Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age ditches and pits, North of Marsh Road (EHER 81264)

Archaeological excavation in 2021 recorded a group of segmented ditches in Area 1, a pair of intercutting pits in Area 3, and a possible ditch in Trench 25. The segmented ditch group is tentatively interpreted as a boundary between two open areas.

February-March 2021. Archaeological excavation. Later prehistoric land use is represented by a small quantity of features located in Areas 1, 3 and outlying Trench 25. Towards the South end of Area 1 was an arrangement of seven interrupted ditches, five of which yielded pottery of Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age date. The ditches are best understood as three separate, but associated, features: two roughly parallel interrupted ditches interpreted as a SW/NE trackway, funnelling Eastwards; and a semi-circular ditch made up of four lengths. This ditch appears as though its function was to enclose an area to its North, though despite its arcing nature, the Northern three quarters of any proposed ring was not found. The function of the ditch group is difficult to interpret; considered in isolation they might be for drainage and/or stock control, although the purpose of the segments is unclear. Enclosure of a poorly-defined/discerned occupation area immediately to their North is perhaps a more likely interpretation. Trench 25 exposed a possible ditch orientated NW-SE. It was shallow and contained Early Iron Age pottery and an undiagnostic flint flake. Its possible function within the landscape has not been suggested as it was exposed in a single trench only, i.e. not continuing into Trench 19 or Area 3. A pair of intercutting pits in Area 3 both contained pottery dated to the Early Iron Age. <1>