Hoxne Brick Pit
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM174766 | — | Favourable | 0.35 | 2024-03-11 |
| TM176765 | — | Favourable | 0.39 | 2024-03-11 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Flint
Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial
Description
Description Hoxne Brick Pit is a world famous geological site. Research dates back to the 18th Century, when John Frere recognised that flint implements from here had been fashioned by early man. Detailed description of the sediments has demonstrated that interglacial lacustrine deposits here occupy a basin in the chalky till and are in turn overlain by fluviatile deposits penetrated by ice wedge casts. The lacustrine deposits, the type deposits of the Hoxnian Interglacial, have been shown by pollen analysis to cover the 'Anglian' late glacial early Hoxnian Holl interval. The upper series of largely fluvial deposits contain abundant vertebrate material attributable to late Hoxnian and Wolstonian Stages. Finds include fishes, voles, Norway lemming, extinct beaver, horse, several deer and a macaque. Sparse finds have also been made in the organic lake deposits of Hoxnian, Zone Holl, age. Hoxne is undoubtedly one of the most important Pleistocene sites in Britain.