Prehistoric posthole and palaeochannel at Stebbingford Farm (EHER 16855)

The excavation revealed a palaeochannel which ran along the southern edge of the site.

1993. Excavation. The excavation revealed a palaeochannel which ran along the southern edge of the site. A machine-cut section was dug through the palaeochannel sediments and samples were taken for analysis for pollen, plant macrofossils and insects. An early post-glacial date (Pre Boreal to Boreal; c. 8000 BC- 6000 BC) is indicated for the lower fills. The upper fills included tuffaceous sediments, likely to be of Late Boreal/Atlantic date. In summary the palaeochannel was formed and filled during the Mesolithic period, the sequence of sedimental deposits indicate a progressive drying of the channel, which was set within a fairly open landscape with some woodland. Two small heavily patinated flint flakes of possible Mesolithic date were residual in later contexts. Other worked flint dated to the late Neolithic/early Bronze Age and included a barbed-and-tanged arrowhead and a thumbnail scraper. Some burnt flint was found. All pottery sherds recovered were too small and abraded to be given anything other than a general prehistoric date. Only one posthole could be prehistoric in date on the basis of the pottery, but the sherds were so small and abraded they are most probably residual. <1> - <4> Area = 1.2