Later prehistoric cremations at land south of Quicksie Hill, Wendens Road, Arkesden (EHER 81384)

Two un-urned cremations were located 5.20m apart in the north-west area of the site.

2019. Excavation. Two un-urned cremations were located 5.20m apart in the north-west area of the site. The two features were remarkably similar in dimensions and character of the cremation deposits they contained. The pits for both cremations were circular in plan between 0.41cm and 0.44m in diameter, and remained to depths of 0.10m and 0.17m from the machined surface; it is likely that both features had suffered considerable truncation by modern ploughing activity. Cremation deposits contained a mix of cremated bone, pyre material, and silt. Encircling the cremation deposits in both features were narrow deposits of primary ‘back-fill’. The defined outer edge of the cremation deposits suggests that they had been contained, probably in a bag, basket or other type of round organic vessel (e.g. a wooden or bark box/casket). Although the two cremations are undated, such (seemingly isolated) un-urned cremations are relatively common occurrences on late Bronze Age to early Iron Age sites, and a similar date is thought probable. However, a date to the late Neolithic and early/mid Bronze Age, or later Iron Age, Roman or even Anglo-Saxon periods cannot be ruled out. The similarity of the two cremations suggests that they are broadly contemporary; their close proximity suggests that, if not deposited within the space of few years, then whichever of the two cremation was interred second, this happened within living memory of the first, during which time the place of burial remained known and an important fixed point in the landscape. The presence of a small, residual, assemblage of struck flint, some of which was contained in three, stratigraphically early, probable tree throw features attests to prehistoric activity at the site. This material represents small scale/episodic occupation/resource utilisation in the area. <1> See also: <2>