THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
93
the ditch is in marked contrast to the quantity of it given to me
by the workmen, so it is clear, I think, that the Hallstatt bits
found by them were spread over the site and did not come from
the ditch, as the La Tene III bits almost certainly did. In view,
however, of the quantity of Hallstatt ware found, people of the
first phase of the Early Iron Age must have lived on the site,
though not in this camp, which probably came into existence
only about the beginning of our era and lasted a comparatively
short time, say 40 years.
I found no metal articles, nor, in fact, anything but the
sherds; so the camp may have been little more than an en-
closure for cattle, and any people who may have lived in it were
probably poor. As the bulk of the pottery found by me came
from the N.E. corner, and as a great deal of the pottery given
me by the workmen certainly came from the same region, it
is probable that the inhabitants lived on that side of the camp,
but, as the whole of this portion of the camp has been destroyed,
no evidence of huts can now be found. That at least some huts
existed would seem to be indicated by the finding of the clay
daub at spots No. 4, No. 9 and No. 20. Both No. 9 and No. 20
are on the southern face, however, so possibly one or more huts
may have existed also in the southern part of the camp.
[A detailed description of the pottery will appear in a
future issue.]
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB—REPORTS OF
MEETINGS.
NATURE-RAMBLE IN THE SOUTH WEALD DISTRICT
(744TH MEETING).
SATURDAY, 13TH APRIL, 1935.
Twenty-seven members enjoyed a most pleasant ramble in the South
Weald neighbourhood—one of the most picturesque districts of our
County—on the above date, under the guidance of the Misses Steward and
Prince. Nominally, the walk was of about six miles' length.
Assembled at "Gallows Corner," between Romford and Harold Wood,
the high road was at once left and the party made its way by field-path
to Gooshays Farm, thence following up Paine's Brook through the fields
to Noak Hill; from here by lanes to St. Vincent's Hamlet and so by other
field paths across country to South Weald. The weather was kind and
on the whole sunny, but a cold wind reminded us that the Spring was as
yet young.