Monument record PSH 056 - Medieval pits, OS 7554, Mill Road

Archaeological evaluation identified two phases of activity. The first phase was early to High medieval in date and was represented by the two pits within trench 1 and the pottery assemblage from the subsoil. The pottery assemblage as a whole likely represents the remains of standard domestic waste from contemporary nearby domestic activity adjacent to the investigation area during the early to High medieval period. Similar localised ‘backyard’ waste removal activity can be seen c.800m northwest of the historic settlement core of Peasenhall during previous excavations in 2004, which identified evidence of High medieval (13th-14th century) plot divisions for a medieval ribbon development along the road frontage (Gardner, 2004 and 2005).
The second phase is represented by the agricultural subsoil and topsoil which, although the former contains medieval pottery, is likely of post-medieval date. The medieval pottery displayed evidence of abrasion and was likely redeposited during within the sub-soil during later agricultural activity.