Archaeology in Suffolk, 1975 E. J. Owles
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ARCILEOLOGY IN SUFFOLK, 1975 compiledby ELIZABETH J. OWLES, B.A., F.S.A. Abbreviations:— D.O.E. Department of the Environment H.A.G. Haverhill & District Archaeological Group I.M. (L.) Ipswich Museum (loan) L.A.S. Lowestoft Archaeological & Local History Society M.H. Moyse's Hall Museum, Bury St. Edmunds S.A.U. Suffolk Archaeological Unit Pa Palaeolithic BB Romano-British Me Mesolithic AS Anglo-Saxon Ne Neolithic MS Middle Saxon BA Bronze Age LS Late Saxon IA Iron Age Md Medieval PM Post-Medieval Aldeburgh (TM/456584). Ne. Scatter of flakes and scrapers. (TM/460584). BB. Scatter of pottery. (TM/458585). Md. Pottery arid burnt clay found in plough soil. (Mrs. A. R. Harrison) (I.M. 1975-7 A, B & C). More Roman pottery and half a melon bead from the same site in the possession of A. Hinds. Ashbocking(TM/17335510). BB. Md. Pottery and fragment of granite millstone found in ploughsoil. (Mrs. H. B. Miller who retains possession). Benacre(TM/532825). Md. Bronze buckle, 3 fragments of cast bronze waste and sherds ofpottery. (L.A.S. which retains possession). Bildeston (TL/99154920 and 99214890). Me. Tranchet axe, microliths, microburins, flint core, rejuvenating flakes etc., found in plough soil. (J. J. Wymer who retains possession). (TL/99154920). RE. Roofing tile, greyware pottery and fragment of quern found in plough soil. (Mrs. Jones perJ. J. Wymer). (I.M. 1975-80). Bramford (TM/123466). Ne. Core and flint flakes found in garden of 76 The Street. (Miss S. B. Marcon who retains possession). Burgh-by-Woodbridge(TM/22305223). IA, RE. The portion of the rectangular earthwork which lies within the new graveyard of St. Botolph's Church, Burgh, was excavated in August-October. The earthwork, which is now largely ploughed out, consists of a double vallum and intermediate fosse and is 275m north-west— south-east by 206m north-east—south-west. On the projected line ARCHAOLOGY IN SUFFOLK 323 of the south-westside of the earthwork a v-sectionedfeature, 7.50m long, 6.30m wide, 3.50m deep, was discoveredwhich may be a segmentof the ditch (possiblyunfinished?). The top layers of this feature contained a large amount of charcoal and burnt daub. The pottery from it included Belgic-stylepots,including fine ware butt beakers, a terra rubra platter, an amphora sherd as well as more native coarsewares.Three lst-century A.D. bronze fibulaewere also recovered. An isolated human skull, lacking the lower jaw, was fonnd in the primary silts of it. Running parallel with this feature, on its inner side, were 3 small slots,only c. 10cm.wide 10-15cm. deep. The first was 2m from the edge of the ditch-likefeature, the second lm from the first and the third 2.50mfrom the second.The remainder of the site produced a seriesofvery slightpost-holesand slotsand an area ofcobblingwhichdipped into a featureofunknown extent, approximately 0.8m deep, containing an abundance of Roman brick, tile and opussigninum.(E. A. Martin, S.A.U.). Bury St. Edmunds (TL/844656).Md. 'Boy-Bishop'St. Nicholas token imitation penny, obv. Mitre, found on path by recreation ground. (C. J. Cook.)-(M.H. 1975-8). Bury St. Edmunds (TL/852462). PM. 16th-18th-century pottery including baluster-shaped jug, bellarmine with mask Holmes type III and 2 spouted tankards: (a) JOHN GREEN, a bell; (b) JOHN BYFORD 1770,RoyalOak( ?).Found during the construction of Boots' new premises 11-13 Cornhill near site of the Bell Inn. (R. Thompson.) (M.H. 1975-27). Clare(TL/765456).BA. Bronzesocketedgougefound in plough soil. (K. C. Misonwho retains possession perB. R. Osborne). Coddenham(TM/13505465). Md. Silver penny of Edward I, ClassX Londonmint (1302-10)dug up on allotment. (D. V. Bowers who retains possession). Cotton (TM/06936712). Md. Silver halfpenny of Edward II dug up in garden of 1 •ParkesRoad. (Miss D. Stott who retains possession). Covehithe (TM/528817). Md. PM. Medieval pottery, lead ampulla, bronze strap-end and gilded bronze buckle found as a result of erosion._Pitswith burnt daub and charcoal revealedin cliff face. 3 whetstones were also found and numerous bronze objects,medievalor later, includingbuckles,a brooch, buttons and decorative strap or box mounts. (L.A.S.). Cowlinge (TL/712538). RB. Dupondius; 2nd/3rd-century, found in garden. (G. E. Poole)(M.H. 1975-6). DarshamNe. Butt end of chipped flint axe found in plough soil near A.12. (M. Kent.) (I.M. 1975-13). Drinkstone (TL/96056057). LS. Md. Thetford-ware rim and 2 sherds of medieval pot found 2 ft down by stream in donor's garden. (G. Wilding) (I.M. 1975-69). 