| Abstract: |
The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 10 trenches, each measuring 50m in
length and 1.8m in width, in the locations shown on the attached plan.
Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using a Leica 1200
series SmartRover GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4
Survey Manual (2011). An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between September
and October 2011 of land within the south-western part of Newquay Growth Area, Newquay,
Cornwall. A total of 10 trenches, all of which were targeted on anomalies identified by an
earlier geophysical survey, was excavated. The evaluation has identified a number of
archaeological features within the current evaluation area (south of the railway).
Features of Late Iron Age/Romano-British date were identified in Trenches 1, 6, 7, 8 and 10.
A ditch, probably representing part of an enclosure depicted by the earlier geophysical
survey, was identified in Trench 7. Further ditches, possibly representing the remains of
roundhouses or internal divisions within the enclosure, were also identified in Trench 7. Late
Iron Age/Romano-British features comprising pits and/or postholes were identified in
Trenches 1 and 7 and are suggestive of settlement activity. A ditch in Trench 8 may
represent a small enclosure or roundhouse ditch.
A number of undated features were also identified. Undated pits/postholes identified in
Trench 7 may be contemporary with the Late Iron Age/Romano-British activity in the vicinity
of these features. A similar interpretation is probable for many of the remaining features,
including two slightly curvilinear ditches identified in Trenches 1 and 8.
The exact function of the undated ditches identified in Trenches 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10
remains unclear, although they are likely to relate to land management and/or division.
Further archaeological evaluation (within the corridor of the Strategic Route) has been
undertaken and is subject to a separate evaluation report. |
