Wolf, A. (2022). A40 Smart Corridor, Oxfordshire, Archaeological Evaluation. Cirencester: Cotswold Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.5284/1118519. Cite this using datacite

Title
Title
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Title:		 A40 Smart Corridor, Oxfordshire, Archaeological Evaluation
Series
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Series:		 Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads:
cotswold2-507454_189701.pdf (13 MB) : 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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DOI
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.5284/1118519
Publication Type
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Publication Type:		 Report (in Series)
Abstract
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Abstract:		 The evaluation was originally intended to comprise the excavation of 170no. trenches, each measuring 30m long by 2m wide, as per the agreed WSI (AECOM 2021) and Supplementary Method Statement (CA 2021). However, after the commencement of fieldwork a decision was taken to remove all flood compensation areas listed in the WSI from the scheme (see AECOM 2021 section 4.12), leaving a total of 70no. trenches to be excavated. As this was finalised after trenching had already progressed beyond land parcel 13, the trenches in that parcel were retained in the overall numbering sequence for the remaining trenches although they remained unexcavated. Further changes in the trenching requirements over the course of the fieldwork meant that trench 79 in area 11 should have been renumbered to 75 but as the trench had been fully investigated and recorded at the point at which the numbering sequence was changed then the number 79 was retained in order to maintain coherence within the primary archive. Due to land access not being granted then trench 68, in area 27, was also subsequently omitted from the scheme with the result that 69no. trenches were excavated in total. The trench locations were chosen to target anomalies identified by a previous programme of geophysical survey (AOC 2021), as well as to test apparently blank areas in the survey and as a means of prospection for remains of a type or period that may not typically respond to geophysical survey, as specified in the brief (OCCAS 2021) and detailed in the agreed WSI (AECOM 2021) and Supplementary Method Statement (CA 2021). In general, the correlation between geophysical anomalies and the features identified in the trenches was poor, with most features predicted by the geophysical survey not encountered and, conversely, investigated features in many cases not matching the geophysical survey results. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid co-ordinates using survey grade Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Leica GPS equipment and scanned for underground services by appropriately trained members of staff using Radiodetection Cable Avoidance Tool and Signal Generator equipment. Overburden was stripped from the trenches by a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. All machining was conducted under archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate, which was the level at which archaeological features were first encountered. Archaeological features/deposits were investigated, planned and recorded in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual and the requirements set out in the brief (OCCAS 2021), WSI (AECOM 2021) and Supplementary Method Statement (CA 2021) documents. Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential and samples were taken in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites. In November 2021, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land alongside the A40 trunk road, Oxfordshire, at the request of Balfour Beatty acting on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, in connection with proposals for dualling of the existing single carriageway and other associated highway improvements. The evaluation area comprised a series of land parcels alongside the existing A40 carriageway between the Hill Farm junction at Witney, at the western end of the scheme, and the A34 - A40 flyover at the eastern end. Although it was originally intended to excavate a total of 170 trenches a subsequent decision to remove all flood compensation areas from the scheme coupled with localised access constraints meant a total of 69 trenches were excavated. Significant archaeological remains were encountered only in Areas 11 and 24.
Author
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Author:		 Anna Wolf ORCID icon
Publisher
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Publisher:		 Cotswold Archaeology
Year of Publication
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Year of Publication:		 2022
Locations
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Locations:
Parish: South Leigh
Country: England
County: Oxfordshire
District: Cherwell
District: West Oxfordshire
Parish: Gosford and Water Eaton
Grid Reference: 448998, 210674 (Easting, Northing)
Grid Reference: 438554, 210049 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods
Subjects / Periods
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Subjects / Periods:
DITCH (Monument Type England)
PIT (Monument Type England)
EVALUATION (Event)
UNCERTAIN CORN DRYING OVEN (Tag)
KILN (Monument Type England)
UNCERTAIN POST HOLE (Tag)
CORN DRYING OVEN (Monument Type England)
UNCERTAIN DITCH (Tag)
POST HOLE (Monument Type England)
UNCERTAIN KILN (Tag)
UNCERTAIN PIT (Tag)
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods)
Identifiers
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Identifiers:
OASIS Id: cotswold2-507454
OBIB: Cotswold Archaeology 2021 A40 Smart Corridor, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation CA typescript
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Created Date
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Created Date:		 14 Apr 2024