Series: Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report series

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in February and March 2017 on land North-West of Malmesbury, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Nineteen trenches were excavated. The evaluation verified the presence of ditched enclosures of Roman date that had previously been identified by geophysical survey and confirmed that they were largely confined to a plateau of well drained ground that was slightly higher than the surrounding area. The recovered dating evidence suggests that they date from the 2nd to 4th-century AD. A ditch of Middle to Late Bronze Age date was present in the eastern half of the site and contained a loom-weight fragment and small quantity of worked flint flakes.

The evaluation recorded numerous well-preserved, substantial archaeological features at the site. Relatively large quantities of pottery were recovered. there were four main areas of activity, which contained numerous enclosures and associated features. These spanned the Iron Age/Roman transitional period into the 4th century AD. Trenches excavated adjacent to the old line of the A421 (Standing Way) and Weasel Lane recorded no archaeological remains associated with these ancient routes, and there was no evidence for further burials associated with an Iron Age cemetery previously excavated at Bottle Dump Roundabout. There was a generally high concordance between the results of the evaluation and a previous geophysical survey, although there were some discrepancies.

A watching brief at 1 Bird Street, Lichfield revealed nine burials and evidence for the burial of at least five other individuals. The site lies to the east of the Franciscan Friary and it is presumed that the skeletons are of medieval date and are associated with the Friary.

The archaeological fieldwork comprised an excavation area (Area 1) and a trench (Area 2). Area 1 was originally to comprise 3no 30m x 4m trenches (CA 2023a). This methodology was amended during the course of the fieldwork to the stripping of a single area. Area 1 was positioned to sample the location of the castle keep, as suggested by the topographic survey (CA 2023b). In August and September 2023, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological works at Castle Cary, Somerset. A small excavation area was opened over the known location of the medieval castle keep. This area exposed parts of the northern, southern and western walls of the keep, as well as an internal wall and floor surfaces. Stratified dating evidence associated with the keep was almost entirely 11th–12th century in date. This corresponds to the known period of use of the castle, which was built in the late 11th or early 12th century and was abandoned in the mid- 12th century. Also recorded were demolition deposits and robber trenches, as well as trenches/deposits associated with an earlier archaeological excavation of the keep which took place in 1890. There were small quantities of residual Roman artefacts in later deposits. Although no Roman features or deposits were present, this residual material provides evidence for late Roman activity in the area. A trench was also excavated over the line of a low earthwork bank, which has been interpreted previously as the possible remains of a siege work associated with one of the recorded sieges of the castle. This trench exposed two parallel north-west/south-east aligned ditches, with the remnants of an earthen bank running between them. No artefactual material was present. It is likely that these features represent a former boundary, rather than a siege work.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in January 2018 at 1 Malvern Road, St John's, Worcester. A single trench was excavated. A series of parallel ditches, the majority of which contained artefactual material of 17th to 19th-century date, were identified cutting the natural substrate within the excavated trench. Whilst the exact function of these ditches remains unclear, they are likely to represent garden/cultivation features or relate to land management, drainage or division. No further features or deposits of archaeological interest were identified during the course of the evaluation.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the demolition of a conservatory, a single-storey side extension and outbuilding and the construction of a single and two-storey rear extension at 1 The Grove, Marshcroft Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material or biological evidence was recovered. Made ground overlay natural silty clay.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the laying of a permeable ground reinforcement system within the car park to the rear of 1-19 Stepstairs Court, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Part of a wall and surface associated with a building of likely late 19th to early 20th-century date was identified. No artefactual material pre-dating the post-medieval/modern period was recovered.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in June 2008 at the request of Bare, Leaning and Bare on land to the rear of 1-3 High Street, Highworth, Wiltshire. One trench was excavated. No features or deposits of archaeological significance were present, and no artefacts pre-dating the modern period were recovered.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2010 at 10 Corinium Gate, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Two trenches were excavated. Roman rampart deposits were exposed at the base of each trench, directly beneath modern topsoil and patio layers. The rampart material consisted of silty clay layers from which 2nd to 3rd-century AD Roman pottery and tile as well as animal bone were recovered. The results are comparable to those previously obtained at 18 Corinium Gate, where Roman rampart deposits were also exposed directly beneath modern deposits.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in February 2014 at 101 and 103 Barnwood Road. One trench was excavated. A probable post-medieval boundary ditch was recorded in the southern end of the trench, aligned broadly parallel with Barnwood Road. It, and much of the remainder of the trench, was heavily truncated by modern building foundations.