Medieval ditches and pits at land at Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul (EHER 80313)

Geophysical survey identified three areas of undefined activity. Trial trench evaluation targeted these areas and proved the remains to be evidence of medieval agricultural activity, possibly associated with a small road-side settlement, and clay extraction. Pottery was recovered which dated to the mid 12th to 13th and 17th to 18th centuries.

March 2023. Geophysical survey. Anomalies of possible or probable archaeological potential were recorded at five separate locations. In the Southern half of the survey area three small areas of possible activity are identified. Whilst the morphology and extent of the activity is not clearly defined the anomalies comprising these small clusters of potential archaeological activity do stand out against the very low, homogenous magnetic background. These consist of linear anomalies and perhaps form a conjoining series of interconnecting rectilinear enclosures. The alignment of some of the anomalies in these three small areas does appear to respect or are at right angles to current or mapped post-medieval boundaries perhaps indicating a relatively recent origin. <1> August 2022. Trial trenching. Significant archaeological remains were found in those archaeological priority areas identified on the geophysical survey. At the Southern end of the site (Areas 1 and 2) there was evidence of medieval agricultural activity, possibly associated with a small road-side settlement, and clay extraction. Linear ditches correspond very well to the geophysical survey. Whether these ditches represent the boundaries of small plots, or a system of cultivation is unclear. Pottery from these features, which was sparse and notably abraded, predominately dated to the mid 12th to 13th century. The clay extraction pits probably remained visible as surface earthworks into the post-medieval period as pottery dating to the 17th to 18th centuries was recovered from their upper fill. <2>