Monument record HWS 061 - OUTLINE RECORD: Multiple occupation layers spanning from the Late Mesolithic through to the Bronze Age, Bury Road Hawstead (PTP) EVAL (AA) GEO

After a successful community participated evaluation in 2021, the Past to Present Archaeology team continued their site investigations by stripping an area measuring 542m², targeted over one of the sites many ring ditches. The aim of the 2022 field season was to better understand the nature, extent and function of the ring ditch. Furthermore, we undertook further OSL dating to provide more concrete chronology to the archaeology. Like the previous year the project was led by a team of professional archaeologists and community members as part of this growing crowd funded research project. During this season, multiple pits and postholes were found to be present within a ring ditch. The site was found to have multiple occupation layers spanning from the Late Mesolithic through to the Bronze Age identified by hundreds of lithic artefacts and a small pottery assemblage. Two cremations were also discovered, one of which was excavated and is currently being analysed, and the other has been covered for a future excavation season. OSL dates from the 2021 evaluation suggest a date of 1300 BC for this ring ditch, which places this monument in the Middle Bronze Age.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2022 (S1)

4 test trenches of varying sizes were excavated by the local community and project archaeologists as part of a crowdfunded field school to teach participants how to excavate. All 4 trenches contained evidence of pits and post-holes, with ring ditches being associated with the post-holes in 3 of the trenches, and all produced flint lithics dating to the Bronze Age. 1 trench produced Bronze Age pottery.
Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2021 (S2)