Lancaster Way, Ely. The Northern and Central Areas: Post Excavation Assessment

Résumé 0

An archaeological excavation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit at Lancaster Way, Witchford, Ely. Work was carried out between March and July 2016 and comprised excavations in two separate areas, the Northern and Central Areas. An area totaling 4.17ha was stripped revealing archaeology ranging in date from the Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age through to the Later Roman period and dominated by settlement remains dating to the Middle Iron Age to Early Roman period. The Northern Area was dominated by a settlement complex, which originated in the Middle Iron Age and continued in use until the Early Roman period. The complex was continually modified throughout this period. Residual Later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age, Later Bronze Age and Early Iron Age material was recovered from later features. The Middle Iron Age site comprised a number of adjoining curvilinear enclosures containing six Roundhouses. The site produced an extensive finds assemblage largely comprised of pottery and animal bone, but also included iron slag and worked clay implements, such as loom weight fragments and daub. Many of the enclosures continued to be used in the Later Iron Age. However, all the roundhouses fell out of use. A further group of enclosures, a well and two probable structures were added to the existing complex. The Later Iron Age finds assemblage was relatively small, but still comprised pottery, animal bone worked clay and iron slag. The Early Roman site can be characterised as a network of rectilinear enclosures adjoining a trackway with a number of wells. This fell out of use during early 3rd AD century and was replaced by a system of ditches, which appear to have defined fields. Again the Roman finds assemblage was relatively small, but was comprised of the same materials. A Middle Iron Age settlement complex made up the entirety of the archaeology identified in the Central Area. No later activity was identified. The complex comprised a Banjo Enclosure, which formed a component of a broader complex of enclosures and ditches. The features within the enclosures were relatively sparse. Only one roundhouse was identified across the site. This was situated within the Banjo Enclosure. The complex produced a relatively large finds assemblage, which was largely derived from the roundhouse and Banjo Enclosure. It comprised pottery and animal bone, but also included iron slag and worked clay implements, such as loom weight fragments and daub.