Archaeological Evaluation and Excavation. Harlow Innovation Park Plots C & E, London Road North, Harlow, Essex. Final Archive Report

The initial evaluation phase comprised the investigation of thirteen trial-trenches within the 2.3ha extents of development Plots C and E. This identified the presence of archaeological remains of Middle Iron Age, Early Roman, possible Early Saxon and post-medieval periods that were evidently parts of the same past land uses as previously found elsewhere in the Innovation Park site. Subsequent mitigation work followed immediately and comprised the investigation of three excavation areas, totalling 1,440sq m, focussing on the vicinities of remains of perceived significance. Two relatively large ditches, positioned perpendicular to one another, constituted part of a Middle Iron Age rectilinear field or enclosure system in Area 3 (south). A small number of pits occupied the interior of one of the defined fields/enclosures. The quantity of pottery retrieved from the ditches might suggest nearby settlement activity. Early Roman land use was represented by a series of NNE/SSW parallel cultivation or bedding trenches extending across Areas 2 and 3. They formed part of a single complex or block, a part of which was previously found to the north in the earlier Innovation Park investigations - one of a number of such bedding trench complexes present in the wider Innovation Park site and in the surrounding vicinity. A possible Early Saxon sunken-featured building (SFB) and an associated gully were located in Area 1. Although no diagnostic dating evidence was recovered from either feature, a scattered Early Saxon settlement pattern is represented by other SFBs found at surrounding sites at Gilden Way and Newhall. All later dated remains related to modern use of the site by the Maypole Sports Club.