Site Data from an Archaeological Evaluation at Dead Maids Quarry, Mere, Wiltshire July 2019
Oxford Archaeology (South), 2022. https://doi.org/10.5284/1100083. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Oxford Archaeology (South) unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Primary contact
Oxford Archaeology (South)
Janus House
Osney Mead
Oxford
OX2 0ES
UK
Tel: 01865 263800
Fax: 01865 793496
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4763
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1100083
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises site data (a Written Scheme of Investigation Report, images, GIS data and site records) from an archaeological evaluation at Dead Maids Quarry undertaken by Oxford Archaeology in July 2019.
Site specific methodologies were as follows:
- The trenches were laid out as displayed in Figure 2 in the associated Evaluation Report (Attfield, 2019).
- Due to the presence of a service running approx. north‐south through the centre of the site, trenches 3 and 4 were repositioned. Trench 6 was also moved due to large amounts of vegetation.
- Trench locations and the site boundary were CAT scanned prior to and during excavation.
- The trenches were excavated using a suitable mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless bucket under direct archaeological supervision.
- Spoil was stored adjacent to, but at a safe distance from, trench edges.
- Machining was continued in even spits down to the top of the undisturbed natural geology.
- The exposed surface was sufficiently cleaned to establish the presence or absence of archaeological remains. A sample of each feature or deposit type, for example furrows, was excavated and recorded.
- The trenches were backfilled after agreement with the Martin Brown, Assistant County Archaeologist at Wiltshire County Council.
Recording was in accordance with established best practice and the Oxford Archaeology Field Manual. All features and deposits were issued with unique context numbers, and context Digital photos were taken of deposits, trenches and evaluation work in general, and form part of the project archive. Artefactual evidence and Burials can also be found in the associated Evaluation Report (Attfield, 2019).
The evaluation consisted of the excavation of 6 trenches, measuring 50m by 1.8m. Trenches 1, 2, 5 and 6 were devoid of archaeology, whereas trenches 3 and 4 contained a potential ditch terminus, and an east‐west aligned shallow ditch, respectively. No finds were retrieved.
