ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION - Mike Griffiths and Associates

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inherent inaccuracies of plotting from aerial photographs and historic maps, there can be little doubt that F5 and
F6 represent the remains of these post-medieval field boundaries. The fact that any possible continuation of F5
was not defined within Intervention 25 supports this conclusion. F5 and F6 do not appear to relate to the
cropmark identified from aerial photography. It seems likely that this cropmark relates to a band of natural
subsoil which has created an area of differential drainage.
8.2.4 Intervention 10
Intervention 10 was located in Zone D adjacent to the southern
boundary of the site (see Figure 36), and was also located to
intersect a cropmark feature (see Figure 6). This machine
excavated trench measured 50m x 4m and was orientated eastwest
(Plate 10). The ground surface sloped down from 42.25m
AOD at eastern end of the trench to 41.25m AOD at the western
end. The dark yellowish-brown gravel and clayey silt
ploughsoil (C1123) was found to be c.0.30-0.40m deep
overlying a light brown silt and gravel natural subsoil. The
surface of subsoil reflected the ground level topography.
Plate 10 Intervention 10 looking east (scale
2m)
F7 was first identified as an amorphous deposit of very dark brown clayey silt visible against subsoil 9.6m from
the western end of, and positioned centrally within, Intervention 10 (Figure 47). The feature measured c.2.00m
in length by 0.85m in width and was orientated approximately NW-SE. Upon excavation, it became clear that
two distinct features were represented; F7 was defined as a large amorphous scoop and was cut by a small pit
or posthole at the southeastern end (F11).
F7 proved to be a sub-oval truncated pit or scoop backfilled once with C1117 which consisted of a clean
homogenous brown clayey-silt with frequent gravel and occasional charcoal flecks (Figure 48). A small
assemblage of prehistoric pottery was recovered during excavation. Assessment identified the pottery as plain
ware which is broadly dateable to the late Neolithic and is often found in association with Grooved ware pottery.
The sherds were thought to represent two, possibly three vessels. Environmental samples were recovered from
F7 and flotation produced small fragments of oak and non-oak charcoal and eight knapping chips. F11 was
defined as a circular deposit of brown clayey-silt measuring 0.30m in diameter. Upon excavation the small
feature proved to be well-defined against the surrounding backfill of F7 and only 0.12m deep. It had been
backfilled once with C1121, a brown clayey-silt which contained frequent mixed gravel and rare charcoal flecks.
F11 was interpreted as a possible truncated posthole or small pit.
No evidence was found to explain the cropmark feature identified from aerial photography which Intervention
10 was located to investigate.
8.2.5 Intervention 11
Intervention 11 was situated in the southeastern corner of Zone D (see Figure 36). This machine excavated
trench measured 100m x 4m and was orientated east-west (Plate 11). The ground surface within the area of the
FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY SPECIALISTS