Monument record HGH 060 - Neolithic and Roman activity at Land off Fishponds Way, Haughley

2018: Geophysical survey did not identify any anomalies of archaeological interest. Modern agricultural cultivation was identified, anomalies of uncertain origin were noted and responses due to natural causes were recorded (S1).

2018: An evaluation of 15 trenches was undertaken in advance of a proposed residential development. The results showed archaeological activity from the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age to the Iron Age/Romano-British periods. Archaeological features were mainly located along the SW boundary of the site. Three discrete features contained sherds of Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery. Two discrete pits contained charcoal flecks but no archaeological artefacts. The rest of the features identified across the site were undated. However, two funerary urns of probable Iron Age/Romano-British date were recovered. A large undated feature, most likely a quarry pit, was also found. (S2, S4)

Excavation reported Terminal Palaeolithic Long Blade. (S3)

2020: Further excavation was carried out following on from an open area excavation in 2019, which found significant prehistoric remains, including a concentration of Early Neolithic (c.4000–3000 BC) pits and tree hollows. The 2020 excavation recorded a further two pits and six tree hollows, containing additional groups of Mildenhall-ware/Plain Bowl pottery, large assemblages of struck flint and debitage from flint-working, and some charred cereal grain, hazelnut shells and other plant remains. Overall, the focus of Early Neolithic activity uncovered at the site comprises 41 pits and 21 tree throws, together containing some 2939 struck flints and 217 sherds (1.5kg) of Early Neolithic pottery. The activity most likely represents a temporary settlement site beside this tributary stream of the river Gipping, which was perhaps visited periodically or seasonally by the same group or groups of people. A programme of radiocarbon dating and other analysis is underway. Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2020 (S5). Full report to follow.

2019:Archaeological excavation carried out in advance of housing development found evidence for human activity on the site from the Late Upper Palaeolithic (c. 11,000–10,000 BC). Three or possibly four flint blades/ blade fragments of Late Upper Palaeolithic type, including a long blade and a crested blade, were recovered from the fills of two later prehistoric ditches located at the bottom of a slope leading to a tributary stream of the river Gipping. The principal result of the excavation was the identification of a focus of Early Neolithic activity (c. 4000–3000 BC), represented by 39 pits and 15 tree-throws, found in the north-western part of the excavation. The features contained large quantities of struck flint and debitage from flint-knapping (1,957 pieces), as well as Mildenhall Ware/ Plain Bowl pottery. This activity most likely represents a temporary settlement site, perhaps visited periodically or seasonally by the same group or groups of people. Three pits dated to the Late Neolithic–Early Bronze Age (c. 2500–1500 BC), containing Beaker-tradition pottery, were identified during the preceding trial trench evaluation and then fully investigated during the excavation; an additional Beaker pit was found nearby during the excavation. The excavation further identified a later prehistoric (c. 1500–400 BC) field system and several possible pits and postholes, which probably formed part of a wider later Bronze Age to Early Iron Age agricultural landscape. A Roman rectangular mortuary enclosure, containing three cremation burials, dated to the mid- to late 1st century AD, was identified in the south-eastern part of the excavation area (S6)(S7).