NHER 68259 (Monument record) - Prehistoric, post-medieval and undated remains

January 2020. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed aggregate extraction area.
This survey identified two adjoining linear anomalies likely to represent former field boundary ditches - one aligned north-north-east to south-south-west and the other east-north-east to west-south-west - both of which correspond with previously identified linear cropmarks (the latter recorded as part of an extensive group of remains under NHER 39859 and the former recorded separately as NHER 50787). These field boundaries were most likely post-medieval in date. A pair of parallel, fragmentary east-north-east to west-south-west aligned linear anomalies recorded in the north-east part of the site are of a more uncertain nature but may also represent archaeologically-significant remains.
A series of parallel west-north-west to east-south-east aligned linear anomalies in the western half of the field were most likely the result of recent cultivation.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 April 2024.

August-September 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed aggregate extraction area.
The twenty-five trenches excavated revealed several ditches and a small number of scattered discrete features. These produced few finds, although it is likely that most were of relatively recent date.
There was some limited evidence for prehistoric activity on the site, although the only feature that was definitely of this date was a probable post-hole in the south-east part of the site. This lay next to an undated pit and contained a thick layer of what was identified as hazel charcoal and thought to be the result of in-situ burning. Although no finds were recovered from this feature a Late Bronze Age radiocarbon date of 1122-927 cal BC at 95.4% probability (Beta-660243; 2860 ± 30 BP) was obtained for a sample of the charcoal. The one other potentially prehistoric feature was an isolated pit in the western half of the site that produced a single flint flake and four small sherds of what is possibly Iron Age pottery. A sample taken from the fill of this feature was found to contain charcoal but little else of note.
The ditches uncovered included features that corresponded with the two more extensive linear anomalies identified by the preceding geophysical survey – both of which also corresponded with previously identified cropmark features. The north-north-east to south-south-west aligned feature (associated with the cropmark recorded as NHER 50787) contained late post-medieval pottery, post-medieval roof tile fragments and an iron knife blade, while a single sherd of post-medieval pottery was recovered from the east-north-east to west-south-west aligned feature (associated with the cropmark recorded under NHER 39859). A number of roughly east-to-west and north-to-south aligned ditches were also probably associated with post-medieval field boundaries, although finds were limited to a single post-medieval brick fragment. A small number of undated north-west to south-east and north-east to south-west aligned ditches may have represented elements of an earlier field system.
Neither of the short linear geophysical anomalies recorded in the north-east part of the site were found to have associated sub-surface remains.
The small number of other pits recorded were mostly undated – the two exceptions being one that contained fragments of medieval pottery and post-medieval clay tobacco pipe and one that produced a single post-medieval pottery sherd. It is though suggested that some or all of these finds may be intrusive.
A large number of natural geological hollows and sinkholes were also uncovered – a selection of which were investigated in order to confirm their probable natural origin.
The small number of unstratified finds recovered are all of late post-medieval to modern date.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 10 April 2024.