Title: |
Report on the Archaeological Watching Brief conducted at Besthorpe Quarry, Nottinghamshire (SK 820 630) |
Number of Pages: |
48 |
Biblio Note |
Please note that this is a bibliographic record only, as originally entered into the BIAB database.
The ADS have no files for download, and unfortunately cannot advise further on where to access hard copy or digital versions.
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Publication Type: |
Report
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Abstract: |
A watching brief was carried out during overburden stripping at a quarry site which lay within the floodplain of the Middle to Lower Trent Valley, an archaeologically rich area. Aerial photographic survey had identified cropmarks indicative of significant settlement of the Trent Valley from the prehistoric period onwards. The area in which the quarry was situated was overlain by a fine-grained alluvium; it was generally recognised that such a deposit could have masked significant and well-preserved archaeological remains. During the watching brief, an undulating basal gravel overlain by an alluvial subsoil was observed. Features were identified which had cut into both the lower alluvial subsoil and the gravels; these had been sealed by an organic silt which also formed their upper fill. The channels had become infilled prior to the aggrading of a further layer of silty alluvial subsoil. Two palaeochannels were recorded, which both ran approximately north-south across the site, and pit alignments were investigated. These lay in discrete areas, but may have represented part of a contemporary system of land division. Parts of the alignment had been superCS?eded by gullies, which had filled with sediments prior to the insertion of wooden stakes, perhaps to form fence lines. Features recorded below alluvium in the southern section of the site indicated a high potential for archaeological remains within the unquarried area to the south. It was noted that all of the features recorded had lain either within or close to the channels. It was not known whether this was a reflection of the pattern of human activity in the area, or where attention had been focused on the presence of the channels. The silty channels contained scattered, isolated flint artefacts, fragments of fire-cracked pebbles and a dump of fire-cracked pebbles and burnt clay, possibly from a hearth. This material was probably incidental, having perhaps been washed or cast into the channels from the banks or from further upstream. Recommendations for further analysis in response to research objectives included radiocarbon dating of samples from the pit alignments and from the organic silt, which would also provide dating of the episodes of alluviation. Pollen, beetle, diatom and sedimentary analysis would provide information on the local environment, water regime, the construction and function of the pit alignments and the source of the sediments. [Au(adp)] |
Author: |
M Southgate
Daryl Garton
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Publisher: |
Trent & Peak Archaeology
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Year of Publication: |
1997
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Locations: |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Lower Trent Valley |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Besthorpe Quarry Nottinghamshire |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Trent Valley |
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Subjects / Periods: |
Prehistoric (Auto Detected Temporal) |
Middle (Auto Detected Temporal) |
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Note: |
Date Of Issue From:
1997
Date Of Coverage From:
01
Date Of Coverage To:
01
Editorial Expansion:
Site name: BESTHORPE QUARRY Study area: 6ha Investigation type: Post-determination/Research District: Newark and Sherwood Monument: [finds]. Prehistoric, BOUNDARY. Undated, PIT. Undated, ?FENCE. Undated, GULLY. Undated, [?fence line]. Undated, [river channel]. Undated Ngr: SK82006300 Parish: Collingham Postcode: NG237HQ
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Source: |
BIAB
(Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))
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Created Date: |
19 Jan 2009 |