| Abstract: |
The normal requirements for evaluation work on this site would be for a 10% sample, which would require approximately a total length of 1400m of 1.8m wide trench. At present, however, the site is occupied by standing buildings and roads, some of which are still in use. The greater part of the site is, therefore, unavailable for evaluation at this stage. It was proposed, therefore, to undertake the evaluation works in two phases; pre- and post-demolition of the existing structures.
Phase 1 involved the excavation of 65 linear metres of trenching and a test-pit.This work would allow an initial indication of the archaeological potential of the site. In the event, in order to avoid Modern drains/foundations, Trenches 1, 3 and 4 were subject to minor re-location, and, due to space restrictions, only part of Trench 4 was excavated. Test Pit 1 was located within the disused Friars Walk complex, immediately north of Friar Street. It was not possible to excavate the test pit due to the presence of a thick layer of re-enforced concrete. All amendments to the proposed trenching programme were agreed, on site, with Mary O’Donoghue of Berkshire Archaeology. The Phase 1 evaluation constituted a very small sample of the total proposed development area and the results from the project only revealed dispersed and relatively isolated stratigraphic sequences.
A Medieval or early Post-medieval feature was identified in Trench 1, cut into the top of the natural gravel. Two layers (404 and 403), which are likely to be of similar date, were also identified in Trench 4. The nature of previous development within the area of Trench 4 is likely to have involved truncation of Post-medieval deposits and the two layers therefore have the potential to have originated during the Medieval or Post-medieval periods and to contain features of those dates. Trenches 2 and 3 yielded a sequence of Modern deposits, which directly overlaid clay ‘natural’. |
