Surrey Archaeological Collections 102

Surrey has a diverse range of Mesolithic occupation evidence, spanning the Early Mesolithic, Horsham period and the Later Mesolithic. This paper collates these data and then quantitatively analyses the relationships between the geographical distributions of Mesolithic material and a range of environmental characteristics. The distribution of material is also analysed using a GIS to understand where 'hotspots' (and 'coldspots') of activity may be located and takes into account variations in collecting activity and modern discovery opportunities. There is evidence that the environment may have been important in determining the spatial extent of Mesolithic hunter-gatherer behaviour, and this is assessed through comparison of the Mesolithic resource and a range of environmental variables. The record shows a prevalence of hunting-type assemblages in the south-west of the county, where the majority of microliths and points were identified, together with sites with evidence for occupation (often excavated as such, or with evidence for domestic activities such as burning). There was also evidence that records identified on higher elevations and steeper slopes appeared to represent items used, discarded or lost on hunting trips and potentially highlighted the importance of these regions as lookout or observation locations; however, there was a lack of occupation sites based near these optimal viewing locations. The majority of occupation sites were located across an east-west Greensand band and situated within 5km of the Clay-with-Flints outcrops. These were wet/dry marginal regions, probably conducive to settlement owing to the benefits these locations may have had for hunting and gathering. A lower density of records from north-west and south-east Surrey appears to indicate these areas were used primarily for the processing of material while people were moving across the landscape. The overall high proportion of findspots and scatters within the dataset may result from the nature of hunter-gatherer living, with high levels of mobility within the landscape alongside ephemeral occupation and activity sites.

During 2013 Archaeology South-East (UCL Institute of Archaeology) conducted a series of archaeological investigations at Cherkley Court, Leatherhead. The work identified an interesting and varied prehistoric landscape set within the North Downs, an area not renowned for later prehistoric activity. The estate is set within rolling chalk downland with commanding views over the Mole Valley to the west, providing a significant access route to the Thames Valley; the site is also bisected by Stane Street, the London to Chichester Roman road. Clusters of archaeology were encountered; most of the remains dated to the Late Bronze Age and Middle to Late Iron Age with surprisingly few Roman remains found, given the proximity of Stane Street. The Late Bronze Age remains showed an open landscape delineated by large ditches and used mainly as pasture. A rectilinear enclosure in the south-east was more likely to be associated with arable farming, particularly as a series of probable grain storage pits lay in one corner. Evidence of cereal storage and processing was found in the centre of the site where a series of post-built granaries, stores and probable drying racks were located. Some of the post-built structures as well as one of the ditches ran at right-angles to Stane Street, suggesting that a trackway, similarly aligned to the Roman road, probably pre-dated it and provided a further transport route through the North Downs. Iron Age activity, although less intensive, appeared to respect much of the Bronze Age landscape consisting of similarly aligned features and a continuation of pitting and grain processing in some areas.

The Surrey chests are examples of joined construction in furniture and belong to a rare type found mainly in southern England. In the early 1900s writers dated them to the early 13th century on a stylistic basis. This article re-examines the Surrey chests in the light of dendrochronological research on other chests in the wider group and puts forward some new, later, dates for them. The diversity of the Surrey chests and the links of some of them with Sussex chests of the same construction type are emphasised. Some reasons for the development of pin-hinged, clamped chests and their possible original uses are discussed.

Archaeological investigations comprising evaluation, excavation and watching brief, were undertaken by Archaeology South-East during 2007 and 2008 at the former George Payne Ltd (Payne's Poppets) site, 57 Croydon Road, Beddington. The work revealed evidence of multiple phases of archaeological activity. A scatter of worked flint of Mesolithic date indicates early land use with small quantities of Neolithic flint as evidence of continued prehistoric occupation in the vicinity of the site. Late Bronze Age features, including a possible enclosure or barrow ditches and pits, were also uncovered. Following an apparent hiatus in land use, a 5th-7th century Anglo-Saxon cemetery was found overlying the Bronze Age features. Although skeletal remains proved to be badly preserved an interesting assemblage of grave goods was recovered. The archaeological investigations have revealed important evidence of early medieval activity in the area and added to the understanding of the prehistoric landscape of Beddington.

An archaeological strip, map and sample excavation and watching brief, following on from a trial trench evaluation, was conducted at Windmill Bank, Sandlands Grove, Walton on the Hill. The development site is located adjacent to a Roman villa, an Historic England Scheduled Monument (SM). The initial evaluation revealed a small number of features and unstratified Roman finds. The excavation, however, was more productive and uncovered a number of flint-packed postholes, some smaller pits or postholes and a ditch running from east to west, all of which are of a Romano-British date. The position and characteristics of a number of the postholes indicate that they are contemporary and potentially form the ground plan of a timber-framed building, of which the function is unknown. The ditch probably relates to a division between the domestic and working areas of the villa complex.