Site Event/Activity record ESF22500 - Evaluation at Blocks L25 and L26, Eriswell Road, Lakenheath

PROJECT DETAILS An archaeological evaluation was carried out on land off Eriswell Road, Lakenheath, Suffolk. Two fields were subject to the investigation, known as L25 and L26 in the local development plan and designated respectively as LKH360 and LKH361 by the Suffolk Historic Environment Record. A total of twelve trenches were opened in field LKH360, on land east of Eriswell Road (TL 7226 8131). Fifteen trenches were opened within LKH361, on land to the west of Eriswell Road (TL 7182 8187). The fieldwork took place between the 12/11/13 and 26/11/13. One undated posthole and a modern pit were recorded in LKH360. Two palaeochannels were recorded in LKH361, these revealed a series of basal sediments associated with a period of active water flow. Later peat growth was recorded when water flow significantly reduced, suggesting changing environmental conditions. Early Neolithic activity was in evidence as shown by the recovery of several flint tools in both in-situ deposits within the palaeochannels and as residual material in later features. A colluvial (hill-wash) deposit also contained Early Neolithic flint tools. A concentration of medieval / post-medieval quarry pits was found in trenches along the east side of the site, near to the Eriswell road, suggesting that exploitation of the land has occurred here since the medieval period. The palaeochannels can still be seen as visible depressions in the landscape and appear to have been subsequently utilised to help drainage during the post-medieval period. Additional attempts to aid drainage in the post-medieval period are clear from the presence of two curvilinear ditches of this date. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous No, Future Not known Associated Identifiers: Sitecode LKH360 Sitecode LKH361 NMR No. 1584527 Project Type: Field evaluation Development Type: Rural residential Methods and Techniques: '''''Targeted Trenches''''', '''''Sample Trenches''''' Position in the Planning Process: Not known / Not recorded Reason for Investigation: Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPS Monument Type(s)/Period(s): PALAEOCHANNEL Neolithic, DITCH Post Medieval , PIT Medieval Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): FLINT Neolithic, POTTERY Medieval , POTTERY Post Medieval PROJECT LOCATION Area 1.00 Hectares Grid Reference: TL72268131 Point PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Suffolk CC Design originator: Aileen Connor Director/Manager: Aileen Connor Supervisor: Helen Stocks DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: OA East ID: XSFERL13 Contents: 'none' Media: 'Images raster / digital photography', 'Images vector', 'Survey', 'Text' PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Stores ID: LKH360, LKH361 Contents: 'none' Media: 'Context sheet', 'Drawing', 'Map', 'Photograph', 'Plan', 'Report', 'Section', 'Survey ' PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Stores ID: LKH360, LKH361 Contents: 'Animal Bones', 'Ceramics', 'Environmental' BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Land off Eriswell Road, Lakenheath, Suffolk Author(s)/Editor(s): Stocks-Morgan, H Other Bibliographic Details: OA East Report no. 1554 Date: 2013 Issuer/Publisher: OA East Place of Issue or Publication: Bar Hill Description: A4 bound report URL: http://library.thehumanjourney.net/1634/