| Title: |
Truro Northern Access Road, Langarth, Cornwall Archaeological Monitoring of Test Pits |
| Series: |
Cornwall Council Historic Environment Service unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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cornwall2-514055_209648.pdf (4 MB)
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Download
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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: |
Cornwall Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook a programme of archaeological monitoring during December 2022 on land within and adjacent to the route of the Truro Northern Access Road scheme. This work was carried out as part of the enabling works of the outline scheme but was agreed between all parties to be monitored as best practice in order to help satisfy conditions 5 and 39 of planning application PA20/09361.
A total of 33 geological test pits were excavated, of which only one had archaeological remains. One feature was identified which was thought to be a field boundary/enclosure ditch of unknown origin. Ditch cut [22102] ran on a NE-SW axis in test pit 221A. No finds were retrieved from the fill of the ditch (22101). Ditch [22102] corresponded with a linear ditched anomaly identified in a 2011 geophysical survey, which ran on a NW-SW alignment, abutted, or truncated by, a mid to late 19th century Cornish hedge boundary, also identified by the geophysical survey and now removed. The linear anomaly was interpreted as a possible 19th century land drain associated with the Cornish hedge, suggesting a contemporary date. It is possible, however, given the character of ditch [22102], and its location with an area of later prehistoric to potentially early medieval field systems and settlement, that it has a much earlier origin. The results from the test pit monitoring recorded a linear ditched feature corresponding with a linear geophysical anomaly, that may represent a 19th century land drain but could potentially be a feature of much earlier origin, possibly a field or enclosure boundary of later prehistoric to Roman period or early medieval date. The feature may be part of a much wider sphere of activity dating to these periods in this area, as indicated by a range of geophysical surveys, evaluations and archaeological monitoring as part of the proposed Langarth development. Most recently, excavation and archaeological monitoring within an area not 500m northwest of ditch [22102] as part of the Truro Northern Access Road (NAR) have revealed features dating between the later Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and potentially Roman periods, although this work is awaiting proper analysis and discussion. Although limited in itself, the results of the test pit monitoring therefore show the value of archaeological monitoring during all forms of groundworks and, in this case, can contribute to the wider breadth of fieldwork being carried out as part of the umbrella scheme of works at Langarth. |
| Author: |
G Britton
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| Publisher: |
Cornwall Archaeological Unit
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| Year of Publication: |
2023
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Kenwyn |
| District: |
Cornwall |
| County: |
Cornwall |
| Country: |
England |
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Grid Reference: 176999, 45699 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
cornwall2-514055 |
| Report id: |
2023R013 |
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| Source: |
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| Created Date: |
31 Mar 2023 |
