Monument record STU 038 - Three semi-circular post structure of possible 16th to 19th century date at Holbrook Bay

At least three semi-circular post structures, circa 12m diameter. Posts circa 1-2 feet apart. Just visible on surface on mud flats just below high water mark. Northern half of circles may be buried below silt which rises towards shore. Other groups of posts seen. Date and purpose unknown. Detailed survey and examination needed (S1)(S2)(S3).
Re-visited as part of Rapid Coastal survey, 2002 - 4 groups of posts seen, described as follows .Group of posts forming semi-circular post structure, Group of posts forming circular post structure, Group of posts, possible line. Unclear pattern,
11 timbers appearing as semi-circle. N-S. (S4)

Possibly dated as Pmed.

2006/2007: Site was visited as part of a targeted inter-tidal survey. The feature is part of a series of timber structures on the high tide line in Holbrook bay (See STU 050, STU 068, STU 079 and STU 080). These features were roughly circular or semi-circular in plan and constructed of round, upright timbers. The individual timbers had an average diameter of c.90mm and the structures measured between 5m and 11m in diameter, with an average gap between posts of c.800mm. Evidence of wattle or other kinds of walling were not found, nor was there evidence for charring, cut marks or other modifications of the roundwood timbers used. Radiocarbon dating carried out on STU 050 and STU 079 points to these features dating between the 16th and 19th centuries (S5).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2007 (S6)