1st-4th century pits, gullies, fences, structures and human remains (inside Second Walled Enclosure) at All Saints Churchyard, Great Chesterford (EHER 13897)

Excavations in Great Chesterford churchyard revealed a large number of pits and gullies, and occupation dating to the 1st-4th century. In the late 1st-early 2nd century post-built structures were built in both excavation Areas 1 and 2 and probably represent property boundaries rather than actual structures. In the mid 2nd-early 3rd century further pits were dug, one of which may have been a cess pit, whilst others were storage and rubbish pits. One pit had a votive deposit including human remains. Also in this period two gullies were dug parallel to the proposed line of the Second Walled Enclosure (EHER 13922). In the late 3rd-early 4th century the property boundaries were recut and another deposit of human remains was made. Also in this period much Saxon pottery was deposited.

1986. Archaeological excavations. Excavations in Great Chesterford churchyard in 1986 revealed a large number of pits (some 24) and gullies (nine) in an area previously investigated by Hon, R.C. Neville (also known as Lord Braybrooke) in the 19th century (see EHER 4954). Pottery from the pits and gullies dates to the first to fourth centuries. Some of the pits are interpreted as storage rather than rubbish pits. Finds include coins, tweezers, shears, stylus, buckle, spoon, gaming counters and spindle whorls. <1> See also <2>. The earliest occupation of the area appears to date to the late 1st–early 2nd century (Phase 2), when a number of structures were built (one each in Area 1 and Area 2). These were of post-in-gully construction and are thought to be fence-lines. The later pits largely shadow their orientation and lie within the enclosed area, suggesting that they mark boundaries rather than buildings. Also from this period was the square Pit 11 (2.4m deep). In the mid-2nd–early 3rd century (Phase 3/4) further pits were dug, one of which may have been a cess pit (Pit 3), while Pit 10 appears to have been a rubbish pit into which was placed a votive deposit comprising a complete black burnished ware dish, part of an adult skull and fragments of an infant skull. Two gullies were cut during this period (7 and 8); Gully 7 ran parallel to the proposed line of the Second Walled Enclosure. A series of pits (16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21) were also dug on either side of Gully 7 and largely clustered against it. Pit 21 had been previously excavated by Braybrooke. In Area 1, the presumed property boundary (Gully 2) was recut (Gully 1) in the late 3rd–mid-4th century. In Area 2, Gully 4 and Pits 23 and 24 were dug. In the late 4th century or early Saxon period, Pit 9 was dug in Area 1 and sealed by a compact layer (9) of pot, oyster shell and bone fragments. In Area 2, Gully 6 was dug, following the same line as that of the preceding Gully 7; Pit 22, which was rectangular in plan and contained a quantity of stone tesserae and a human skull, also dates to this period. Pit 3p was a small pit containing Saxon pottery sherds. There were a number of other pits in Area 1 (Pits 4, 6, 7 and 8) that are presumed to be Roman but either contain undiagnostic finds or had been disturbed during the Braybrooke excavations in the 1850s. <3>