| Title: |
Land north-east of Upton Marina, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire Archaeological Investigation Phase 2 |
| Series: |
Archaeology Warwickshire unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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archaeol27-277764_119078.pdf (1 MB)
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
Strip, map and sample targeted on Roman ditch revealed in evaluation.
Archaeology Warwickshire were commissioned to undertake a programme of
archaeological work in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (Historic
Environment Consultancy 2016) following on from a phase of archaeological
evaluation (Worcestershire Archaeology 2013).
An area 40m long and 20m wide positioned around evaluation Trench 10
(Worcestershire Archaeology 2013) was opened up by a 8-tonne, 360° excavator with
a 1.60m wide, toothless ditching bucket. Topsoil and other plough soils were removed
under the supervision of an experienced archaeologist until either the top of
archaeological remains or geological natural was reached.
Bulk soil samples were taken from ditch 1008 during excavation in order to test for the
presence of any additional remains. Processing was undertaken at Archaeology Warwickshire offices using a floatation tank and sieving through a 300 micron mesh. The strip, map and sample was designed to target an area around the ditch revealed
during the evaluation and to record this and any other associated remains or deposits. In the event, no other archaeological remains were encountered.
It is highly probable that the ditch(s) recorded in the evaluation and in this latest work represent the same feature, despite there being significant differences. Whilst the location and alignment of the features was similar there were significant differences in size and character. This is most likely explained by the fact that the full extent of the feature was not appreciated in the confines of the evaluation trench, although this does not explain the reported smaller recut not being evident in the stripping phase.
The 7m wide ditch was not encountered elsewhere on the site and seems likely therefore to have been a localised or isolated feature. Its profile and proportion seem most likely to have been to do with drainage. It was located at the break of slope between the general south-westerly slope towards the river and a gentle slope northwards. The nature of this pottery assemblage and the presence of a fragment of lava quern or rubbing stone suggest that Roman settlement lies in the near vicinity.
A very small assemblage of 4 medieval sherds of pottery was recovered during the preceding evaluation and the recent phase of work. Two of these sherds were recorded from upper fill 1008, which may indicate its longevity as an earthwork. However no other archaeological remains or in situ features associated with medieval activity were revealed. This would suggest that the finds are the result of agricultural activity including the manuring of fields across the site.
It is likely the site was part of extensive fields associated with nearby medieval settlement and the presence of evidence of ridge and furrow immediately to the northwest of the site would support this idea (ASDU 2014). The site remained as agricultural fields and orchard through the post-medieval and modern periods (Archaeological Services 2013). |
| Author: |
Pete Thompson
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| Publisher: |
Archaeology Warwickshire
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| Year of Publication: |
2016
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Ripple |
| District: |
Malvern Hills |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Worcestershire |
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Grid Reference: 385869, 240959 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
archaeol27-277764 |
| Report id: |
1698 |
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| Note: |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Created Date: |
23 May 2022 |
