Late Iron Age to Roman field system, enclosures and cremations on land for the southern relief road, Maldon (EHER 9041)

A series of archaeological interventions between 1988 and 1990 recorded evidence for a substantial farming settlement which was established in the Late Iron Age and continued into the second half of the 3rd century. The excavated features included a complex pattern of interconnecting ditches, some of which share the alignment of the Dengie Hundred field system and are of wider archaeological significance. The finds recovered from the site include at least two Roman cremation burials with pottery grave goods, a substantial amount of Samian ware pottery from all three Gaulish production centres, and a roller-stamped flue tile fragment identified as bearing the makers mark of 'Die 5a'.

1988. Watching brief. The proposed 'Safeways supermarket site', to the south of Maldon. Roman features were noted by Paul Brown on a sketch map or plan of the site. Observation of the initial road works revealed Roman field or enclosure ditches, which share the alignment of the Dengie Hundred field system. Nearby, a concentration of small pits and post holes suggests a Late Iron Age round house, around 17m in diameter. Finds were mainly coarse pottery sherds but also included Samian and South Spanish Amphora sherds, a coin of Domitian, and at least two Roman cremation burials with pottery grave goods. Roman brick and roof tile fragments were also found, but were not plentiful. Fragments of hypocaust box flue tiles included a piece relief-patterned by a known Chelmsford die. This is the first certain example of this technique to be found in the Maldon-Heybridge area. The volume and variety of the finds infer a substantial settlement. Its association with the Dengie field alignment attaches a wider archaeological significance and may provide a key to the site's situation and purpose, perhaps large scale farming or a villa . So far, there are no indications of the site continuing later than the 2nd century AD. <1> The roller-stamped flue tile fragment previously identified as a Chelmsford die, has now been recognised, by Ernest Black, as an example of 'Die 5a' as defined by Lowther. <2> 1988-1989. Trial trenching and archaeological excavation. The initial 1988 discoveries and subsequent trial trenching revealed a farming settlement which was established in the Late Iron Age and continued into the second half of the 3rd century. During subsequent trial trenching and excavation, one prominent ditch was recorded which was noted to have been backfilled with clay. Further, many ditches appeared to be lined with clay. The latter is difficult to understand given the care and effort which would have been required, and its purpose is not obvious. A well sealed burnt layer in one ditch and evidence from other features suggested the site had suffered at least one extensive burning. Three large animal jawbones at the bottom of ditch segments included one identified as ox. Pottery from the site so far includes more than 80 Samian ware sherds. All three Gaulish production centres are represented, although most are Central Gaulish. There is one example of 1st century BC Arretine Arezzo pottery. An amphora/flagon handle has a maker's mark 'PIRP.C', which is not listed in Callender (1965). <2> Roman pottery and features were found by Paul Brown of Maldon Archaeological Group (MAG) when out walking whilst the road line was being graded. A watching brief and salvage excavation by MAG revealed a main east-west ditch approximately parallel to Lime Brook. A section cut across this ditch revealed it to be wide (perhaps 10ft) with steeply sloping sides and very probably recut (recutting may explain the width). The relative abundance of finds, its size, and the presence of cut features (small pits filled with refuse) to the north of it, suggest this is more than a field ditch, perhaps an enclosure. Features which were not clarified could have been ditches at right angles to the main one, or even the returns of the main one. Although pot was abundant, and two coins (1st century AD) were found by men with metal detectors, tile was uncommon. <3> Source <2> notes that Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age occupation was also recorded, but does not provide any detail of these features. 1990. Archaeological excavation. Continued excavation revealed a complex pattern of interconnecting ditches. No definite structures were located, however lines of septaria associated with clay stained green, possibly from animal urine, may indicate the site of a byre. The finds range in date from the 1st century B.C. to the 3rd/4th centuries A.D. They include over 100 Samian sherds, seven Roman coins, and two bronze objects. <4> See also <5>. Note: this monument description has been derived from merging with EHER 9040, which separately recorded the Late Iron Age occupation. The records have been merged because there is an indication in the cited sources that the occupation was continuous from the Late Iron Age into the Roman period. Consequently, the monument has been mapped to the maximum extent of both records, and it has not been possible to verify the actual extent of the excavated areas using the cited sources. It is important to note that EHER 9040 which recorded the Late Iron Age features was mapped only in the easternmost extent of the current polygon, in an area bound by Lambourne Grove to the north, Fambridge Road to the east and south, and which extended roughly as far west as the end of the rear gardens of 214-230 Fambridge Road. It has not been possible to verify if the Late Iron Age remains were, in fact, concentrated here.