Mesolithic to Bronze Age, Horsley Cross, Clacton Road, Mistley (EHER 49628)

Evaluation and excavation on site with potential ring ditch. The archaeological excavation revealed a small assemblage of worked flint dating from the Mesolithic/Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age with four possible contemporary pits.

Archaeological evaluation, February 2020 Pre-construct Archaeology Ltd undertook an archaeological evaluation consisted of 43no x 50m trenches totalling 2150 linear metres. On 24 March 2020 PCA monitored the excavation of a 4 metres x 4 metres pylon base on the southern boundary of the development area. The earliest evidence for human occupation was a pit in Trench 39, which contained sherds of Late Neolithic - Early Bronze Age rusticated beaker pottery along with pieces of heat cracked flint and an abundance of wood charcoal. The archaeological excavation revealed a small assemblage of worked flint dating from the Mesolithic/Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age with four possible contemporary pits. A further 11 pits produced prehistoric pottery, this material dated to the Bronze Age, Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age, and Early Iron Age. A circular arrangement of prehistoric and undated pits, around 20m in diameter, could possibly have been dug around a levelled mound. <1> <2>