| Title: |
Heckington Fen Energy Park, Lincolnshire: Archaeological Evaluation |
| Series: |
Wessex Archaeology unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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wessexar1-511893_193854_2.pdf (40 MB)
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Download
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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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: |
All works were undertaken in accordance with the detailed methods set out within the WSI (Wessex Archaeology 2022) and in general compliance with the standards outlined in CIfA guidance (CIfA 2014a). The methods employed are summarised below. Fieldwork methods General The trench locations were set out using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), in the approximate positions proposed in the WSI, although trenches 701, 803, 825 and 855 had to be moved due to proximity to the dykes or ecological buffers, and trench 826 was entirely removed from scope (Fig. 1). A total of 962 trial trenches, each measuring 50 m in length and 2 m wide, together with seven trial trenches measuring 25 m in length and 2 m wide were excavated in level spits using 360º excavators, each equipped with a toothless bucket, under the constant supervision and instruction of the monitoring archaeologists. Machine excavation proceeded until either the archaeological horizon or the natural geology was exposed. Where necessary, the base of the trench/surface of archaeological deposits were cleaned by hand. A sample of archaeological features and deposits was hand-excavated, sufficient to address the aims of the evaluation. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually inspected for the purposes of finds retrieval. Artefacts were collected and bagged by context. All artefacts from excavated contexts were retained, although some of those from features of modern date (nineteenth century or later) were recorded on site and not retained. Trenches completed to the satisfaction of the Senior Historic Environment Officer at HL and Historic Environment Officers at LCC, were backfilled using excavated materials in the order in which they were excavated, and left level on completion. No other reinstatement or surface treatment was undertaken. Recording All exposed archaeological deposits and features were recorded using Wessex Archaeology's pro forma recording system. A complete record of excavated features and deposits was made, including plans and sections drawn to appropriate scales (generally 1:20 or 1:50 for plans and 1:10 for sections) and tied to the Ordnance Survey (OS) National Grid. A Leica GNSS connected to Leica’s SmartNet service surveyed the location of archaeological features. All survey data was recorded in OS National Grid coordinates and heights above OD (Newlyn), as defined by OSTN15 and OSGM15, with a three-dimensional accuracy of at least 50 mm. A full photographic record was made using digital cameras equipped with an image sensor of not less than 16 megapixels. Digital images were subject to managed quality control and curation processes, which has embedded appropriate metadata within the image and will ensure long-term accessibility of the image set. Summary The earliest evidenced activity on the site comes from the small flint assemblage of Mesolithic–Bronze Age date recovered from two pits and a tree throw in trench 221 (Field G15) and a pit in Trench 267 (Field G14). The only other flints found were recovered from the subsoil and natural deposits of trenches within 400m of trench 221. These finds are probably indicative of background seasonal activity on the saltmarsh in prehistory. Pottery of prehistoric, but probable Iron Age, date was recovered from trenches 28 and 124 (Fields G4 and 9 respectively). In both cases it was in close proximity to other features dated to the Romano-British period and could either suggest background residual activity or a continuation of activity on the site around the Roman Conquest. Activity of Romano-British date comprised small pockets of dispersed features located across the central and southern sectors of the site but largely confined to the slightly raised plateaus where the sandier natural geology survived. |
| Author: |
H. Dabill
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| Publisher: |
Wessex Archaeology
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Heckington |
| District: |
North Kesteven |
| County: |
Lincolnshire |
| Country: |
England |
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Grid Reference: 519787, 345640 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
wessexar1-511893 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
21 Sep 2023 |
