EAA 149: The Neolithic and Bronze Age Enclosures at Springfield Lyons, Essex (Paperback)

Excavation of the enclosure at Springfield Lyons quickly established its Late Bronze Age date, and the site now lends its name to a settlement type characteristic, particularly in eastern England, of the Late Bronze Age and earliest Iron Age. Excavation revealed a substantial enclosure ditch divided by causeways of undisturbed natural gravel, and with entrances facing east and west. Postholes inside the ditch was interpreted as support for a box rampart. The enclosure contained a number of roundhouses, including one with a large porch aligned on the east entrance. The finds assemblage was largely typical of the material associated with such Late Bronze Age circular enclosures, but remarkable amongst the finds were two large deposits of clay refractory material, recovered from the ditch by both the east and west entrances. Apart from some crucible fragments, the mould material was almost without exception derived from moulds for casting Ewart Park type swords. Examination of an area outside the east entrance of the Late Bronze Age enclosure revealed part of a Neolithic causewayed enclosure. It is suggested that the unusual causewayed form of the Late Bronze Age enclosure ditch was a conscious emulation of the nearby causewayed enclosure; and that the presence of that ancient site influenced the location of the Late Bronze Age enclosure.