| Title: |
Evaluation at Doverdale Solar Farm |
| Series: |
Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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oxfordar1-515814_211573.pdf (13 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: |
The initial scope of works allowed for the excavation of 67 trenches across the site to provide a 0.9% sample of the area. The majority of these (57) measured 50m x 1.8m in plan and were distributed evenly throughout the arable fields. The remaining 10 trenches were 25m x 1.8m and were positioned to target geophysical anomalies previously identified in the south of the western field.
Following discussions, Trenches 1–4 in the smaller satellite portion of the development to the south-west were not excavated during the evaluation. This area will be investigated as part of a future programme of mitigation work.
The majority of trenches were located in accordance with the trench plan detailed in the WSI (OA 2022) and laid out using a GPS with sub-15m accuracy. Minor alterations were made to the positions of trenches 39, 41, 42, 59 and 63 to avoid on-site constraints. Trench 22 was extended by c 3m on its eastern edge perpendicular to the main axis of the trench.
Trenches were excavated using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket under the direct supervision of an archaeologist with spoil stored adjacent to, but at a safe distance from, the trench edges. The machining was undertaken in even spits of no more than 100mm thickness down to the top of the undisturbed natural geology or the first archaeological horizon depending upon which was encountered first.
The exposed surface was sufficiently cleaned to establish the presence/absence of archaeological remains and a sample of each feature or deposit type was hand excavated and recorded.
Spoil produced from machine excavation, as well as exposed surfaces, archaeological features and spoil from hand excavation was scanned by a metal detector to enhance finds retrieval.
Environmental sampling was undertaken to characterise the modes of preservation and concentration of assemblages of biological material from different periods, areas and context types in order to inform the sampling strategy during any further mitigation works. Bulk soil samples, of 40L or 100% of a deposit if less is available, were collected from a variety of features to assess the paleoenvironmental potential of the site. Oxford Archaeology was commissioned by JBM Solar Projects 3 Ltd to undertake a trial trench evaluation at the site of a consented solar farm development at Doverdale, Droitwich, Worcestershire. The work comprised the excavation of 63 trenches distributed across the development area. The fieldwork was undertaken in late August and early September 2022.
A preceding geophysical survey undertaken in 2020 detected a group of anomalies of probable archaeological origin in the south of the site. These were interpreted as a rectilinear enclosure with several internal features and an associated L-shaped enclosure to the south.
The geophysical survey also identified historic field boundaries and other indications of post-medieval/modern agricultural activities across the site.
The evaluation trenching identified archaeological remains dating to the middle Iron Age in the southern part of the site, next to a confluence of two small streams. Enclosure ditches were revealed in four trenches which corresponded closely with the plotted rectilinear and L-shaped anomalies identified by geophysical survey. A ditch that appeared to reflect a small sub-enclosure was also revealed extending into the interior of the rectilinear enclosure, in addition to three shallow pits and a posthole. A further undated posthole was identified c 0.8m east of the rectilinear enclosure. A series of rectilinear anomalies to the east of the enclosure were not identified during evaluation but their comparable alignment suggests that, if real, they could reflect an eastwards extension of the enclosure complex. |
| Author: |
Rosie Fletcher
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| Publisher: |
Oxford Archaeology
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Worcestershire |
| Parish: |
Doverdale |
| District: |
Wychavon |
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Grid Reference: 385729, 267129 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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DITCH
(Monument Type England)
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PIT
(Monument Type England)
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UNCERTAIN RIDGE AND FURROW
(Tag)
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CERAMIC
(Object England)
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TREE THROW
(Monument Type England)
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UNCERTAIN TREE THROW
(Tag)
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MIDDLE IRON AGE SHERD
(Tag)
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MEDIEVAL SHERD
(Tag)
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POST HOLE
(Monument Type England)
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ANIMAL REMAINS
(Object England)
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RIDGE AND FURROW
(Monument Type England)
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UNCERTAIN PIT
(Tag)
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EVALUATION
(Event)
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UNCERTAIN ANIMAL REMAINS
(Tag)
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UNCERTAIN POST HOLE
(Tag)
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POST MEDIEVAL CERAMIC
(Tag)
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SHERD
(Object England)
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UNCERTAIN DITCH
(Tag)
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ROMAN SHERD
(Tag)
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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MIDDLE IRON AGE
(Historic England Periods)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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UNCERTAIN
(Historic England Periods)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
oxfordar1-515814 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
07 Jul 2023 |
