Prehistoric and medieval to post-medieval features on land at Moorlands Farm, Michael Wright Way (EHER 80560)

Trial trenching revealed limited evidence of activity prior to the medieval period, in the form of one broadly prehistoric ditch and a Mesolithic or Early Neolithic flint blade. The medieval period was represented by three medieval ditches and two further ditches of medieval/post-medieval date. Undated features included gullies, pits, post holes and ditches.

December 2022. Trial trenching. The evaluation on land at Moorlands Farm revealed 30 features from 11 trenches. Dating evidence was fairly sparse with only nine features producing datable material. Evidence of activity prior to the medieval period was meagre. The earliest was in the form of a flint blade recovered from an undated pit, which was Mesolithic or Early Neolithic in date, and one other ditch was more generally dated to the prehistoric period. Very small quantities of prehistoric worked flint (Mesolithic to Bronze Age) have also been found during previous archaeological investigations close to the development site, and flints from the current evaluation add to evidence for small-scale, temporary and sporadic use of the landscape over a long period of time. Three ditches were medieval in date and a further two ditches were medieval/post-medieval in date. It seems likely that together these ditches form an agricultural field system. <1> February 2023. Archaeological excavation. The excavation phase of work at Moorlands Farm revealed 63 features, primarily associated with a medieval/post-medieval field system. While the vast majority of the features were undated, similarly to the evaluation, there was limited evidence for the prehistoric. The earliest evidence uncovered was in the form of a residual Mesolithic/early Neolithic worked flint, recovered from a post-medieval/modern tree-throw. Small quantities of pottery, more generally dated to the prehistoric period, were also found during both the evaluation and excavation. Due to the small size of the assemblages, it seems likely that most of the sherds were residual. The flint and pottery, along with the blade found during the evaluation, add to the previously identified evidence of small-scale, temporary and sporadic use of the landscape over a long period of time. The main phase of activity is characterised by a medieval/post-medieval field system, although the lack of later dated finds indicates this activity may have faded out in the early post-medieval period. At least seven ditches divide the landscape into what appears to be a rectilinear field system, on a N-S and E-W alignment. The Northern and Western boundaries of a field appear to be defined by a N-S trackway and an E-W trackway. There is a 3.5m wide field entrance between the termini of ditches F68 and F29. The Eastern end of ditch F29 may also form a secondary entrance with a ditch beyond the limit of the excavation area. The larger boundary ditch, F28, is a later addition to the area. It truncates several of the smaller ditches and probably represents a subsequent phase of land division. Two possible four-post structures were both undated, though they are likely medieval/postmedieval and associated with the identified field system. They both probably represent small grain stores. <2>