NHER 62625 (Monument record) - Middle Neolithic flint and pottery scatter, potentially medieval ring-ditch and other, undated features

January 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site of proposed new Water Treatment Works and section of associated pipeline scheme.
A range of anomalies were identified, the most notable of which was a ring-ditch that clearly corresponds with a previously identified cropmark (NHER 52049). It was however noted that this feature was associated with only a weak response, indicating either a lack of magnetically enhanced fill or that this ditch has been eroded by ploughing since the photographs of the cropmarks were taken. Due to the weak nature of the anomalies little else could be said about the probable form of the ring-ditch (which the cropmark evidence suggests has a continuous, unbroken circuit).
Other potentially archaeologically significant anomalies included a north-to-south aligned ditch-like anomaly at the western edge of the site and a similarly-aligned linear anomaly to the east of the ring-ditch. The latter appears to correspond with a former field boundary depicted on the late 19th-century 1st Edition O.S. map.
Numerous small, discrete magnetic anomalies were also detected and whilst a small number were identified as possible pits, the majority were almost certainly natural in origin.
This survey identified no evidence for features associated with three short parallel linear cropmarks that have been identified close to the western edge of the field (NHER 52004).
It was noted that the significant amount of background noise coupled with the weak response of features such as the ring-ditch means that some sub-surface remains may well have gone undetected.
Information from draft report, final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2018.

January 2014. Watching Brief.
Monitoring carried out during excavation of six geotechnical test pits on proposed site of new water treatment works. These pits were positioned in order to avoid the previously identified geophysical anomalies.
A single possible pit with a sterile fill was the only potentially archaeologically significant features observed. No finds were recovered.
A reasonably thick subsoil layer was observed in all six test pits.
Information from draft report, final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2018.

April-September 2014. Excavation and Watching Brief.
Excavation of small area centred on previously identified ring-ditch (NHER 52049) and subsequent monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of new water treatment works.
The targeted excavation revealed the entire ring-ditch as well as several other linear and discrete features. The ring-ditch itself was found to be continuous, as had been suggested by the cropmark evidence. It was not particularly substantial, being between 1m and 0.55m wide and between 0.4m and 0.1m deep. Despite being completely excavated finds were limited to two badly abraded sherds of prehistoric and a small number of worked flints. Samples taken from its fill produced little in the way of environmental remains. Two pits were identified within the ring-ditch, the larger of which was sub-rectangular feature with steep sides that produced a single fragment of medieval or post-medieval ceramic building material. Both features had unremarkable fills and there was nothing to suggest that they had been graves. The larger pit almost certainly corresponds with a discrete cropmark that had been mapped within the ring-ditch. Due to the lack of convincing dating evidence and the ambiguous nature of the internal features the date and function of the ring-ditch remains uncertain. That this was not necessarily a prehistoric feature is suggested by the fact that it appeared to truncate a series of short parallel linear features, one of which produced a single sherd of abraded Roman pottery. It is possible that these were horticultural features of some kind. Whilst it is still possible that the ring-ditch was the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow the evidence suggest it could well have been associated with a later feature such as a mill mound. Its comparatively small diameter and narrow width are however much more consistent with it having been a drainage gully around a stack stand or similar structure. The virtual absence of artefactual material within both the ring-ditch and the surrounding features would also seem to preclude against it having been associated with any form of domestic structure.
Other remains exposed within the small excavation area included two short curvilinear features and an intermittent east-to-west aligned feature. None of these features produced any dating evidence although the intermittent linear feature appeared to be truncated by the ring-ditch. Two additional pits were also present in the northern part of the excavation area, one of which truncated the northern side of the ring-ditch. Neither produced any finds.

The most notable discovery during the watching brief was a dense cluster of over 700 Neolithic worked flints that were recovered along with Middle Neolithic pottery and burnt flints from a small section of duct trench close to the southern edge of the site. It was unclear whether the sandy silt deposit that produced this material was a colluvial layer or the fill of a discrete feature, although the former was thought more likely. The pottery consists of 33 sherds from a single Middle Neolithic bowl of the Mortlake sub-style. These sherds were found in direct association with the worked flints, which are therefore assumed to be of a similar date. That this material represented debris from a single period of activity is further indicated by a radiocarbon date of 3349-3093 BC (95% probability SUERC-57094 4496 +/- 31 BP) that was obtained for a hazelnut shell recovered from the surrounding deposit. The flint assemblage is notable for the amount of debitage that represents bifacial reduction and therefore axe production. Cores are under-represented with only a small proportion of the debitage having been generated during the production of flakes and blades. Axe production was further demonstrated by the recovery of three axe pre-forms.
A single pit was also identified in the central part of the site during the watching brief, the fill of which produced a number of burnt flints. Although no dating evidence was recovered it is suggested that this was probably associated with the Neolithic phase of activity.
Information from draft report, final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 4 April 2018.