Pleistocene sands and gravels and Palaeolithic worked flints, land between Chandlers and Creeksea Lane (EHER 81304)

Geoarchaeological test pitting in 2018 recorded Pleistocene deposits in all of the 17 excavated test pits. They comprise a complex array of Pleistocene fluvial sands and gravels present immediately beneath top-soils and subsoils but which were encountered at widely varying heights above OD. In the North field, Pleistocene deposits were relatively shallow, and Bedrock London Clay was reached in all of the Test Pits. In the Southern field, Pleistocene deposits were much thicker and London Clay bedrock was only reached in two of the nine Test Pits excavated in that area. In both areas, the surface of the London Bedrock Clay was undulating, as demonstrated by the variation in height OD where it was recorded. Only eight struck flints of Palaeolithic date were recovered, and their condition indicates they are derived, although not necessarily from far.

April-May 2018. Geoarchaeological test pitting. The site lies in an area of Pleistocene deposits (Area 228) that have been marked as of having ‘High Palaeolithic Potential’. As part of the archaeological mitigation prompted by the proposed development of the site, a programme designed to characterise the Pleistocene deposits and assess their potential for preserving Palaeolithic artefactual and biogenic remains was formulated. A total of 17 dedicated geo-archaeological Test Pits were excavated, all of which revealed Pleistocene deposits although at widely varying heights and depths across the site. A small quantity of derived struck flints was also recovered from the deposits. Quaternary deposits were recorded in all of the dedicated geo-archaeological Test Pits excavated at the site. They comprise a complex array of Pleistocene fluvial sands and gravels present immediately beneath top-soils and subsoils but which were encountered at widely varying heights above OD. The surface of the highest surviving deposits were recorded towards the Northern boundary of the site at 22.37m OD in Test Pit 16 and lowest recorded were at 13.20m OD in Test Pit 14, located in the central Southern part of the site, although these continued below the maximum reach of the mechanical excavator and their full depths remain unknown. Test Pit 13, located further to the South, revealed Pleistocene deposits at 13.80m OD but the base of these were not reached due to rapid ingress of water into the excavation. The Test Pits revealed complex sequences of alternating fine-grained (silt-clays, fine sands) and coarse-grained (cobbles, pebbles, gravels and coarse sands) dominated deposits. Broadly, the site can be divided into two areas that these are conveniently demarcated by the approximate position of modern fields; the North field and the South field. In the North field, Pleistocene deposits were relatively shallow, and Bedrock London Clay was reached in all of the Test Pits. In the Southern field, Pleistocene deposits were much thicker and London Clay bedrock was only reached in two of the nine Test Pits excavated in that area. In both areas, the surface of the London Bedrock Clay was undulating, as demonstrated by the variation in height OD where it was recorded. The sedimentary sequence as revealed in the South field Test Pits was complex and correlation is problematic due to the bedrock having only been reached in two. In Test Pit 07 London Clay was overlain by sandy or gravelly silt-clays whilst in Test Pit 12 the lowest deposits comprised sandy gravels that were overlain by silty sands. Fine sands and silt-clays are the predominant deposit types in the South field but Test Pits 09, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15 also revealed coarse sand and gravels deposits, although these were usually relatively thin compared to the finer-grained deposits. Despite intensive sieving of the deposits, only eight struck flints of Palaeolithic date and no biogenic indicators were recovered. The condition of the struck flints indicates they are derived, although not necessarily from far, and were residually incorporated within coarser-grained sediments laid down by relatively fast flowing water. No stabilized land surfaces were identified. The struck flints are not closely dateable but would be consistent with either Clactonian or Acheulean industries and cannot contribute to the debate concerning the possible succession of these industries or their relationship to the Asheldham Gravels. <1>