| Title: |
Archaeology on the mid-Essex clay.
|
| Subtitle: |
Investigations on the A130 by-pass: A12 Chelmsford by-pass to the A127 Southend arterial road, 1991--4 and 1999--2002 |
| Issue: |
Essex Archaeol Hist 36 (third series) |
| Series: |
Essex Archaeology & History
|
| Volume: |
36
|
| Page Start/End: |
10 - 54 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Journal
|
| Abstract: |
Archaeological investigation along the line of the A130 bypass south of Chelmsford uncovered twenty-nine sites, dating from the Mesolithic period onwards, in a road corridor c. 15km in length and seldom more than 100m wide. Despite the limitations imposed by this narrow linear transect, evidence for extensive Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement was recovered in this area. Although unequivocal evidence for Late Iron Age settlement was sparse, it is suggested that this may be masked by conservative ceramic traditions continuing from the Middle Iron Age rather than indicating a hiatus in settlement. Romano-British settlements excavated were rural in nature; while only a part of the field systems were investigated, the evidence does not suggest an imposition post-conquest of an extensive single system of land organisation. The varying alignments of the Romano-British boundaries uncovered also suggest that they had little if any influence on later field patterns. Saxon occupation was widespread with one major settlement, centred on a bow-sided building, supplemented by a number of isolated finds elsewhere. There was considerable evidence of medieval settlement, although the design of the route meant that the fieldwork probably avoided medieval foci which have continued in occupation until the present day. |
| Year of Publication: |
2005
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))
|
| Created Date: |
14 Feb 2008 |
