Bronze Age trackway, east of Ardleigh (EHER 3471)

The major trackway system at Ardleigh is probably Bronze Age in origin. It was excavated in several areas between 1979 and 1980, and although no conclusive dating evidence was observed, it appears to respect the extent of the Middle Bronze Age barrow cemetery.

The major trackway system is probably Bronze Age in origin. 1979-1980. Excavations. Excavation in 1979 showed that the trackway respected the Middle Bronze Age urnfield (EHER 3472), and although it could not positively be dated to this period, the recut ditches produced Romano-British material. A subsidiary track branching from the north-south artery was also shown to lead to a rectangular enclosure which produced few finds, but these broadly contemporary with the Bronze Age cemetery. <1> The excavations by the Central Excavation Unit between 1979 and 1980 excavated the large trackway in three locations areas: 6, 7 and 12. In area 12 a 10m by 10m box was excavated. At this location the ditch was 2.6m-3.2m wide and 0.8m deep, flat-based and with a stepped profile on the west side. It was recut in two locations and pottery of 1st to 2nd-century date was recovered from the excavated segments. The same size trench was excavated in area 6 with a 1m wide extension to the west to examine the western ditch of the trackway. The western trackway ditch was represented by round based, sloping-sided feature with an homogeneous fill showing no signs of recutting. In area 7 a 32m by 42m trench with a narrow trench was extended to the west to examine trackway was excavated. This showed that the western side of the trackway appears to respect the boundary of the major Bronze Age cemetery. The eastern side of the trackway was marked by an apparently single ditch which excavation showed to have been substantially recut. The earliest cut only survived at the eastern side of the ditch alignment the fill contained a few 'Belgic' sherds. <2> No dating evidence was recovered, but a section of trackway ditch was recorded in the face of Martell's gravel pit. <3> For aerial photograph references, see EHER 3502. Other refs: <4> <5> <6> Information from NRHE: A Romano-British trackway and enclosure system was observed as cropmarks at this location. A systematic sample of Roman pottery was collected from the area. <7>