Prehistoric finds including a Bronze Age Beaker pot, New Access Road, Elm Park, Station Road (EHER 17436)

A watching brief of new access road reveals remains from the prehistoric period. This included 29 prehistoric potsherds, lithic implements and a Beaker pot dating to the Bronze Age.

Watching brief and excavation, 1996 A Watching brief on the stripping of a new access road revealed multiperiod remains which were subsequently excavated. This included some evidence for prehistoric activity. Twenty nine prehistoric potsherds (total weight 173 grammes) were recovered which indicate activity on site during the Neolithic or Bronze Ages. However, all this material was found in a residual position in later contexts, and there are no contemporary features. Also recorded was a small assemblage of prehistoric flints composed of two utilised flake blades, a probable burnt core, two shattered burnt nodules, and seven waste flakes, one of which shows very delicate knapping. The conclusion must be that later activity on site (including the Iron Age and Roman activity)y has erased all traces of this early period. However there was also a more significant find dating to the Bronze Age; a Beaker pot. In contrast to the rather general impression of prehistoric activity given by the pottery and flints above, there is specific evidence of Beaker period activity in the form of a burial (figure 9). The excavated burial pit originally lined with an organic material (perhaps wood) contained only a Beaker pot and a residual waste flint flake. The acidic soil conditions allow the speculation that there was originally more organic material in here (possibly including a crouched inhumation). The burial was not surrounded by a ditch. Though the Beaker burial is isolated on this site, it is part of a large group of Bronze Age ring ditches and burials, and lies towards the northern end of the cemetery (EHER 3472 ). Features included a single post hole containing a sherd of Saxon pottery. For description of Roman and Post Medieval features see EHER 17435 and 17437 For a description of the cropmarks in the area see EHER 3502. <1> - <2>.