Mesolithic flints at Bonhunt Farm (EHER 181)
Please read our guidance about the use of Essex Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Excavations by K. Wade and A. Rogerson for the then Ministry of Public Building and Works from 1971 to 1973 produced evidence of a large Mesolithic flint industry which included microliths, blades, scrapers, burins, and tranchet arrowheads.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 5112 3349 (396m by 283m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WICKEN BONHUNT, UTTLESFORD, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
1971-1973. Excavations.
Rescue excavations by K. Wade and A. Rogerson for the then Ministry of Public Building and Works from 1971 to 1973 produced evidence of a large Mesolithic flint industry which included microliths, blades, scrapers, burins, tranchet arrowheads and axes. Such an assemblage is characteristic of the base camp activities of hunting, processing of skins and meat and bone working. The valley floor may have contained a lake during this period - an additional incentive to occupation. Other worked flint including cores and scrapers, now housed in Saffron Walden Museum, had previously been found in this area. <1> - <7>
Finds
- TRANSVERSE ARROWHEAD (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- CORE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- MICROLITH (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- BLADE (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- BURIN (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- SCRAPER (TOOL) (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
- TRANCHET AXEHEAD (Mesolithic - 10000 BC to 4001 BC)
Sources
- <1> SEX1031 DESC TEXT: Savory, L.S.. unknown. SMR.
- <2> SEX1089 Article in monograph: Wade, K. in Buckley, D.G.. 1980. A settlement site at Bonhunt Farm, Wicken Bonhunt, Essex: Archaeology in Essex to AD 1500. CBA Research Report. no.34, p.96-102.
- <3> SEX52658 RECORD SHEET/FORM: Ordnance Survey. 1950-1990. OS cards. TL53SW04, 1975.
- <4> SEX1091 Article in serial: Wilson, D.. 1968. Medieval Britain in 1967. Medieval Archaeology. 12. p.20.
- <5> SEX1092 Report: Department of the Environment. 1972. Archaeological Excavations. p.27.
- <6> SEX1093 DESC TEXT: Wymer, J.J.. 1970. TL53-035.
- <7> SEX726 Artifact: Saffron Walden Museum. unknown. ARTEFACT Saffron Walden Museum.
Related Monuments/Buildings (4)
- Part of: Former Chapel of St Helen at Bonhunt Farm (Listed Building) (EHER 187)
- Related to: Mesolithic flint tools at Bonhunt Farm (Find Spot) (EHER 47298)
- Related to: Mesolithic flints, east of Wickham Bonhunt (Find Spot) (EHER 354)
- Related to: Prehistoric flint flakes, north of St Helen's Chapel, M11 Routeway (Find Spot) (EHER 338)
Related Events (3)
- Archaeological Intervention: Excavation by B. Hooper at St Helen's Chapel, Bonhunt Farm, Wicken Bonhunt, 1968 (EEX1087)
- Archaeological Intervention: Excavations by K. Wade and A. Rogerson at St Helen's Chapel, Bonhunt Farm, Wicken Bonhunt, 1971-1973 (EEX1088)
- Archaeological Intervention: Field visit and excavation by B. Hooper at St Helen's Chapel, Bonhunt Farm, Wicken Bonhunt, 1967 (EEX1086)
Other References
- Old SMR Number: TL53-035