Bronze Age post-built structures, Langford Road (EHER 81881)

Archaeological excavation in 1994 recorded the remains of four post-built structures, including two small circular buildings, alongside several pits and postholes. Building 1 was represented by twelve post holes and has a projected diameter of 6.5m. Building 2 was represented by thirteen post holes and has a projected diameter of 6m. Both buildings are considered to have been contemporary. To the north-east of these, two further undated structures may be from the same period. Structure 1 was a curvilinear line of post holes, and to its west a series of post holes at a right angle that may be the remains of a further structure, Structure 2.

1993. Trial trenching. The evaluation recorded prehistoric activity in three of the eleven trenches with some residual material in another. Most of the prehistoric pottery could not be firmly dated, only identified as pre-Iron Age. However, the presence of a neolithic arrowhead (see EHER 14651) and a neolithic/Early Bronze Age thumbnail scraper point to an early rather than later date for some of the features. <1> <2> 1994. Archaeological excavation. Following the evaluation a full excavation was carried out in 1994, and a number of Bronze Age features including two small circular post-built structures and several pits and postholes were recorded. Building 1 was represented by twelve post holes, forming the best part of a circle. None were found on the south-east side despite intensive cleaning and no post holes could be ascribed to a porch. It is possible that the post ring was never a complete circle with the south-east side unwalled. A possible repair post hole was identified on the internal side of the post ring, 0.12m south of the post it replaced. The projected diameter of the post ring was 6.50m. Building 2 was represented by thirteen post holes, including one double post hole on the east side, and two possible repair post holes on the west side. One was located 50mm to the east on the internal side of the post ring, the other was 0.35m to the west on the external side of the structure. If any further post holes on the northern side of the post ring existed they would have been truncated by a series of later pits. The diameter of the post ring was 6m. Buildings 1 and 2 may not have been contemporary as they lay very close together. Given the small size and unsubstantial form of the two structures they need not necessarily have had a domestic function, the pits cut in and around these buildings possibly pointing more to a storage use. Evidence for further simple structures was found to the north-east of Buildings 1 and 2. Structure 1 was a curvilinear line of post holes, 3.5m long, to the north of Building 1. It could represent the remains of a further structure such as a lean-to, with a larger post hole 0.35m in diameter at the south end forming the main support post. This proposed line of post holes was truncated to the north by a Roman ditch (see EHER 14652). West of possible Structure 1 was a series of small post holes 50-100mm in diameter that appeared to form a right angle. They may be the remains of a further flimsy structure (Structure 2). These structures are undated. <3> <4> Area = 1.17 Note: The material described in this record may be associated with the settlement at Elms Farm, see EHER 81912.