Saxon settlement, Ardale School, North Stifford (EHER 5021)

Multi-period cropmark complex, partly excavated as part of the A13. Rectilinear features were excavated and discovered to be Saxon buildings and pits, multi-period occupation.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Rectilinear features and pits, site looks east. Cropmarks. <1> Complex of cropmarks on APs, adjacent to the Ardale School. <2> The evidence for Saxon settlement comprised five sunken featured buildings; one possible sunken featured building or pit and a post-hole structure. Cropmarks suggestive of two additional sunken-featured buildings were observed. A small Saxon cemetery of 9 inhumations and 1 cremation was found south of the huts. Within the cemetery area three circular gullies may be ploughed-out Saxon barrows. Dug as part of work on A13-M25 road schemes. <3> NGR in <3> given as TQ 598798 Other refs. <4> <5> The cemetery was dated by grave-goods to between the sixth and eighth centuries AD was located within 100m of the settlement. Its proximity suggests that the burial ground and settlement were contemporary; habitation was dispersed over approximately 1 ha of ground immediately to the north and north-east of the cemetery. The sunken featured buildings were of the two- post variety with no evidence for suspended floors but the presence of a central depression in one hut suggests the pit floors were worn and probably functioned as a living surface. Finds from the sunken featured buildings included unfired clay loomweights and quantities of Early Saxon pottery, mostly plain globular urns of the sixth and seventh centuries AD. <6> The graves were scattered within the east half of a first century enclosure. Little bone survived, but body stains were visible and two graves had coffins. Grave-goods included spears, shield bosses, knives, keys and buckles and a spindle-whorl dated to the seventh century. The two ring gullies which appear to be contemporary with the cemetery may originally have surrounded cremations. <6> Other ref <7> Site Assessment = Evident that only part of the settlement and cemetery was excavated before destruction. Wilkinson believes he established the northern, western and southern limits of the cemetery but not the eastern . One or two graves may have been lost under the 8-9m wide baulk between Graves 6 and 7, and an unknown number in the unexcavated area to the east. <6> <7> Information from NRHE A small Saxon settlement, probably 6th or 7th century was discovered. Six grubenhäuser were partly excavated and a rectangular stake-built building 4 x 5m possibly of Saxon date. <8>