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Papers by Maria Medlycott

Part 1. Discussion VII. Southwestern cemetery and extramural settlement 247 VIII. Western cemeter... more Part 1. Discussion VII. Southwestern cemetery and extramural settlement 247 VIII. Western cemetery and extramural settlement 251 IX. Outside the immediate vicinity of the town (Essex) 253 X. Outside the immediate vicinity of the town (Cambs) 253

The project comprises the digitisation of the paper archive from Richard Bartlett's major 198... more The project comprises the digitisation of the paper archive from Richard Bartlett's major 1980s excavations at Harlow Roman Temple

Over-Arching Research Themes and Strategy Chronologies and processes of change 84 Landscape and e... more Over-Arching Research Themes and Strategy Chronologies and processes of change 84 Landscape and environment 84 Wetland 85 Urban 87 Methodologies 88 Dissemination and outreach 89 Bibliography Index, by Sue Vaughan Reconstruction drawing courtesy of the Ancient History of Britain Project / John Sibbick The archaeological survey of mineral extraction sites around the Thames Estuary (Essex County Council and Kent County Council 2004) included extant and former mineral sites in the Thurrock/Dartford area. The outputs of this project included a range of GIS layers, incorporating the results of specialist studies (including geology, Palaeolithic archaeology and industrial archaeology). The survey considers the importance and potential of the resource in and around the extraction sites. Lower and Middle Palaeolithic At the internationally important site of Pakefield Cliff in Gisleham, Suffolk, excavation of interglacial deposits revealed struck flints, plant and animal fossils in the Cromer Forest-bed Formation, which comprise the earliest evidence for human activity in northern Europe (c. 700,000 BP). The Happisburgh project, Norfolk, was set up after flint artefacts (including a handaxe) and butchered bone were discovered in the organic muds that underlie the rapidly eroding coastal cliffs. In 2004 Happisburgh I was excavated, revealing flint tools, bone, wood and other plant materials, which lay at the marshy edges of a large river. The discovery of the extinct water vole (Arvicola cantiana) suggests that this site dates to between 500,000 and 600,000 years ago. Two further sites were discovered, Happisburgh II and III. At the latter a gravel river channel also revealed flint tools, bone and plant materials, this has been dated to at least 700,000 years BP. If it is older than this date, then it would be the earliest human site in northern Europe. The evidence from Happisburgh III has huge implications for our understanding of the earliest colonization of Europe and the types of environment in which early humans could survive. Research and Archaeology Revisited: 4 PROJECT LOCATION AUTHORITY TYPE COMMENTS Wash Rivers ALSF Cambs and DBA with HER This ALSF project aimed to characterise the archaeological project P'boro enhancement materials and potential from the gravels of the Washland Rivers of Cambridgeshire-Cam, Nene, Granta and Ouse. The National Ice Age project and the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project have done sterling work in collating and furthering the study of the Pleistocene and the Palaeolithic in Britain. Progress has been made on many of the broad research topics identified by the original Research Agenda and Strategy. In particular the English Rivers Palaeolithic Survey, together with the Middle Thames Northern Tributaries project, the Medway Valley project, the Wash Rivers and Over Landscapes projects, and the survey of mineral extraction sites around the Thames Estuary, have all provided both quantitative and qualitative assessments of the resource. The next stage is to place these surveys within the wider regional landscape and to utilise the predictive models to target fieldwork/test predictions.

Essex Archaeology and History (Volume 3), 2012

Books by Maria Medlycott

Excavations on the outskirts of Chelmsford focussed on a circular enclosure 60m in diameter seen ... more Excavations on the outskirts of Chelmsford focussed on a circular enclosure 60m in diameter seen as a cropmark on aerial photographs. Before excavation it was considered likely to be a henge monument or possibly a Late Bronze Age enclosure like that recently identified at Mucking in south Essex. A Late Bronze Age date was quickly established; the enclosure was fully excavated, and the site has given its name to the English Heritage single monument class description ‘Springfield Type Enclosure’ — a settlement type characteristic, particularly in eastern England, of the Late Bronze Age and earliest Iron Age. Finds included clay moulds for casting Ewart Park type swords

Combined in this single volume are the results of published and unpublished excavations in Roman ... more Combined in this single volume are the results of published and unpublished excavations in Roman Great Chesterford, and an account of the origins and development of the town. The principal archive sources were the antiquarian excavations of the mid-19th century, mainly by the Hon R.C. Neville; rescue excavations by Major J.G.S. Brinson in the late 1940s; and the Great Chesterford Archaeological Society excavations of the 1970s–90s.
Great Chesterford sits on the north-western boundary of Essex in the valley of the River Cam. It is a strategically important site which commands the entrance to the Fens through the gap in the low chalk hills, as well as a number of significant routeways and the tribal boundary between the Trinovantes and the Catuvellauni. The town has its origins in the late Iron Age. A rectangular timber shrine which pre-dates the later Roman temple has been identified 1km to the east of the town. The settlement evidence is limited; evidence from burials being more widespread. In particular, the Aylesford-type bucket burial from Bramble Shot suggests a local leadership of considerable wealth and social standing.
The earliest evidence for the Roman period comprised the pre-Flavian fort, a single ditch and bank enclosing a rectangular area of about 13.4ha. It is not known whether the fort was built prior to the Boudiccan revolt or in response to it; what is clear however, is that it was in use for only a very short time. It was apparently deliberately dismantled, although a number of its internal features were incorporated into the town that grew up on its site.
A geophysical survey of the town has identified much of its layout. In the centre was a large market place flanked by substantial masonry buildings which may have included a mansio or a macellum and a temple. Masonry structures have been identified along the main north road, including the villa and the ‘tax office’ excavated by Brinson. Six principal roads led into the market place. The remainder of the area was sub-divided by lanes with a regular planned appearance on the western side of the town. The majority of the buildings would have been timber-framed, and several examples have been excavated. Extensive areas of pitting are also visible on the survey. There is some suggestion that the town was enclosed by a bank and ditch, which was replaced in the later 4th century by a substantial flint rubble wall, the construction of which involved the clearance of a number of buildings and the backfilling of earlier features.
Outside the town were extensive cemeteries and evidence for extra-mural settlement, which in many cases overlapped in extent. A second walled enclosure has been identified to the south-west of the main town area. This contained evidence for both settlement and burials as well as a number of pits with depositions of a ritual nature. It is suggested that this area may have formed a focus for religious activity. The cemeteries encircling the town exhibit a change in burial practice mirrored elsewhere in Roman towns, with the later examples comprising interments laid out in an east–west direction with few or no grave goods; it is possible, but not proven, that these may represent Christian burials.
To the east of the town, the late Iron Age shrine was replaced by a classic Romano-British square-in-square temple enclosed within a precinct within which was a series of very large pits containing the bones of numerous animal sacrifices. Goods were being manufactured for deposition at the temple, including votive leaves and non-functional brooches. A silver face mask from the site depicts a male deity with extravagant facial hair and possible horns; comparisons can be drawn with the British and Celtic god Nodens and the Romano-British versions of Neptune, Mercury and Silvanus.
It is suggested that Great Chesterford took on a more significant role as a centre for local administration and possibly as an inland component of the Saxon Shore defences in the 4th century, culminating in the construction of the walls. The fate of the town at the end of the Roman period is not clear. An extensive Anglo-Saxon cemetery (450–600) has been excavated immediately to the north of the town, and there is some evidence for individuals using Romano-British burial practices being included within that cemetery.

Updated Regional Research Framework for the Eastern Counties, England

Essex Archaeology and History (Volume 3), 2012

Updated Regional Research Framework for the Eastern Counties, England