lincoln eastern bypass: stage i - Archaeology Data Service

CLAU Report No.298: Archaeological and Historical Study, Part II, Lincoln Eastern Bypass: Stage I
LINCOLN EASTERN
BYPASS: STAGE I
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
HISTORICAL STUDY,
PART II
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This report has been prepared at the request of
the County Archaeological Officer with the
intention of bringing together all
archaeological information which has become
available since the completion of the
assessment report - Eastern Bypass: Stage 1
(CLAU Report No:29 1992).
Significant advances in our understanding of
the character, extent and state of preservation
of the archaeological resource along the
proposed bypass route have been made since
1992. Relevant projects include evaluations at
Greetwell by John Samuels Archaeological
Consultants and Oxford Archaeotechnics in
1994 and 1993 respectively, an evaluation at
Bracebridge Heath in 1995-96 by
Archaeological Project Services, fieldwork in
the Witham Valley area by the
Washingborough Archaeological Group, and
aerial photographic mapping by the Royal
Commission on Historical Monuments
(England). Valuable documentary research
regarding the location of the medieval
predecessor of Sheepwash Grange has been
carried out by Dr Dennis Mills of Branston.
The information in this document is presented
with the proviso that further data may yet
emerge. The Unit, its members and employees
cannot, therefore, be held responsible for any
loss, delay or damage, material or otherwise,
arising out of this report. The document has
been prepared in accordance with the terms of
the Unit's Articles of Association, the Code of
Conduct of the Institute of Field
Archaeologists, and The Management of
Archaeological Projects (English Heritage,
1991).
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2.0 RESUL TS OF FURTHER
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL
RESEARCH
For ease of reference the findings of this study
have been grouped into four separate areas
which are described in accordance with a north
to south sequence (see accompanying
illustrations, Figs. 1-3).
2.1 Area I
Evaluation of a 15 ha site at Greetwell was
carried out by Oxford Archaeotechnics in
December 1993 (Fig.l, Evaluation 2). The
evaluation included a desktop study and a
geophysical survey utilising both
magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility
techniques. The project succeeded in
disclosing what was almost certainly a
substantial and extensive late Iron Age and
Romano-British settlement. The late
prehistoric element probably has a relationship
with the triple ditch already described in the
original 1992 assessment (Hockley 1992, 5-6).
Features revealed by magnetometry over the
northern part of the site took the form of a
complex set of rectilinear enclosures, probably
of Romano-British date, including at least one
substantial structure. The magnetic
susceptibility survey enabled the definition of
three areas of enhanced magnetism, indicative
of archaeological activity, including areas to
the south which had failed to produce evidence
of'cut features' or of substantial structures.
The magnetic susceptibility survey also located
an area of burning, possibly of an industrial
nature.
A specification for non-intrusive evaluation
has been prepared by John Samuels
Archaeological Consultants for immediately
adjacent fields to the north (Fig.l, Evaluation
1). As part of preliminary work Air Photo
services of Cambridge were commissioned to
map archaeological features showing as
cropmarks on aerial photographs of the area.
At least one set of previously unrecognised
cropmarks was identified to the east of the
triple ditch feature. These can tentatively be
interpreted as further rectilinear enclosures of
possible Romano-British date. It seems likely
that these represent a northward continuation
of the previously mentioned Romano-British
site.