| Abstract: |
A programme of geoarchaeological investigations and palaeoenvironmental assessment was undertaken at the site. The results of investigations indicate that the Lea Valley Gravel surface here lies at between ca. 0.6 and -2.7m OD, generally falling from the southern margins of the site (0.1 to 0.11m OD) and the northwest (-0.43 to 0.61m OD) to between ca. -1 and -2m OD in the eastern and north-eastern areas of the site. Within the overlying alluvial sequence, peat was identified only towards the east/northeast, recorded in thicknesses of between 0.3 and 0.82m, and with an upper surface of between -0.78 and -0.11m OD. The peat is of later Neolithic/eariler Bronze Age date; the peat surface during its formation was dominated by alder carr, whilst the dryland was formed of mixed deciduous woodland with oak and lime. No clear evidence for human activity was identified. In terms of its prehistoric archaeological potential, the higher Gravel surfaces (above ca. -0.3m OD) recorded in the southern and northwestern areas of the site represent areas of higher, drier ground that are likely to have been elevated above the surrounding floodplain during the prehistoric period, perhaps at the margin of a former channel or the floodplain itself. On this basis, the southern and northwestern areas of the site are considered to have higher prehistoric archaeological potential. No further palaeoenvironmental analysis was recommended. The Lea Valley Gravel surface here lies at between ca. 0.6 and -2.7m OD, generally falling from the southern margins of the site (0.1 to 0.11m OD) and the northwest (-0.43 to 0.61m OD) to between ca. -1 and -2m OD in the eastern and north-eastern areas of the site. Within the overlying alluvium, peat was identified at the site only towards the east/northeast, recorded in thicknesses of between 0.3 and 0.82m. The results of the radiocarbon dating show that the peat in borehole CP125, recorded at between -0.78 and -1.60m OD, is of later Neolithic to earlier Bronze Age date. The combined results of the pollen and plant macrofossil assessments are indicative of a peat surface dominated by alder with willow, with an understorey of grasses, mixed herbs and ferns. Hazel, ash and birch may have occupied the peat surface with alder and willow, but are more likely to grown on the dryland, forming mixed deciduous woodland with oak and lime. The limited values of elm throughout the sequence are consistent with the later Neolithic/early Bronze Age date for the peat, post-dating the Neolithic elm decline. The pollen and macrofossil assemblages, both dominated by alder carr, provide little indication that the vegetation changed significantly on either the peat surface or surrounding dryland during the period of peat formation. No definitive evidence for human activity was recorded in the sequence from the peat.
On the basis of the results of the assessment presented here, and the similar age of the peat sequence to that recorded elsewhere in this general area of the Lower Thames Valley, no further environmental archaeological analysis is recommended. |
