Archaeological excavation by Oxford Archaeology East on the route of the Chelmsford-Maldon Effluent Pipeline, Blackwater Valley, 2014 - EEX59067

Excavation of five areas totalling 2.4ha, along with four evaluation trenches and a borehole survey. NRHE data transfer: Site code: CMEP14. Between 12th March and 22nd May 2014 OA East carried out archaeological work in advance of the construction of a new effluent pipeline, between Chelmsford and Langford, Essex. A Mesolithic deposit of cremated human bone in a pit was the first cremated human bone from this period to be identified in Britain. This deposit included 118g of cremated bone, along with three stuck flints. This was complemented by the discovery of further Mesolithic flints across the site. Three Early Neolithic pits were excavated, along with several Middle Neolithic pits. A single pit also contained Beaker pottery and flint. A largely ploughed-out barrow was investigated and the primary unurned cremation was dated to 1872-1639 calBC. Five urned cremations were later inserted into this barrow during the Middle Bronze Age. Part of an Early Roman field system was also investigated. These ditches likely relate to a settlement, just outside of the excavated area. A substantial Early Saxon settlement, including at least seven halls and two sunken-featured buildings, was excavated at the eastern end of the pipeline route, close to Langford. Although finds from this area were quite scarce, the pottery recovered dates from the 6th to 7th centuries AD. Part of a medieval building platform was also uncovered, along with ditches and pits of the same date. Structural remains including postholes and beamslots. Activity in this area appears to have begun during the 12th or 13th century AD and continued throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods. Information from OASIS Online Form.