SITE ADJACENT TO THE POND, POTTON END, ELTISLEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE - AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

In October 2020 Archaeological Solutions (AS) carried out an archaeological evaluation at a site adjacent to the pond, Potton End, Eltisley, Cambridgeshire (NGR TL 27160 59490). The evaluation was undertaken in accordance with a planning condition attached to planning approval for the construction 12no new dwellings (South Cambs Council Approval Ref. S/3182/19/FL). It was required based on the advice of the Cambridgeshire County Council Historic Environment Team (CCC HET). The evaluation revealed numerous features within each trench: Trench 1 (7); Trench 2 (7); Trench 3 (6); Trench 4 (9) and Trench 5 (9). The features comprised pits and ditches in approximately equal quantity. None of the ditches carried through to a second trench suggesting they likely represent small plot divisions, as opposed to larger fields. Similarly the presence of pits is indicative of settlement remains. The dated features are predominantly, but not exclusively, contained in Trenches 1 and 4. One residual Roman sherd was present in Ditch F1005 (Trench 1), and the dating evidence is consistently early medieval. Some large (over 20 sherds) pottery assemblages are present (Pit F1022, Ditch 1050, Pit F1059 and Ditch 1064). Associated finds comprise daub, animal bone, shell and slag. Small finds comprise a whetstone fragment and iron fragments, predominantly nails. The archaeological features may represent back plots to houses fronting Potton End, or possibly be associated with plots identified to the east at Newton County Primary School.