1112632. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Evaluation at Oxford North PR6a. Christ Church College Land Phase 1

Series:

Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series

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Biblio Note

This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.

Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1112632

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

The trial trench evaluation comprised 123 trenches spread over a 32.3ha area, each measuring 50m by 1.9m. The trench array was designed to target geophysical anomalies and to test ‘blank’ areas. Areas of the site which contained a good geophysical response were subject to 2% evaluation. Where the results were more open to interpretation, or where only plough furrows were uncovered a 4% sample was applied. The trenches were located in accordance with the WSI (OA 2020) and laid out using a GPS with a sub-15mm accuracy, except where minor adjustments were required due to ground conditions or site obstructions. The trenches were excavated using a tracked mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket under direct archaeological supervision. Spoil was stored adjacent to, but at a safe distance from, the trench edges. Machining continued in even spits down to the undisturbed natural deposits or the first archaeological horizon. The exposed surfaces were sufficiently cleaned to establish the presence/absence of archaeological remains. All features and deposits were issued with unique context numbers, and context recording was completed in accordance with established best practice and the OA Field Manual. A full photographic record comprising digital photos was collated and all archaeological features, deposits and trenches were photographed. A geophysical survey of the 32.3ha site was carried out prior to the works starting and detected a small number of geophysical anomalies of possible archaeological origin. A total of 123 trenches were excavated across the site, both targeted on geophysical anomalies and to test blank areas. Potentially the earliest features uncovered were three discrete features in the north of the site. These comprised single pits in Trenches 115 and 120, both containing Iron Age pottery, and a posthole in Trench 119 containing early Iron Age pottery. Within the centre of the site a cluster of pennanular geophysical anomalies also contained Iron Age pottery, fired clay and animal bone and are interpreted as roundhouses forming a small, potentially unenclosed settlement focused on Trenches 28, 29, 30, 32 and 33. This activity extended to the east with a further potential house gully in Trench 19, pits in Trenches 18 and 27 and a linear ditch in Trench 18 all containing Iron Age material. Two further pennanular geophysical anomalies within the north of the site broadly corresponded to the location of two round barrows noted from historic mapping and Lidar imaging. The barrows were present within Trenches 115 and 119, with their surrounding ditches and parts of the internal mounds surviving. Within Trench 115 the mound material was recorded as sealing a pit, containing a cremation burial radiocarbon dated to the late Bronze Age. Within the centre of the barrow burnt charcoal rich deposits overlay the mound material and may represent in situ pyre material. A radiocarbon submission returned an Anglo-Saxon date. A pottery vessel containing cremated human bone had been inserted into the possible pyre material. The pot dated from AD 400-750 and exhibited fabric impressions and staining from an iron object, suggesting grave goods could remain within the barrow mound. Based on the recorded stratigraphy the barrow in Trench 115 dates between the late Bronze Age and early Anglo- Saxon period.

Author:

Victoria Green

Publisher:

Oxford Archaeology

Other Person/Org:

Oxfordshire HER (OASIS Reviewer)

Year of Publication:

2021

Locations:

Country:	England
County:	Oxfordshire
District:	Cherwell
Parish:	Gosford and Water Eaton

Grid Reference: 450743, 211110 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

DITCH (Monument Type England)

TREE THROW (Monument Type England)

ANIMAL REMAINS (Object England)

ROMAN POT (Tag)

20TH CENTURY QUARRY (Tag)

UNCERTAIN DITCH (Tag)

SLAG (Object England)

IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

MIDDLE IRON AGE PIT (Tag)

MIDDLE IRON AGE POT (Tag)

BROAD RIDGE AND FURROW (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN TREE THROW (Tag)

IRON AGE RING DITCH (Tag)

IRON AGE CERAMIC (Tag)

UNCERTAIN PIT (Tag)

EVALUATION (Event)

20TH CENTURY PIT (Tag)

IRON AGE KNIFE (Tag)

20TH CENTURY POT (Tag)

EARLY IRON AGE ANIMAL REMAINS (Tag)

CERAMIC (Object England)

20TH CENTURY SLAG (Tag)

EARLY IRON AGE POT (Tag)

RING DITCH (Monument Type England)

ROMAN CREMATION (Tag)

STAKE HOLE (Monument Type England)

POST HOLE (Monument Type England)

NAIL (Object England)

MIDDLE IRON AGE ANIMAL REMAINS (Tag)

EARLY IRON AGE POST HOLE (Tag)

UNCERTAIN ANIMAL REMAINS (Tag)

IRON AGE ANIMAL REMAINS (Tag)

POT (Object England)

PIT (Monument Type England)

KNIFE (Object England)

MIDDLE IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

MIDDLE IRON AGE LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Tag)

UNCERTAIN BROAD RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

UNCERTAIN GULLY (Tag)

LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Object England)

GULLY (Monument Type England)

IRON AGE NAIL (Tag)

QUARRY (Monument Type England)

IRON AGE PIT (Tag)

CREMATION (Object England)

IRON AGE POT (Tag)

UNCERTAIN POST HOLE (Tag)

UNCERTAIN STAKE HOLE (Tag)

20TH CENTURY BROAD RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

UNCERTAIN RING DITCH (Tag)

IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

20TH CENTURY (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

MIDDLE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

EARLY IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

oxfordar1-517047

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

16 Aug 2023