Roundstone Lane, Angmering

In 2001 Archaeology South-East undertook an extensive programme of excavation at the former nurseries west of Roundstone Lane, Angmering, West Sussex, prior to the site’s redevelopment.

Four separate areas (Areas A to D) were targeted, based on a comprehensive evaluation of the site at the end of 2000. Preliminary results indicate a landscape utilised during the Late Bronze Age (LBA) and the Romano-British period.

Bronze Age Cremations
The remains of a small LBA cremation cemetery were revealed towards the northern end of the site (Area B). Historic and possibly earlier ploughing had largely destroyed the cremation vessels, most of which had been placed inverted into the upper fill of an earlier curvilinear ditch, which contained a late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age scraper at one of its terminals. Approximately 5m north of the cemetery ran a large curvilinear ditch (aligned approximately north-west/south-east) which was between 6-7m wide and approximately 1.2m deep. Asymmetrical infilling suggests that a large upcast bank was constructed on its southern side. Pottery found at its base is comparable to that of the cremation vessels. A further ditch and gullies of LBA date were found in this area and further north-west within Area A, including one north-east/south-west aligned feature containing concentrations of burnt flint intermittently along the 40m length examined.

Romano-British Farming
Further south (Area C) a small Romano-British agricultural settlement was revealed overlying the LBA field system. Linear alignments of postholes packed with chalk and flint nodules were present, as were a large number of linear ditches, the latter indicate both a shift of boundaries and the sub-division of existing parcels of land. Several large pits (up to 10m in diameter and one over 3m deep), partially backfilled with cess were excavated, but their original function is uncertain. A ‘T’-shaped corn drying oven constructed of flint and with traces of a vaulted roof, survived to a depth of 0.3m. A nearby pit contained a mass of charred cereal grain and fragments of a quern stone. To the south-east of the corn dryer an alignment of five small, shallow pits with in-situ burning are interpreted as ovens. The shallow remains of a timber beam slot building were also recorded, but had been partially truncated by later Roman ditches and large (possible quarry) pits. A short length of a metalled trackway was also found. This appeared to have been laid in a discrete, slightly lower lying (and presumably boggy) area. Excavation of this feature revealed evidence that an earlier attempt to consolidate this route had been made by laying flints into earlier wheel ruts. An iron and copper alloy lynch pin in the form of a bull’s head was recovered from the surface of the metalling, and other finds included Roman pottery and iron nails. A number of Roman coins, bracelet fragments, stamped and decorated Samian and a polished stone axe were also recovered from Area C.

Bronze Age Well
Further south, within Area D, further evidence of Romano-British field systems was revealed. A series of approximately north-south aligned ditches were all cut by a later east-west aligned ditch. The terminal end of one Roman ditch truncated the very edge of a Roman cremation burial comprising three pottery vessels. A number of other ditches and pits, (up to 4m in diameter) were of LBA date, one ditch containing a Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age leaf-shaped arrowhead, which is presumably a residual find. Towards the eastern edge of this area a 4m deep, steep sided shaft (with evidence of revetted sides), 2m in diameter was investigated. This may represent the only LBA well/ritual shaft so far found on the Coastal Plain.

Finds from the site are currently undergoing specialist analysis and a full report is intended for inclusion in a forthcoming volume of the county archaeological journal.

Project Officer: Neil Griffin
Client: CGMS Consulting and others.