Monument record KDG 006 - Interrupted Ditch System, West of Hall Farm, (Neolithic)

Interrupted ditch system cutting off riverside promontory West of Hall Farm (North of Kedington village). Scheduled.

1977: The aerial photograph reveals the arc of a ditch, interrupted by a series of causeways, which appear to defend or to define a small promontory formed by a meander of the R Stour. The ditch runs across the rise of ground above the flood plain of the river. The field had a potato crop on it at the time of the visit and nothing was visible on the ground (S1).

1978: Four segments of a single ditch across a spur made by a bend in the River Stour, giving a promentary enclosure type of system (S9).

1981: Scatter of worked flint (over 2000), main concentration just outside the enclosure (S4). Note this was the first causewayed enclosure to be systematically fieldwalked in Britain (in 2009 finds still with the Haverhill group).

Feb 1984: further group of about 200 fieldwalked flints collected by HDAG (now at SAU) - at least 2 periods represented, a patinated blade industry of Neolithic date and a later unpatinated crudish flake industry, including leaf and transverse arrowheads, therefore including material some of (Late?) Neo date and some probably Bronze Age (Middle or Late?). This does beg the question as to whether the interrupted ditches are Neolithic or later in date! Analysis of this 1984 assemblage by Adrian Donaghey in May 2009 - considered to be Neolithic and (mainly?) late Neo/EBA in date (with one Lower Palaeolithic handaxe) (S8).

1991: Chisel-ploughed for potatoes, cutting through underlying river gravels. Condition of flint work said to be poor in comparison to 1981 survey & suggested recent plough damage (S5).

Discussed in (S7).


See also Palaeolithic, Mesolithic record.