| Title: |
Bilsmoor Drainage Scheme, Coquetdale, Northumberland. Archaeological Recording |
| Series: |
The Archaeological Practice unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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thearcha2-516408_212190.pdf (7 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 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: |
The site visit which took place in December, 2021 involved monitoring the machine blocking of open drains, or grips and creation of shallow ponds within an area of rig & furrow earthworks. The aims of the exercise were to identify and photographically record rig & furrow earthworks and any other observed features in areas impacted by groundworks and assess the level of damage caused to them. Accordingly, the area was examined for presence of visible archaeological features and the groundworks were monitored by a suitably trained and experienced archaeologist from The Archaeological Practice Ltd. This document reports on a process of archaeological recording carried out in December, 2021, to mitigate the impact of groundworks associated with a moorland drainage enhancement scheme in the west part of an enclosed area of moorland at Bilsmoor, Coquetdale in Northumberland. The groundworks carried out impacted and slightly remodelled existing modern open drains, or grips which had themselves already impacted upon the existing pattern of rig & furrow within the moorland. However, the underlying rig & furrow was visible only from the air and on Lidar survey, being too shallow to be apparent at ground level in the rough vegetation currently covering the moor, so the visual impact of the groundworks at ground level upon those features is considered minimal. When viewed from the air the impact is greater, although it seems unlikely that any additional damage has been caused to the rig & furrow than that resulting from earlier grip creation. Other features in the landscape, including embankments, the remains of a sheep wash and narrow rig & furrow surviving on the north bank of Jock’s Cleugh, were photographed for contextual interest and future reference, although none were directly impacted by the groundworks carried out in December 2021. Much better examples of rig & furrow earthworks, potentially meriting protection, survive immediately west of the site. While it is clear that installation of the existing open drains has had some negative impact on the rig & furrow, the impact of the recent works has not significantly worsened that impact. Should such works be carried out on better-surviving rig & furrow earthworks elsewhere, however, its impact would likely be much greater. The apparent absence of features or finds of archaeological significance or interest from the areas of groundworks indicates that the remaining archaeological potential associated with this site is low, and no further archaeological works are recommended in association with the current scheme of works. In view of the archaeological potential of the wider area, however, any future work on this site or in its wider vicinity should be considered on its own merits with regard to the need for archaeological intervention. |
| Author: |
Richard J Carlton
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| Publisher: |
Archaeological Practice Ltd
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| Other Person/Org: |
Northumberland HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| District: |
Northumberland |
| Parish: |
Hepple |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Northumberland |
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Grid Reference: 393926, 596415 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
thearcha2-516408 |
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| Source: |
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| Created Date: |
12 Feb 2024 |
