NHER 60032 (Monument record) - Undated ditches and pits

October 2010-January 2011. Watching Brief.
Several ditches and pits were recorded during monitoring of groundworks for the construction of extensions to existing sheds.
Nine linear ditches, primarily clustered in the western portion of the site, correspond to features observed as cropmarks on aerial photographs (NHER 6096) which have been previously interpreted as a possible Roman field system. The features were unfortunately devoid of cultural material and could not be dated, but the lack of finds also supports the interpretation that this was a largely agricultural or pastoral area located away from domestic settlement.
Seven pits and two ditches were determined to be of different character, with a different deposition/accumulation sequence, and may be prehistoric. The small assemblage of struck flint from the site largely dates to the Late Neolithic to Bronze Age and includes burnt flint, flakes, utilised flakes, utilised blades, blade-like flakes and a core. A small fragment from a blade may be Early Neolithic, and a bladelet core may date to the Mesolithic to Early Neolithic.
Two unstratified sherds of pottery were recovered from the north-west of the site. A highly abraded body sherd is likely medieval but could be Roman, while a rim sherd is likely post-medieval. A small number of metal objects were encountered, including two post-medieval buttons and modern material.
See report (S1) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 6096.
S. Howard (HES), 5 July 2011. Amended by H. Hamilton (HES), 03 April 2014.