Title: |
Environmental Remains from a Borehole Survey at the W. Prosser Scrap Yard, Chequers Lane, Worcester, Worcestershire |
Series: |
Worcestershire Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
fieldsec1-237329_1.pdf (8 MB)
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
An archaeological borehole survey was undertaken at the W. Prosser scrap yard, Chequers Lane, Worcester (NGR SO 841 549). The investigation was undertaken on behalf of CgMs Consulting, and their client the University of Worcester as part of an agreed programme of mitigation works. Two boreholes were sunk using a percussive auger rig to recover continuous/windowless cores with the aim of sampling alluvial and/or organic deposits that could be assessed for environmental remains and their potential for geoarchaeological analysis. The geoarchaeological assessment encountered the weathered surface of the Sidmouth Mudstone Formation in the base of Borehole 2 and gravels of the Power House Member, a unit of probable Late Devensian date, in the bottom of Borehole 1. These were overlain by iron stained, structureless silts and clays which were probably formed within a seasonally inundated floodplain. These were in turn overlain by continuously waterlogged alluvial silts and clays containing lenticular organic mud beds which are likely to have formed within a channel or channel margin environment. Three samples were selected from the channel/channel margin deposits for AMS radiocarbon dating to accompany the pollen analysis with a basal date of Cal BC 2300 to 2120 AND Cal BC 2090 to 2040 (Beta-286993) and Cal BC to 1650 (Beta-286991) at the top indicating that the sediment was accumulating during the early to mid-Bronze Age. At the base of the sequence, the pollen analysis indicated an herbaceous-rich floodplain environment with pockets of alder carr and a mixed lime-dominated woodland on the floodplain margins/terraces. As the sequence progresses, the Lime Decline is identified indicating clearance of the mixed deciduous woodland on the floodplain margins for agriculture. This clearance is accompanied by a decline in alder, a trend witnessed at several other sites within the Severn Valley, further indicating the deforestation of the landscape by humans. |
Author: |
N Daffern
K Wilkinson
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Publisher: |
Worcestershire Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Worcester City SMR and UAD (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2010
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Locations: |
Site: |
The W. Prosser Scrap Yard, Chequers Lane, Worcester, Worcestershire |
County: |
Worcestershire |
District: |
Worcester |
Parish: |
WORCESTER |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 384100, 254900 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
fieldsec1-237329 |
OBIB: |
Report Reference 1787 |
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |