| Abstract: |
The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of an initial 116 trenches with an
additional hand dug trench:
• 84 no. 50m x 2m trenches;
• 32 no. 25m x 2m trenches; and
• 1 no. 4.7m x 1.8m trench In September and October 2020, Cotswold Archaeology carried out
an archaeological evaluation of land on the site of the proposed
Wick Solar Farm, Lacock, Wiltshire. A total of 117 trenches were
excavated.
The evaluation identified three distinct areas of archaeological
activity within the proposed development area, which confirmed the
results of a preceding geophysical survey.
The first area, towards the north-eastern end of Field 4, Field 5,
and the southern end of Field 6, consisted of a Roman roadside
settlement previously identified by archaeological excavation in
2015. The settlement evidence comprises walls, surfaces and
occupation deposits, along with a series of postholes, pits and
ditches. All features and deposits strongly correlate to the
preceding geophysical survey results, with few archaeological
features identified outside of the main area of activity.
The second area, within Field 10 and the central area of Field 9,
comprises a transitional Iron Age to Roman settlement activity that
was previously unknown until identified during the preceding
geophysical survey. The settlement evidence here consists of a
large enclosure, inside of which are smaller rectilinear enclosures
containing postholes, pits and ditches, some of which could
potentially be interpreted as roundhouses. All features and deposits
strongly correlate to the preceding geophysical survey results, with
few archaeological features identified outside of the main area of
activity.
The third area, towards the southern half of Field 12, also
comprises a transitional Iron Age to Roman settlement activity that
was previously unknown until identified during the preceding
geophysical survey. Again the evidence consists of rectilinear
enclosures containing postholes, pit and ditches. All features and
deposits strongly correlate to the preceding geophysical survey
results, again with few archaeological features identified outside of
the main area of activity. |
