Archaeology 1
Bexhill to Hastings Link Road
Archaeological evaluation prior
to the start of construction
Oxford Archaeology has been commissioned by Hochtief Taylor
Woodrow Joint Venture on behalf of East Sussex County Council,
to undertake the archaeological works which will be required as
part of the process of constructing the road. To add to the
information already collected a comprehensive archaeological
evaluation exercise of the proposed 5.6km long route was
undertaken from August to October 2012 prior to any construction
work taking place.
A test pit to record the depths of some of the key
‘horizons’ which archaeologists are keen to look at.
This investigation involved a programme of 58 boreholes, followed
by 181 trial trenches and 24 test pits across the four valley
sequences and ridges of the Combe Haven Valley, Watermill
Stream, Powdermill Stream and Decoy Pond. The evaluation aimed
to investigate and characterise the archaeological and
palaeoenvironmental potential of the Scheme, by developing an
archaeological landscape model that would help identify areas of
significance.
A geoarchaeological specialist from Oxford
Archaeology examines and records the sequence of
deposits from one of the borehole samples.
The results from the evaluation largely confirmed and, in places,
enhanced those of the previous investigations of fieldwalking, test
pits, boreholes, geophysical and LIDAR surveys. Evidence was
found for past activity and grouped into four broad phases; the
earliest spanning the late Mesolithic to Neolithic; followed by late
Neolithic to Bronze Age; late Iron Age to Roman and finally Saxon
to Medieval. Post-medieval activity in the area although
recorded, was regarded as of lower significance.
eastsussex.gov.uk
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The peat deposits often contain quite large pieces
of preserved wood. The archaeologists need to
examine these for any signs that they may have
been deliberately cut down or used to build
structures such as track ways to cross the marshy
environment.
The Late Mesolithic to Neolithic remains were primarily in situ flint
scatters, sometimes associated with buried land surfaces and peat
deposits, around the wetland periphery zones of the Watermill and
Powdermill Stream Valleys. The scatters may represent temporary
hunting camps and one probable base camp. These camps were
focused on particular topographic locations that potentially provided
good vantage points and easy access to the valley bottoms. The
potential base camp produced over 120 pieces of worked flint from
just a 1m square area.
Archaeologists
excavating
prehistoric
flint
artefacts from a test pit on the edge of the
Powdermill Stream Valley. The margins of the
former marshy wetland areas would have been
prime locations for prehistoric hunter-gatherers to
camp and exploit the food resources available.
Features of late Neolithic to Bronze Age date were sparse but generally
found on the higher slopes and the presence of occasional ditches indicate
low-level activity within the area associated with the valley sides and
wetland edges. The absence of significant forest clearance from this period
may indicate that the area was not as densely occupied at this time.
This ditch which may date back to a period
of Bronze Age farming is in the process of
being carefully drawn and recorded.
Areas of Late Iron Age to Roman activity recorded during the evaluation
were focused on two main areas which were in close proximity to
known bloomery (iron smelting) sites at either end of the proposed
route. The evidence may indicate that there was occupation at these
two sites, as well as metal working. Signs of woodland clearance in the
form of colluvial (hillwash) deposits, supported by pollen evidence and
potential dumps of bloomery and metalworking waste, were also
identified on these slopes.
An archaeologist hand excavates a possible
Roman pit in a trench at the western end of the
route.
In addition to the Iron Age and Roman material a small amount of
Saxon to Medieval activity was also seen at Upper Wilting Farm at
the eastern end of the proposed route and corresponds to the
domestic occupation recorded in earlier investigations in this area.
A trench being hand excavated at Upper Wilting Farm
at the eastern end of the route. This hilltop location
has a history of occupation dating back to the Saxon
period and the evaluation also found evidence of Iron
Age and Roman activity.
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A trench being excavated prior to inspection on the
spur of higher, dryer ground which extends south
from Hillcroft Farm between the Watermill and
Powdermill Stream Valleys.
The archaeology revealed during the evaluation is consistent with
the low-level activity predicted within the desk-based assessment
for the Scheme. No large concentrations of pottery, building
material, worked wood, precious or domestic objects were
identified along the route. However, the discovery of a potentially
well-preserved late Mesolithic/early Neolithic hunting landscape
with in situ flint scatters is of regional importance, with the
potential to be nationally important if associated with organic
remains or worked wood. Also the evidence of Iron Age and
Roman features and deposits associated with metal working, may
provide regionally important information on the bloomery sites of
this period. The long history of occupation at the Upper Wilting
Farm site is also a key focus for further investigation.
The evidence from the evaluation has been combined with what was already known and used to refine the
strategy for dealing with the archaeological deposits which may be present. A programme of archaeological
excavations targeted on key areas of significance or finds will be carried out before certain parts of the scheme
area are developed and in other locations the archaeologists will be present as construction proceeds to
investigate and record any unexpected discoveries which may be made.
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