Newham Museum Archaeology Project Archives
Newham Museum Service, 2000. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000328. How to cite using this DOI
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London Borough of Redbridge
Lynton House
255 - 259 High Road
Ilford, Essex
IG1 1NN
England
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 265
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000328
- How to cite using this DOI
Brookway, Rainham (RA-BA 92)
Trench Summaries
TRENCH A
Trench excavated through topsoil and subsoil, and into natural (presumably). Modern disturbance in north east end. No context numbers taken for this trench, no plans and sections, no levels. No matrix. Trench not extended.
TRENCH C
Trench excavated through mixed rubble layer, topsoil, subsoil and two natural layers (sand then gravel). No cut features. Trench not extended. Plans and sections checked, levels put on context sheets, matrix completed.
TRENCH J
Trench excavated through topsoil and brickearth onto two natural layers (gravely sand in north - south arm of trench and sandy gravel in east - west arm). No cut features. Trench not extended. Plans and sections checked, levels impossible to transfer to context sheets as TBMs not recorded on drawings. Matrix completed.
TRENCH K
Trench excavated through topsoil, brickearth and two natural layers (sand then gravel; gravel is only present in southern end of north - south arm of trench). No cut features. Trench not extended. Plans and sections checked, levels impossible to transfer to context sheets as TBMs not recorded on drawings. Matrix completed.
TRENCH P
Trench excavated through topsoil into possibly naturally deposited clay which had been disturbed by allotment activity, hence the presence of finds within it. This layer represents the limit of excavation in the trench. No cut features. No plans or sections, therefore no levels available. Matrix completed.
TRENCH M
Trench excavated through topsoil and subsoil, which seals a linear feature with a later recut, cut into a silty sand natural. Neolithic flint from fill of recut. Plans and sections checked, levels transferred to context sheets. Matrix completed.
TRENCH G
Trench contains two modern boreholes and one modern drain cut through topsoil and underlying contexts (full depths of these features not established). Topsoil then two subsequent layers, which seal two probable ditches. Two possible postholes are also present in the trench but their relationship with these two layers is impossible to establish. Finds are present from one of the ditches (Roman or later) and the layer into which all features are cut (Early Neolithic/Roman). Plans and sections checked, levels transferred to context sheets. Trench not extended. Matrix complete.
TRENCHES I & L
Trench I is the evaluation trench, trench L is the extension of this. Topsoil seal large number of pits, postholes and linear features, some of which are intercutting. These are all cut into a ploughsoil, which in turn seals another large group of features which are cut into natural gravel. The relationship of these features with the ploughsoil is not entirely clear; they may originally have been cut through the ploughsoil , but were only noticed once this layer had been removed. Features from this (possibly) earlier group of features include pits, postholes and gullies. Some of these features may be structural, but any possible structures or alignments extend beyond the edges of the trench so their full nature is not known. Finds from the later group of features include medieval and post-medieval pottery; finds from the earlier group include early - late medieval pottery and tile, and post-medieval pottery, which would seem to suggest that some of the features were indeed cut through the ploughsoil rather than sealed by it. Plans and sections have been checked, and levels transferred to context sheets. One matrix for both trenches is complete.
TRENCHES B & R
Trench B is the evaluation trench, trench R is the extension of this. Trench excavated through topsoil and three clay layers onto a peat layer. A tree trunk is lying on this layer, and several other pieces of wood are present within it, either stakes or roots, both horizontal and vertical. Finds from this layer are Early Neolithic in date and include a flint scraper, given small find number 28. Further activity in this trench consists of four spreads or layers, three of which contain finds (all Early Neolithic in date), and one cut feature, the full extent and purpose of which is unknown; this feature contained no finds. A series of column samples was taken in this trench.
TRENCHES E, N & O
Three distinct horizons:
(135) - brown clay - ploughsoil
(159) - ploughsoil
(68) - deposition grey silt
(260) - 'hearth'. Original context sheet not present, plan is either incomplete or just crap. Photographs were taken but are unclear. Finds are Early Neolithic or Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age. Stratigraphic relationships are impossible to establish definitely.
(281) - structure number, Consists of cuts (298), (296), (303) and (300), all cut into (68). Thought to be structure because of similarity of fills.
Group of pits including fire pit (219) between (135) and (159), though this is by no means certain.
Group of pits and posts between (159) and (68) including north - south ditch (106)/(7) and its recut (98), a possible field boundary/drainage ditch. This ditch complex cuts an east - west boundary/drainage ditch (91).
(68) removed in metre squares, numbered by Roman numerals. Much worked burnt flint and pottery. Majority of pottery is of Neolithic date with some later, possibly residual material. Early Neolithic - Bronze Age.
After removal of (68) - many pits, postholes, possible structure in
north west corner of trench comprising (247), (241). (194), (192), (186),
(227), (348), (365), (363), (350), (253), (259), ???
Eastern edge of trench - a river channel, with possible root action/stakeholes
Some confusion with plans due to lack of grid.
Column sample [76].
Matrix completed and related to trench Q:
Layer (135) (trench O) ?= (166) (trench Q)
(159) (trench O) ?= (280) (trench Q)
(68) (trench O) ?= (313) (trench N) ??=?? (96) (trench Q)
TRENCH Q
(166) machined off.
(280) machined and mattocked off.
(96) removed in metre squares; sealed cooking pit (324) and sub-rectangular
gravel surface (325), which in turn seals pits (335) and (340).
Cooking pit also cuts layer (312) which was removed in metre squares
and contained Early Neolithic finds.
In north corner of trench local folklore remembers north east - south
west ditch-like depression which was not contexted but which may have cut
(169).
TRENCH E
Pit (170), cut by pit (162), both contained Early Neolithic and prehistoric
pottery but themselves cut (68) so finds may be residual.
Pit (217) also contains quantities of Early Neolithic material but
cuts (68), therefore the question of residuality has to be raised.