324 SUFFOLK INSTITUTE OF ARCH/EOLOGY EastonBavents(TM/518789).Md. or Pm.Bronzecandle holder with primitivescrewbase. (L.A.S.). Elmsett (TM/04954807). Me. Two flint tranchet axes found within a few feet of each other on Manor Farm. (0. Cooper who retains possession). Eye (TM/199677). Md. Tiles, bones, oyster shells and one sherd of medievalpottery found 2-3 ft down on the edge of the fish pond at BedingfieldHall. (Mrs. D. W. Scott) (I.M. 1975-1). FornhamAll Saints(TL/841670).RB. FollisofConstans(A.D.337- 350). Obv. D N CONSTANS PF AVG. rev. FEL TEMP REPARATIO Emperor in galley.No mint mark, irregularissue.Foundin cornfield.(S. Day who retains possession). Freckenham,Late BA socketedspearhead found in 1945.(Lady Briscoe.)(M.H. 1975-4). Freckenham(TL/668721). RB. Pottery dug up in garden of Freckenham House. (S. Hilbert) (M.H. 1975-5). Freston (TM/17288389). Ne. Polished axe of grey flint with squared sides and facetted cutting edge found in ploughsoil. (W. Steelewho retains possession). Hadleigh (TM/02504235). Md. Silver groat of Edward IV, London mint, type VII (1466-7),found at 23 ToppesfieldGardens on land formerlyorchard of ToppesfieldHall. (Mrs. S. C. Cousins who retains possession). Harkstead (TM/190335). Pa. Hand axe found on edge of River Stour. (E. Hazelton who retains possession). Hdughley (TM/02736230). LS. Md. One Thetford-ware rim and 14 fragmentsof medieval pottery found while digging a soak- away behind The Cottage, Old Street. (E. Martin) (I.M.1975-67). Haverhill (TL/68354490). RB. Occupation observed in sewer trench; finds from subsequent field walking include roof and floor tiles, tesserae,sestertiusof Antoninus Pius,fragmentsof grey coarse ware, mortaria and samian form 18. Report in preparation. (B.B. Charge, H.A.G.). Heveningham(TM/32757008).Ne. Chipped flint axe found in ploughsoil.(A. P. Rush who retains possession). Heveningham (TM/348731). Md. Excavation of part of a medieval farmstead. The site is part of a complex of earthworks (since ploughed out) discoveredby aerial photography and inter- preted as a desertedhamlet. An area of 900sq.m. wasstrippedand revealed a cobbled yard and a series Ofdrainage and boundary ditches.On onesideofthe yard werethe remainsof3 buildings,one of clay lump with a hearth, and 2 of sleeper-beamconstruction. The date-range of the settlement was 13th-15th-century. (R. D. Carr for S.A.U.). Horringer(TL/813598). Ne. Tanged flint arrowhead found in garden. (M. Littlewood)(M.H. 1975-7). • ARCHZEOLOGY IN SUFFOLK 325 Ipswich (TM/158439 approx.). Ne. Polished flint axe dredged from Orwell near Princes St. Bridge. (I. Thorogood who retains possession per J. Hedges). Ipswich (TM/161431). BA. Part of stone axe hammer found during construction of Maidenhall School. (K. W. Jarmin) (I.M. 1975-64). Ipswich (TM/16524431), Lower Brook Street. MS. LS. Md. An area of 450 sq. m. was excavated in advance of redevelopment. Over 100 burials were uncovered belonging to the chapel of St. Edmund de Pountenay, (mid-13th to mid-15th century). The medieval cemetery overlay backyard areas of the Saxon town, and several middle and late Saxon pits, part of an , insubstantial late Saxon cellared building, and a late Saxon timber-lined well were revealed. Material from middle Saxon pits included glass and imported Badorf-type ware. A Merovingian sherd and a bronze linked pin of early 7th-century date were also recovered. Sieving retrieved samples of seeds and fish bones from all periods. (S.A.U.). Ipswich(TM/16784456) 24 St. Helens Street. MS. LS. Limited excavation during redevelopment revealed a late Saxon kiln producing Thetford-type ware. The oven pit, 1.60 x 1.70m, was sub-rectangular, with a single flue and no kiln furniture. The kiln walls survived to a height of 80 cm. Fragments of kiln wall and other debris lay on top of the final load, consisting of over 30 pots. The kiln was cut into a middle Saxon pit, and two Ipswich ware wasters occurred elsewhere on the site. The excavation extends the known area of Saxon kiln activity eastwards beyond the defences of the Saxon town. (K. Wade, S.A.U.). Ipswich (TM/16414380), Vernon Street, Stoke. MS. Md. 2 trial area excavatiOns were carried out on waste ground south of the Orwell. The northern area contained 19th-century features assoc- iated with terraced housing overlying a medieval sand extraction pit. Excavation of the southern area (which continues) revealed a large middle Saxon ditch, 4m. wide and 2m. deep, containing large quantities of Ipswich ware and animal bones. (K. Wade, S.A.U.). Ipswich(TM/15914452), Elm Street. LS. Md. An area of 300 sq. m. and 3 trenches were excavated in advance of redevelopment. The site lay across the supposed line of the medieval town defences. A series of at least 3 phases of Saxo-Norman activity was revealed. The first phase consisted of a north-south ditch, 7m. wide x 2m. deep, interpreted as a late Saxon town defence. The ditch contained human skeletal material in the upper layers, and traces of a revet- ment survived along the inner lip.