Potential Iron Age camp, Twitty Fee (EHER 5601)

Potential Iron Age camp partly preserved in woodland destroyed by gravel extraction. Evidence for Neolithic / Early Bronze Age occupation.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. For a number of years before 1932 a small gravel pit on the edge of field 117 had been worked intermittently. Prehistoric finds were made by workmen (see EHER 5602, 5603). In 1932 the gravel working was expanded and early and late (including Belgic) iron age pottery was found by workmen. The pottery came mostly from the bottom of the pit and was not 'in situ'. The early iron age ('Hallstatt') pottery was hand-made and contained flint and quartz grits. The late iron age pottery was wheel-thrown, the Belgic pottery being in hard, fine ware. A triangular clay loom weight, weighing 6lbs, was also found. With most of the finds this went to Colchester Museum though some was kept by J M Bull who had been observing the works. Also in this year a trench (presumably a ditch) was noticed (by E J Rudsdale of Colchester Museum). Sections of trenches were further observed by Bull on opposite sides of the gravel workings, who became aware of the possible existence of an earthwork camp. Excavation, 1935 In 1935, in advance of mechanical quarrying, Bull excavated a number of sections to trace the course of the earthwork. The ditch was 1' 6"-1' 8" wide at the bottom, 4-5' down below the existing surface (in one case 5' 8" down, in another 6'). In the south western corner the earthwork survived in woodland in the form of an ill-defined rampart. It was found to be 8.25' above the ditch bottom though the bank had doubtless been much denuded. No evidence for any wooden palisade was found, nor was any entrance located. In the north east corner of the enclosure a 30ft length of ditch was excavated and most of the pottery was found here, together with the south east portion. Most of the trenches yielded only a few finds of early and late iron age pottery and daub. The north east corner produced over 300 late iron age sherds and a tiny bit of early iron age. The south east part produced a few late iron age sherds, including a rim, early iron age pottery and clay daub. At a spot about halfway down the eastern side a hearth was found. This consisted of a mass of charcoal bits around 2' across and 10" deep. The late iron age pottery was dated to the early 1st century AD on the basis of similarities to the Sheepen site at Colchester <1>-<4> <8> Plan of site and excavated and quarried areas on OS plan card, from source 1 <5> In 1932 Rudsdale reported a large U-shaped trench, around 12' wide and 6' deep below the topsoil. About 40' east of the trench was a saucer-shaped depression, apparently a pit 10' wide and 2' 6" deep. No trace of the earthwork remained in 1962, having been quarried away <6> Possibly a little remains according to this source <7> On OS Map of Southern Britain in the Iron Age in 'Farms and Other Minor Open Settlements' category <9> Field survey, 1962 No trace of the IA earthwork remains, the whole area having been subjected to gravel working (now ceased). <10> Field survey, 1965 No further information, field report by F1 correct. The finds are in Colchester Museum Accession Nos. 44/34 and 65/45. <11> Additional references <12> - <14>