Prehistoric features at Bardfield Road, Finchingfield (EHER 80817)

Archaeological excavation in 2022 recorded a small number of prehistoric pits and a ditch on land at Bardfield Road. It is possible that the features relate to a focus of activity which sought to exploit the resources offered by the floodplain of the E-W running tributary of Finchingfield Brook to the South. The excavation also produced a small assemblage of residual pottery from later features, as well as some residual flint artefacts. An earlier phase of evaluation also produced a small assemblage of residual flint and pottery.

December 2021. Trial trenching. Overall, there was very little evidence of prehistoric activity detected during the evaluation, only a small number of struck flints and two pottery sherds being recovered. The earliest evidence of prehistoric activity on site was a fine blade found in a ditch and typical of Neolithic to Early Bronze Age assemblages. However, the patination and edge damage present suggest it is residual in this feature. Two sherds of prehistoric pottery of probable Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age date found within the same feature may also be residual. <1> March 2022. Archaeological excavation. Prehistoric activity was investigated in the West of the site, in Area 2 which had a ditch and a small number of pits, and in the NE of the site, in Area 1 which had a small number of pits. In addition, residual flint artefacts and the distribution of the very small assemblage of residual pottery in later features indicates some pre-Iron Age activity in the SW of the main area, perhaps along the edge of the floodplain of the Finchingfield Brook and its tributary. The small Western group of features was likely focussed on the resources offered by the floodplain of the E-W running tributary of Finchingfield Brook to the South, and possibly also the palaeochannel running through the development site to the West of the excavation areas. The assemblage includes a Palaeolithic handaxe and a Mesolithic/Early Neolithic side scraper, along with pieces of Late Neolithic/Bronze Age debitage. Some of the assemblage may also have accumulated through the action of from hill-wash from the slope to the North. <2> <3>