NHER 56291 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval probable quarry pits, undated and post-medieval/modern ditches and multi-period finds

21-23 April 2010. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometry survey of proposed reservoir site.
No features of archaeological origin were detected during the geophysical survey and the possible field system visible on aerial photographs was not visible. A few large anomalies could be pit-like features.
See report (S1) for further details.
S. Howard (HES), 1 December 2011.

26-27 April 2010. Systematic Fieldwalking and Metal-detecting Survey.
Field survey of proposed reservoir site. The following finds were recovered:
1 Mesolithic/Early Neolithic flint blade core.
3 undatable Late Prehistoric flint flakes.
1 Late Bronze Age copper alloy chisel.
1 ?Roman ?disc brooch fragment.
1 medieval coin.
1 medieval/post-medieval copper alloy vessel fragment and 1 lead ?weight.
1 post-medieval coin, 4 pottery sherds, 1 buckle, 8 buttons, 1 mount, 1 bell, 1 copper alloy awl/nail shank, 3 copper alloy sheet fragments, 1 silver ?shoe clasp, 1 cast lead foot from vessel/ornament, 1 lead grain seal, 1 lead musket ball and 1 lead rivet.
8 post-medieval/modern pottery sherds, 1 copper alloy plate (possibly from farm machinery), 1 furniture handle attachment, 1 brass padlock and 1 iron nail.
3 modern coins, 1 pottery sherd, 1 rifle bullet shell casing and 1 white metal washer.
10 undatable fragments of lead waste.
See report (S1) for further details.
S. Howard (HES), 1 December 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 7 May 2013.

June 2011. Trial Trenching.
Evaluations of proposed development site.
The excavation revealed evidence for medieval to post-medieval quarrying in the form of large pits that correspond with anomalies detected in the geophysical survey. The pottery recovered from the features suggests that this was not primary deposition but that quarrying activity took place between the 12th and 15th centuries. A shallow ditch of unknown date was revealed in the north of the site was not detected during the geophysical survey, possibly predating the other features and could have formed part of an earlier boundary or field system. Late prehistoric worked flint comprising flakes probably dating from the Middle Bronze Age to Iron Age were recovered may be contemporary with the ditch but could also be residual.
See report (S2) for further details.
S. Howard (HES), 2 December 2011.