1095019. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Evaluation at A40 Park & Ride, Eynsham, Oxfordshire

Series:

Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series

Downloads:

oxfordar1-503242_184785.pdf (11 MB) :

Download

Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1095019

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

Forty-one trenches were excavated, focusing on the anomalies of uncertain originidentified during the geophysical survey, with further trenches located in blank areasto test the reliability of the geophysical survey results. The trenches represented a 2% sample of the overall 10ha site area. The trenches were laid out using a GPS with sub-25mm accuracy, leaving a safety buffer zone on either side of an overhead electrical cable which bisected the site. No other adjustments to trench locations were required due to ground conditions or site obstructions. Trenches were located to investigate potentially significant anomalies recorded on the geophysical survey plot.The trenches were excavated, under the direct supervision of an archaeologist, usinga 14-ton mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket. The trenchesmeasured 1.8m wide by 30m long. Spoil was stored adjacent to, but at a safedistance from, trench edges. Trenches and the upcast spoil were scanned with ametal detector on completion of machining.Machining continued in spits down to the top of the undisturbed natural geology orthe first archaeological horizon, depending upon which was encountered first. Oncearchaeological deposits were exposed, further excavation proceeded by hand. The exposed surfaces were cleaned sufficiently to establish the presence/absence ofarchaeological remains. A sample of each feature or deposit type (for examplefurrows) was excavated and recorded. Excavation work carried out was sufficient toresolve the principal aims of the evaluation; Upon agreement with the Principal Archaeologist at Oxfordshire County Council, the trenches were backfilled.All features and deposits were issued with unique context numbers, and contextrecording was in accordance with established best practice and the OA field manual.Bulk finds were collected by context and no small finds were retrieved.No deposits suitable for environmental sampling were encountered. Iron Age featuresencountered in Trenches 19 and 22 were very shallow, poorly defined and disturbed,with a high proportion of residual artefacts, having been truncated by medieval andlater cultivation.Digital photographs were taken of any archaeological features, deposits, areas andtrenches and works in general.Plans were produced at an appropriate scale (normally 1:50 or 1:100) with larger scaleplans of features as necessary. Section drawings of features were drawn at a scale of1:20 and 1m-wide sample sections of stratigraphy were drawn at a scale of 1:10. Allsection drawings were located on the appropriate plan/s. The absolute height (m OD)of all principal strata and features, and the section datum lines, have been calculatedand indicated on the drawings. Oxford Archaeology (OA) was commissioned by AECOM Infrastructure &Environment UK Limited (AECOM) on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council toundertake an archaeological evaluation of the site of a proposed Park & Ridedevelopment. Forty-one trenches were excavated, which investigated variousgeophysical anomalies of uncertain origin identified during a previousmagnetometer survey. Further trenches were located in apparently blankareas to test the reliability of the survey results.Several Iron Age prehistoric features were found within Trench 19 andadjacent Trench 22. A possible ring ditch on the geophysical survey plotcoincides with the densest concentration of Iron Age features and finds inTrench 22, including an assemblage of fired clay oven fragments and pottery.This is likely to be the site of a roundhouse. Some of the fired clay fragmentshad wattle impressions indicating an associated wall or floor structure. Theartefact assemblage from these two trenches included both early and late IronAge pottery. The limited extent of the site, and apparent lack of a settlementenclosure, suggests that this was a small unenclosed farmstead.

Author:

Kirsty Smith

Publisher:

Oxford Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2018

Locations:

Parish:	Eynsham
District:	West Oxfordshire
Country:	England
County:	Oxfordshire

Grid Reference: 442070, 210112 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
EARLY IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
	EVALUATION (Event)
ROMAN (Historic England Periods)
20TH CENTURY (Historic England Periods)
IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods)
LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
LATER PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods)
	UNCERTAIN RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)
	UNCERTAIN METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Tag)
	MEDIEVAL CERAMIC (Tag)
	UNCERTAIN GULLY (Tag)
	PIT (Monument Type England)
	DITCH (Monument Type England)
	WALL (Monument Type England)
	CERAMIC (Object England)
	ROMAN CERAMIC (Tag)
	RING DITCH (Monument Type England)
	EARLY IRON AGE PIT (Tag)
	METAL WORKING DEBRIS (Object England)
	MEDIEVAL DITCH (Tag)
	ROMAN PIT (Tag)
	UNCERTAIN DITCH (Tag)
	UNCERTAIN RING DITCH (Tag)
	GULLY (Monument Type England)
	20TH CENTURY GLASS WORKING DEBRIS (Tag)
	RIDGE AND FURROW (Monument Type England)
	POST MEDIEVAL CARVED OBJECT (Tag)
	UNCERTAIN PIT (Tag)
	POST MEDIEVAL BRICK (Tag)
	LATER PREHISTORIC DITCH (Tag)
	IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)
	BRICK (Object England)
	LATE IRON AGE CERAMIC (Tag)
	POST MEDIEVAL CERAMIC (Tag)
	CARVED OBJECT (Object England)
	20TH CENTURY WALL (Tag)
	GLASS WORKING DEBRIS (Object England)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

oxfordar1-503242

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.

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

17 Jun 2022