Essex Archaeol Hist 23

Describes a collection of flints amassed over a period of several years as a result of finds during gardening and other work at the hall. The set comprises core axes, blade cores, scrapers, other retouched pieces, unretouched pieces, microblades/blade segments, large flint nodules, and pebbles. It is thought that, due to the arbitrary nature of collection, the flints are not truly representative of Mesolithic activity in the area.

Excavations at East Stockwell Street and St John's Street produced evidence of Roman building. At East Stockwell Street early Roman occupation was observed in section beneath excavated levels, principally a wall of early colonial date. In the mid-second century the levels of the site were raised to create a level platform for a large public building of uncertain purpose. The foundations of this building were extensively robbed during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and the area of the site was terraced in the seventeenth century removing the floor levels of the Roman buildings over the northern half of the site and post-Roman occupation over the southern area. St John's Street yielded an early road leading to the south-west entrance of the colonia with probable roadside occupation. In the late-first to early-second century, this road went out of use and a large quantity of make-up was deposited over the area. This formed a construction platform on a slope for a public building the north wall of which was located. This building was demolished and its foundations robbed in the later Roman period. No late Roman or post-Roman levels survived on the site.

This article describes an unusual medieval anthropomorphic jug with sgraffito decoration in the collections of the British Museum. The jug was found in London in the nineteenth century and neutron activation analysis suggests it is a product of the pottery kilns at Mill Green. It is one of a number of sgraffito-decorated vessels found in London and Essex. There are details of the `Neutron-activation analysis' by Michael Hughes (53--5).

Reports watching briefs, chance finds, and small excavations from this year.

Reports discovery of four implements (two maceheads, an adze, and a sandstone axe hammer), thought to have had a practical rather than ritual use.

Reports the discovery of a low flanged axe during a watching brief. The first example of EBA metalwork in the county.

Reports evidence for a bath building at Long Wyre Street, recorded in 1848 by William Wire as `three hypocaust arched fireplaces' with box flue-tiles and half box-tiles in close proximity. Circumstantial evidence points to a pre-Boudican date, and it is suggested that the building formed part of a mansio.

Gravel extraction unearthed evidence ranging from the Romano-British to medieval periods. The Saxon metalwork artefacts, all of iron, are catalogued and include spearheads, a shield-boss and hand-grip, swords, and a horseshoe.

Results of watching briefs and excavations in the Gosfield, Great Henny, Colne Engaine, Bardfield Saling, and Halstead area. Sites included medieval features in the form of ditches, gullies and a possible floor surface, and Roman features in the form of a rubbish pit and ditch. Salient finds included two trade tokens dating to the seventeenth century, and a post medieval iron key.

A group of late thirteenth century pottery, metalwork and organic material was recovered from a barrel-lined well or cess-pit during minor building works. The finds are dated on the basis of the pottery. There are details of `Medieval coarseware pottery' by Helen Walker (148--9), `Metalwork' by Hilary Major (149), `The wood'by M R Eddy with wood identification by A-M Bojko (149).

Gives details of the oldest farm building in a complex recently given over to residential development.

The site of Barling Windmill was investigated in advance of building development at Mill House. Three phases, from the earliest post mill to the later smock mill were identified, but only the latter can be exactly dated (to 1760).