Later prehistoric field system at Broad Street Road, Heybridge (EHER 49142)

Trial-trenching recorded a later prehistoric field system.

June 2017. Trial trenching. A trial-trench evaluation at Broad Street Road, Heybridge, revealed three main phases of activity at the site. The first phase relates to the late prehistoric activity on the site in the form of linear ditches on a roughly north to south orientation. Ditch 1023, on a north to south orientation, in trench 4 was dated from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. Similar ditches on the same orientation were identified in trenches 14 and 11 (un-excavated) which are most likely continuations of 1023 north across the site. Ditch 1025 was located approximately 10m east of 1023 and was of a similar profile and on the same orientation. Despite containing no dating evidence 1025 is likely a southern continuation of ditch 1040 in trench 11 which was dated from the late 1st century BC to approximately AD 60/70. Both ditches have a similar profile and fill and are on the same north to south orientation. A further unexcavated section of this ditch was present in trench 26. <1>