Monument record KTD 019 - Anglo-Saxon Settlement

Evaluation and excavation identified an Anglo-Saxon Settlement containing twenty one sunken feature buildings , two posthole halls, and a post in trench building, a number of flint filled pits and other associated pits, postholes and spreads, and over 129 small finds. Details to follow.

Thirty-seven evaluation trenches were excavated, revealing evidence of a phase of later prehistoric occupation with finds of pottery, animal bone and worked flint, as well as early Anglo-Saxon occupation, with associated pottery, animal bone, and a glass bead. Two inhumations may also be from this phase, but these remain undated at present. The two phases of occupation were confined to the centre and to the south-west of the site, overlooking the River Kennett valley. Limited Mesolithic/Neolithic and Roman artefacts were also recovered, namely worked flint and ceramic building material, respectively. The two main phases of identified archaeology demonstrate the presence of well-preserved Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age and early Anglo-Saxon settlement. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2013 (S1)

Excavation identified two main phases of activity, in the later prehistoric and early Anglo-Saxon periods. The early Anglo-Saxon settlement was dispersed across the majority of the excavation area, consisting of two complete earth-fast post buildings with evidence of perhaps four incomplete examples, and at least eighteen SFBs. In addition, a large post-in-trench type building was identified, measuring c.23m by 10m, the date and function of which is not currently known. The range of buildings seem to conform to a pattern of small groups or clusters of SFBs associated with a single earth-fast post building or hall, as observed at West Stow. Whilst largely consisting of domestic debris, the Anglo-Saxon finds assemblage also provides evidence of craft activities, such as antler and bone working, with loom weights, pin beaters and needles an indication of textile working. The large quantity of animal bone collected may be as representative of the processing of animals on or near the site as much as of food waste. Seven rectangular pits, which were characterised by a fill of densely packed heat-altered flint over a charcoal-covered base were found. Similar features have been identified on other contemporary sites in this region, for example at Eye 083, and are dated by association to the Anglo-Saxon period but their function is currently unclear.

In addition to the early Anglo-Saxon occupation, a small number of prehistoric features were recorded. These included three Bronze Age cremations, one of which survived in an almost complete collared urn of Early to Mid-Bronze Age date. Worked flints were well distributed throughout the site, present within later features and collected from the machined surface. Occasional prehistoric pottery sherds were also present in later contexts.

Evidence of Roman activity on this site was restricted to finds in later features, mainly SFB fills, where many items such as glass fragments, coins and sherds of Samian ware pottery may represent the collection of such finds as curios. An unfired hearth base or area of hardstanding located between two SFBs was constructed from flints and Roman tiles, presumably collected from an unknown source nearby. Evidence post-dating the early Anglo-Saxon occupation is sparse, mainly consisting of undated or post-medieval ditches. In the northern part of the site, a few post-medieval pits were identified, as well as significant truncation towards the northern limit of excavation which is assumed to be associated with the construction of the adjacent A14 and/or quarrying (S2).