Late Iron Age to Roman settlements at Power's Farm, Wheeler's Hill (EHER 80863)

Evaluation in 2022 recorded a focus of Late Iron Age to Roman activity in the North of Area 5, comprising of ditches, gullies and pits that are highly indicative of an Iron Age settlement site. Two substantial ditches, one each in Trench 91 and 92, appear to define inner and outer, sub-circular and oval settlement enclosures and may have origins in the Middle Iron Age. The Early to Middle Iron Age settlement described in EHER X also appears to continue into the Roman period, though it is not clear if the ditched enclosures are newly constructed or maintained from the previous periods. A single excavated cremation burial and several unexcavated cremation burials may indicate cemetery activity in this area. Most of the recovered pottery dates from the early to mid-1st century, immediately pre- and post-Roman conquest, but prior to the Boudican revolt in AD 60–61.

August 2022. Trial trenching. It is likely that the Early-Middle Iron Age settlement in the South of Area 5 (see EHER 80862) continues, possibly as late as the Late Iron Age/Early Roman transition. It is not clear, however, if ditched enclosures (e.g. in Trenches 130, 145, 150 and 151) continue to be constructed or if they are earlier Iron Age ones that are maintained and simply accumulate later material as a consequence. Probable cremation burial pit [144/007] contains a 1st century AD blacksurfaced necked jar. Its presence might suggest cemetery activity associated with the later occupation activity in this vicinity. An additional settlement focus appears to be established in the North of Area 5, noticeably distinct from the Southern settlement area. Trenches 89–94 contain moderately dense archaeological remains comprising ditches, gullies and pits that correlate to an area of concentrated plotted geophysical anomalies that are highly indicative of an Iron Age settlement site. Two substantial ditches, one each in Trench 91 and 92, appear to define inner and outer, sub-circular and oval settlement enclosures. The lower fills of ditch [91/008] contained pottery sherds of Middle Iron Age date, perhaps suggesting that the enclosure has origins in the preceding Early/Middle Iron Age episode of land use. Additional plotted anomalies within the inner enclosure suggest that it contains the archaeological remains of structures, likely roundhouses, while the outer enclosure appears to contain pits, a possible ditched annexe and other linear ditches extending radially outwards that hint at a degree of multi-phase development. Further linear features recorded in surrounding Trenches 77, 89 and 94 perhaps form part of an agricultural fieldscape associated with the settlement. A similar pattern of radial field boundary ditches that appeared to extend from a settlement focus was located during the evaluation at Main Road, Broomfield, around 2km SW (BRWMR17, ASE 2017), which were also dated to the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period. Additional evidence for contemporary agricultural ditches and possible settlement remains uncovered to the West at Ash Tree Corner and to the South during the investigations at Channels Golf Course (EHER 48335) and Beaulieu Park (EHER 47635) show an intensification of settlement and use of the landscape during this period within the wider region. Most of the recovered pottery dates from the early to mid-1st century, immediately pre- and post-Roman conquest, but prior to the Boudican revolt in AD 60–61. The presence of jars and lack of non-local wares suggest a farmstead settlement away from local trade routes. Abundant charred wheat, emmer/spelt, and barley seeds were recovered from ditch fills in Trenches 77 and 94, which could signify an area used for crop processing outside of the main enclosure. Land use on site appears to decrease significantly by the 2nd century AD, with two parallel ditches in Trench 127, in the SW corner of Area 5, being the only identified later Roman features on site. The geophysical survey results show that the south ditch continues Westwards into the previously evaluated Wheeler’s Hill site (LWWH21 – Trench 18; Fig. 85). Both ditches contained diagnostic 2nd century Roman sandy ware, alongside a sherd of imported Gaulish Samian. It is likely these features form part of the agricultural hinterland of the settlement identified across the Southern half of Area 11 of the Wheeler’s Hill site, perhaps even defining its Northern extent. The five possible un-urned cremation burials, found in Trenches 121, 144, 151, 196, and 197, are awaiting further analysis and, as such, are currently undated. It is possible that they are associated with the Early/Middle Iron Age settlement in the south or, like the urned cremation in Trench 144, with the Late Iron Age/Early Roman activity. <1>