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THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
In view of the fact that the original surface of the burnt earth
was subsequently washed by the tide and covered with alluvium,
no special significance is attached to the stratification of the
deposits at the higher levels. The fragments of mediaeval ware
may have been left by men in charge of sheep and cattle, fed on
the Island at a time when the surface was still dry land above
the reach of the tides; such ware has been met with on all the
existing Red-hill sites on the Island.
Two further holes BIII and CII were dug on the western half
of the mound at a distance of 40ft. to the west of holes BI and CI,
respectively, and at corresponding O.D. levels. The character
of the soil passed through and of the fragments of pottery
recovered is shown in the table. The relatively small amount
of briquetage present, the low percentage of what is here termed
"disintegrated briquetage" (1 mm. to 5 mm. diam.) in the burnt
earth, and the absence of slag indicates that the two sites are
of domestic rather than industrial character. "Gritted" ware
was found in the burnt earth at both sites associated with
Romano-British pottery, and at a depth of 5ft. 6ins. at Hole CII,
a massive briquetage rim, pierced for a handle.
A final hole BIV was dug 10 yards to the east of BII. The
results are summarised in the table. Small pieces of chalk were
present in the burnt earth at all depths from 3ft. to 5ft. 6ins.
Chalk may possibly have been used in the manufacture of
pottery.
Excavations at Site DI, Ferndale Crescent.
The site is 220 yards to the west of Blackmore Avenue, and is
3ft. below the H.T.L. of the Creek (10ft. above O.D.).
At Ferndale Crescent a Romano-British refuse tip rested
directly on the burnt earth layer, and was in part incorporated
therewith to a depth of 18ins. The burnt earth and associated
objects were similar to those at Blackmore Avenue; a layer of
sandy loam suitable for pottery making was located at a depth
of 4ft.
The fragments of pottery in the tip were numerous and
included Samian ware and Roman tiles. One Samian ware base
was stamped with the name CINT-VGENI, a potter of Lubie