Early Iron Age features, Maldon Landfill Site (EHER 8900)

Nearly half the excavated features during a watching brief and salvage excavation in 1997 produced Early Iron Age pottery. Three pits could also date to this period, including a rubbish pit which contained large amounts of bone, some of which was human. The bone included five worn adult teeth.

May 1990. Watching brief and salvage excavation. A cluster of archaeological features were observed during the topsoil stripping of an extension to the landfill site. Nearly half the features investigated produced prehistoric pottery, much of which could be dated to the Early Iron Age. Three pits: F47, F49 and F51; and ditch F39, could also be dated to this period. F47 was a rubbish pit also containing large amounts of bone. The pottery assemblage includes sherds of distinctive tripartite bowls, typical of Darmsden-Linton style. The jar rims and range of fabrics present are also typical of this style. The bone included five worn adult teeth, probably from the same individual. <1> See photo <2>.