Dovercourt Site 1 (EHER 13715)

Area of Prehistoric land surface underlying grey marine clays and currently being eroded by wave action. There is a charcoal spread, 50m across in section, with an underlay of around 20cm of marine clay. Further out towards spring tide low water mark, are peat beds up to 20cm thick overlie the old land surface. Waterlogged wood, apparently worked, was contained within the peat. Artefacts are occasionally present in the upper old land surface where it is exposed in a complex of tidal gullies.

An area of old land surface underlying grey marine clays and currently being eroded by wave action. There is a charcoal spread, 50m across in section, with an underlay of around 20cm of marine clay. Other small and diffuse charcoal patches were noted elsewhere. The charcoal was not submitted for radiocarbon dating. Further out towards spring tide low water mark, are peat beds up to 20cm thick overlie the old land surface. Waterlogged wood, apparently worked, was contained within the peat. Artefacts are occasionally present in the upper old land surface where it is exposed in a complex of tidal gullies. A small, shallow depression in the old land surface produced two flint flakes; one sherd of flint-gritted pottery and charcoal flecks. <1><2> A Mr Bateman phoned to say that whilst out walking on Irlhams Beach he noticed three rectangles defined by changes of colour in the clay around 8 inches by 4 inches, close to each other and facing E. They appeared to be lined or floored with fibrous (woody material) (possibly peat) but he doesn't think they're natural (too regular). From the general description they seem to be in the vicinity of this site. <3> A Desk Based Assessment and walkover survey of low lying area of reclaimed marshland on the northern edge of Hamford Water. <4>