Monument record SNH 005 - A probable Later Prehistoric or Roman rectilinear field system and associated trackways in Stratton Hall and Levington parishes.

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Summary

A probable Later Prehistoric or Roman rectilinear field system and associated trackways in Stratton Hall and Levington parishes.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 2489 3915 (1647m by 2316m) Centred on
Map sheet TM23NW
Civil Parish LEVINGTON, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK
Civil Parish STRATTON HALL, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (10)

Full Description

Field system, with probable trackways and rectilinear field boundaries related to extension of linear features on N side, with adjacent ring ditch SNH 006 to NE of possible second ring ditch. Area extended S, with more fields and trackway visible on Aps, March 1993 (S1-S5).
Irregular but roughly parallel lines & pit alignments, which appear to delimit sustantial spots; cropmark disappears both E and W into crops which do not show marks (S28). Extends into next field E on (S14) into SNH 005 and Trimley St Martin 029. Roughly corresponds to line of parish boundary in part. (S1-S5). (NB THIS TEXT WAS ORIGINALLY RECORDED ON SNH 004 (SF3440), THESE RECORDS HAVE BEEN MERGED).
A probable Later Prehistoric or Roman rectilinear ditched field system and associated trackways as described above are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs in Stratton Hall and Levington parishes, centred on TM 250388. The field system covers an area of roughly 1.3 sq km and mainly consists of rectilinear ditched enclosures which are related to two main trackways, one running north-south and one running southeast-northwest. The field system appears to be defined by long boundaries and numerous less substantial trackways running roughly north to south and short boundaries running east-west, forming rectlinear enclosure of varying size. Within the field system groups of smaller rectilinear ditched enclosures are visible, including those at TM 24163949, TM 24923879 and TM 25193886 which may indicate that a variety of activities were occurring within the field system. A possible settlement site is visible as a small square enclosure (SNH 003) at the junction of the two major trackways at TM 25183918. The south-east north-west trackway consists of numerous linear ditches and two possible pit alignments which may represent many phases of reuse and recutting. Towards its north-western end the trackway becomes a single ditched linear feature that has clearly been reused as a Post Medieval field boundary (see SNH 001) (S6). The irregular nature of the boundary suggests that it was laid out in the Later Prehistoric period and the fact that a section of the parish boundary (S7) is also aligned on the trackway testifies to the importance of this boundary over many years. Also towards the north-western end of the mapped extent of the trackway two small ring ditches, both roughly 9m in diameter, are visible at TM 24363990 and TM 24473979. It is not clear how these features relate to the field system but their size suggests that they may be house sites of Later Prehistoric or Roman date. The probable Bronze Age round barrow (TYN009) and its associated enclosure have also been attributed to this phase of activity, in an aerial photographic assessment by Air Photo Services, where it is suggested that "it is probable that these features indicate the site of Romano-British religious site" (S8) but on the evidence available for this project that conclusion seems unlikely (S9). (S1-S27)
This record covers features previously recorded in SNH004, SNH001and TYN055.
Metal detecting in 1996 revealed a bronze key handle terminal, probably Roman, as well as a bronze coin and lead bust. These all came from general area of SNH 005, the latter two located near SNH 003 also. (S29)
The field system has been extended slightly by the plotting of ditched linear features, probably field boundaries, continuing to the north of those features described above. They appear to be associated with a circa 400 metre length of ditched trackway or boundary centred on circa TM25204019. This feature appears to have been recut on a number of occasions and, as described above for the track to the south, may have been a significant boundary as the current parish boundary which still runs immediately to the north. (S30, S31).

Sources/Archives (33)

  • --- Unpublished document: Keir, W.. 2016. Archaeological Evaluation Report - Ipswich to Felixstowe, Shotley and Harwich 132kV and 33kV Cable Routes: Archaeological Trial Trench Evaluation.
  • <S1> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (BXI5) 15-JUN-1976.
  • <M1> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. APs: CUCAP BXI 5, CJF 67,72,73, BNL 60.
  • <S2> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (CJF67) 10-JUL-1979.
  • <S3> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (CJF72) 10-JUL-1979.
  • <S4> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (CJF73) 10-JUL-1979.
  • <S5> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (BNL60) 22-JUN-1973.
  • <S6> Map: Isaac Johnson. 1791. 1791 plan of Stratton Hall estate by Isaac Johnson. IRO Isaac Johnson Collection HD11/475 (Levington).
  • <S7> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1880s. Ordnance Survey 25 inch to 1 mile map, 1st edition. circa 1884.
  • <S8> Unpublished document: Palmer, R.. 1995. A14 Seven Hills To Trimley Improvement, Suffolk: Aerial Photographic Assessment.
  • <S9> Verbal communication: Newsome, S.. 2001 -. Suffolk Coastal NMP Project. Sarah Newsome 12/02/03.
  • <S10> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2438/3 (SFU 11550/13) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S11> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2438/4 (SFU 11550/14) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S12> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2438/5 (SFU 11550/15) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S13> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/2 (SFU 11550/16) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S14> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/4 (SFU 11550/18) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S15> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/5 (SFU 11550/19) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S16> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2438/6 (SFU 11550/20) 25-JUL-1975.
  • <S17> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF 106G/LA/23 3043-3044 06-JUL-1944.
  • <S18> Photograph: RAF. Air Photograph. RAF 543/1879 F22 0184-0186 25-SEP-1962.
  • <S19> Photograph: Suffolk Archaeological Service. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/6 (SFU 11548/CQ/32) 21-JUL-1975.
  • <S20> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (BUZ51) 24-JUL-1975.
  • <S21> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2438/1 (956/311) 07-JUN-1976.
  • <S22> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (BXI6) 15-JUN-1976.
  • <S23> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/8 (1671/240) 06-AUG-1979.
  • <S24> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/8 (1671/243) 06-AUG-1979.
  • <S25> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/9 (1767/70) 04-JUN-1980.
  • <S26> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2440/6 (1845/43) 31-JUL-1980.
  • <S27> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. NMR TM 2439/31 (21725/15) 13-AUG-2002.
  • <S28> Photograph: CUCAP. CUCAP aerial photograph. CUCAP (BUZ054) 24-JUL-1975.
  • <S29> Finds Report: Plouviez, J.. 1995. SCCAS Finds Record:. Plouviez, J., SCCAS. Jan 1996.
  • <S30> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. TM 2540/2 (RHF 11483) 27-JUL-1979.
  • <S31> Photograph: National Monuments Record. Air Photograph. TM 2540/3 (1658/81-2) 12-JUL-1979.

Finds (3)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (4)

Record last edited

Sep 27 2023 9:44AM

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