Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 1667: summary

Archaeological excavation at land north of Lower Farm Barn, The Causeway, Hitcham, Suffolk IP7 7NE: April-May 2021
by Sarah Veasey (with contributions from Dr Matthew Loughton, Laura Pooley and Alec Wade)

Date report completed: May 2021
Location: Lower Farm Barn, The Causeway, Hitcham, Suffolk IP7 7NE
Map reference(s): TL 9871 5189 (centre)
File size: 14435 kb
Project type: Excavation
Significance of the results:
Keywords:

Summary. An archaeological excavation (1,163m2) was carried out on land north of Lower Farm Barn, The Causeway, Hitcham, Suffolk in advance of the construction of six new dwellings. The proposed development is located along the edge of an agricultural field and is close to sites of Roman, medieval and post-medieval significance. An archaeological trial-trenching evaluation undertaken prior to the excavation identified six features (two ditches, a gully and three pits), mostly of medieval date.

Excavation has revealed an area of medieval land management in the form of a series of ditches and gullies, likely used to prevent the road and land from flooding. Evidence of ditches being recut and multiple gullies indicate an extended period of activity. Finds evidence recovered points to a farmstead or settlement near to the excavation area. A 19th/20th century roadside ditch and boundary ditch were also uncovered.