NHER 51319 (Monument record) - Roman, Saxon and medieval features, Pound Hill

March 2008. Desk-Based Assessment and Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The desk-based assessment highlighted the potential for finds and features from several archaeological periods.
All of the evaluation trenches were found to contain well-preserved archaeological features. The earliest features were a series of ditches which contained medieval and later medieval pottery. These ditches may be the remains of plot boundaries associated with a medieval domestic settlement fronting onto Pound Hill, and suggest an expansion of the medieval town into this area. A single post-medieval ditch contained 18th century pottery, and a pit may also date to the post-medieval period. Several undated features were also identified, including gullies, ditches, pits and post holes.
See report (S1) for further information.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 14 October 2008.

November-December 2008. Excavation.
Excavation of part of proposed development area.
A quarry pit containing large flint nodules, Roman pottery and animal bone was assigned to the Romano-British period. The large number of flint nodules could indicate that mineral extraction was taking place at this site. A single sherd of residual Iron Age pottery was recovered and Roman material was found in medieval and later features during the excavations including tegula roof tile and small fragments of brick and tile. The large spread of Roman material could indicate domestic and industrial activity.
A ditch containing Middle to Late Saxon pottery was recorded in the eastern area of the site. A sherd of residual Iron Age pottery was also recovered. A Late Saxon settlement is listed in the Domesday Book at Saham Toney but so far most of the evidence for this has come from metal-detecting.
Eight postholes forming an 'L'-shape were dated to the medieval period in the western area of the site. These are aligned south-west to north-east and south-east to north-west. The majority of the postholes are rectangular or oval in plan with steep to vertical dies and a flat base. All contained a brownish grey silty clay with occasional fragments of chalk, gravel and flint. It is possible due to the alignment with the road passing the eastern boundary of the site that these postholes are the remains of a structure. Dating evidence for the structure is sparse but a sherd of late 15th to 16th century pottery was recovered.
Post-medieval ditches and pits/postholes were observed in the western area of the site.
See draft publication note (S2), research archive report (S3) and assessment report (S4) for further details.
S. Howard (HES), 18 February 2011.