Brookpit Lane, Climping, West Sussex - Detailed Gradiometer Survey Report

Wessex Archaeology

A detailed gradiometer survey was conducted over land at Brookpit Lane, Climping, West Sussex (centred on NGR 500632 101532). The site comprises an arable field located 630 m south of Climping in West Sussex, covering an area of 11.4 ha.

The gradiometer survey has identified archaeological activity in the centre and south of the survey area which pertains to a settlement bounded by a ditched, and at points, double-ditched enclosure. A trackway runs through the centre, and further trackways are seen outside of the settlement. In the north the settlement is characterised by densely spaced ditched rectilinear features internally sub-divided into smaller areas, likely habitation features. The south of the settlement consists of a large enclosure with internal subdivisions and an area of possible industrial activity. Both areas contain possible hearths or areas of burning, as well as pit features likely used for rubbish disposal or as post-holes. More enclosures, likely used for animal management are seen to the south-west, south, and north-east of the settlement. Pit features, either used for rubbish disposal or small-scale extraction have been identified outside the settlement. Given the regular mainly rectilinear morphology of the settlement and the Romano-British settlement discovered in a field to the north it is likely that this is an enclosed multi-phase settlement and associated field systems possibly of Romano-British date. However, given the surrounding medieval history of the area continued use into the medieval period may have occurred.

Further investigation would be needed to accurately date the settlement and associated features. North-east of the settlement enclosing ditch is a ring ditch. This is likely to be a round house gully or enclosure dating from the Bronze Age to Romano-British period. Further investigation would however be needed to confirm this interpretation. The remaining anomalies detected were natural variations in the underlying deposits, modern
cultivation, and magnetic enhancement of a likely modern origin on the edges of the field.