Late Bronze Age occupation site, Springfield Lyons (EHER 5788)

A multi period site, including a Late Bronze Age circular enclosure containing at least 3 round houses and other structures. During the Saxon period, the site was partially overlain by an Early Saxon cemetery and by later settlement activity. The cremation cemetery dated to the period 425-650, the inhumation cemetery from 450-599. There was a hiatus before the creation of a small settlement of at least 13 buildings which occupied the site from the 10th-12th centuries. The late Saxon phase of the site (detailed in EHER 5791) is probably 10-11th century in date. It includes a large longhouse or hall, measuring 20 by 6 metres, with a hearth and internal partitions. The site also yielded a late 10th century coin of Aethelread II.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Circular cropmark enclosure, around 60m in diameter, approximately 75% of ditch circuit excavated in 1981 when at least four causeways were revealed. The ditch was around 5.5m wide and 1.5m deep. The primary silts produced late bronze age pottery and metalworking moulds. Bronze age pits were found within enclosure <1> Excavation of the enclosure was continued in 1982. It was apparently of single phase construction, with a U-shaped ditch (around 5m wide x 1.5m deep), five causeways being located. Within, pits and post holes from two or more circular structures were found. Finds included: pottery, perforated clay 'slabs', worked flint and an important collection of clay metal working moulds from the primary ditch fills. <2> Excavation of the enclosure was completed in 1984. The external diameter was confirmed as roughly 65m with six causeways. Two concentric post hole rings marked the extent of an inner bank. A double line of posts suggested an entrance structure, aligned on the porch of a central round house. Further metal working moulds were found in the primary ditch silts. Radiocarbon dates for the enclosure were 830 + - 90bc, 420 + - 80bc <3> A late bronze age date is indicated by pottery from the primary silts of the enclosure ditches and from pits and post holes within the interior and by the two radiocarbon dates already mentioned. The main features of this period comprised: the enclosure ditch, the double ring of post holes for a concentric double line of supports for an internal rampart, the gate structure at the east entrance, a large central and two smaller round houses. Further post holes and pits were undifferentiated. The enclosure ditch was apparently single phase, silting up naturally. The double row of post holes would have contained timbers for an inner revetment and walkway. The other five causeways did not provide indications of an entrance structure. The main find from late bronze age contexts was pottery, large amounts coming from the enclosure ditch and internal features. Perforated clay 'slabs' and much waste worked flint was also found in the ditch and pits. The enclosure ditch's primary silts produced two collections of clay mould fragments for metal working. 'These represent one of the largest collections of such moulds yet recovered from a British late Bronze Age site.' An iron sword and scabbard came from upper silts of a pit within the enclosure. The late bronze age settlement is of importance as few sites of this period have been extensively excavated. It does belong to an emerging class of such sites within the lower Thames valley, including two at Mucking. 'Total excavation of the Springfield enclosure makes a considerable contribution to our understanding of late Bronze Age settlement' <4> Other refs: <6> <7> <8> <9> Aerial photographs. <5> - <24> Further excavations around the original site (in advance of development) have located further features associated with the LBA settlement. To the north of Plot K, within Chelmsford Business Park, a ditch found in Trench four of Plot G/H, and subsequently investigated in a larger excavation area, was judged to be Late Bronze Age and speculated to be part of a field system to the east of the enclosed settlement. Located east of the enclosure pits were a group of nine post-holes and three stake-holes forming a small, slightly squat, roundhouse of probable Late Bronze Age date. The structure had a porch on its south side and a north-south radius of 5m; the western side of the structure had been removed by a later ditch. The roundhouse was located around 70m north-east of the enclosed Late Bronze Age settlement.<25> <26> Site Assessment: Important site as few settlements of this period have been excavated. Also important for large collection of metal working moulds <4> A 1:2500 scale, level 3, photogrammetric survey was carried out in the vicinity of the Bronze Age enclosure by the Aerial Survey Section of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME). A possible Neolithic causewayed enclosure had been identified during the excavations and therefore this survey was carried out as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project which was set up by the Cambridge field office of RCHME. <27> Aerial photograph showing features of the site. <28> Full excavation report of the multi-period site. <29> Additional reference <30> <31> <32>