RETURN TO INDEXRETURN TO CORRESPONDENCE INDEXHe said that initial analysis of the so called industrial layer, which was denied at the Inquiry, occupying approximately an 80cm thickness on the edge of Redgeland, was extremely interesting. The burnt clay remains, which had been seen to be red and orange flecks at the time of the Wessex excavation, were probably remains of pots which had been crushed.
Having augered in this area they established without doubt that there was something of significance there. The layer in question occupied an area which was 25 meters long and at least 5 meters wide. Simon expressed caution in making any definitive conclusion, but offered the possibility that the rubble may be there as a flooring of some kind. Alternatively it may be connected with salt boiling, something I know absolutely nothing about.
Simon will be publishing his findings in the early part of next year. He concluded by restating his belief that the evidence which they had found, would confirm that those remains as evidence of "industrialisation". Initial carbon dating confirmed that this was in the Middle Bronze Age. If this is correct, as I am sure that it is, it is clear that the valley was a major area of early civilisation in East Sussex. It is now just a matter of time before the infrastructure of the port is found, and may well be revealed when the detail of Simon and Christine's work is available for others to investigate.
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