gradual evolution of a ritualistic landscape strongly associated with water, spanning at least 500 years, representing the subsequent phases of use, maintenance, abandonment, and construction of new shrines. In addition to ritualistic practices there was evidence of agricultural activity seen as field boundary ditches from late Iron Age/early Roman transition to the fourth century a.d. Remains of sunken-feature buildings were identified in the vicinity of the latest shrine structure. A large number of domestic refuse and industrial pits, possibly related to iron smelting and clay firing, provide further evidence of land use throughout the Roman period. Post-excavation work is ongoing.

(3) Lower Herne Village, Land at Strode Farm (TR 17682 66291): excavationFootnote ¹⁵¹ uncovered remains of Romano-British domestic, agricultural and industrial activities, represented by enclosure ditches, a trackway, sunken-feature buildings, pits, four post structures, furnaces, a corn drier, cremations and a burial. The main, substantial enclosure boundaries were beyond the limit of the excavation. Smaller, single ditches divided up the internal spaces of the enclosures. Crossing through the centre of one of the areas was a north-west to south-east aligned trackway, with remnants of the metalled surface still intact at the south-eastern end. Later in the sequence, large pits containing possible structured deposits of animal bones and skulls were dug through the south-eastern end of the trackway, rendering it unusable. Large amounts of Roman building material were also recovered from the pits, including fragments of flue tile and plaster, indicative of a large, prestigious Roman masonry structure in the immediate vicinity. Twelve probable furnaces were predominantly concentrated to the east of the area, with a few scattered to the west of the study site. Possibly used for the smelting of iron, the fills of the furnaces were heavily burnt, containing large volumes of fire-cracked flint.

Four probable cremations were excavated, which have tentatively been placed within the Romano-British period. Two of them were found within the backfill of the Roman enclosure ditches, with the third in a discrete cut, near to the earlier (Bronze Age/Iron Age) ring ditches. An inhumation burial was also recorded within one of the ring ditches, but was proven by stratigraphy to be later in date, cutting a possibly Roman gully, which in turn cut through the ring ditch. The skeletal remains were poorly preserved, with only a small amount surviving, probably due to the acidity of the soil. However, enough remained to suggest that it was buried on its side, as a crouched burial. The primary fills of both the sunken-feature buildings were rich in cess, probably indicating abandonment and disuse. The upper fills were full of burnt material, possibly industrial waste; however, with the presence of Roman building material on site, this could represent demolition material from the masonry structure speculated to be nearby. Post-excavation work is ongoing.

(4) Walmer, Land at Dover Road (TR 36704 49572): excavationFootnote ¹⁵² uncovered evidence of activity represented by a variety of boundary ditches, pits and post-holes dating from the Iron Age, and possibly from the late Bronze Age, through to the Roman period.

An isolated grave, containing two human skeletons and associated grave goods, including complete and fragmented pottery vessels, was recorded in the central part of the site. Preliminary analysis indicated a late Iron Age date for the inhumation, but this interpretation may change. Post-holes packed with large flint nodules were excavated in the northwest of the area. These formed the southern portion of the Roman aisled building discovered during the works at Downlands to the northFootnote ¹⁵³ of the study area. The aisled building was aligned north-northeast to south-southwest and probably represented the remains of a Roman farm building. To the immediate southeast, elements of a possible second Roman building were identified. These included shallow post-holes and a hearth type feature. The second structure was aligned WNW–ESE. A series of enclosure ditches, which defined several rectangular fields located to the south, east and west of the Roman buildings were identified. These were tentatively associated with the Roman farm, but this cannot be confirmed until the pottery and other finds from the ditches are analysed. A four-post structure and a six-post structure were recorded in the northeast corners of two of the southern enclosures. These are likely to be Roman but further analysis of the finds is needed to confirm this interpretation. Post-excavation work is ongoing.

SURREY

(1) Alfold, Dunsfold Park access road (TQ 03733 36875): excavationFootnote ¹⁵⁴ revealed early prehistoric activity demonstrated by a small, scattered assemblage of struck flints, probably of Mesolithic or early Neolithic date, but no associated features were found. The most significant archaeological features were late Iron Age to early Roman in date (100 b.c.–a.d. 125) and were located in the south-western part of the site. This included part of a large rectilinear enclosure that was subdivided by several ditches and contained pits and post-holes. Three penannular gullies were also identified, possibly indicating the presence of roundhouses. Seven deposits of cremated animal remains were also recorded. Several features and layers may be associated with metalworking within and outside the enclosure, including pits with in situ burning, structural fired clay and deposits of slag. There was no evidence of activity from the later Roman period until the post-medieval period, when three parallel ditches were dug across the north-east part of the site. A scatter of small pits and other features in this area may have been associated, but contained no datable material.