Site Event/Activity record ESF22685 - Monitoring - Building 1346, RAF Lakenheath, Lakenheath

An archaeological monitoring was carried out in advance of construction of a patio canopy on the south side of building 1346 at RAF Lakenheath. Eight holes, c. 1m x 0.7m x1m deep were excavated for concrete footing pads all of which were seen to the top of the subsoil level of which six were seen fully excavated. Three of the holes were observed during excavation. The site lies on the south edge of Lakenheath airfield close to the site of the discovery in 1977 of two burials of unknown date (LKH 145), believed to have been found during the cnstruction of an extension to building 1346 or earthmoving operations near-by. The monitoring revealed that the subsoil in this area was an undulatiing chalk which lay under natural and windblown sand. The existing block paving and sub-base was 20cm deep. Holes 1 and 2 showed the same soil profile with c. 42cm of fine, pale yellow, windblown sand overlying mottled orange-brown natural sand. Some chalk was just visible at the base of the holes. Hole 3 had a lesser depth of windblown sand and hole 4 had natural sand lying immediately under the existing service. Holes had some chalk subsoil immediately under the surface and hole 6 at 35cm. Holes 7 and 8 were only seen to a level just under the paving but this could be seen to be natural sand. No archaeological features were seen in any of the holes and no finds were recovered. No sign of archaeological activity in this area.