Late Iron Age to early Roman possible enclosure ditch, 'Plot 1' and 'Plot 2', Bouchernes Farm (EHER 7803)

A watching brief in 1983 and archaeological excavation in 1984 recovered a large assemblage of Late Iron Age and 1st-2nd century pottery sherds, which were excavated in association with a north-south ditch, probably of the same age. The ditch has been interpreted as the possible boundary ditch of an enclosure, probably associated with the Elms Farm settlement to the west, EHER 81914.

August-October 1983. Watching brief. Late Iron Age and Roman pottery was recovered. <1> <2> <3> Plot 1 on the west was observed in 1983 when pottery and tile was found on the contractor's spoil heap. <4> April 1984. Archaeological excavation. A large assemblage of pottery and tile was found on Plot 2, when a substantial N-S ditch was found, at least 2m deep, filled with black loam, with several recuts. Late Iron Age pottery included multi-cordoned bowls and jars in black grog-tempered, burnished fabric, also 'native' platters, a tazza, shell-tempered cooking pot; one ledge-rimmed jar with a new triangle graffito. Roman finds included part of a Dressel 1 (or 2-4) amphora spike in 'black sand' fabric. Roman finds included tegulae and bonding tile fragments, three briquetage fragments, storage jar and grey ware sherds, plus small amounts of Samian, Colchester buff ware, Colchester colour-coated beakers, oxidised London ware, a mica-gilt sherd, fine greyware poppy-head beakers, Dressel 20 amphora sherds, and part of a Dressel 1 (or 2-4) spike in 'black sand' fabric. Generally, there was little fine ware: grey ware and storage jars made up 85-90% of the assemblage. Third-fourth century pottery was almost completely absent. Finds of this date included a rim of a flanged bowl in Nene Valley colour coated fabric; large parts of a grey ware folded beaker and a flanged bowl. They were found 'at the bottom of the ditch' but probably came from a later pit whose cut was not noticed. The ditch is probably one side of a Late Iron Age enclosure, still extant at the time of the Roman conquest. The Roman pottery testifies to occupation in the 1st-2nd century AD after which the site seems to have reverted to agriculture. The area is on the limits of the Roman town of Heybridge but it is possible that the ditch in some way represented part of its boundary, see EHER 81914. <4> Note: Source <4> notes that a lack of metalwork was recovered from the site, possibly due to the effects of metal detecting, see EEX25002. NRHE data transfer: In April 1984 a substantial Late Iron Age ditch was located, possibly part of an enclosure. There were several recuts. Iron Age and Roman pottery was recovered. The area lies on the suggested limits of the small Roman town adjacent to a Roman burial ground (EHER 7802). <1> <4>