Land East of Days Road, Capel St. Mary, Suffolk. An Archaeological Evaluation.

Abstract

Excavations revealed a multi-period site with four main phases of occupation dating to the Late Bronze Age, the Middle Iron Age, the Early Roman period and the 12th-14th century AD. A further three possible phases of archaeological activity - dating to the earlier prehistoric period, the Saxon period and the 11th century - have been identified largely through surface finds and residual material in later features, while the site's final archaeological phase is represented by post-medieval enclosure ditches. Evidence of earlier prehistoric activity encountered was limited to surface and residual finds and the earliest confirmed occupation of the site dates to later prehistory. Late Bronze Age settlement remains comprised pits and post holes and included a pit which yielded a regionally significant assemblage of c.500 sherds of Post Deverel Rimbury pottery together with large amounts of burnt stone/flint. Evidence of a more substantial settlement during the Middle Iron Age comprised a large enclosure ditch within which were the remains of two roundhouses and a number of probable storage pits as well as clusters of postholes and small pits. A simple post-built structure dating to the 1st - 2nd century AD situated within a contemporary field system represented Early Roman activity at the site and was potentially part of the estate of the villa recorded at nearby Windmill Hill in Capel St. Mary. The majority of the archaeological features excavated belonged to the 12th-14th century AD and appear to represent a substantial, and potentially relatively wealthy, farmstead. The remains of up to five structures including an impressive aisled building, possibly a hall, were excavated. Other features included a stone/flint lined well, a large number of pits and post holes, quarries, possible ovens/kilns, cobbled surfaces and ditches representing a number of phases of land division.