Medieval to post-medieval ditches, Codham Hall Bund, Tank 1762 and Strip Widening, M25018.10, Junctions 27 to 30 of the M25 motorway (EHER 80936)

Evidence for activity during the early medieval period (late 11th to early 13th century) was in the form of a small number of east-west aligned ditches and at least one pit.

2008 to 2011. SMS. Evidence for activity during the early medieval period (late 11th to early 13th century) was in the form of a small number of east-west aligned ditches and at least one pit. Unfortunately these features lie at the periphery of an area which has been heavily truncated by an extensive area of modern quarrying, and this may have removed more extensive evidence. The longest surviving length of ditch of this phase extended for 30m, although part of this had been removed by later disturbance. The ditch had a moderate to step profile and a flattish base and contained some 100 sherds of sand-tempered pottery dated AD 1050-1200. The west end of the ditch met a north-south aligned ditch at right angle, and together may have formed an enclosure, although no dating evidence was recovered from the N-S ditch, which was badly truncated. Three short lengths of ditch close to the south-eastern corner of the site may have formed an irregular segmented boundary. Two narrow gullies crossing the site from east to west were on the same alignment as a track shown on the OS map of 1920 and may represent ruts made by cart wheels. A number of pits were excavated in the narrow northern portion of the site but these were very dispersed and mainly undated.<1> - <4>