Trial trenching by Headland Archaeology at Coleman's Farm, Witham, 2014 - EEX56863

NRHE data transfer: Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd conducted a trial-trench archaeological evaluation on land at Coleman's Farm, Witham, Essex, as part of a programme of archaeological evaluative works carried out in support of a planning application for the development of a mineral (sand and gravel) quarry, alongside the provision of associated infrastructure. Trial trenching confirmed the presence of a rectangular ditched enclosure previously highlighted by cropmark evidence, but not evidenced in geophysical survey. This feature cannot be conclusively dated, although the presence of unabraded mid-late Bronze Age pottery within its fills indicates it was already in existence at that time. Evidence for agricultural activity in the form of dispersed field systems was also revealed from the Romano-British, medieval, post-medieval and modern periods. A large cropmark in the south-east part of the development area was shown to be a modern borrow pit. The DA contained no evidence of settlement activity for any of these periods.