1. Evaluation at Cuckoo Fields and Ersham Park
- Author
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May, Lucy and Wilson, Jake
- Subjects
Archaeology ,Grey Literature - Abstract
3.1.1 All trench locations were scanned prior to excavation using a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT) operated by accredited ASE personnel. 3.1.2 The trial trench evaluation involved the mechanical excavation of 184 trenches targeting developmental impacts (Figure 66). 3.1.3 Two additional contingency trenches: 183 and 184 were excavated on request by the site monitor. 3.1.4 Trench 2 and Trench 8 were both reduced by 5m to avoid an active electrical service. 3.15 Trenches 74 to 129 and 183 measured 1.8m in width due to a smaller machine being used due to on site constraints on the western side of site. 3.1.6 Trench 77 was left unexcavated due to its close proximity to a drain and an area of modern build up which was visible within the other trenches nearby 3.1.7 All trenches were excavated by a tracked machine fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under archaeological supervision, grading in spits of no more than 100mm at a time until the first archaeological horizon or natural geology was uncovered. 3.1.8 All spoil was placed at a minimum of 0.50m away from the area of excavation and was separated between topsoil/hardstanding and subsoil. 3.1.9 All deposits, both geological and archaeological, were recorded using standard ASE context sheets with colours recorded by visual inspection only. A digital photographic record was made of the trenches. 3.1.10 Trenches were located and levelled using a GPS and tied into the Ordnance Survey. 3.1.11 Spoil heaps and trench bases were scanned by eye, for unstratified artefacts. 3.1.12 All hand excavation, recording and planning was conducted according to the methodology in the site specification (ASE2021). This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation carried out by Archaeology South-East at the site of Cuckoo fields and Ersham park, land south of Hailsham, between 21/11/2021 and 27/01/2022. The fieldwork was commissioned by Barratt David Wilson Homes Southern Counties in advance of residential development. The evaluation involved the excavation of 179 trenches and 2 contingency trenches 183 And 184. The preservation of the archaeological horizon was good with undisturbed topsoil/subsoil sealing archaeological features or deposits in 79 of the trenches. The majority of activity observed on site was Late Iron Age/Roman and is generally focused but not limited to the north-western fields, especially between Trenches 4-9, 11 and 184. To the west of Cuckoo trail, this activity was located mainly in the south-east. Possible enclosures, occupational layers, large field boundaries and evidence of salt manufacturing were all recorded. The Late Iron Age/Roman use of the landscape, likely domestic and possibly industrial is clear from between AD10-410 based on the varying dates of pottery recovered. The other represented period on site was medieval, from 1125-1375AD which comprises of enclosures and boundaries, likely agricultural in nature. This activity was located in the west of site either side of the Cuckoo Trail. The majority of medieval activity to the west of the Cuckoo Trail was located in the south-east and comprised mainly of ditches, small possibly enclosure type features and a larger principal boundary ditch. It is possible that this activity relates to that observed between Trenches 37-42. A single ditch within trench 88, [88/008], was found to have compressed charred organics. Similarities with samples taken from Mill Road, Hailsham, (Allott forthcoming b), would imply the use of peat as fuel was widespread in the Hailsham area. There was a very small amount of post-medieval archaeology observed, the small number of finds recovered appeared to be intrusive within earlier features. The presence of the material however, does suggest that by the 18th century onwards the land was being worked for agricultural works.
- Published
- 2022
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