Monument record BLB 092 - Peat deposits, A12 Flood defence Scheme, Blythburgh, (Mesolithic-Middle Saxon).

2014: Geo-archaeological Investigations/Borehole survey and Palaeo-environmental Assessment on a narrow strip of reclaimed marshland adjacent to the A12 to the north of Blythburgh, Suffolk in advance of flood alleviation works. The survey comprised 10 boreholes which were undertaken with a terrier rig in order to characterise the lithology of the site, with 2 boreholes retained to recover material for palaeoenvironmental analysis and radiocarbon dating. The survey identified the general trend in the depth of the basal sands and gravels which became deeper to the south, towards the modern course of the River Blyth. These were encountered at 6.60m bgl (-6.37m OD) and shallowed out to 2.90m bgl (-2.53m OD) to the north. The gravels were overlain by a poorly humified reedy woody (floodplain) peat, which in turn was overlain by a grey brown mottled alluvial clay and topsoil. The peat was assessed for pollen and plant macrofossils as well as radiocarbon dating. The period of peat formation at the sample locations has been dated to from the Late Mesolithic period to the Middle Anglo Saxon Period. The pollen assemblage was well-preserved but counts were low and therefore of limited value. The data recovered suggested limited indications of human activity within the vicinity of the sample site, with evidence for clearance occurring late in the sequence. The plant assemblage suggested the presence of grazing herbivores which may be related to pastoral exploitation of the floodplain. The site lies within the Blyth Valley and at the edge of the Blyth estuary. The current character of the site is that of drained and reclaimed marshland used for seasonal grazing. The areas to the east of the A12 have recently returned to saltmarsh and tidal mudflats, c.1920. At the time of the work the ground was still wet underfoot with occasional areas of standing water. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2014 (S2). Full report to follow.

2014: Monitoring of works to alleviate flooding on a stretch of the A12 at Blythburgh. Works primarily involved raising earthworks although some drainage work, including excavation of a drainage ditch, was monitored but with no significant results. Palaeoenvironmental Survey also undertaken which indicated peat beds to a maximum depth of 6.6m bgl. RC dating suggest deposition from Late Mesolithic period through to Middle Anglo-Saxon period (S1).