Monument record BAW 212 - Saxon and Medieval activity at East Anglia One Area 50 (EXC)

2017 - 2018: Excavation revealed evidence of Saxon and Medieval activity. Two pits dating to the Late Anglo-Saxon period were identified. Medieval activity was situated along the western edge of the excavation area, comprising six rectangular enclosures encompassing pits, postholes, ovens, an animal burial, ditches and a stone-lined well. A large isolated pit containing eight animal burials was identified c. 75m east of the medieval activity.

A small amount of Early Saxon pottery (4 sherds/30g) was recovered from site, all of which was residual within later features. A number of sherds of possible and probable Thetford-type wares was identified, although the majority of this is residual within later features on site. Two sherds of probable Thetford-type ware, dating to the late 9th to 11th centuries were recovered from two pits on site, providing evidence for a limited Late Anglo-Saxon phase of activity on site.

Medieval activity was focussed along the western edge of the excavation area, comprising six rectangular enclosures (Medieval Enclosures 1–6), with activity dating between the 11th and 14th centuries. The enclosure boundaries were made up of intercutting ditches, later replaced by rows of postholes representing fence-lines. Short stretches of ditch were located within the enclosures providing internal divisions, along with a series of pits, postholes, two heavily truncated ovens, one individual animal burial and a stone-lined well representing activity taking place within the enclosed spaces. A large isolated pit containing a series of vertically stacked animal burials, was also identified c. 75m to the east of the main westerly focus of medieval activity.

The large assemblage of early medieval and medieval pottery (9,527 sherds/97,955kg) suggests, aside from two pits dating to the Late Anglo-Saxon period, the focus of activity was between the 11th and 14th centuries, with smaller amounts of pottery dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. The medieval pottery is dominated by cooking and serving vessels made in a range of both local fabrics and wares imported from across East Anglia and Oxfordshire, as well as significant quantities of continental
imports. (S1)

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2017 (S2).

(See also Neolithic and Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Post-medieval and Modern)