Kennett Hall Farm, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation.

Abstract

This report details results of a programme of archaeological trenched evaluation across the floodplain at Kennett Hall Farm, Kennett, Cambridgeshire. Deep soils on the floodplain demonstrated that post-Medieval alluvium had encroached across this area, sealing three well defined earlier soil horizons. Archaeological features found on the floodplain included a series of differentially aligned linear ditches and narrower curvilinear gullies, and a large pit/well. The age of these remains is unclear, but they could possibly date to the prehistoric and/or Romano-British periods. Archaeology directly sealed by the alluvium includes several Later Medieval and post-Medieval linear ditches, pits and a large post-Medieval artificial channel cut through the earlier soils. On the edge of the floodplain, a single Bronze Age posthole represents the only certain prehistoric feature from the site. Later Medieval and post-Medieval occupation on the floodplain edge was found in the form of beam slots for wall footings, post holes, post pads, midden pits, clunch pits for building material, a clunch-lined well, and a hollow way. Nineteenth century cartographic evidence confirms the existence of a number of farm buildings in the vicinity of the evaluated area. It was here that a concentration of Medieval and post-Medieval pottery, brick and tile was found along the edge of the floodplain during an earlier programme of archaeological fieldwalking