Possible Iron Age or Roman salt working area, Blackwater Site 7, Blackwater Estuary Estate (EHER 13626)

A scatter of fired clay was noted in this area but does not qualify as a red hill. It may, however, be the remains of a small earlier prehistoric salt working area. No briquetage forms were observed. A general lithic scatter was noted.

1984. Hullbridge Basin survey: archaeological excavation. Extensive area of old land surface exposed along 450m of intertidal zone immediately north of salt marsh. Two contexts were excavated: context 46 where several fragments of fired clay were contained within a shallow depression in the old land surface 80cm long and 25cm deep. Fired clay tempered with sparse white grits, occasional charcoal fragments and small pieces of dark grey fired clay. It is tentatively interpreted as the remains of a small earlier prehistoric salt working area (although no briquetage was observed). At context 47 the old land surface dipped down and was covered by a deep accumulation of estuarine clay containing numerous fragments and branches of drifted wood. Extensive charcoal layers were observed and struck flints and tools were occasionally present on the old ground surface (total of 13 lithics collected from the site). It is thought that the charcoal may result from clearance activity or forest fires rather than habitation. <1> The flint included three blades, an obliquely blunted point and a possible microlith. <2> See also <3> <4>. NRHE data transfer: no new information.