| Summary : A multi period site, including a Late Bronze Age circular enclosure containing at least 3 round houses and other structures. During the Saxon period, the site was partially overlain by an Early Saxon cemetery and by later settlement activity. The cremation cemetery dated to the period 425-650, the inhumation cemetery from 450-599. There was a hiatus before the creation of a small settlement of at least 13 buildings which occupied the site from the 10th-12th centuries. The late Saxon phase of the site is probably 10-11th century in date. It includes a large longhouse or hall, measuring 20 by 6 metres, with a hearth and internal partitions. The site also yielded a late 10th century coin of Aethelread II. |
More information : TL 082 736 (SIC) (TL 736 082)
A circular enclosure c60m in diameter was examined. Pottery and bronze metal-working moulds from the primary ditch silts indicate a Late Bronze Age date. Later features include a Saxon cremation and inhumation cemetery and Saxon or later post-hole building. (1)
Further grass and cremations were located bringing the total of burials to c150. One of the inhumations was enclosed by a small ring-ditch. Four more Saxon buildings were identified, belonging to at least two phases, together with a number of pits and other features. (2)
Excavation of a circular cropmark enclosure at Springfield, confirmed a Late Bronze Age date for the enclosure. The interior of the enclosure was totally excavated, providing a good plan of all features which had survived subsequent activity at the site. Late Bronze Age features included several post-hole structures, and the post-holes of the revetment for an internal bank. Also located were features and finds of Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and Roman date, an Early Saxon cemetery and a Late Saxon settlement. (3)
Additional references. (4-6)
A 1:2500 scale, level 3, photogrammetric survey was carried out in the vicinity of the Bronze Age enclosure by the Aerial Survey Section of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME). A possible Neolithic causewayed enclosure had been identified during the excavations and therefore this survey was carried out as part of the Industry and Enclosure in the Neolithic Project which was set up by the Cambridge field office of RCHME. The Neolithic features are recorded separately in record TL 70 NW 105. (7)
Aerial photograph showing features of the site. (8)
Full excavation report of the multi-period site. (9)
Saxon settlement occupation probably 10th to 11th century in date, features excavated included a hall of some 20 metres in length. (10) |