Site Event/Activity record ESF22425 - Evaluation - Hill Farm, Baylham, Suffolk

Headland Archaeology Ltd conducted a trial-trench archaeological evaluation on land on Hill Farm, Baylham, Suffolk, ahead of re-development of the site. This followed a geophysical survey of the site, which noted the presence of a number of positive linear anomalies. 18 evaluation trenches were excavated. The majority of trenches contained deposits of topsoil overlying subsoil. The tickness of the topsoil was fairly event across the development area, largely between 0.3-0.45m. Subsoil was not present in Trenches 1,2,6,7,15, but otherwise varied in thickness from 0.3m-0.9m. The subsoil deposit sealed prehistoric and Romano-British activity in the eastern half of the development area, but was cut by post-medieval and modern features in the western half, indicating that it may be a medieval plough horizon. The depth of overburden was between 0.3m-0.75m. Undisturbed natural deposits comprised chalky sands in the western part of the site, and more mixed deposits of gravel, chalk and sands in the eastern part. Patches of clay were seen in Trenches 7-10 (S1).