HER 799 - Bronze Age site, Petters Sports field, Egham

Excavations by Bernard Johnson and David Barker from 1972 and by Martin O'Connell from 1976-77. Evidence for occupation in Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Romano-British and early and later medieval periods. Major finds were an Late Bronze Age hoard of about 80 pieces in two groups in a large ditch, also part of a stone axe mould for an Late Bronze Age axe of South Welsh type. The excavations at Petters Sports Field were completed March 1977. Most features confined to gravel. Early/Middle Bronze Age enclosure ditch 1.6m and 0.6m deep. Few sherds of pottery, one fine barbed and tanged arrowhead. Postholes and pits gave no dating evidence. Other pits at lower level, probably pre-dated the ditch. The remains of a hut circle cut the north-west end of ditch but no evidence of dating came from these features. North-east end of ditch cut by Late Bronze Age enclosure ditch, circa 5m wide, and nearly 1.5m deep. A Late Bronze Age hoard found in this ditch. The hoard deposited in two small pits at bottom of half silted ditch. It consisted of 78 pieces of bronze including a variety of weapons, tools, vessels and ornamental attachments. The most numerous artefact present were socketed axeheads, four stylistic variants were identified. Tool types included socketed knives and gouges and a socketed sickle, overall a relatively rare discovery. Many of the items were unfinished or worn out through use, suggests a burial by bronze smith working in the area. Evidence of metalworking has been attested close to this site. The artefacts were probably deposited towards the end of the 8th century or beginning of 7th century BC. The ditch apparently ceased use soon after hoard was deposited. The upper part of fill was a thick black deposit, incorporating a large quantity of Late Bronze Age pottery and bone, indicating the ditch was being used as a midden. Posthole pits were examined in part of the area excavated in the ditch enclosure. Two hut circles were tentatively identified. Finds were scarce, only two pits produced pottery or bone. See HER 2425, 2424, 2423 and 4301.

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