Site Event/Activity record ESF22221 - Evaluation, Land Off Rendham Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk

Evaluation in advance of the proposed construction of Phases 1 and 2 of a residential development. During Phase 1 (Trenches 1 - 25) six features were identified. Three ditches (F1004 (=F1020), F1002 and F1015 (=F1025)) orientated approximately NNE/SSW; a ditch (F1032) orientated E/W; a gully (F1023) orientated N/S, and two pits (F1018 and F1029). Additionally five struck flints of possible early Neolithic date were recovered from the topsoil. The three ditches orientated NNE/SSW were located in Trenches 1, 2, 4 and 7 and ran obliquely to the current field boundaries. They appeared to be of post-medieval/early modern date. Ditch F1032 (Tr.18) was aligned E/W. It had a different profile to the other ditches and was perpendicular to the current field boundaries. Together with the finds from this ditch a more recent date is suggested. All of the identified ditches appeared to align with boundaries depicted on the early cartographic sources for this area. Two small pits were present. F1018 (Tr.10) was modern date and F1029 (Tr.19) was undated. In Phase 2 (Trenches 26 - 30) a modern ditch (F2005 Tr.26) and an undated pit, F2003 (Tr.27) were recorded. The archaeological potential of the site was uncertain. In the event, though the site is large, the evaluation (Phases 1 and 2) recorded sparse residual struck flint and post-medieval and modern features, mostly field boundary ditches.