| Abstract: |
The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 20no. 30m by 1.8m trenches in the locations shown on Figure 2, representing a 2% sample of the site area. The 11 Land South of Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation © Cotswold Archaeology trenches were located to investigate anomalies identified by the geophysical survey, to test the blank areas in the survey results and as a means of prospection for remains of a type or period that may not respond to geophysical survey. A contingency for an additional 2% site sample was held in reserve, but in discussion with the OCAS a decision was made on the basis of the initial trenching results not to open any additional trenches. In June 2023, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation on Land south of Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. A total of 20 trenches were excavated across the 5ha site, representing a 2% sample of the proposed development area. The evaluation results partially confirmed those of a preceding geophysical survey, with the strongest anomalies being identified in the form of ditches and a quarry pit. Weaker anomalies were either not identified as sub-surface features or shown to correspond with localised natural variations in the underlying geology. Archaeological remains were concentrated in the western parts of the site in trenches 2, 15- 17 and 20, although a possible boundary ditch was also encountered in trench 8, near the eastern site boundary. One broadly north/south aligned field boundary ditch was investigated in trenches 2, 16 and 20, and dated to the medieval period, or later, by the presence of two worn and abraded sherds of 12th – 14th century pottery. An undated north-east/south-west aligned gully in trench 17 appeared to run towards this larger ditch although no clear evidence was recovered to determine whether the two features were in fact contemporary. A north-west/south-east aligned ditch encountered in trench 8 did not contain any finds, although the feature may be contemporary with the ditch seen running across trenches 2, 16, and 20, possibly forming part of a larger field system.In June 2023, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation on Land south of Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. A total of 20 trenches were excavated across the 5ha site, representing a 2% sample of the proposed development area. The evaluation results partially confirmed those of a preceding geophysical survey, with the strongest anomalies being identified in the form of ditches and a quarry pit. Weaker anomalies were either not identified as sub-surface features or shown to correspond with localised natural variations in the underlying geology. Archaeological remains were concentrated in the western parts of the site in trenches 2, 15- 17 and 20, although a possible boundary ditch was also encountered in trench 8, near the eastern site boundary. One broadly north/south aligned field boundary ditch was investigated in trenches 2, 16 and 20, and dated to the medieval period, or later, by the presence of two worn and abraded sherds of 12th – 14th century pottery. An undated north-east/south-west aligned gully in trench 17 appeared to run towards this larger ditch although no clear evidence was recovered to determine whether the two features were in fact contemporary. A north-west/south-east aligned ditch encountered in trench 8 did not contain any finds, although the feature may be contemporary with the ditch seen running across trenches 2, 16, and 20, possibly forming part of a larger field system. A large quarry pit was encountered in trench 15, from which a large assemblage of postmedieval/modern finds including pottery, iron nails, and a variety of glass fragments were recovered, dating the backfill deposits to the late 18th to 20th centuries. |
