Monument record 0087900000 - LODGE HILL, SAUNDERTON

SHALLOW CIRCULAR DEPRESSIONS, PROB IRON AGE HUT SITES. SETTLEMENT DISTINGUISHED BY DARK SURFACE SOIL. BANK & DITCH MARK W LIMIT & BRIDLE-PATH TO S. VISIBLE HUT CIRCLES ON E OF ENCL. TRIAL EXCAV CUT SECTIONS THROUGH DITCH (01:000). FINDS SUGGEST OCCUPATION EARLY IRON AGE & BELGIC/R-B (DETAILS)(B1).(B2-4,B9).

A settlement site of some two acres on the southern
slopes of Lodge Hill is distinguished by its almost black
surface soil (See plans and sections). To the west, occupation
seems to have ceased at a bank and ditch that now form the
parish boundary. On the E side of the settlement are a number
of visible hut-circles and between them a shallow ditch (See
plan) which was subject of a trial excavation in 1939, but
abandoned due to the war. The primary silting of this ditch
yielded fragments of a Belgic beaker and the secondary, more
Belgic pottery, flint flakes, animal remains, iron slag etc.

Surface finds mainly from molehills amounted to numerous
potsherds (including Samian) a Roman bronze pin, hammerstones,
flint flakes, a spindle-whorl and other occupational debris.

It seems most likely that the site was occupied in the Early Iron Age and again in Romano-British times. (1)

Iron Age sherds were found on the surface and in mole hills on Lodge Hill at SU 79549978, in 1965, by C Saunders. Finds in Aylesbury Museum. (Acc No 139 65). (B7)

The Samian and Belgic pottery indicate 1st c AD occupation but nothing has so far been found to suggest that the site was occupied until the end of the century (B11).

There are no ground traces of hut circles, a ditch, or settlement pattern on Lodge Hill, which is under rough pasture and scrub, though the 1939 excavation trench is still visible
at SU 7957 9986 (B12).

Update 1998, Update 2011 (B13).