During the Stour Basin Palaeolithic proejct in 2014 four test-pits were dug to examine the geological sequence and assess palaeolithic potential. A single flint flake was recovered and the geological sequence characterised.

From the archaeological report:

"Dreal's Farm, 100 Acres Field (NGR 619500 144750) is underlain by a large patch of brickearth capping Clay-with-flints, and so was selected for study ... It is also near to the location of several Palaeolithic handaxe surface finds, including one of bout coupé form associated with Neanderthal presence c. 60,000 years ago.

Four machine-dug test pits were excavated, TPs 1-4, in a broadly northwest-southeast transect across the mapped brickearth patch... A thick brickearth sequence of clayey silt/sand was encountered in TP 1 with cobbles of nodular flint in its topmost part. Deposits in the other three test pits were much more flint-rich, with common large nodular flint clasts in clay-silt/sand matrix…

Seven sediment samples were taken through the deep brickearth sequence exposed in TP 1, sub-samples of which will be analysed for particle-size. Two OSL dating samples were also taken from the TP 1 brickearth sequence. One mint condition flint flake was found in the top part of the brickearth in TP 2, 15cm below the base of the ploughsoil.

Evidence of palaeolithic activity

One small and quite thin flint flake was recovered during the fieldwork, from the upper part of the phase Iib flint-rich in brickearth in TP 2. It was found 15cm below the base of the ploughsoil. It is very lightly patinated towards the proximal end of its ventral surface. It is in absolutely mint condition, lacking in cortex, and retains the scars on its dorsal surface of at least three previous flakes struck from roughly the same direction. However it is entirely technologically undiagnostic. At this height in the sequence it is quite possible for relatively recent post-Palaeolithic lithic remains (ie. Within the Holocene) to become moved down the sediment profile by worm action, or to have fallen down a crack in the sediment, now closed up; however it is possible that this flake is evidence of Palaeolithic activity. Whatever its period, it is unlikely to have moved far from its original point of discard, so represents activity at this location. However, there was no sign of a palaeo-landsurface, nor of other flint artefacts suggesting sustained activity at this location."(1)

<1> University of Southampton, 2015, Stour Basin Palaeolithic Project: Final Fieldwork Report (Unpublished document). SKE31705.