Early Pit Settlements - Life in Woods

The 'architecture' of the small settlement clusters found in association with the Bronze Age fieldsystem seems to consist of a series of broadly familiar components that can be readily identified, such as pit-wells, raised four-post granaries and distinct houses (both round and long). As is characteristic throughout most of Britain, the settlements of the proceeding period are more ephemeral, at times consisting of no more than 'open' (i.e. non-feature associated) finds spreads. More common however are pit clusters - often with quantities of settlement refuse within them - that can be associated with slight structures. In the case of the one substantial Early Neolithic settlement (c. 3700-3500BC) found thus far, some 22 small pits were found in associated with slight, almost wigwam-like shelters. (In the first phase of this occupation the resultant hollows of large storm-thrown trees seem to have been utilised as structures - perhaps with lean-tos added to their up-turned root-bowls.)

Later Neolithic pit cluster sites have been more frequently encountered across the landscape. They are associated with a very distinct style of linear-decorated pottery called 'Grooved Ware'. (The density of sites of this period - c. 2800-2200BC) - probably relates to the fact that much of the fen was flooded by the sea and this may have led to a 'bunching up' of settlements in the adjacent river valleys.) The pits in these Grooved Ware clusters generally tend to be larger and deeper than during the earlier Neolithic and the structures occurring with them were 'heavier' or more robust, being more akin to small, post-built sub-rectangular 'sheds'.

The key question concerning these 'pit' settlements is whether their occupation was continuous. Were these, in effect, temporary camps and somewhere that was returned to for part of each year for seasonal activities such as hunting, gathering or harvesting. Or were they permanent sites, all be them short-lived? This issue cannot as yet be satisfactorily resolved. Either way, however, given the slight character of their 'architecture' (as opposed to the massively impressive monuments of the era) and the widespread distribution of artefacts of this period throughout the landscape, there was clearly a great deal of movement across the landscape. Living in woodland clearances (without wells) people would have journeyed daily to obtain water (though not necessarily more than 100m or so); more distant 'tasking' would have involved seasonal collection of nuts and other food stuffs (and also hunting), the driving of stock animals to new pastures (often sources of leaf-fodder) and also travelling to procure flint and congregating at social gatherings. The archaeological 'fall out' from these many journeys are low densities of artefacts widely spread throughout the landscape.