ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION - Mike Griffiths and Associates

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A systematic environmental sampling method was employed. Deposits which were clearly of a mixed or
secondary origin such as make-up layers or deposits which displayed a high degree of residual or intrusive
artefactual material were not the subject of environmental sampling unless a specific question relating to
function or social status could be addressed. Where deposits were thought to be of primary origin and had
potential to contain biological remains, an appropriate sampling regime was established.
8.2 FIELDWORK RESULTS
8.2.1 Intervention 7
Intervention 7 was situated in Zone D, adjacent to the southern
boundary of the site (see Figure 36). This machine excavated
trench measured 100m x 4m, and was orientated north-south
(Plate 6). The ground level within southern half of the trench
area was fairly level at c.42.20m AOD, sloping down to
c.41.70m AOD at the northern end. The dark yellowish-brown
gravel and clayey silt ploughsoil (C1123) was found to be
c.0.30m deep, revealing an orangish-brown, gravel and silt
natural subsoil. Some banding in the subsoil was evident, with
an area of predominately gravel at the southern end of the
Plate 6 Intervention 7 looking south (scale
2m)
trench and a broad band of slightly darker subsoil containing a lower proportion of gravel throughout the centre
of the trench. The surface of the natural subsoil reflected the ground-level topography.
Three features were defined within Intervention 7 (F1, F2, F3)(Figure 37). F1 was situated close to the centre
of the trench, continuing beneath the western edge of excavation. This possibly sub-circular feature was welldefined
in plan; the visible extent of F1 was excavated, revealing a shallow cut measuring min.0.30m x 0.45m,
and 0.25m deep, with gently sloping edges and an irregular concave base (Figure 38). The feature contained
a single backfill (C1111) of dark greyish-brown fine clayey-silt with frequent flecks of charcoal, lenses of dark
grey clayey-silt, and moderate inclusions of gravel and pebbles. Late Neolithic Grooved Ware type pottery was
recovered from C1111 (Appendix F). Assessment of the pottery identified the sherds as belonging to two,
possibly three vessels, one plain vessel and one, perhaps two, thick walled vessels with grooved decoration. Six
flakes of flint were also recovered during excavation (see Appendix B). A few grams of very abraded
unidentifiable calcined bone was recovered from F1 and is likely to be burnt animal bone. The edges of F1
revealed no evidence for in situ burning; the feature was therefore interpreted as a small pit containing flint
debitage, broken pottery and ash. Environmental samples were retained from F1 to assess the potential of a
well-dated Neolithic feature, and flotation recovered charcoal, sixty-three small pieces of knapping debris, and
a few pieces of undiagnostic calcined bone. The charcoal included small abraded fragments of hazelnut shell
and occasional small fragments of oak and non-oak charcoal (Appendix G).
The location of F1 within the long trench section provided a rare opportunity to examine the interface between
ploughsoil and the remains of a Neolithic feature. F1 had clearly been plough-damaged, since the interface in
section between ploughsoil and feature was extremely turbulent, with bands of subsoil having been dragged
across and redeposited into the feature by the plough (see Figure 38). In addition, some root disturbance was
FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY SPECIALISTS