Early to Middle Iron Age field system, pits and post holes at Elms Farm, Heybridge (EHER 81913)

Archaeological excavation in 1993 and 1994-1995 recorded an Early-Middle Iron Age rectilinear field system which defined three fields, and a curving ditch. Both the curving ditch and rectilinear fields are stratigraphically earlier than and morphologically different to the Late Iron Age and Roman field systems (EHER 81914). Whilst they have been ascribed an Iron Age date, they may have earlier origins. Other features included Early Iron Age pits on the southern edge of the 1994 site, and Middle Iron Age pits and post holes in the 1993 site.

1993 and 1994-1995. Archaeological excavations. Located within the 1993 site, to the north of the Late Neolithic features (EHER 17444) and west of the Bronze Age funerary activity (EHER 81912), was a curving ditch. Aerial photographs show it extending south and west and, although obscured by the railway embankment, it appears to join with other cropmark features to form an elongated lozenge-shaped enclosure. Its fills did not contain diagnostic material. Overlying the curving ditch and extending east-west across the main area of the 1993 site, was a rectilinear system of relatively narrow and shallow ditches. These defined three fields, though only one was wholly within the area of excavation. This was a roughly rectangular area of around 60m x 50m. Again, no dating material, apart from a few worked flints and an intrusive copper alloy coin, was retrieved. Both the curving ditch and rectilinear fields are stratigraphically earlier than and morphologically different to the Late Iron Age and Roman field systems (EHER 81914). This would appear to suggest a prehistoric date, and whilst regarded as Early to Middle Iron Age they may have earlier origins. The Early Iron Age features were confined to four small pits, three of which were intercutting, on the southern edge of the 1994 site. Within the 1993 site, the only other Middle Iron Age features were found in its south-east corner and comprised a small number of post-holes and shallow pits, none of which displayed any patterning. <1> See aerial photograph <2>. See newspaper articles <3> - <7>. See also <8> - <12>. Note: Middle Iron Age roundhouses, pits and post holes were also recorded at Langford Road (EHER 81882) to the north of the Elms Farm site. Further, a Middle Iron Age unenclosed settlement was recorded at 39-45 Crescent Road (EHER 81892), as well as post-built structures during the 1972 Crescent Road excavations (EHER 7794).