Monument record WTL 014 - Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Ditches, Saxon Gully and Medieval features, Boyton Hall to Kedington pipeline

Please read our .

Summary

Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age Ditches, Saxon Gully and Medieval features relating to a small settlement with associated agricultural landscape, Boyton Hall to Kedington pipeline.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 6846 4756 (1568m by 339m)
Map sheet TL64NE
Civil Parish LITTLE WRATTING, ST EDMUNDSBURY, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (6)

Full Description

2018: Full evaluation report to follow
Evaluation trenching along the route of a new water pipeline identified archaeological features in seven of the 26 excavated trenches with a clear focus of activity in Trenches 19 and 20, adjacent to the church of St Mary (HER WTL 002). The earliest activity dated to the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age and comprised three ditches at the E end of Trench 20, two of which form the corner of a rectilinear enclosure extending beyond the trench. Residual pottery and struck flint found in later features also demonstrated prehistoric activity. A later Anglo-Saxon (AD 850–1100) gully in Trench 19 may be a structural feature. The majority of the archaeological features, comprising ditches, pits, post-holes and possible structural slots, appeared to represent an early to ‘high’ medieval (AD 1100–1400) settlement located on the high ground E of the church.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2018. (S1)

2019:Archaeological evaluation was identified archaeological remains in twelve of the 26 excavated trenches, with a clear focus of activity being centred around the Church of St. Mary at Little Wratting. The topography of the site may have had a direct influence on the land-use, with the activity located on the freer draining natural geology. The earliest activity dated to the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age represented by three ditches. Two of these ditches form the corner of a square enclosure, the majority of which lies beyond the limits of the trench. Residually deposited pottery and flints were also recovered from features of later date. The next periods identified comprised a later Saxon (AD850-1065) gully, which may be structural in nature, but is difficult to assess given the limited window provided by evaluation trenching. The core of the archaeological activity dated to the earlier medieval period (AD1066-1400) and was clustered around the high ground to the west of the Church of St. Mary at Little Wratting (WTL 002), representing a small settlement with associated agricultural landscape. This was represented by several ditches, possibly indicating a medieval to post medieval field system, pits and four rubbish pits. Four post holes of medieval date were also identified indicating a possible post hole structure. Several undated features due to their location and appearance have been allocated to the medieval period, although these too may have had an earlier origin and included pits, postholes and ditches. (S2)


Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2019 (S3)

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <S1> Article in serial: Minter, F., Rolfe, J. and Saunders, A.. 2019. Archaeology in Suffolk 2018, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.
  • <S2> Unpublished document: Jones, M.. 2019. Archaeological Evaluation - Kedington to Boyton Hall, Anglian Water Pipeline Updated Version 2.
  • <S3> Article in serial: Minter, F., Rolfe, J. and De Leo, A.. 2020. Archaeology in Suffolk 2019, Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.

Finds (9)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (2)

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 10:15AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.