Neolithic to Early Bronze Age pits and possible cremation burials at Elms Farm, Heybridge (EHER 17444)

Archaeological excavation in 1993 and 1994-1995 recorded two phases of activity: Neolithic and Neolithic to Early Bronze Age. The only features which could be securely dated to the Neolithic were two pits which both produced large quantities of early Neolithic pottery. In addition there were a number of ephemeral irregular features and burnt deposits on the surface of the natural gravel, which may have been the remains of an undulating prehistoric land surface. Along the south-western edge of the 1993 site was a concentration of shallow post holes and small pits which have been interpreted as the possible remains of a several timber structures and associated fences. However, it is probable that these features are not all contemporary. Three small pits, two layers, and a gully were attributed to the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age period based on material recovered from their fills. Though too sparse to show any patterning, the presence of these features shows that Late Neolithic activity was widespread across this gravel terrace landscape. Both the 1993 excavation and the 1994 excavation recorded the presence of a single pit which contained a beaker - that in the 1994 excavation also contained parts of a second vessel. Both the described features may well have been burials, though the very acidic nature of the gravels precluded survival of the human remains.

1993 and 1994-1995. Archaeological excavations. Neolithic. The major features of this period were two pits which both produced large quantities of early Neolithic pottery. Pit 2656 was located at the northern end of the 1993 site and was the largest of the prehistoric pits, steep sided and flat based with a diameter of 2.14m and, surviving depth of 0.8m. The other, an oval sloping-sided pit 2856, was 2.3m by 1.6m and 0.55m deep. An apparently ‘natural’ feature, probably a tree bole, was found to contain a few sherds of early Neolithic pottery including a decorated neck sherd and an end scraper. In addition there were a number of ephemeral irregular features and burnt deposits on the surface of the natural gravel, which may have been the remains of an undulating prehistoric land surface. Along the south-western edge of the 1993 site was a concentration of shallow post holes and small pits. All but two of these yielded artefacts of some kind, although on the whole the material recovered is not closely datable. Only two pits have been dated to the Neolithic with any confidence; one of these yielded a small assemblage of Peterborough Ware. A number of tentative alignments can be discerned amongst the cluster of 65 post-holes. These may be the remains of several timber structures and associated fences, although detailed plans are hard to define, and it is probable that these features are not all contemporary. While some of these features yielded worked and burnt flints and occasional small sherds of prehistoric pottery, only one post-hole produced closely datable material, Late Neolithic Grooved Ware. Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age. In addition to a Neolithic post-hole (above) and possibly some of the other nearby features, one other feature on the 1993 site, a pit, produced Grooved Ware and a possible Beaker sherd together with two, crudely shaped, clay balls. A total of three small Late Neolithic/early Bronze Age pits were encountered within the 1994 site along with two layers, cut by a slight gully. Though too sparse to show any patterning, the presence of these features shows that Late Neolithic activity was widespread across this gravel terrace landscape. A small oval pit on the 1993 site measured 1.5m x 1.3m and was 0.4m deep. A centrally placed ‘shaft’ had been cut into the single backfill of the pit, at the bottom of which was a complete ‘East Anglian-style’ beaker lying on its side. On the southern edge of the 1994 site, a large shallow pit was overlain by a second, smaller, pit which was found to contain a near-complete beaker along with parts of a second vessel. Both the described features may well have been burials, though the very acidic nature of the gravels precluded survival of the inhumations themselves. <1> See aerial photograph <2>. See newspaper articles <3> - <7>. See also <8> - <12>. Area = roughly 13ha. Note: Neolithic finds assemblages were also recorded at Langford Road (EHER 14651) and Crescent Road excavations (EHER 7792, EHER 81890 and EHER 81902) to the north of the Elms Farm site.