Monument record BRG 077 - Medieval and undated features, Areas 2 & 3, Land at Moreton Hall, Great Barton

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Summary

Evaluation and geophysical survey indentified a number of features some related to the medieval green and settlement of Catshall Green.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 8853 6480 (407m by 585m)
Map sheet TL86SE
Civil Parish GREAT BARTON, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (12)

Full Description

2015: A geophysical survey identified anomalies of potential archaeological interest were recorded within Area 2, which may be associated with the edge of the medieval Catshall Green. Twenty five features principally ditches, an undated possible kiln, an undated pit and an undated posthole were recorded. Three dated, medieval, ditches were recorded. Settlement evidence associated with the medieval Catshall Green was recorded and the features in Trenches 15 and 30 have the most potential in this respect (S1).

2017:Evaluation for phases 1 and 2 identified settlement evidence associated with the medieval Catshall Green. Boundary ditches identified during the geophysical survey were excavated (S2). Thirty-three features were recorded, principally ditches. A kiln, a pit, and a posthole were also recorded (S3).

2018: Phases 3, 4 and 5 evaluation. The results of the evaluation generally comprised of dutches and pits, with a slight concentration in the north-east of the site. A small number of pits, including one interpreetd to be a heath/fire out have been broadly dates to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period based on small quantities of pottery and worked flint. The majority of the recorded features, fomr which a small assemblage of building material, metalwork and glass was recovered, are dated to the first half of the 20th century. Several of the recorded ditches correspond with the geophysical anomalies and correlate with a road and runway associated with the former airfield, most likely functioning as drainage ditches. A small number of other ditches, pits and made-ground deposits are most likely related to the former airfield land use. A small number of features are undated, some may relate to earlier prehistoric land ue or perhaps may be associated with medieval agricultural land use previously recorded further to the north of the current site n the Phase 2 development area (S4).

2019: Phases 3, 4,and 5 excavation . The excavations at Lark Grange revealed sparse remains of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, Middle Iron Age date comprising ditches/gullies, pits, a post hole and three hearths/fire pits. A limited Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age presence was evidenced by a single pits recorded during the 2018 evaluation of the site, dated by a collection of 77 sherds of Beaker/and or Grooved Ware pottery. A small flint assemblage consisting of undiagnostic flakes and three possible Mesolithic or Neolithic partial flint blade fragments was residual within Middle Iron Age deposits. The lithic assemblages and isolated pit indicate a low level and transient use of the site in the prehistorical period. More substantial remains of Middle Iron Age date were found, primarily focused within Area 1, and consisted of parallel ditches and a gully, two hearths and a pit. A third Middle Iron Age hearth/fire pit was recorded in isolation in Area 2. Continuations of the ditches were identified during a 2014 geophysical survey and recorded during two phases of excavation; they were found to extend south-eastwards for approximately 1km (RGH 066, RGH 083, RGH 086). This boundary also potentially extended further northwards, as suggested by geophysical survey and excavation in 2014–15 (BRG 076). The feature is interpreted as a land boundary ditch related to agricultural activity within the area, as evidenced by four grain store structures and associated features recorded to the southeast. The hearths/fire pits also attest to dispersed activity, possibly associated with a nearby farmstead. No features post-dating the Middle Iron Age were identified during the excavation. Remains including enclosure ditches, pits, an inhumation burial and a large midden, ‘Cattishall Tumulus’, were recorded to the north and northwest in 2015, potentially suggesting a movement in the focus of land use to higher ground in the Late Iron Age/Roman period. The land between Cattishall and Bury St Edmunds maintained an agricultural and pastoral character throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods. Estate maps dating to the 18th century indicate the area was made up of common land and some strip fields until enclosure in the early 19th century. Metal detecting of the site produced metal artefacts spanning the 17th-20th centuries, including two George II and one Victoria coin, and various munitions relating to the Second World War and the site’s use as a military airfield (S5).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2018. (S6)

2021: The great majority of recorded archaeological features were indicative of medieval (11th- to 13th-century) land use activity, comprising at least five possible phases of development and culminating in a large ditched boundary delineating the edge of the historic Cattishall Green. Earlier ditches are likely a result of agricultural activity and show the gradual movement of the boundary from east to west. Within this agricultural landscape area were pits and three oven/kilns, the latter likely used for grain processing. Sampling of their fills and of fills of some ditches and pits attests to the medieval-period cultivation of wheat, oats and rye crops in the vicinity and to their cleaning/processing and probable drying. This medieval agricultural land use was of similar date and nature as that recorded within the Phase 1 excavation area to the west (S7).

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <S1> Unpublished document: Monahan, V., Mustchin, A., and Peachey, A.. 2015. Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation: Areas 1 & 2 Land east of Morton Hall, Great Barton.
  • <S2> Article in serial: Minter, F. and Saunders, A.. 2018. Archaeology in Suffolk 2017, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.
  • <S3> Unpublished document: Edwards, N., and Mustchin, A.. 2017. Archaeological Evaluation Report: Areas 1 & 2 Land East of Moreton Hall, Great Barton.
  • <S4> Unpublished document: Alexander, J., and Howsam, C.. 2018. Archaeological Evaluation Report: Phases 3, 4 and 5 Land Easts of Moreton Hall, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds.
  • <S5> Unpublished document: Carvey, C.. 2019. Archaeological Excavation Report: Phases 3, 4 and 5 Lark Grange, Bury St Edmunds.
  • <S6> Article in serial: Minter, F., Rolfe, J. and Saunders, A.. 2019. Archaeology in Suffolk 2018, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.
  • <S7> Unpublished document: Forshaw, A.. 2021. Archaeological Excavation Report - Land east of Moreton Hall, Mount Road - Phase 2 excavation, Bury St Edmunds.

Finds (17)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (6)

Record last edited

Aug 22 2023 12:16PM

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