Late Bronze Age activity at the former Martello Caravan Park, Kirby Road (EHER 49022)

Archaeological excavation and two phases of evaluation confirmed a significant phase of Late Bronze Age activity comprising pits, ditches and postholes. At between 8 and 5.5 metres OD the site is situated on slightly higher ground than the near-by marshland and the evidence suggests exploitation of the marshland resources during this period.

May 2015. Trial trenching. Evaluation revealed a phase of Bronze Age agricultural and/or settlement activity and suggest exploitation of the marshland resources during this period. At between 8 and 5.5 metres OD the site is situated on slightly higher ground than the near-by marshland. Prehistoric remains were mostly concentrated on Trench 2 and consisted of four shallow pit-like features containing small amounts of possible Bronze Age pottery. Nearby, a further four undated features of similar shape and fill may be associated. The pits may be part of a structure or area of activity that clearly extends beyond the limits of the trench to East and West. Also present were a NW-SE aligned Bronze Age boundary ditch in Trench 5 and a truncated irregular Iron Age gully in Trench 4. <1> March 2016. Archaeological excavation. Archaeological excavation at the former Martello Caravan Park confirmed a significant phase of Late Bronze Age activity on the site. Three shallow L-shaped ditches were identified and appear to have been associated with five post-holes. Together the ditches and post-holes may be associated with stock management. A fourth linear ditch was also encountered. In addition were 30 pits/shallow irregular features and one posthole which appeared to be consistent with land clearance associated with agricultural activity. Low levels of pottery, worked flint, burnt stone and fired clay were recovered from most of these features with the remaining undated features probably associated with this phase of activity. The preceding evaluation identified a Bronze Age ditch and an Iron Age gully in trenches to the South of the excavation area, which certainly relate to the LBA features identified during the excavation and indicate that some peripheral activity extended further to the SE. <2> March 2018. Trial trenching. Archaeological evaluation revealed a ditch dated to the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age, and a pit and two postholes of prehistoric date that are probably contemporary with the ditch. This shows that, despite considerable disturbance immediately to the North in conjunction with the Martello Tower, prehistoric features have survived within the development site. <3>