Early Iron Age features, South side of Nature reserve, Dengie Farm Quarry (EHER 12185)

Cropmarks of four possible ring ditches, linear features and pits were investigated during a watching brief in 1984. A ring ditch and a rectilinear ditch were excavated but neither could be dated. An area of small pits and post holes produced Early Iron Age pottery and calcined flints.

Notes from the SMR and a cropmark plot show four possible ring ditches, linear features and pits. <1> The OS notes one ring ditch, linear features and glacial marks. They found nothing visible on the ground. <2> See aerial photographs <3>. See cropmark plot <4>. 1984. Watching brief. The ring ditch proved to contain no burial. A length of rectilinear ditch was sectioned but, like the ring ditch, was not dateable. The rectilinear ditch seemed to form the Southern limit of an area of small pits and post holes and a short length of ditch. These produced early Iron Age pottery and calcined flints. One pit produced Neolithic pottery. No worked flint was found. <5> <6> Finds are in Chelmsford Museum. <7> Site Assessment = Accession number of finds needed. <7>