Title: |
Archaeological watching brief of Pershore Weir Turbines, rear of Bridge Street, Pershore, Worcestershire |
Series: |
Worcestershire Archaeology unpublished report series
|
Downloads: |
fieldsec1-208244_1.pdf (2 MB)
:
|
Download
|
|
Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
|
DOI |
|
Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
|
Abstract: |
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken of the groundworks associated with the construction of Pershore Weir Turbines. It was undertaken on behalf of Renewables First, A typical soil profile was seen through most of the areas monitored, with occasional waterlogged clays. An old river channel filled with organic-rich material was observed during the excavation of the turbine trench, orientated north-east to south-west. A column sample and spit samples for radiocarbon analysis were taken. There were also pockets of very dense mollusc deposits within the area of the new leat that connected to the existing river Avon. The dominant species was Dreissena polymorpha, the Zebra Mussel, which was probably introduced into the UK in the early 1820s. A radiocarbon date of 385 to 165 cal BC was obtained from the upper deposit of the palaeochannel, indicating a Middle Iron Age date for silting up of this feature. It was not possible to date the lower deposits. Plant macrofossil assemblages were of low significance for interpretation of the surrounding environment, although there is tentative indication of a change in environment from the earlier to later channel fills, despite the small size of the assemblage's low species diversity. The pollen remains in the uppermost sample (0.5m deep), are regarded as having medium significance for understanding the wider Iron Age environment, due to their well-preserved and anthropogenic nature. However, the preservation and of the lower samples indicated that the pollen may well have been transported. This, coupled with the problems of obtaining dated material from the lower profile, means that drawing any meaningful, local interpretation is not possible for the site and the pollen assemblage can be considered to have low potential. No further finds, features or archaeological deposits were found in the area apart from postmedieval and later material relating the manuring and agricultural usage of the land. |
Author: |
G Arnold
|
Publisher: |
Worcestershire Archaeology
|
Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Worcestershire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
|
Year of Publication: |
2015
|
Locations: |
Site: |
Pershore Weir Turbines, rear of Bridge Street |
County: |
Worcestershire |
District: |
Wychavon |
Parish: |
WICK |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 395270, 245740 (Easting, Northing)
|
|
Subjects / Periods: |
|
Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
fieldsec1-208244 |
OBIB: |
Internal report number 2193 |
|
Source: |
|
Relations: |
|
Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |