NHER 69477 (Monument record) - Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age deposits and undated pits and ditches

September 2020. Desk-based Assessment.
Assessment of potential impact of proposed development.
Nothing of interest was noted during a site visit undertaken as part of this study.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2025.

March 2022. Geophysical Survey.
Magnetometer survey of proposed development site (F1).
Responses of potential archaeological interest include a cluster of discrete anomalies of uncertain origin in the northern part of the site. Two discrete anomalies regarded as of being of uncertain origin at the southern end of the field may also represent archaeologically-significant remains. The majority of the discrete anomalies are though of probable geological origin.
Although two linear trends were recorded these are thought to be the result of recent agricultural activity.
Scattered discrete dipolar anomalies were probably caused by ferrous material on or close the surface (most likely modern debris).
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2025.

April-July 2024, Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of large proposed development site (Trenches 7-15).
The nine trenches excavated at this location revealed various scattered pits and ditches, although the majority of these features produced no dating evidence.
There was though some evidence for at least limited prehistoric activity at this location, with a small assemblage of Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age Beaker pottery and two possible Early Bronze Age Food Vessel sherds recovered from a trench in the southernmost part of the site. This pottery was recovered from the fills of what appeared to be a broad, shallow pit, an adjacent possible ditch and a more extensive overlying layer (It is possible that all of these deposits represented the fills of a single large hollow). Other finds were limited to a flint flake of probable Neolithic/Bronze Age date and single fragment of animal bone.
Although a number of undated pits were recorded across the remainder of the site these all appear to have been fairly unremarkable. Many of the discrete features investigated were deemed to be of likely natural origin.
The various ditches were all also undated and displayed a variety of alignments, suggesting multiple phases of activity were probably represented.
See report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 September 2025.