Bronze Age Barrows, Iron Age, Roman, medieval and later activity on the route of the proposed Chelmsford effluent pipeline, Essex

Between 3rd June and 25th June 2013, OA East carried out an archaeological evaluation along the proposed route of the Chelmsford Effluent pipeline. This runs from near Chelmer village (TL 74566 07917) to Langford (TL 82725 08795), Essex. A total of 50 trenches, of various lengths, were excavated. This evaluation followed on from a desk based assessment and an aerial photographic survey of the proposed route. The trenches targeted cropmarks shown on the aerial survey, as well as areas where no features were shown.
At the western end of the pipeline Late Iron Age and Roman activity was found, including ditches and pits containing pottery. A few sherds of Saxon pottery suggest the continuation of activity in this area. At the eastern end of the pipeline at least two ploughed-out Bronze Age barrows were evaluated, one of which contained a minimum of six cremations, three of these were in truncated vessels. Elsewhere along the route several ditches were excavated. These were Iron Age, Roman and later in date.