Land West of Thaxted Road, Saffron Walden, Essex

Non-significant overburden was removed using a suitable mechanical excavator, which was equipped with a toothless grading bucket, whilst under constant archaeological direction. Where necessary, revealed archaeological features and deposits were hand-cleaned to aid identification, interpretation and planning. Thereafter, all further archaeological investigation was conducted manually by archaeologists. The archaeological fieldwork comprised two area strips at locations of identified archaeological potential, as suggested by the results of a previous evaluation. Area 1 contained part of a Medieval rectilinear ditched enclosure, as well as a small number of contemporary pits. The enclosure was likely to be the rear part of a croft, which was associated with a small rural settlement, possibly dating to the 12th - 14th century. Area 2 contained part of a Prehistoric segmented ditched trackway, with an associated cobbled surface. Limited dating evidence suggested that the trackway may have been in use as early as the middle Bronze Age to early Iron Age, whilst a single radiocarbon determination indicated that the cobbled surface was probably laid in the late Iron Age and represented a later alteration or addition. Area 2 also contained part of a substantial Post-medieval ditched field boundary.