NHER 21397 (Monument record) - Early Saxon settlement site, Hirdling Field

18 March 1985. Fieldwalking on well weathered ploughsoil.
Context 1: odd sherds medieval pottery over field, particularly in south and on roddons. TYL BL.
Finds in NCM.
R. J. Silvester (NAU), 18 March 1985.

18 March 1985.
Context 2 at 5650 1366: small scatter Early Saxon pottery and few fragments of bone. Also a few medieval sherds. On top of larger straight roddon which must be partially artificial (ie a canal (Context 3)) pre Saxon. Few pebbles and small stones. TYL 19.
Finds in NCM.
R. Silvester (NAU), 20 March 1985
Archive notes twenty-one Early Saxon sherds, fifty-eight medieval and one Late Saxon.

For context 3 now see NHER 25333.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 10 July 1989.

1989-1990. Further fieldwork during Fenland Evaluation Project
Site rewalked to recover more Early Saxon sherds. Few were found, but those found were individually plotted, as in the original Survey.
Dossier prepared for English Heritage. Copy in file.
M. Leah (NLA), August 1990.

September 1992. Excavation.
Grid of test holes excavated for Fenland Management Project to establish that Early Saxon site is on top of Roman canal. Ditch with medieval sherds found. Post medieval disturbance, as this site appears to have been ploughed out.
See publication (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3) and (S4).
Compiled by M. Leah (NAU), 16 July 1993 amended by M. Langham-Lopez (HES), 03 July 2013.

Two post medieval drains.
Ditch with medieval pottery and one Early Saxon sherd, cut earlier silt-filled linear features, probably natural Iron Age gullies.
Compiled by J. Allen (NLA).

For full details of all Fenland Survey work including wares, flint types, etc. see Fenland Folders (S1).