Monument record SXM 036 - Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date occupation on Land at Church Hill, Saxmundham

2014: The development area is located on undulating ground with broad valleys running from north-east to south-west and from south-east to north-west, meeting at the central west edge of the site. Previous archaeological work to the southwest of the site identified Bronze Age remains, although a geophysical survey of the development area had identified very few anomalies of likely archaeological origin. These included a series of possible infilled field boundary ditches or an enclosure. Eleven trenches, each measuring 30m by 2m, were excavated in the central section of the site, primarily targeted to test the results of the geophysical survey. The suggested infilled ditches/ possible enclosure were shown to be naturally infilled shallow dry valleys or coombs. Archaeological remains were found in a number of trenches, primarily in the dry valleys, and comprised Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age finds within possible occupation deposits. In addition, further prehistoric finds were recovered from the overlying colluvial deposits. Identifiable cut features were scarce and comprise only one undated gully. Additional recorded features include a probable natural linear feature and a tree bole which contained prehistoric struck flint (S1). Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2014 (S2)

2015:Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2015 (S3).

September 2015: This second phase of site evaluation comprised 28 trenches, undertaken to further test the results of the geophysical survey and expand the earlier evaluation of the site. Additional areas of colluvial deposits were uncovered, consistent with the geophysical survey and prior evaluation results. These layers contained occasional archaeological artefacts ranging in date from Mesolithic/Early Neolithic to post-medieval. Identifiable cut features were scattered, with the majority of the features located at the north end of the site. Recorded features predominantly comprised of Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age pits. A ring ditch, probably the remains of a Middle Iron Age roundhouse, was associated with further pits of the same date - perhaps denoting the presence of a small farmstead. Single pits have also been dated as Roman and medieval, while several ditches of post-medieval date relate to the late land enclosure and cultivation of this location (S4).