Archaeological Evaluation: Land North of Chelmsford Road, Ongar, Essex

The evaluation comprised the investigation of 31 trial trenches, deployed across the c.4.5ha site. Archaeological features were found in nineteen trenches, comprising ditches, gullies, pits and a posthole, primarily in the north-west. The only evidence for pre-Roman land use was a single sherd of prehistoric pottery likely found residually in a later dated feature. The majority of the archaeological features appear to be Roman in date with small quantities of pottery and CBM of Late Iron Age/early Roman, mid Roman and later Roman date being recovered. These comprise ditches, gullies and pits that are mostly located in the north-west of the site with some scattered features in the south-west and central areas. Intercutting features, alongside the early, middle and later Roman material, suggest that north of the site was occupied throughout the period with several phases of development occurring. The remains appear to form part of an enclosure with smaller sub-divisions forming multiple activity areas within. Although no obvious structural remains or occupation layers were identified, the collected artefactual material and features allude to a probable small, rural Roman farmstead. The remaining dated features comprise a small number of post-medieval field boundary ditches, mostly known from historical maps and likely associated with Wants/Wantz Farm, which was located immediately south-west throughout the period. A small number of features remain undated, although the majority are likely to be associated with the Roman land use activity.