Summary

Small ring ditch c100m to the west of the western end of the cursus, excavated in 1981.

Full description

Small ring ditch c100m to the west of the western end of the cursus, excavated in 1981. It was considered to be of interest as it was slightly north of the projected line of the northern cursus ditch. Its western side was apparently cut by, or cut, a north-south linear feature. On excavation, the ring ditch proved to be circular, with a c8m internal diameter. The ditch width varied from 1.2-1.5m. The ditch profile was generally V-shaped and it was 0.6-0.7m below the trowelled surface. In the north east section the fill comprised green-brown silt-loam containing many burnt flints. Elsewhere the fill was generally pebbly gravel. Finds were sparse-worked flint, flint-gritted pottery. Mostly the latter was fragmentary but broadly datable to the early bronze age. No definite contemporary features were located within or without the ring ditch. Some external natural features produced worked flints. The pottery indicates a bronze age date but cannot establish whether or not the ring ditch was contemporary with late neolithic cursus. The lack of a burial pit leaves uncertainty as to whether this was a burial site. The burnt flint and grey soil in the ditch may have come from a burial and the pottery could be scattering of funerary vessels by later disturbance <1>-<5> AP <6> Other refs: <7><8>

Site Assessment = Excavated in advance of planned expansion of Chelmsford in the 1980's <2>

Ingle, CJ, Strachan, D, Tyler, S and Saunders, H, 1993-2012, NMP Cropmark Plot - 1:10,000, TL70NW (Map). SEX22419.

<1> Buckley, DG, unknown, SMR (DESC TEXT). SEX138.

<2> Buckley, DG, 1985, Report on a Ring Ditch Excavated in 1981 (EXCAV REPORT). SEX19635.

<3> unknown, unknown, Springfield Cursus. Ring Ditch (MENTION). SEX19636.

<4> Hedges, JD and Buckley, DG in Priddy, DA, 1982, Excavations in Essex, 1981, Vol 14, p142 (DESC TEXT). SEX19637.

<5> unknown, unknown, SMR (DESC TEXT). SEX19638.

<6> CUCAP, 1976, BXK 15 (AP). SEX19639.

<7> ECC, 1981 ?, Springfield Chelmer Valley Project Progress Report (DESC TEXT). SEX54167.

<8> Hedges, John D, 1981 ?, Archaeological Potential of the Springfield Development Area (DESC TEXT). SEX54168.

Monument Types

• RING DITCH (Bronze Age - 2000 BC to 701 BC)

Associated Finds

• BURNT FLINT (Undated)
• VESSEL (Early Bronze Age - 2000 BC to 1401 BC)

Associated Events

• SALV EXCAV by Hedges, JD and Buckley, DG, (Ref: ?)

Protected Status

• Historic Environment Character Zone: Chelmsford 4.1
• Historic Environment Character Zone: Chelmsford 2.11
• Historic Environment Character Area: Chelmsford 4
• Historic Environment Character Zone: Chelmsford 2.14
• Historic Environment Character Area: Chelmsford 2
• Historic Environment Character Zone: Chelmsford 4.2
• Conservation Area: Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation (CHELMSFORD)

Sources and further reading

Related records

Images

SPRINGFIELD Pease Hall Farm , cropmarks; enclosure ect © Essex County Council	Springfield Cursus, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council	Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council	Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council	Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council	Springfield Lyons, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council	CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council
CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council	CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council
CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council	CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council
CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council	CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council
CHELMSFORD Springfield Cursus-Ring Ditch to the West of © Essex County Council	Springfield Cursus, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council
Springfield Cursus, Springfield, Chelmsford © Essex County Council

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.