Prehistoric timber remains at St Osyth Beach, St Osyth (EHER 80509)

Three sets of timber remains comprising a wattle panel, brushwood bundle and two upright posts which were revealed after the overlying sands had washed away. They probably date to the later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age and are likely all contemporary. Whilst the purpose of the wattle panel is uncertain, it may be a collapsed panel or platform/trackway to aid movement across particularly soft areas of marsh and mud.

May 2012. Field survey. A visit to the site was prompted following reports that overlying sands had washed away to reveal archaeological remains. The survey recorded three sets of archaeological remains. Wattle panel. Approximately 4m by 2.5m of this panel were exposed, orientated approximately W-E. The panel extended further Northwards (landwards) but its full extents were masked by the later clays and mobile sands. To the South, sections of the panel had been broken off, suggesting that it once extended further. Where sections had been lost recently their imprint was clearly visible in the clay. Evidence of woodworking was identifiable as oblique transverse cuts which were noted on several of the stems, and the construction gave the panel the appearance of a loose mesh. The purpose and date of this panel is undetermined. It may perhaps be an upright panel that has collapsed or a platform/trackway. Although undated the position of the remains in relation to the sediment sequence would suggest that it dates to the later Neolithic or early Bronze Age. Brushwood bundle. Lower down the foreshore from the wattle panel, a bundle of small twigs with some larger stems was noted. It was situated in the same position in the sedimentary sequence as the wattle panel and thus is likely to be broadly contemporary. Although no clear evidence of woodworking was visible it is considered likely that this bundle was anthropogenic in origin rather than natural. Such brushwood bundles have been found elsewhere around the Essex coast, for example at Rolls Farm. See <2>. These structures may have been used as trackways to cross particularly soft areas of marsh and mud. Posts. Two upright posts were recorded to the East of the wattle panel. Situated in the estuarine muds they are likely to be of a later date than the other remains described. Their purpose is unknown. <1>