| Abstract: |
Evaluations were carried out at six sites along the route of a proposed pipeline. Two of these proved to be of considerable archaeological importance, and required larger-scale excavation prior to the pipeline construction. Three earthwork sites were also recorded by topographic survey, whilst fieldwalking and geophysical survey were carried out on a re-routed section of the pipeline and elsewhere. The two sites which merited large-scale excavation lay on either side of Ermine Street Roman road, which survived as a distinct agger at this point. At Site 7, a complex of quarry pits stretching from Ermine Street for 120m along the pipeline easement was located, and a discrete scatter of Roman pottery, bone and metalwork was revealed. The quarry pits had almost certainly been dug to provide material for the construction of Ermine Street. An area which was opened up to determine the extent of the artefact scatter exposed the foundations of a small Roman building, possibly a mausoleum, as well as a continuation of the artefact concentration, two possible boundary marker stones associated with a possible pathway, and part of the road itself. At Site 8 further features were revealed, which included the Roman roadside ditch, into which a human grave had been cut, a second grave, a possible cremation, two post-holes, a possible well, a large pit which may have been another grave, and a gully which may have represented the boundary of a formal burial ground. The excavation of further areas revealed five additional inhumations, a stone trough and the ground plan of a Roman building, tentatively interpreted as a Romano-British temple. Other sites which were investigated by evaluation trenches included a scatter of Romano-British brick and tile, a linear earthwork which was interpreted after excavation as the probable remnant of a medieval plough headland, and a scatter of medieval pottery, where no features of archaeological significance were revealed. It was concluded that the majority of the known archaeological remains along the pipeline route had been dealt with in advance of construcction, but that these would nevertheless require some degree of consideration during the watching brief which was to take place. A statement of the importance of each of the sites was given, along with recommendations for the watching brief. [AIP] |
