Excavation on land at Mill Straight, Southwater, West Sussex, 2016: Draft Publication Article for submission to Sussex Archaeological Collections

The location of the excavation area was informed by the results of the archaeological evaluation and measured 7400m. Fieldwork commenced with the removal, under constant archaeological supervision, of topsoil and subsoil from the excavation area. This was carried out by a mechanical excavator with a toothless grading bucket, to a level where archaeological deposits were encountered. In agreement with the archaeological advisor to the LPA, it was decided to investigate the archaeological potential of the site to the immediate south of the initial excavation area. A 4m-wide extension of the excavated area was excavated 20m further to the south, to identify any additional features 'within' either of the enclosure ditches. However, no additional features were identified within this extension. Deposits were assessed for their potential for preserving palaeoenvironmental evidence, and those considered to have potential for characterising phases of occupation or economic activity on the site, were sampled. A total of 22 bulk soil samples was taken from suitable deposits during the excavation. Excavated finds and features identified three principal phases of activity, extending from the Middle Iron Age to the later Roman periods. A small group of badly truncated pit and post hole features of Middle Iron Age date, located principally within the central and northern parts of the site, included evidence for a post-built roundhouse. This phase of activity may have been of short duration, and there is no evidence of continuity with the succeeding curvilinear ditch of late Iron Age/Early Roman date, which ran across the southern part of the excavation area and enclosed its south-eastern corner. This feature may be contemporary with a number of adjacent, undated pits and postholes, including possible evidence of a further roundhouse. A number of features within the south-east corner of the site may also be associated with domestic settlement at this time. This enclosure ditch was replaced in the later Roman period by a strikingly regular ditch of rectilinear plan, which may indicate continuity of settlement. An unurned deposit of cremation-related material was recorded closely adjacent to this later ditch. Aligned with the later ditch was a regular layout of ditched field boundaries, which extended beyond the northern margins of the excavated area. The poor Roman material record was typical of low-status sites of this date, which are largely dependent on local sources of pottery. A small number of iron objects, a shale bead, and a small sample of ironworking residues were recorded. Few charred plant remains were recovered, and charcoal was generally poorly preserved, hence few conclusions could be made regarding environment or farming economy. Hazelnut shell fragments were recovered from the fills of the post holes defining the Middle Iron Age roundhouse.