Middle Iron Age post-built structures and probable Late Iron Age activity, Crescent Road (EHER 7794)

Archaeological excavation in 1972 recorded a four-post structure, a putative semi-circular structure, and a number of pits, post-holes, and stake holes. The two buildings were defined by a series of post holes, one of which produced the remains of a charred post which provided a radiocarbon date in the Middle Iron Age. Also recovered was a residual assemblage of early 1st century pottery and a coin, which are indicative of Late Iron Age activity in the vicinity of the site.

March-May 1972. Archaeological excavation. By the Middle Iron Age, the site lay within, or more likely on the periphery of, a settlement on the gravel terrace. A four-post structure, a putative semi-circular structure, and a number of pits, post-holes, and stake holes were recorded. However, over much of the site, prehistoric features must have been totally obliterated by later features, especially Romano-British ditches and gravel pits. The four-post structure, around 2.80 m square, was defined by post holes and, in one, the carbonised stump of a substantial squared post, around 0.5 x 0.35m, survived. This yielded a radiocarbon date of 150 ± 80 BC. The remnants of a charred post, around 0.3m square, survived in another post hole. The radiocarbon date accords with the Middle Iron Age pottery recovered from the features, and one post hole also produced briquetage. A series of eight post holes appear to define a semi-circular structure around 8m in diameter. Some of these post holes produced Middle Iron Age pottery making the structure broadly contemporary with that described above. Together they are probably part of a relatively well-defined group of similar, possibly workshop, buildings. Late Iron Age features were not identified but probable activity at this time in the vicinity of the site was indicated by the recovery of early 1st century AD native pottery and a potin coin, all residual in later contexts. <1> Finds of pottery of Iron Age date, were made in 1972 during the excavation of a roughly 1600 square m site at Crescent Road, Heybridge. Various pits, ditches, and post holes were interpreted as indicating an Iron Age enclosed settlement. <2> <3> September 1976. Field visit. The area of the 1972 excavations is now covered by modern housing. <4> Three Iron Age structures were identified by Drury during excavations at a site much disturbed by Roman and later features at Heybridge in 1972. (i) An oval house circa 10 x 11 metres was defined by a closely set post-ring. (ii) A semi-circular building of similar construction possibly a workshop? (iii) A four-post structure - possibly a granary? A provisional appraisal of the pottery suggested a date for this phase to the centre of the 4th century BC (see plan). <5> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. NRHE summary description, 380695: A multi period settlement with evidence of Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romano-British and Early Medieval occupation. A Bronze Age hut and an Iron Age enclosed settlement were found with circular and rectangular structures. There is evidence for 2nd, 3rd and 4th century Roman occupation which Rodwell suggests is a town, and recent excavations would tend to confirm this. 5 Grubenhäuser of early Anglo-Saxon date were excavated. Note: The material described in this record may be associated with the settlement at Elms Farm, see EHER 81913 and EHER 81914. NRHE data transfer, 880502: A possible Roman pottery kiln is recorded from Essex County Council Archaeology Records at this location. <6> Note: The finds recovered from this excavation have been taken as evidence for the presence of a kiln on the site.