Summary

Late Bronze Age settlement including truncated wooden platform and abutting wooden trackway.

Source: Historic England

Details

The site includes a timber platform, partially truncated by modern construction work, and a trackway or causeway running westwards away from it towards higher ground. An area surrounding the interface between the platform and the trackway is also of archaeological interest and is included in the monument. All parts are of Late Bronze Age date.

The extant part of the platform, which extends over an area of 200sq m, comprises large oak posts, up to 2.6m in length, set into underlying clay deposits. These posts support a horizontal layered platform, shown in at least one location to be formed of a lower layer of oak with, at right angles to it, an upper layer of coppiced hazel rods. The area of archaeological interest where the platform meets the trackway is unexcavated.

The trackway, which leads from the platform to the west, is composed of three rows of vertical oak posts securing a framework of horizontal oak timbers.

The site was discovered in 1995 during the construction of flood alleviation ponds. The excavation which followed the discovery opened up a 50m section of the platform and, in 1996, a 60m length of the trackway. On the platform were found three hearths, in situ, set on clay. A layer of debris, 0.2m thick, had accumulated on the platform and was found to contain large quantities of stone, animal bone (cattle, sheep and pig), and pottery dating to the Late Bronze Age. The small finds included a small bronze sickle, with an intact handle, three socketed axes (attributed to the North German/Holland plain), ornamental amber beads, a bronze chisel, a bronze bracelet, part of a shale bracelet, two lead purse-shaped pendants (with Belgian/northern French affinities), and two carved antler bridal pieces. Organic remains included wattle work, rush matting, some 50 human skeletal bones and part of a disarticulated child burial.

Extent of Scheduling: the scheduling comprises one area of protection and is intended to protect the whole of the known area of the monument including the partially truncated platform and trackway.

The scheduled area of archaeological importance has a maximum length of 207m and a maximum width of 130m.

The modern fishing platforms on the west bank of the lake are excluded from the scheduling, but the ground beneath is included.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

The Bronze Age platform and trackway at Shinewater are scheduled for the following principal reasons:
* Survival: the survival of timbers and artefacts within the wet conditions of the Shinewater Park is very good;
* Rarity: The platform and trackway at Shinewater represent a class of monument where relatively few examples survive;
* Group Value: the platform and trackway at Shinewater are associated with other contemporary trackways in the area and with a possible Bronze Age round barrow;
* Documentation (archaeological): that part of the site which has been excavated is well documented and further research has found other contemporary trackways.
* Potential: as much of the site remains unexcavated there is considerable potential for research and discovery. In addition the site has potential amenity value;
* Fragility: the waterlogged deposits are vulnerable to changes within their environment.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
Environmental Investigations at Shinewater Park, Eastbourne A summary of data 2001-2006 by David Hogan. October 2007.,
Shinewater Marsh, Eastbourne Historic Environment Conservation Plan prepared by Martin Brown, Dr Andrew Woodcock with contributions by Paul Roberts. April 2007,

Source: Historic England