Late Bronze Age, Roman and medieval ditches and pits, at the former Martello Caravan Park, Kirby Road (EHER 80462)

Archaeological evaluation revealed Late Bronze Age ditches and pits and a very small phase of both Roman and medieval activity, also characterised by ditches and pits. The Late Bronze Age features probably relate to features of the same period to the South but as this activity is sparse, the settlement is unlikely to be focussed here.

August 2016. Trial trenching. The earliest feature on the site was a small natural tree-throw containing a single thumbnail scraper of Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age date. Two ditches and two pits date to the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age. The ditches are likely to be field boundaries and all four probably relate to the Late Bronze Age phase identified during the 2016 excavation and 2015 evaluation around the Martello Tower to the South. The evidence here confirms that a later Bronze Age phase does continue to the North but, as this activity is sparse, the settlement is unlikely to be focussed here. Modern disturbance (caused by buildings and a swimming pool at the holiday park) and the newly built access road meant that no archaeological horizons could be identified in Trenches 47-50 at the Southernmost extent of the site. A very small phase of both Roman and medieval activity (late 12th/13th to the 14th century) was also identified in this evaluation. A Late Iron Age or early Roman ditch, three medieval pits and a medieval or post-medieval pit were concentrated to the North of the site in Trenches 1-3, 5 and 7, with another medieval or post-medieval ditch in Trench 31. Two post-medieval ditches (Trench 9 and Trench 41) appear to represent the remains of old field boundaries visible on the Tithe Map of 1839-1840 and the later OS maps. A the large number of undated ditches and pits were also investigated although it is impossible to determine what phase of activity they belong to. They are presumably associated with the dated features, although some may also be natural features. <1>