Trial trenching by J.P. Smallwood at Site 2, west of Halstead, 1959 - EEX63466

Scatter of Roman pottery, brick and tile visible on surface of field after ploughing. Trial trenches dug in October 1959 at point indicated on plan on page 19. At one point vague traces of a Roman occupation level in the shape of a shallow pit were found. The material recovered from this trench included a fragment of a millstone, one unidentified piece of iron, probably furniture strapping, and a small fragment of a glass vessel of probable first century date. Amongst the sherds of pottery recovered was one fragment of a small bowl with a series of diagonal impressions made with a comb together with pieces of plain Samian ware. A first century date is probable for the pit while the material recovered from the field suggests an occupation range of something like A.D. 60-160. Unfortunately the subsoil of the field is of a light sandy gravel and it is unlikely that any structures or further occupation levels will have escaped destruction by the plough.