Early to middle Bronze Age ring ditches at land north of Thaxted Road, Saffron Walden (EHER 81157)

The evidence for early to middle Bronze Age activity is concentrated on or toward the chalk hilltop, with the two barrow ring-ditches (S1, S2) and a single isolated pit being the extent of activity represented by tangible archaeological remains. This suggests that this elevated position in the seemingly unenclosed landscape had a clear function at this time, likely as part of the wider funerary landscape, with no evidence of settlement within the site area.

August to November 2019. Trial trench and excavation. The evidence for early to middle Bronze Age activity is concentrated on or toward the chalk hilltop, with the two barrow ring-ditches (S1, S2) and a single isolated pit being the extent of activity represented by tangible archaeological remains. This suggests that this elevated position in the seemingly unenclosed landscape had a clear function at this time, likely as part of the wider funerary landscape, with no evidence of settlement within the site area. While ring-ditch S1 had a possible entrance at its western end, the gap of only 1.2m makes it seem unlikely as an entrance, and instead might reflect a change in ditch depth, as seen at the eastern edge of the ring ditch. There was no evidence for either of the ring-ditches as to the presence of a mound, though given the modern land use for agriculture this is not surprising. The fills of both ring-ditches do not indicate any tip-lines which could confirm an internal mound/bank, or external bank, was present. There was a noticeable, and significant increase in the number of flint inclusions within the northwest of the S2 ring-ditch, which could represent the weathering of larger flint nodules from a mound into the ditch, though this material could equally have been deposited in another manner. The shallow nature of the topsoil and the ditches would mean that, if a mound was present, it would have been fairly small/low, unless material was brought in from elsewhere. It is possible that the Period 2 pits were originally used to provide supplementary capping material for one or both of the ring-ditch mounds, perhaps as well as being utilised for flint extraction. There is a lack of obvious funerary remains across the site, with no formal inhumation or cremation burials found in or around the barrow remains, as is often the case elsewhere – particularly with flat cremation cemeteries focusing upon and augmenting earlier barrow sites/cemeteries. It is noted that small quantities of burnt bone were recovered from bulk soil samples from the ring-ditches, but none is diagnostic of species. Certainly, no substantive deposits of cremated human bone and charcoal, constituting deliberate interments of pyre material, were found inserted into or scattered along the ring-ditches, as has fairly commonly been found elsewhere. The small quantities of pottery recovered from the ring-ditches, in particular S1, comprise remains of at least two biconical urns (2000–1500BC) and an estimated eight Deverel-Rimbury urns (middle Bronze Age) and could conceivably constitute funerary urns deriving from cremation burials once present in the immediate vicinity. However, the mechanism by which such burials could be disturbed and these few remains become deposited within the at least partially-open ditches is unclear. Whilst the profiles of the ring-ditches were generally similar, there was a clear difference between the two adjacent ring-ditches in terms of finds, with 98% of the ring-ditch pottery recovered from ring-ditch S1. This was predominantly within one area on the southern side of the ditch and is perhaps an indicator of deliberate infilling, with the other excavated slots containing minimal material. As this area correlated with the deeper part of the ring-ditch it could indicate an episode of deposition during the later Bronze Age, when the monument was still revered/respected. Whether this constituted structured deposition in relation to rites carried out or simply disposal from nearby settlement is not clear. The limited range and quantity of finds from this period (worked and burnt flint, pottery, animal bone) deposited within the investigated features indicates a lack of domestic settlement within the immediate area. However, the pottery and a significant quantity and range of species of animal bone (cow, sheep, pig, dog and beaver) alongside it in the S1 ring-ditch, particularly on its south side, has clear potential to investigate mortuary rites and practice at the barrows. Whether these represent communal celebratory, devotional or ritual activities involving feasting activities or other forms of conspicuous consumption and discard at the site of the barrow monuments is currently unclear, but can likely be clarified through further study. Of particular note is the recovery of two worked bone objects from the ring-ditch fills. Along with the beaver remains, these objects provide the most obvious evidence for deposition at the barrow site that likely relate to ritual activities associated with it. <1>