Knobbs Farm, Somersham, Cambridgeshire, Phase 4: An Archaeological Evaluation, Interim Statement

Abstract

Between the 21st and 30th November 2003 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook an archaeological evaluation at the Lafarge Redland Aggregates Ltd. quarry, Knobbs Farm, Somersham, Cambridgeshire (TL 365 790) in advance of proposed gravel extraction. The evaluation formed part of phase four of an ongoing programme of archaeological investigations at Knobbs Farm. The presence of several worked and two burnt flints provides evidence for Prehistoric activities in the vicinity of the site, however the densities were neither great nor concentrated enough to determine any centre of activity. No cut features were found for prehistoric activity within the trenches. The flints, therefore, provide a background scatter that may span millennia. The Romano British ditches excavated were, with the exception of F. 5, relatively insubstantial. Like those excavated in phase one they were probably used for marking out peripheral plots of land or paddocks. The north-south alignment of these ditches is not consistent with the majority of the cropmarks, which run northwest-southeast. They may therefore be associated with an earlier phase of settlement, possibly associated with the cropmarks to the north of the site which are on a north-south, east-west alignment. The northwest-southeast alignment of F. 5 suggests that it was associated with the main complex of cropmarks to the immediate east of the evaluation area. This ditch cut F. 1 and F. 7 providing a pre-1st to 3rd century date for these ditches, from which no datable evidence was recovered. The size of the ditch suggests that it was a field boundary or drainage ditch. No organic remains were recovered from the fill of the ditch suggesting that it was at some distance from settlement activities. However, it was close enough to allow for the dumping of near complete vessels and fragments of flue in its primary fill. These may have been deposited shortly after completion of the ditch as they were sitting on the side of the ditch. The recovery of hypocaust box flue tiles and two near complete pots suggests that this ditch was associated with a relatively high status settlement. The arable use of this land during the Medieval period is confirmed by the presence of an east-west aligned furrow, similar to those known from the cropmarks and excavation to the south and west. The lack of Medieval finds in the topsoil and subsoil indicates that these fields were peripheral to settlement, at Somersham, and that they are unlikely to have been subject to manuring. Post-Medieval, c. 17th century, activities are indicated by the presence of a single piece of tobacco pipe and sherds of Green and Red Earthenware. The lack of Post-Medieval finds suggests that, as in the Medieval period, these fields were peripheral to the daily activities of Somersham village.