NHER 62675 (Monument record) - Potentially prehistoric and post-medieval features

February-March 2014. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of large proposed development area to west of Queen Elizabeth Way and south of Sandy Lane.
This survey identified several anomalies that are likely to represent archaeologically significant sub-surface remains. The most notable of these were a pair of concentric ring-ditches at TF 6597 2184. Although only associated with a weak and inconsistent response these anomalies almost certainly represent the remains of a Bronze Age round barrow that is known to have been excavated in this field during the 1930s (NHER 5489). The site long believed to have been the location of this barrow lies approximately 70m to the south of the geophysical anomalies (at TF 6596 2177), although given the notable lack of anomalies here it seems reasonably certain that the early records have inaccurately located the excavation. The outer ring-ditch was approximately 34m in diameter and the inner ring-ditch approximately 19m in diameter.
Other anomalies of possible archaeological origin included a curving ditch-like feature in the central part of the site. Two straight, parallel anomalies in the northern half of the field correspond with field boundaries visible on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, as does a third, roughly perpendicular anomaly interpreted as a land drain. A number of other linear anomalies are however probably cultivation traces.
Although much of the field was covered with small discrete magnetic anomalies it is likely that the majority were the result of variations in the underlying geology.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 April 2018.

October 2014. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of large proposed development area to west of Queen Elizabeth Way and south of Sandy Lane.
One of the trenches excavated in this field was positioned in order to investigate the two concentric anomalies believed to represent the remains of the Reffley Wood barrow (NHER 5489). This demonstrated that the geophysical anomalies corresponded with inner and outer ring-ditches and revealed internal features that suggested this was almost certainly the previously-investigated barrow. A single undisturbed Beaker pit was also identified and assemblages of Beaker pottery and contemporary worked flints were recovered from both the ring-ditches and a number probable rabbit burrow. These finds represent further evidence for the Beaker-period domestic site known to pre-date the construction of the barrow. See NHER 5489 for a more detailed discussion of these features.
The 30 trenches excavated elsewhere in this field revealed a diffuse scatter of predominantly discrete features, the majority of which are also believed to have been associated with Early Bronze Age activity, although it should be noted that dating evidence was extremely limited. The majority of these features were probable pits, most of which had dark, charcoal-rich fills that contained frequent fragments of burnt flints and burnt stones. Other finds were however limited to a single sherd of Early Bronze Age pottery and a small number of worked flints. As was the case with a number of similar potentially prehistoric features in the field to the north (NHER 62674) samples taken from their fills produced charcoal but little else in the way of plant macrofossils. A small number of other features with dark, charcoal-rich fills also revealed evidence for in situ burning and were therefore listed as hearths, although it is possible that they had had other functions.
The one ditch identified in this field corresponds with both a geophysical anomaly and the line of a known post-medieval field boundary.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 18 April 2018.

May 2021. Stray Find. [1].
Found in rabbit scrape at [2]:
12 Early Bronze Age collared urn pottery sherds. From a single vessel, some joining.
Information from PAS import.
P. Watkins (HES), 1 September 2024.