Monument record LKH 361 - Field L26 Land off Eriswell Road, Lakenheath, EVAL (OAE) EVAL (PCA)

Evaluation identified, two palaeochannels, these revealed a series of basal sediments associated with a period of active water flow. Later peat growth was recorded when water flow significantly reduced, suggesting changing environmental conditions. Early Neolithic activity was in evidence as shown by the recovery of several flint tools in both in-situ deposits within the palaeochannels and as residual material in later features. A colluvial (hill-wash) deposit also contained Early Neolithic flint tools. A concentration of medieval / post-medieval quarry pits was found in trenches along the east side of the site, near to the Eriswell road, suggesting that exploitation of the land has occurred here since the medieval period. The palaeochannels can still be seen as visible depressions in the landscape and appear to have been subsequently utilised to help drainage during the post-medieval period. Additional attempts to aid drainage in the post-medieval period are clear from the presence of two curvilinear ditches of this date (S1).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2013 (S3)

A second phase of trial-trenching further investigated a possible palaeochannel that had been identified during previous evaluation. Undated pits and post-medieval features, the latter most likely associated with land drainage, were recorded. A small assemblage of Early Neolithic to Bronze Age flint tools was found in the possible palaeochannel and residually within later features. Geotechnical assessment of column samples confirmed that rather than being a channel, the prehistoric wetland features were a series of pools close to the contemporary fen edge. A large fragment of cattle bone found in the base of one of the pools suggests pastoral activity in the surrounding landscape. The column sample assessment also showed that a considerable drying out of the landscape took place after the prehistoric period, leading to poor preservation of materials and low potential for further investigation (S2).