Monument record PKM 028 - Grimstone End (Sax)

Grimstone End is a multi-period site which had been kept under observation by Basil Brown since the find of the first kiln in 1944 and which was still yielding artefacts in 1965. The area was gradually being demolished by quarrying operations for gravel and Basil was very often only able to record and recover sites and finds immediately prior to their destruction. Three excavations on behalf of Ipswich Museum were carried out, Rom kiln 22 in the spring of 1956, kiln 140 in March 1960 and kiln 147 in June 1960, all in the area covered by PKM 028. In 1953 the Museum with Basil Brown in charge excavated the BA disc barrow and associated Rom and Anglo Saxon sites - finds from this excavation area are covered by PKM 006. Burials and cremations, buildings and pottery kilns, are found all over the area and from all periods.
There is evidence of Sax settlement imposed upon the Rom throughout the whole area, which includes hut sites, ovens and hearths with much pottery, which Basil Brown thought could have been manufactured on site - find of bone potter's stamp is suggestive and he records finding kilns. At TL 936 693 a ring ditch 50 feet in diameter, 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep was excavated and Sax and Rom pottery was found but no burial is recorded. Near the ditch a group of soft clay rings, probably loom weights, was found - similar to find at PKM 006. However at least three burials were excavated in the area, and numerous artefacts, held at Ipswich Museum - see list in Parish file (S1). For 1957 excavation - see Excavation index.
Site destroyed by quarrying.