Archaeological excavation of Site B by Essex County Council at Crown Quarry, 2011 - EEX60954

An archaeological excavation of Site B was carried out preceding gravel extraction. Site code: ARWF06. Archaeological excavation of Site B and monitoring of the topsoil strip within Phase C, both areas within Stage 1 of the Crown Quarry scheme, has preceded gravel extraction. Previous archaeological evaluation of the Stage 1 extent had identified the presence of below-ground remains of probable prehistoric, Iron Age and later date concentrated across the centre of the Phase A area - subsequently designated as excavation Site B. The archaeological potential of Phase C was unknown due to its function as an orchard precluding evaluation works. Site B was found to contain only a low density of prehistoric pits and unstratified artefacts. However, the remains of a relatively large Late Iron Age roundhouse in likely close association with a fragment of Late Iron Age to early Roman field boundary ditch system were also recorded. Retrieved artefacts suggest that this was probably a small farmstead. A scatter of mostly undated pits across the site may have been broadly contemporary. A single medieval / early post-medieval gully and post-medieval ditches marking an agricultural field system that pre-dated the modern landscape layout were also investigated. Monitoring of the Phase C topsoil strip, an area of former orchard, identified no archaeological remains other than a single small undated pit or natural feature. Extensive tree root disturbance was noted. Information from OASIS Online Form.