| Abstract: |
The trenching programme comprised 20 trenches, each measuring 50m x 1.8m in plan, as shown on Figure 2. The trenches were numbered in a continuous sequence from 1-20. Prior to excavation, each trench was located and marked by an OA surveyor using GPS equipment following the approved trench plan within the WSI. The layout was designed to provide even coverage of the site at a c 3.5% sample of the available site area whilst also targeting the linear anomalies identified by the geophysical survey.
The locations of Trenches 12 and 13 were altered from the original trench plan due to the alignment of overhead services being different to that of the original plan. Trench 11 was shortened by 11m to avoid a buried water pipe and a 5m by 5m extension to the eastern end of Trench 8 was excavated to fully expose a large pit.
Plough-disturbed soil horizons were removed by mechanical excavator fitted with a wide toothless bucket to expose archaeologically significant horizons or the surface of the superficial geology, whichever was encountered first. Once archaeological deposits or those with the potential to contain artefacts were exposed, further excavation proceeded by hand. All features and deposits were issued with unique context numbers directly relating to the individual trench (eg Trench 18, context 1800, 1801, etc). The excavation and recording of archaeological features was undertaken as outlined within the WSI following established OA practices and in line with CIfA and OCC standards.
Once the trenches had been excavated and recorded, approval was sought from OCC prior to the backfilling of the trenches. A site meeting was also arranged between OCC, CgMs and OA to review the ongoing results and confirm that the fieldwork was meeting the aims of the investigation. Between January and February 2017, Oxford Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation comprising 20 trenches on land off Townsend Road, Shrivenham, Oxfordshire (NGR SU 23100 88510). The work was undertaken as required by a planning condition for a proposed new housing development at the site.
A geophysical survey of the site had previously identified a number of linear anomalies and possible archaeological features. These were targeted during the evaluation and were proven to be the remains of ditched enclosures. The remains included an undated possible D-shaped enclosure within Trenches 1, 2, 3 and 5, towards the west of the site. A late Iron Age L-shaped enclosure was located in Trenches 7 and 9 and a previously undetected possible Bronze Age or early Iron Age ditch in Trench 4. Additional features included three undated pits in Trenches 1 and 8, which each contained burnt remains, and two possible ditches in Trench 14.
Overall, it appears that the archaeological activity on the site was limited to the later prehistoric periods and was predominantly agricultural in nature. Potentially spanning a long period between the Bronze Age and late Iron Age, it is not possible to determine whether this activity was the result of continuous occupation within the vicinity, or represents distinct and separate phases. Either way it appears to have been low intensity activity which may have been at the periphery of a more significant settlement. |
