Middle Iron Age enclosures and ditched trackway, Langford Hall Reservoir (EHER 45968)

Excavation of part of a cropmark complex (EHER 7870) on a gravel terrace of the river Blackwater identified Middle Iron Age enclosures, field boundaries and trackways. The excavation demonstrated that the remains did not represent a single phase of activity but rather a series of changes, with the complex initially comprising three ditched enclosures (A, B, and C) orientated on a roughly north–south axis, which were later most likely augmented by the addition of a trackway. This evidence is typical of the intensive prehistoric and later landscape development seen more generally along the lower Blackwater valley and its estuary. An earlier watching brief during the construction of an agricultural reservoir recorded a single sherd of possible Middle Iron Age pottery and an undated flint flake in the topsoil.

1984. Watching brief. A flint flake and a single undecorated body sherd in a finely flint-gritted fabric with smoothed exterior (possibly Middle Iron Age) were found in the topsoil. <1> <2> <3> A location plan showing the reservoir and cropmark complex are in the EHER. <4> <5> <6> 1995. Geophysical survey an archaeological excavation. In Excavation Area 1/2 three significant linear anomalies were located, one of which was not shown on aerial photographs. Features excavated comprised enclosure ditches, an area of irregular features and shallow pits along the western edge of the development area. The principal feature was a trackway with a ditch on either side. The ditched trackway can be seen on aerial photographs and its southernmost ditch appears to form the northern side of a large enclosure. The ditches flanking the trackway had been recut, probably in the Iron Age period (provisional date based on spot dating of pottery). Full assessment and analysis of the results will be undertaken upon completion of the fieldwork. A further stage of excavation is expected to start shortly with the final phase following later in 1996.<7> March-April 1996. Archaeological excavation. Excavation of part of a cropmark complex on a gravel terrace of the river Blackwater identified Middle Iron Age enclosures, field boundaries and trackways. The excavation demonstrated that the remains did not represent a single phase of activity but rather a series of changes, with the complex initially comprising three ditched enclosures (A, B, and C) orientated on a roughly north–south axis, which were later most likely augmented by the addition of a trackway. This evidence is typical of the intensive prehistoric and later landscape development seen more generally along the lower Blackwater valley and its estuary. A system of east-west and north-south enclosure ditches served to define rectilinear plots in the Middle Iron Age. The northern boundary of this system was incorporated within the drainage system of an east-west trackway, a major territorial division. The two barrows (EHER 7871), located to the immediate north of the track, and almost certainly highly visible at this later date, may also have served as boundary markers. The north boundary and part of the western and eastern boundaries of Enclosure A were investigated by the excavation. The polygonal enclosure is broadly rectilinear, being composed of more than four straight sides, and gives the appearance of two conjoined rectangular enclosures. The cropmark plots identify two ring-ditches in the south-west corner of this enclosure, along with what could be pitting and fragments of other ditches on similar orientations, hinting at subdivision of its interior. Excavated evidence of this sub-division was limited to the presence of a short section of roughly north–south orientated ditch in Excavation Area 3. Enclosure B lay to the west of A. Its southern and western boundaries were excavated. It is assumed that the west boundary ditch of Enclosure A was still extant in some form, perhaps as a partially infilled ditch, and defined the eastern boundary of Enclosure B. Its northern boundary is defined by the southern ditch of the ditched trackway. This enclosure may have represented an addition to a field system which had Enclosure A as its focus. Although only its easternmost part was exposed within the area of investigation, Enclosure C constitutes a westward continuation of the Middle Iron Age land division system. In overview, the expansive Enclosure A appears to have been established first, with more linear Enclosures B and C laid out from it. Together their northern perimeters seem to have demarcated a significant division in the landscape, with the land to their north (and containing the remains of the earlier prehistoric mortuary monuments) seemingly being unenclosed. As such, this major boundary may well have defined markedly differing land-uses to north and south. Unfortunately no contemporary features indicative of land-use were recorded in the various entities defined. Seemingly devoid of settlement remains, it can only be assumed that the enclosed landscape to the south comprised agricultural fields within the investigated site with the ring-ditches in the south-west corner of representing the remains of earlier prehistoric mortuary monuments. Given that the northern edge of this enclosure system appears to have marked a major land division, it is postulated that an otherwise unmarked routeway through this landscape could have run alongside. Furthermore, it is tempting to speculate that this could have been of significantly earlier origin and to have influenced the siting of the barrows themselves, alongside. The east–west trackway was established, or perhaps more probably formalised, after the enclosure ditches had been at least partially infilled. However, it follows the same line as this earlier land division, suggesting that at very least some vestige may still have been visible in the landscape, perhaps as a partial earthwork or perpetuated by a hedge. It is therefore presumed that the enclosed landscape to its south persisted. This trackway varied between 5m and 8m wide and was defined by ditches to either side. These ditches were subject to a series of recuts. The surface of the track did not survive truncation by ploughing, although several areas of silt and gravel ‘metalling’ probably represent infilled depressions. The enclosure, field boundary and trackway ditches have all been broadly dated to the Middle Iron Age on pottery evidence, but a broad range of other material was recovered from these features, particularly the trackway ditches. This included a Late Bronze Age flint scraper fragment from the north ditch and both Late Iron Age and Roman pottery. Whilst the Neolithic and Bronze Age material was probably residual, the Late Iron Age and Roman artefacts perhaps imply the continued use of the trackway and the accumulation of material in the open remnants of the trackside ditches after the Middle Iron Age. <8> Note: the ditched trackway appears to continue to the east, see EHER 7985. NRHE summary description: An irregular enclosure and two ring ditches are visible as cropmarks on air photographs. The enclosure appears rectilinear in form, although only the western and southern sides are visible on the photograph published by Harding and Lee. The western side appears to change course to avoid the ring ditches (EHER 7871). The larger ring ditch is circa 25 metres in diameter. The smaller one, just a few metres to the east, is circa 8 metres in diameter. Note: these features were originally recorded as part of NRHE record 1232938, see EHER 7871. <9>