Monument record SPT 053 - Early Neolithic activity at Chantry Vale, Wolsey Grange

2019: Excavation identified Early Neolithic remains of a possible occasional/seasonal occupation site, perhaps for hunting/foraging, comprised a loose cluster of pits and a possible hearth containing pottery, struck flint, burnt clay and animal bone. A leaf-shaped flint arrowhead of similar date was also recovered from topsoil close-by. The land within the site remained largely unused until the 13th century AD, with a few residual pieces of Roman pottery and CBM indicating only a limited presence in the wider landscape. See Medieval (S1,S2).

2021:Either side of Poplar Lane, 83 evaluation trenches determined the locations of 5 excavation areas totalling c.0.76ha and c.0.74ha in 2 fields. A small quantity of residual worked flint of broadly earlier prehistoric date (Mesolithic to Neolithic) from across the areas provides evidence of a limited and likely transitory presence in the landscape prior to the Bronze Age. A small assemblage of tentatively dated Neolithic pottery recovered from a small number of scattered pits may attest to a slightly more significant presence towards the end of this period. Nondescript pit and post-holes clusters, including several structured deposits, a series of quarry pits and a possible structure, represent a significant increase in land use in the Early Bronze Age to earliest Iron Age (2100–500BC) and are posited to constitute occupation activity peripheral to the prehistoric settlement site recorded c.1km to the N (SPT 001). Land use was most intense during the medieval period, with a concentrated area of remains. 2 large boundary ditches enclose the medieval activity which includes several iterations of NW–SE and NE–SW field-system ditches, interpreted as defining fields or enclosure plots, a large natural hollow utilised as a pond, 2 ovens and a low intensity of pits. No direct evidence for settlement (i.e. buildings) was recovered. However, these remains are considered to be part of a farmstead and to be representative of agricultural activity and food production/processing in the immediate vicinity of a settlement, presumably the former Felchurch hamlet.
Post-medieval remains comprised primarily field-boundary ditches that are recorded on historic mapping. 2 neonatal calf burials and a series of several possible quarry pits represent sporadic activity within these agricultural fields. The remains are collectively indicative of the continued agricultural management and use of the landscape (S3).

2022: These archaeological works carried out in Fields 2 and 3, located to either side of Poplar Lane, comprise second stage evaluation and subsequent mitigation excavation. Eighty-three trenches were investigated, determining the locations of five subsequent excavation areas totalling c.0.76ha in Field 2 (Areas C and D) and c.0.74ha in Field 3 (Areas E, F and G). The recovery of a small quantity of residual work flint of broadly earlier prehistoric (Mesolithic to Neolithic) date from across the excavation areas provides evidence of a limited and likely transitory presence in the landscape prior to the Bronze Age. A small assemblage of tentatively-dated Neolithic pottery recovered from a small number of pits scattered across Areas C, D and E may attest to a slightly more significant presence towards the end of this period. Early Bronze Age to earliest Iron Age (2100–500BC) remains were mostly present in Field 2. Nondescript pit and postholes clusters, including several structured deposits, a series of quarry pits and a possible structure, represent a significant increase in land-use and are posited to constitute occupation activity peripheral to the prehistoric settlement site recorded c.1km to the north (STP001)Except for a small quantity of residual pottery and coins recovered from subsoil deposits, no clear evidence of Roman or Anglo-Saxon land use was encountered in Fields 2 and 3. Land use was most intense during the medieval period, with identified remains being concentrated in Area E. Two large Boundary ditches enclose the medieval activity which includes several iterations of NW/SE / NE/SW field system ditches, interpreted as defining fields or enclosure plots, a large natural hollow utilised as a pond, two ovens and a low intensity of pits. No direct evidence for settlement (i.e. buildings) was recovered. However, these remains are considered to be part of a farmstead and to be representative of agricultural activity and food production/processing in the immediate vicinity of a settlement - presumably the former Felchurch hamlet. Post-medieval remains comprised primarily of field boundary ditches that are recorded on historic mapping. Two neonatal calf burials and a series of several possible quarry pits represent sporadic activity within these agricultural fields. The remains are collectively indicative of the continued agricultural management and use of the landscape (S4). Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2020 (S5).

Included in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History annual round up of individual finds and discoveries for 2015 (S6).