Monument record WNF 023 - Wangford Quarry Covert Extension

2007:The evaluation revealed a scattering of archaeological features in two concentrations: one prehistoric group towards the north of the study area, while an undated series of ditches crossed the south of the site. Towards the north of the site a group of prehistoric features (probably Bronze Age) appear to cluster around the location of a possible funerary monument suggested by a ring-ditch. Nearby post-holes and pits containing Early Bronze Age pottery and fire-cracked flint suggest that prehistoric settlement activity might also taken place at this location. Across the south of the study area a double set of undated ditches ran east to west before turning to the south. These linear features are on a similar alignment to the field boundaries recorded on the First Edition Ordnance Survey of 1880 and are thus possibly of post-medieval date (S1).
Context 2531, sample 226 of cremated bone gave a radiocarbon date of 3075+/-35BP (1430-1260 BC, 95.4% probability)(SUERC-30000 - GU-21758), ie, Middle Bronze Age. Details to follow in excavation report/assessment.

2008: Excavation, identified at the northern edge of the site, part of a ring-ditch of prehistoric (probably Bronze Age) date was revealed. Of likely funerary function, no burials or cremations were identified, although the centre of the ring was situated outside the excavation area. A complex group of intercutting pits was located 25m to the west of the ring-ditch, many of these pits containing frequent and sometimes large fragments of Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery. To the south and south-west of the ring-ditch individual pits and features were encountered up to a distance of 150m from the ring. Many of these pits were undated but some were clay-lined and appeared to contain burnt material - occasionally with small fragments of burnt bone - possibly indicating pyre debris. Other features contained prehistoric pot of a variety of dates. A small cluster of pits 60-80m to the south-west of the ring-ditch contained loom-weights varying in date from the Bronze to the Iron Age. Along the northern edge of the site a curving ditched enclosure has been tentatively dated to the medieval period and might relate to the adjacent lane, itself probably of medieval origin (S2).

2009:Monitoring of topsoil stripping was carried out in an area to the S.W. of the ring-ditch and prehistoric pits excavated in 2008. A small number of undated and probable prehistoric pits were recognised. In addition, a series of ditches were encountered across the south of the area, possibly representing part of at least three rectilinear enclosures. The largest of these (ditch 0603) was up to 3m in width, nearly 1m in depth, and had an open V-shaped profile with, in some places, a pronounced square notch or ‘ankle-breaker’ in the base. Preliminary finds identification suggests that this feature is probably Roman. A smaller, earlier ditch on a similar alignment and cut by 0603 is undated (ditch 0622). Running parallel 30m to the N.E. and S.E. was the very straight-sided, but undated, ditch 0588. Although not as big as 0603, this ditch appears to enclose a larger area, is straighter and more formal in appearance and lacks the corner openings of 0603 and 0622. No internal features belonging to these enclosure ditches were recognised
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2009 (S6).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2007 (S7).

A further area (140m x 50m) was monitored adjacent to the previously excavated medieval enclosure ditches and structures. The SW corner of the medieval rectangular enclosure was revealed and three separate phases of ditch were recorded. One of the ditches cut a small sunken structure positioned within the corner of the enclosure. This building contained the base of a large bread oven 2.2m in diameter, consisting of flint cobbles set in clay below a slightly domed fired clay surface representing the baked floor of the oven. The oven was positioned within the W half of a shallow rectangular cut measuring 5m x 4m and 0.2m in depth. It is likely that this cut represents a revetment possibly containing a sill beam to support a roof. A single prehistoric pit was recorded in this area and probably represents an outlier of the extensive group of pits and cremations encircling the ring-ditch and Early Bronze Age burials excavated previously and located c.50m to the N of the new area. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2011.

An excavation in advance of the extension revealed part of a prehistoric (probably Bronze Age) ring-ditch on the northern edge of the site. No burials or cremations were identified, although the centre of the ring (the most usual location for burial) was situated outside the excavation area. A complex group of intercutting pits was located 25m to the west of the ring-ditch, many of these pits containing frequent and sometimes large fragments of Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery. To the S. and S.W. of the ring-ditch individual pits and features were encountered up to a distance of 150m from the ring. Many of these pits were undated but some were clay-lined and appeared to contain burnt material, occasionally with small fragments of burnt bone, possibly indicating pyre debris. Other features contained prehistoric pot of a variety of dates. A small cluster of pits 60-80m to the S.W. of the ring-ditch contained loom-weights of Bronze Age and Iron Age types. Along the northern edge of the site a small group of medieval pits, defined by a curving ditched enclosure, might relate to the adjacent lane, itself probably of medieval origin.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2008 (S9).

