Cropmarks of rectilinear field system on land northeast of London Road, Great Chesterford (EHER 4866)

Cropmarks of a rectilinear system of small paddocks, enclosures and trackway. A geophysical survey and archaeological evaluation in 2020 identified a Roman farmstead in the western end of the field dating to the first to third centuries, see EHER 83408.

Cropmarks-rectilinear system of small paddocks-enclosures and trackway. <1> <2> <3> Internal pits were also visible on the 2008 aerial photographs. <4> See aerial photograph from 2018. <5> 2020. Geophysical survey. The survey detected a number of NE/SW and NW/SE orientated linear anomalies of probable and possible archaeological origin in the northeast of the site. These have been interpreted to define a rectilinear system of enclosures and associated trackway, corresponding to and enhancing the known cropmarks identified from aerial photography. Other large pit-like anomalies were detected within the enclosures, along with possible linear anomalies to the west and southeast, which may indicate a separate or associated agricultural field system. Other non-archaeological anomalies were also detected, likely related to agricultural use of the land in the form of ploughing and land drainage. <6> <7> Note: It has not been possible to access source <6> and so the above text has been copied from source <7>. August-September 2020. Trial trenching. A portion of the cropmarks in the west end of the site were evaluated in 2020 following the geophysical survey. The results of the evaluation are recorded separately in EHER 83408. Aerial photographs of the excavation were recorded in 2024, the enclosures and pits are clearly visible across the excavation area. <8> See also <9>.