The base of a dug-out boat was found in September 1976, while ploughing to the south-east of Short Ferry Bridge ('Stainfield 4'). The surviving portion was approximately 9.3m by 0.75m, with traces of thickening for the stern. There were three peg holes in the bottom, one still containing a peg. The boat was later destroyed by the farmer. {1}{2} The Stainfield boat, when first seen, consisted of eight fragments of timber scattered along the field margin, having been dragged piecemeal from their original resting place. When the fragments were reassembled, it could be seen that virtually the whole of the bottom was present, the gunwales and bow having been destroyed by past ploughing. Part of the stern survived, but not sufficient to indicate whether a separate stern-board had ever existed. In the bottom, spaced out at irregular intervals, were three plug-holes, one of which still contained part of its plug. The total surviving dimensions were approximately 9.3m by 0.75m, while the bottom reached a maximum thickness of 0.15m. Samples were taken for radiocarbon dating. Many boats have been found in the Witham Fens between Washingborough and Billinghay. No less than three are already known from Stainfield (all from the same field as the new discovery) and two from Branston and Mere. These form, at present, the greatest concentration of dug-out boats in the county. {3}{4}