Selected projects
4.19.22 Middle Iron Age settlement at 95-97 High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire
Field evaluation on the outskirts of Evesham, Worcestershire by the Worcestershire County Archaeological Service on behalf of Evesham and Pershore Housing Association, had identified evidence of medieval occupation as anticipated. In addition, however, unexpected evidence was revealed of Iron Age deposits, and English Heritage stepped in to support the developer-funded excavation of this previously unknown Middle Iron Age enclosed settlement.
A substantial enclosure ditch was identified, together with a network of other boundary ditches, a complex of pits, and a cobbled yard area in the centre of the excavated area. It is clear that this represents just a part of a much more extensive Middle Iron Age settlement. No previous evidence for Iron Age occupation is known from Evesham, and the discovery of the site was entirely unexpected, as it lies within an area of the town that was comprehensively developed for housing in the later nineteenth century. Although many Iron Age enclosed settlements have been identified by aerial photography along the gravel terraces of the River Avon in Worcestershire, few have been investigated. It is anticipated that this site will provide useful comparisons with the excavated Middle Iron Age settlements at Beckford and Kemerton, south of Bredon Hill, as well as contemporary sites in Warwickshire.
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In addition to the Iron Age features, Roman field boundaries were also recorded at the site, confirming the existence of a Roman settlement within the modern urban area of Evesham. This had been previously suspected from the presence of Roman pottery, which has regularly been recovered from evaluations in the town. There was also some medieval activity on the site, the main feature of which was an area of cobbling, although no associated structural features were identified during fieldwork. Post-excavation analysis will commence shortly and a full report will be published in the Transactions of the Worcestershire Archaeological Society.