Site Event/Activity record ESF22104 - Excavation, MUGA Pitch, Hartismere High School, Eye

PROJECT DETAILS Archaeological excavation identified evidence of sporadic prehistoric activity followed by a sequence of rural occupation in the late Roman period, apparently beginning in the late 3rd century and continuing through to the early 5th. The most extensive phase was a probable field system, consisting of a series of parallel and evenly spaced ditches connecting to a single right angled ditch, which appeared to respect and pass by the position of two natural hollows. This system was replaced by a single large ditch which appears to show the amalgamation of the smaller fields into a single large enclosure. An apparent change in land-use, from open fields to a focus for other processes associated with agricultural activity then followed with flint cobble surfaces being laid down within the two natural hollows and the digging of a sizable group of pits. The evidence indicates the presence of a typical rural farmstead of local significance. A scatter of hearth pits and a clay-built oven may be related to grain processing or parching and, although no buildings were identified, the CBM finds assemblage suggests that a building of some status was demolished in the vicinity towards the end of the Roman period. The Roman pottery is typical of rural assemblages, being mainly local or regional in origin with no particular indication of significant or unusual status. There is no evidence for a continuation of occupation beyond the end of the Roman period. The nationally important Early Anglo-Saxon settlement seen at EYE 083 to the south appears to be spatially distinct and the principal value of the site may be in a study of the Roman/Anglo-Saxon transition period and its relationship with EYE 083. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous Yes, Future No Associated Identifiers: HER event no. EYE 094 Planning Application No. 3638/10 Sitecode EYE 094 Related HER No. EYE 083 NMR No. 1576959 Project Type: Recording project Investigation Type: ''''Full excavation'''' Reason for Investigation: Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPS Site status: None Current Land use: Other 14 - Recreational usage Monument Type(s)/Period(s): DITCH Roman, OVEN Roman, PIT Roman Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): CREMATION Late Prehistoric, POTTERY Roman, BELL Roman, COIN Roman, POTTERY Late Prehistoric, QUERN Roman, WORKED FLINT Uncertain, COIN Medieval , COLCHESTER BROOCH Roman, SPOON Roman, THIMBLE Post Medieval , WEIGHT Medieval , WEIGHT Roman, CBM Roman PROJECT LOCATION Area 7000.00 Square metres Grid Reference: TM13747412 Point Height 39.00 - 41.00 metres PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body Design originator: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, Field Team Director/Manager: Jo Caruth Supervisor: John Craven DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Contents: 'Animal Bones', 'Ceramics', 'Metal', 'Stratigraphic', 'Worked stone/lithics' Media: 'Database', 'GIS', 'Images raster / digital photography', 'Spreadsheets', 'Text' PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Contents: 'Animal Bones', 'Ceramics', 'Environmental', 'Metal', 'Worked stone/lithics' Media: 'Context sheet', 'Drawing', 'Map', 'Plan', 'Report', 'Section' PHYSICAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service Contents: 'Animal Bones', 'Ceramics', 'Environmental', 'Metal', 'Worked stone/lithics' BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: MUGA Pitch, Hartismere School, Eye, EYE 094 Author(s)/Editor(s): Craven, J. A. Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS Report No. 2012/145 Date: 2012 Issuer/Publisher: SCCAS Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Description: SCCAS PXA Report