NHER 66439 (Monument record) - Undated field or enclosure ditches and possible small enclosure

March-April 2021. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of site on proposed route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline (Area 213).
This survey identified a number of linear anomalies likely to represent infilled ditches. These include several strong, adjoining north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned anomalies at the eastern end of the site that potentially represent associated field or enclosure boundaries. A number of other linear and discrete anomalies in this part of the site are also regarded as potentially archaeologically significant, including two that may represent elements of a small ‘D’-shaped enclosure.
Further west, two intermittent, adjacent north-west to south-east aligned linear anomalies potentially represent a ditched trackway associated with the main group of remains. Two adjacent short linear anomalies at the far western end of the site may represent the continuation of linear anomalies recorded in the field to the west (see NHER 66438).
Various linear anomalies identified elsewhere are recorded as being of undetermined origin. These include a north-north-east to south-south-west aligned response that appears to coincide with a former field boundary depicted on the Wimbotsham Tithe map of 1840.
The majority of the other anomalies recorded thought to be the result of either agricultural activity or natural variations in the underlying soils or geology.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2022.

November 2021-March 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site on route of Anglian Water Grantham to Bexwell pipeline (Area 13; Trenches 62-66)
The five trenches excavated at this location revealed a number of ditches and a single possible pit, although unfortunately dating evidence was virtually absent. Three of the excavated ditches coincided with linear geophysical anomalies recorded at the eastern end of the site, the most notable being a narrow, curving feature that appears to represent a corner of the possible ‘D’-shaped enclosure. A trench excavated in this part of the site but beyond the area examined by the geophysical survey revealed a number of additional ditches.
There was however no evidence for sub-surface remains associated with the linear anomalies to the west that had been thought to represent a ditched trackway.
The other features recorded included a ditch at the western end of the site that was probably associated with a former field boundary depicted on the Wimbotsham Tithe map (S1).
Finds were limited to a small number of undiagnostic prehistoric flint flakes and several fragments of burnt flint, all of which were recovered from a single trench at the eastern end of the site.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 November 2022.