Late Iron Age firepits and post-medieval ditches on land North of former Betts Factory, Ardleigh (EHER 80444)

Three small fire-pits were excavated which have been tentatively assigned to the Late Iron Age. Also uncovered were limited numbers of small, shallow probable post-medieval ditches and a single small undated pit.

June 2015. Trial trenching. The only archaeological features revealed by evaluation were three small fire-pits, limited numbers of small, shallow undated ditches and a single small undated pit. The fire-pits have been tentatively assigned to the Late Iron Age period based on their similarity to other examples in the local area which have been Late Iron Age to Early Roman in date. Although the lack of finds within these examples and this feature type in general mitigates against detailed interpretation, the consistently small size and similar form of these features would suggest a common function. It is likely that this function revolved around the use of burning wood or charcoal as a heat source, as the small size and lack of associated finds within these features would seem to make an industrial or food preparation function unlikely. The shallow ditches are mainly of a roughly similar NW-SE alignment and are likely to be of a post-medieval date. <1>