Essex Archaeol Hist 31

The nucleus of a Late Bronze Age hoard was discovered on boulder clay in High Easter Parish in 1993 in the course of a metal detector survey. Additional finds from the hoard were made then and in the years 1994--96. Seventy-one finds were retrieved, all of which were bronze, with socketed axes as the dominant artefact type. The term Easter axe is proposed for a group of socketed axes in the hoard not encompassed by existing classifications. Most of the material was scrap metal and the presence of material directly connected with bronze smithying shows the find is a founder's hoard. The contents of the hoard are noteworthy for the inclusion of fragments of the rare St Nazaire type sword and for the presence of seven rings. Carp's Tongue sword fragments in the hoard allow an adjustment to the distribution map of these swords because they have not previously been reported from central Essex. A socketed axe found in the vicinity at Great Garnetts in 1904 is also described; it may have come from the hoard.

description and analysis of 203 sherds

description and analysis of 918 sherds

results from the three excavated sites are given separately

description of twenty-seven struck flints, twenty-three burnt pieces and seventy-three chips

Fieldwalking and excavation of selected sites within large-scale housing development at Church Langley to the east of Harlow New Town, revealed activity from the Palaeolithic period onwards. Early Iron Age occupation was identified at the Perry Springs Wood and Tesco sites, a Roman farmstead at the Old House site, and evidence for the post-medieval pottery industry was found at the Tesco, Fullers Mead and Laundry Farm sites. Documentary evidence indicates that in the medieval period the area of Church Langley was divided between five farms, with a mixed-farming agricultural regime, with arable agriculture becoming dominant in the modern period. Includes separately authored reports on:

detailed analysis of 5,884 sherds from 115 contexts

report on the archaeological investigation of the site, including finds reports on

description and analysis of a total of 1,263 sherds, including redeposited material from a post-medieval kiln dump

brief report on the watching brief and finds report on

brief report of trial-trenching and finds report on

The archaeological evaluation and subsequent watching briefs on the Grenville Road and College Road sites revealed evidence of Late Iron Age occupation and a successive Roman settlement sharing an area to the west of London Road and near the intersection with Roman Stane Street. Although LIA pottery and features, dating to the first century BC occurred at both sites, the bulk of the evidence dates from the early Roman period, including the remnants of two possible buildings (one aisled), a well, and a metalled road surface. The evidence points towards a Roman settlement with origins in the first century AD, that enjoyed a sustained period of activity during the second to early-third century, and which by the middle of the third century AD appears to have fallen into decline. Includes separately authored reports on:

including building material; ironwork; and a cosmetic spoon or ligula

Excavations revealed a series of medieval and post-medieval buildings. An earthfast post building of the fifteenth or sixteenth century was the first structure on site. This was followed by a three-roomed sixteenth-century structure with dwarf stone plinths, clay floors, and hearths. In the mid-seventeenth century the structure was completely rebuilt on the same spot as a four- or five-roomed structure. Later periods involved the insertion of a chimney breast and the building of a detached smithy. The whole site was rebuilt in brick in the nineteenth century. Romano-British, Saxon and early medieval material was found in residual contexts, including a rare Late Saxon iron strap end. Includes separately authored reports on:

A group of historical papers, some of which discuss land tenure, including `The Earls of Oxford and the Forest of Essex'; `Some grants to Colchester Abbey'; and ` `The new town of Glamorgan' and the Manor of Toppesfield'.

An account of the life and work of the Revd Ernest Geldart, with particular reference to his architectural and decorative projects in the Essex area. Includes

Many short, separately authored, reports on finds made and projects undertaken during the year, including:

Separately authored reports on Essex buildings recorded during the year, listed alphabetically by parish, including:

Separately authored reports of observations on, and excavations occasioned by, works at churches in Essex during the year, listed alphabetically by parish, including:

An archaeological evaluation in the grounds of South Ockendon Hospital uncovered prehistoric remains indicating a localised domestic settlement probably dating to the Late Bronze Age. A field boundary of probable post-medieval date and a second, undated, ditch were also recorded. Includes reports on:

An evaluation was carried out to investigate two adjacent crop-marks, the larger of which had been interpreted as a possible Neolithic causewayed camp. Trial trenching uncovered a group of ditches and gullies which had produced the larger crop-mark, but their small size and the lack of definite dating evidence did not support the initial interpretation. A pit containing an Early Saxon globular jar cut the largest of the ditches. The pit, and two similar features nearby, are interpreted as graves although no skeletal material was recovered. A cremation burial uncovered to the south-east may have been part of the same cemetery. Investigation of the smaller crop-mark suggested that it was a natural feature. Subsequent fieldwalking was inconclusive, producing no further evidence. Includes reports on:

The watching brief on ground-level reduction and excavation of footings revealed various structural and cut features. These included a metalled pathway, probable wall footings, and a number of pits and/or ditches. Most features dated to the thirteenth century and the pottery evidence suggests continuous occupation on this site from that time to the present day. Includes a report on