| Title: |
Wheatley Head, West Rainton, County Durham. Archaeological Evaluation Report |
| Number of Pages: |
42 |
| Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
|
| Publication Type: |
Report
|
| Abstract: |
A phased archaeological evaluation comprising 19 trial trenches totalling 1060 sq. m and fieldwalking totalling 1.4ha was undertaken on the proposed quarry site. The evaluation established that the majority of the proposed development site contained only the remains of ridge and furrow cultivation of probable post-medieval date. Evaluation at the site of Hunter's House near the southern boundary of the proposed development site established limited survival of upstanding structure features and no surviving floor surfaces. However, a number of negative structure features and pits were seen to survive, producing finds which suggested that the origins of occupation on the Hunter's House site began in the late 18th century. A total of 29 flints or chert artefacts were collected from the area of the fieldwalking survey in the north-western part of the proposed quarry site. The datable artefacts varied from the Mesolithic to Late Neolithic periods. The quantity of flints collected was not great enough to be clearly indicative of contemporary settlement. The concentration within the eastern field of the survey area was most likely to have been due to local topography. The greatest density of flints was located towards the highest point on a south-facing rise with good views in most directions providing an excellent vantage point within the landscape. Evaluation within Trenches 21, 21A, 21B and 24, in the same area as the fieldwalking survey, revealed boundary ditches which probably represented part of an agricultural field system. While these features were of unknown date, they were seen to predate the ridge and furrow cultivation in this area. The absence of finds or other evidence of occupation activity made the presence of a settlement site in this area unlikely. In addition, these undated features could not be directly associated with the prehistoric flint artefacts collected from the surrounding area during the fieldwalking survey. [Au(abr)] |
| Author: |
Philip N Wood
|
| Publisher: |
Northern Archaeological Associates
|
| Year of Publication: |
2001
|
| Locations: |
| Location - Auto Detected: |
Hunters House |
|
| Subjects / Periods: |
|
MESOLITHIC
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
|
LATE NEOLITHIC
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
|
MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
|
|
| Late 18th Century (Auto Detected Temporal) |
| Prehistoric (Auto Detected Temporal) |
|
| Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
2001
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: WHEATLEY HEAD, WEST RAINTON
Study area: 27.7ha
Investigation type: Evaluation
District: Durham
Monument: BEAM SLOT. Undated, FIELD DRAIN. Modern (1901-present), FEATURE. Undated, DRAIN. Post-medieval (1540-1901), FIELD DRAIN. Undated, GULLY. Undated, [finds]. Late Neolithic, [finds]. Mesolithic, DITCH. Undated, FLOOR. Undated, PIT. Post-medieval (1540-1901),
Ngr: NZ31504830
Parish: West Rainton
Postcode: DH4 6QD
|
| Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
|
| Created Date: |
18 Jan 2009 |
