Iron Age roundhouses and pits at land at Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul (EHER 80312)

Geophysical survey identified two broadly circular anomalies and identified them as a possible enclosure and ploughed down barrow. Trial trench evaluation proved them both to be round house ring ditches and also recorded several large pits that yielded a sizeable assemblage of Early Iron Age pottery, animal bone, a hammerstone and the base of an iron arrowhead.

March 2023. Geophysical survey. Anomalies of possible or probable archaeological potential were recorded at five separate locations. At the Northern end of the survey area two broadly circular anomalies, probably ring ditches, are recorded. The first ring ditch has a less regular morphology, forming a horse-shoe shape with a clear opening on the Southern side, it is interpreted as a possible enclosure. In comparison the second ring ditch, approximately 100m to the NW, has a more regular circular shape and no obvious entrance, perhaps indicative of a ploughed down barrow. Both features are likely of prehistoric origin and clearly fit in with the pattern of prehistoric activity in and around the site. <1> August 2022. Trial trenching. Significant archaeological remains were found in those archaeological priority areas identified on the geophysical survey. The remains of an Early Iron Age farming settlement were investigated in Areas 4 and 5 (Trenches 20, 21 and 22), consisting of two roundhouses and several large pits. The ring ditches were c. 14m in diameter and were located in a very prominent position near the crest of the hill, overlooking the upper Stour Valley. A sizeable assemblage of Early Iron Age pottery was recovered, along with animal bone, a hammerstone and the base of an iron arrowhead. <2>