Archaeological Excavation at Site 1A, Area 1, Nacton Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IPS715

In April 2013 Oxford Archaeology East carried out a small excavation at Site 1a, Nacton Road, Ipswich. The excavation was located within the footprint of a new road which will provide access to a restaurant development with associated carparking. A good proportion of Site 1a had previously been excavated in 2000 by Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service (IPS404). Therefore the current investigation only covered 0.56ha of the total 2.1ha Site 1a area.
The investigation revealed the limits of Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service's excavation. The remainder of the area was stripped by mechanical excavator and all exposed archaeological and natural features were recorded. One undated field boundary ditch of possible prehistoric date was found. This is a continuation of that found in 2000. The terminus of another undated linear feature, possibly another field boundary ditch was also recorded. Two probably post-medieval hedge boundary ditches were revealed which also equate to features found in excavation IPS404.
Several isolated, discrete features were revealed which were excavated and found to be natural features – either tree boles, animal burrows or glacial ice wedges. Two postholes were recorded which were dated by their finds to the post-medieval or modern periods.
There was no evidence of Second World War defences or airfield features.