An Archaeological Strip, Map & Record and Trench Evaluation, Semer Water Treatment Works, Nedging-with-Naughton, Suffolk: Phase 2

Between the 15th and 22nd January 2015, Oxford Archaeology East conducted a Strip, Map & Record and Trench Evaluation at land adjacent to Hadleigh Road, 800m north of the village of Semer, Suffolk (Phase 1). This work was undertaken on behalf of Anglian Water in advance of the construction of a new water pipeline. Archaeological investigation in this phase concentrated on the test pitting and recording of naturally deposited sands and silts. Many of these deposits contained struck flint flakes dating from the Mesolithic to Iron Age periods, as well as Neolithic pottery. A report for Phase 1 has been produced (Jarosz-Blackburn 2015).
Oxford Archaeology East returned to the site for Anglian Water between 9th and 13th April 2015 for Phase 2, a further trench evaluation of a strip of land south-east of the original pipeline location, prior to the construction of a Water Treatment Works. After the topsoil had been stripped, two trenches totalling 136m2 were excavated through the subsoil. In this area, the natural silty deposits containing worked flints were not present, however quarry pitting dating from the late Medieval to post-Medieval periods was uncovered and investigated. This activity is may relate to road and pathway/surface construction, the quarrying being for large gravel and cobblestone extraction.
A walk-over survey of the subsoil was carried out to check for the presence of struck flints (as found further to the north during Phase 1), and none were found to be present within this area. However, a small number of residual flints were recovered from within the quarry pits.