Archaeological excavations at Dale Hall Farm, Lawford, Essex, CO11 2LA: January and February 2015

Archaeological excavations were carried out by CAT at Dale Hall Farm, Lawford, Essex. The excavations were conducted in three separate areas of a large development site; Areas A and C revealed evidence of an agricultural landscape dating from the Late Iron Age to the mid-late Roman period. The evidence largely comprised Late Iron Age/early Roman field boundaries, trackways and enclosures, many of which appear to have been maintained, extended or re-dug over a period of time. Some evidence for structural activity was also present, and this may have been related to the agricultural activity. Excavation of Area A also revealed the remains of a late 3rd- to 4th- century Roman kiln and associated kiln debris. Evidence of activity in Area B comprised an early/middle Roman enclosure ditch which encircled what seemed to be a small cemetery containing eight cremation burials and at least one inhumation burial.