Data from a Trial Trenching at Ryknield Street, Fradley and Streethay, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, 2020-2021 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., AOC Archaeology Group, Connect Archaeology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5284/1122121. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5622
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1122121
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises reports, images, spreadsheets, GIS files and site records from trial trenching at Ryknield Street, Fradley and Streethay, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, conducted by Connect Archaeology from January to July 2020.
Project Summary
Archaeological trial trenching was carried out by Connect Archaeology at WP29B Ryknield Street in three phases between the 20th January and 7th July 2020. A total of 84 trenches were excavated over multiple phases. The main aim of the trial trenching was to determine, as far as was reasonably possible, the presence, nature, date, extent, survival and significance of the archaeological resource within the evaluation area primarily in relation to previously identified GWSI:HERDS research objectives, established prior to the commencement of the enabling works, so that a suitable mitigation strategy could be put in place to reduce or offset any adverse effects arising from proposed ground disturbance.
The following specific objectives were outlined in the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation:
- Identifying settlement location and developing models for settlement patterns for the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, understanding the evidence for change in the environment and management of the landscape for the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic periods;
- Does a lack of visibility of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments reflect genuine area distinctiveness, or is this due to variation in geology or investigative techniques?
- What is the evidence for pre-Iron Age phases of enclosure at the margins of the Trent Valley, and to what extent were Iron Age and Romano-British field systems and settlement influenced by earlier structuring of the landscape?
- Can we identify regional patterns in the form and location of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements across the route, and are there associated differences in landscape organisation and enclosure?
- The Romano-British period saw the beginning of a more established infrastructure network. Can we investigate the development of these routes, trackways and roads and the influence they had on landscape change?
- Assess the evidence for regional and cultural distinctiveness along the length of the route in the Romano-British period, with particular regard to the different settlement types encountered along the route;
- Identify evidence for late Roman occupation and attempt to identify any continuity in settlement patterns between the end of the Romano-British period and the Early Medieval period;
- Identify the location of Middle to Late Saxon settlement, explore processes of settlement nucleation and understand the development of associated field types and agricultural regimes;
- Undertake research and investigation into Medieval manorial complexes. What was their origin, development and impact on the landscape?
- Investigate the impacts on rural communities of social and economic shocks in the mid-14th century and thereafter and their contribution to settlement desertion;
- Identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid-14th century.
Re-Use Value Statement
The evaluation has confirmed that the majority of the evaluation area investigated during this phase of work was devoid of features of archaeological significance apart from the Romano-British archaeological remains dating to the 1st to early 2nd century AD in an area around Trenches 11, 17, 170 and 170, the pit cluster in Trench 139 and the post-medieval parish boundary ditch. The likelihood of finding Romano-British remains within the evaluation area was high given the proximity to Roman landscape at Streethay (ES ref WHA315), with the features representing small scale domestic activity and pottery production. The pit/posthole cluster remains undated but its location to the south of cropmarks within the evaluation area at Fulfen Wood (ES: ref WHA377), which could represent late Bronze Age activity, may tenuously suggest they date to this period.
The material from Trench 170 is clearly the remains from Flavian to Trajanic pottery production. Perrin’s (2011, 41) research strategy 2 states:’ Knowledge and understanding of the centres where the pottery was produced are fundamental to the study of Roman pottery’ There is evidence of Roman pottery production at Curborough, Lichfield and a late 2nd century kiln at Shenstone (Leary 2008) so this would add useful information about the nature of pottery production in Roman South Staffordshire.
