Iron Age settlement complex, Gun Hill, West Tilbury (EHER 1790)

An area of intensive settlement from Bronze Age to Roman (EHER 1791) first noted as cropmarks by St Joseph and excavated in advance of destruction by gravel workings 1969-70. Cropmark complex discovered in the late 1950s.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Cropmark complex discovered in the late 1950s. A series of APs taken 1959-68 revealed enclosures, trackways, pit-like cropmarks. Much of the area was worked without archaeological observation and some cropmark features were quarried away in 1967-68 (see EHER 1792). Excavation 1969-1970 The main features were excavated in 1969 and 1970 before the major cropmarks were destroyed. The first major period was the early-middle iron age. The major features were two successive E-W ditch systems and a N-S ditch that survived as a land boundary in succeeding periods. It is a sub-rectangular defensive enclosure with bank and external ditch, the ditch being some 5m wide and 2m deep, dated mid 1st century A.D. The early iron age pottery distribution suggested that occupation was confined to the west part of the hill. Two fragmentary hut gullies could represent domestic enclosures. Some pits without finds could belong to this period. In the later part of this period new pottery types appear, especially foot ring bowls and there is clear evidence for structures in the form of successive semi- circular slots (between the E-W and N-S ditches). The slots were probably for upright timbers. There was no structural evidence to close the gaps of the structures other than one post pit. The enclosed areas contained pits. One of these had been recut, as a hearth-fired clay lump, slag, pottery, two pieces of iron, much ash were found. Other contemporary or slightly later features included pits and a gully. One pit had been used to store raw clay, another had been a hearth pit. Another pit group was isolated on the summit of the hill. One pit had contained three juxtaposed timbers, a few pot sherds and bovine teeth were found. This seems to have been a freestanding structure. Slightly later in this period were three pits that contained estuarine clay. There was also one, possibly two two-post structures. Finds included triangular clay loom weights and briquetage. The latter is likely to be 4th to 3rd century in date. When found it was the earliest record of such material in Essex. It is possible that pottery was made on the site in the latter part of this period-much waste pottery was dumped in one end of a ditch, with briquetage (possible evidence for salt-working). The semi- circular structures could have been stock pens but were more likely to have been domestic or industrial in character, and to have been semi-circular or D-shaped buildings. This workshop interpretation seemed more likely. The middle iron age post settings invited ritual interpretation, though it was not certain if they were contemporary with the adjacent domestic occupation. <1> - <14> Aspects of the pre-Roman Iron Age settlement phase at Gun Hill are discussed by Drury. The later semi-circular wall-trench at Site 'E' (on Authy 1 plan) was interpreted as a probable iron workshop or smithy. <15>