1116105. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Evaluation at Land at Stanton Fitzwarren, Corner Copse Solar Farm, Swindon, Wiltshire

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Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series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/10.5284/1116105

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

A total of 144 trenches were undertaken across the proposed development, representing a 2% sample of the development area. As such, the works comprise the excavation of 95 trenches measuring 50m by 2m and 49 trenches measuring 25m by 2m. The trenches were positioned to provide an even coverage of the proposed development area and to ground-truth the results of the geophysical survey. The trenches were laid out as shown in Figure 2 using a GPS with sub-15mm accuracy, except where minor adjustments were required due to ground conditions, site obstruction or constraints. Specifically Trenches 17-19 were relocated due to the presence of horses and a power substation. Trench 17 was moved just into the field to the north and Trenches 18 and 19 were relocated to the south of the development close to Trench 22. The trenches were excavated using a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket under the direct supervision of an archaeologist. Spoil was stored adjacent to but at a safe distance from the trench edges. Trenches and the upcast spoil were scanned with a metal detector. Between February and March 2020 Oxford Archaeology was commissioned by Pegasus Group on behalf of JBM Solar to undertake a trial trench evaluation at the site of a proposed solar development to the east of Stanton Fitzwarren, Swindon, Wiltshire. A programme of 144 trenches were undertaken across the proposed development, representing a 2% sample of the area. The main purpose of this evaluation was to test the quality and date of a series of rectilinear enclosures identified through geophysical prospection and to investigate the presence of a large suspected Roman settlement complex. The evaluation identified a sequence of very late Iron Age through to late Roman activity on site, but the evidence suggests a large enclosed rural settlement rather than any villa/high status complex. The evaluation also identified two main foci of settlement activity, in the central and south-east parts of the site, and three discrete enclosures. The remains of a Roman rural settlement of early to middle Roman date was defined by ditches and small enclosures. At least two roundhouses were confirmed, and numerous pits, postholes and layers associated with the settlement were also recorded. There was a single deposit of an un-urned cremation burial and small collection of hobnails most likely from a shoe, situated within the settlement area and contemporary with its occupation. A trackway on an E-W alignment appeared to be in use from at least the first half of the 2nd century AD and pottery from the upper fill demonstrates that it was still being infilled into the 4th century AD. Subrectangular enclosures aligned on and immediately to the north and south of the roadside ditches were also in use into the late Roman period, after being constructed overlying the less regularly aligned enclosures in the first half of the 3rd century AD. Finally, the evaluation identified very limited early prehistoric flintwork of probable Mesolithic or Neolithic date.

Author:

Kate Brady

Publisher:

Oxford Archaeology

Other Person/Org:

Wiltshire and Swindon HER (OASIS Reviewer)

Year of Publication:

2020

Locations:

County:	Wiltshire
Country:	England
Parish:	Stanton Fitzwarren
County:	Swindon
District:	Swindon

Grid Reference: 417903, 190856 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

DITCH (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

ROMAN NAIL (Tag)

CERAMIC (Object England)

ROMAN PIT (Tag)

TREE THROW (Monument Type England)

ROMAN CREMATION (Tag)

POST MEDIEVAL PIT (Tag)

POST HOLE (Monument Type England)

NAIL (Object England)

ROMAN CERAMIC (Tag)

MEDIEVAL DITCH (Tag)

SLAG (Object England)

ROMAN SHERD (Tag)

PIT (Monument Type England)

EARLY PREHISTORIC LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Tag)

IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

HOB NAIL (Object England)

UNCERTAIN TREE THROW (Tag)

ROMAN RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

UNCERTAIN SLAG (Tag)

LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Object England)

RIDGE AND FURROW (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN PIT (Tag)

ROMAN DITCH (Tag)

EVALUATION (Event)

CREMATION (Object England)

UNCERTAIN POST HOLE (Tag)

SHERD (Object England)

ROMAN HOB NAIL (Tag)

IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)

UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods)

POST MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)

EARLY PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

oxfordar1-514652

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

30 Nov 2023