2010: The 2010 work focussed on perimeter strips to create bunds along the N and E sides of the site (Fig. 10). Despite the narrow nature of these strips, a wide variety of archaeological deposits and features were revealed. These include a cluster of Early Neolithic pits (overlooking the River Wang to the S), Early Bronze Age burials and a Middle Bronze Age cremation cemetery (clustered to the SE of a previously revealed ring-ditch), an Iron Age house circle and four-post structure, Roman pits and ditches, medieval buildings with part of a ditched enclosure, and a post-medieval trackway with wheel-ruts. The SE part of a large ring-ditch on the N edge of the quarry (partly investigated in 2008) was exposed, together with a group of four Early Bronze Age graves (c.2500 BC). No body remains survived but the burials contained all-over comb decorated Beaker pottery and were probably placed there before the ring-ditch was dug. Outside the ring-ditch on the SE side, thirty Middle Bronze Age cremation burials (c.1500 BC) were discovered. Half of these were placed in urns, some were highly decorated, while others were of considerable size. These belong to a group of Ardleigh-type urns (first identified near Colchester in Essex) and the Wangford examples are the most northerly found in Britain. An area, 110m to the SE of the ring-ditch, revealed another concentration of Early Bronze Age graves. Here a small grave pit revealed two highly decorated beakers, while three other medium-sized graves contained individual beakers. Two of these graves revealed the remains of probable hollowed-out tree-trunk coffins. A large grave of over 3m in length and nearly 2m deep revealed the remains of an elaborate wooden coffin, although no grave goods survived. These five graves plus the four at the ring-ditch represent the largest concentration of Early Bronze Age burials in Suffolk. While the Bronze Age burial deposits were centred on two slightly elevated areas 110m apart, within the dip between the two nestled an area of medieval occupation. Parts of a ditched enclosure were revealed along with a large post-hole building, possibly a barn. An intriguing smaller structure was revealed towards the western edge of the enclosure. Although only measuring 7m by 5.5m, excavation revealed evidence for nearly 80 post-holes, indicating at least three phases of building and repair. Internal scorching and partial evidence for an oven suggest that this structure might have been a separate kitchen building, possibly serving a dwelling within the enclosure. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2010 (S10). Full report to follow.

2014: Two further areas were excavated at Wangford quarry during 2014 revealing further the extent of the medieval enclosures associated with Green Lane to the north and structural remains associated with the Middle to Later Iron Age occupation of the site. Previous investigation at this site have revealed interesting medieval remains including a small but complex post-hole built structure associated with a hearth and in close proximity to Green Lane to the north. This has been interpreted as a stand-alone kitchen and other nearby structures, including a large bread oven and a possible barn with a suspended floor, might have been linked to selling produce straight on to Green Lane itself which was probably the main thoroughfare between Henham and Southwold during the medieval period. The 2014 excavations revealed an intricate system of enclosures around and to the south of the structures, suggesting repeated remodelling of the enclosure with both expansion and contraction. In the early post-medieval period a single large triangular enclosure was cut replacing all the earlier rectilinear enclosures. In the autumn an adjacent area was also investigated and this was near one of the groups of Beaker flat graves excavated in 2010. No further graves were revealed in this new area but extensive Iron Age remains were seen including post-holes, clay-lined pits, a four-post structure and part of a large circular building. The ring-gully for the roundhouse measured c.15m in diameter but has not been fully revealed in the excavation area yet. In 2010 a smaller round building was found which had a diameter of c.9m. This structure was located c.15m to the north of the larger building. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2014 (S8).

Full report to follow.

2015 Interim report on two areas of excavation: The area towards the southern downward slope of the site was comparatively empty of archaeology with activity associated with the medieval enclosures seen to the north not extending into this area. Other features include two ditches and a pit which could be prehistoric and a post-medieval large field boundary. The second area was close to concentrations of prehistoric and medieval features seen across the northern edge of the site, in this area a prehistoric large ring-gully building, a substantial four-post structure and a series of pits and post-holes were revealed and are likely to belong to the Iron Age (S3).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2015 (S5).

2018: Report to follow. Summary below.
Excavation revealed a continuation of Early Neolithic features seen in previous excavation areas to the E. Interestingly, a deep slot of Early Neolithic date, which may be a bedding trench for posts, was cut by a pit containing Beaker pottery. Prehistoric ditch systems continued into this area and a scatter of largely undated features, probably of later prehistoric date, was also recorded.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2018. (S4).