White, Stephen; Rayner, Louise; (2023) A Middle Iron Age Settlement in Whitechapel: excavations on Stepney Way, Whitechapel, London E1. London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. Transactions , 74 pp. 35-62.

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Abstract

The redevelopment of Whitechapel Central, 85 Stepney Way, Whitechapel, was preceded by extensive archaeological investigations carried out during 2015—19. Fieldwork recovered residual flint work dating from the Mesolithic to the Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age, plus some features apparently of pre-Middle Iron Age date. The first securely dated occupation consisted of roughly one quarter of an oval shaped Middle Iron Age (c.400—200 bc) enclosed settlement. Several phases of internal activity were represented by penannular gullies, pits, postholes, gullies and a probable well. The settlement was abandoned after about 200 years. Roman activity was primarily represented by a linear ditch with an ‘anklebreaker’ type basal slot. The Iron Age discovery was unexpected as no prehistoric finds had been previously identified in the vicinity of the site and the closest known prehistoric settlement was located some 3km to the north-east at the Olympic Park in the Lower Lea valley. Radiocarbon dates that were obtained enhanced the dating information provided by the small pottery assemblage. The evidence for the settlement’s layout, agriculture, economy and its regional significance within Greater London is considered.

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