Bronze Age

Manor Park, Guildford

Watching brief by A Weale of TVAS during works on the construction of new sports pitches for the University of Surrey. A small number of postholes and pits containing pottery of a Middle–Late Bronze Age date were revealed, together with environmental evidence and charcoal fragments, which radiocarbon dating indicated was deposited around 1416–1292 BC. A medieval ditch was also recorded, running through the centre of the site. See TVAS monograph 11

Coldharbour Quarry, Thorpe

Excavation by P Riccoboni of ASE in advance of mineral working on the site. Along with some undated features, four large pits of an apparent Late Bronze Age date were interpreted as waterholes, one of which showed evidence for having been recut and re-used in the Roman period. A series of linear features of Roman date crossed the site, probably representing evidence of the remains of a field system. The foundations of a T-shaped probable corn-drying structure, again of Roman date, were also revealed.

North Park Farm Quarry, Bletchingley

Archaeological work under the guidance of P Jones of SCAU and by N Branch of ArchS focused upon a dry valley (the hollow, as it was formerly described) visited repeatedly by Mesolithic communities that had been identified during previous evaluation at the quarry. The archaeological work consisted of geophysical survey, environmental sampling and excavation and was undertaken by professional, volunteer and student archaeologists.

Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury

Evaluation by J Vuolteenaho of MoLAS in advance of the installation of a new track revealed one area containing postholes representing either early activity, or an earlier fence alignment, and another with a small shallow feature and further postholes. Monitoring by S Davis during machine clearance around the area of the first set of postholes did not reveal any similar or associated deposits, but the concrete roof of either a basement or bunker was uncovered. Although not fully excavated, the structure was found to extend at least 2m below the present ground surface.

Hengrove Farm, Staines

Continuing excavation by G Hayman of SCAU in advance of mineral extraction. Two areas were excavated in 2005. The northern of the two areas lay immediately north of the area examined in 2004 that included a large number of ditches, waterholes and numerous small pits and postholes, producing substantial quantities of pottery and struck flint, of Middle Bronze Age date. This concentration of evidence did not extend far into the 2005 area. The features were almost exclusively of Bronze Age date.

St Ann’s Heath School, Virginia Water

Evaluation by R Lambert of SCAU revealed a number of features dating to the Bronze Age/Early Iron Age and suggestive of a field system, with evidence for a sustained period of occupation. Alluvial hillwash deposits revealed may have the potential to inform and reconstruct the prehistoric environment, while a ditch dating to the Early Roman period could suggest continued occupation on the site throughout the Iron Age. Several post-medieval features were also revealed.

Mere Park, Nutfield

Watching brief by R Lambert of SCAU during the installation of a pipeline. Much of the area of impact was found to be previously disturbed ground. One area did demonstrate an intact stratigraphic soil profile, and a small number of Neolithic/Bronze Age flints were encountered residually in the subsoil. However, no features were observed.

Reigate town centre, Reigate

Watching brief by J Robertson of SCAU during the construction of a pipeline from the High Street at Reigate Methodist church into Priory Park. A number of features probably relating to the 18th century geometric kitchen gardens were revealed within the park, as well as the remains of a possible former trackway. Elsewhere, an apparent buried medieval soil layer produced 13th and 14th century pottery, and the area around the Methodist church and towards the High Street revealed evidence from probable boundary walls and a cellar of post-medieval date.

Rookery Farm, Kingswood

Fieldwalking by P Harp of Plateau, following on from excavations and fieldwalking in the area in 2002 and 2003. Palaeolithic surface material continued to be collected. Although most post-glacial flintwork was left in situ and unrecorded, some examples of Mesolithic axes and Neolithic/Bronze Age arrowheads were recovered.

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