CBA SMA\SMA 1998.PDF - Council for British Archaeology

y the sample geophysical survey. One possible prehistoric
feature was identified in the north-east corner of the site.
Abingdon Vineyard 6 (SU 4985 9733)
Tim Allen
The final phase of archaeological recording for this
development took place in the summer of 1997 during the
clearance of the site by Western Counties in advance of
housing development. Trenches 1-5 had previously been
excavated in 1990, 1991 and 1995 (SMA 26, 1996 51-55).
The work was in two parts. A rectangular area north of
Trench 2 and west of Trench 1 was lowered by 1 m, and the
exposed surface was planned. Only post-Medieval deposits
were exposed, including a stone-lined well and an infilled
cellar.
At the south end of the site, just south of Trench 5, a small
area c 10 m by 5 m was stripped to archaeological levels and
was excavated and recorded. This exposed several pits of
Medieval or post-Medieval date and several ditches and
gullies of Roman date.
I would like to thank all who took part and, in particular, the
supervisors Bryan Matthews and Paul Murray.
Appleford, land adjoining the Carpenter's Arms
(SU525935)
John Dalton
The OAU undertook a watching brief in March and April
1997 on land adjoining the Carpenter's Anns public house
in Appleford during the excavation of footings for two new
houses. Four modern rubbish pits were revealed.
Sutton Courtenay, Appleford Sidings (SU522962)
Christopher Bell and Sean Cook
The OAU conducted a field evaluation in June 1997 on land
near Appleford Sidings, Sutton Courtenay, in connection
with a proposal for mineral extraction. An evaluation in
1993 itnmediately to the east of the site found a late Iron
Age/Roman rectilinear enclosure with pottery of a
significantly higher status than is normally expected from
contemporary rural settlements. The enclosure lay within a
carefully arranged field system.
The evaluation, consisting of twenty-six trenches, revealed
a broad scatter of features throughout the area of
investigation. These mainly consisted of ditches and gullies
relating to Roman, Medieval and post-Medieval land
division. However, features representing a low level of
prehistoric activity were also present. A large pit, possibly
a waterhole, produced a small quantity of Bronze Age
pottery and worked flint. The flint included a redeposited
Mesolithic microlith. Two Bronze Age sherds were
recovered from two of the ditches but these may have been
Oxfordshire
residual. The most significant deposits consisted of a cluster
of six pits in the south-east of the site containing human
cremation burials. The date of the burials is uncertain but
the presenc,e of worked flint suggests that these features are
also prehistoric.
The distribution, character and alignment of the ditches,
gullies and furrows closely mirrored those found during the
1993 evaluation and suggests a similar tradition of land use.
The cluster of cremations appears to represent a distinct zone
of significant prehistoric activity.
Bampton, land adjacent to Cromwell House, Cheapside
(SP3140 0322)
John Dalton
The OAU carried out a watching brief in November 1997
prior to the construction of a new house on land adjacent to
Cromwell House, Cheapside, Bampton. A large amount of
modern intrusion was identified, associated with the
previous use of the land as a bus garage, and three square
brick-lined modern features were recorded.
Charlbury, Former Primary School (SP35801950)
Stuart Foreman
The OAU carried out a field evaluation in September 1997
at the former County Primary School, Charlbury, in respect
of a planning application to demolish the existing houses
and develop the site. Documentary and topographical
evidence indicate that the site lies within the core of the
Medieval settlement of Charlbury.
The only archaeological feature revealed during the
evaluation was a 20th century soak-away. The levels of the
natural bedrock suggest that the development area has been
terraced and all archaeological deposits have been
destroyed. No finds were recovered.
Chipping Norton, The Old Vicarage (SP31242733)
John Dalton
The OAU carried out a watching brief in July 1997 during
ground reduction worIcs in advance of a conservatory at the
Old Vicarage in Chipping Norton. A water pipe trench
containing 17th century and Victorian finds was the only
feature identified. No features relating to the adjacent castle
earthworks were revealed.
Cropredy, Prescote Manor Farm (SP47324697)
Helen Drake
The OAU carried out a watching brief during August 1997
at Prescote Manor Farm in Cropredy during the construction
of a new stock building. Despite the close proximity of the
85