Neolithic activity and Bronze Age posthole at the former Martello Caravan Park, Kirby Road (EHER 80461)

Three phases of prehistoric activity can be tentatively suggested: an Early-Mid Neolithic phase with ditches on an E-W alignment and similarly dated postholes; a Mid Neolithic to Early Bronze Age phase with ditches on a N-S alignment and a later phase of a Late Bronze Age posthole. The close proximity to late Bronze Age activity to the North of the site suggests a possible transition of activity in this area during the Bronze Age period, from low lying land to the South to higher land to the North.

April 2016. Trial trenching. The evaluation identified boundary ditches and postholes relating to activity during the Early-Mid Neolithic and the Late Bronze Age. Three phases of prehistoric activity can be tentatively suggested. An Early-Mid Neolithic phase with ditches on an E-W alignment and similarly dated postholes; an Mid Neolithic to Early Bronze Age phase with ditches on a N-S alignment and a later phase of a Late Bronze Age posthole. The activity was localised to trenches in the NW of the site and may relate be the Southern extent of prehistoric activity detected to the North. The close proximity to late Bronze Age activity to the North of the site suggests a possible transition of activity in this area during the Bronze Age period, from low lying land to the South to higher land to the North. The finds evidence suggests there are three periods of activity, Early to Mid-Neolithic, Mid-Neolithic to Early Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age. However, this dating may only show the site at its peak, with ‘quieter’ phases of activity, particularly the late Neolithic, not represented within the relatively small sample provided by the trial trenching, and therefore masking a phase of continuous activity ranging from the Early Neolithic through to the Bronze Age. <1>