| Abstract: |
Archaeological trial trenching was undertaken on land proposed for a solar farm at Burtree Lane near Whessoe to the north of Darlington (NGR: NZ 275 190). The work was undertaken by Northern Archaeological Associates Ltd (NAA) for Aura Power. The report was informed by a scoping document prepared by Peter Cardwell (2021) and a programme of geophysical survey (ASDU 2021). Trial trenching was undertaken to inform the planning process by determining the presence or absence of any archaeological remains within the proposed development area and to ascertain the extent, condition, character, significance and date of any such remains.
In total, 79 trenches were excavated; nine were positioned to test the results of geophysical survey and 10 trenches were positioned to investigate remains associated with six former (post-medieval) field boundaries. Subsurface features and deposits were recorded in 64 of the trenches, the majority of these were plough furrows, tree throw holes, root boles or were related to recent land drainage. The features identified by the geophysical survey were shown to be either agricultural, resulting from ploughing or land drainage, geological, or could not be identified. Shallow ditches associated with historic field boundaries were present in Trenches 12, 13 and 16. Other known field boundaries had no corresponding features or deposits, although shallow earthworks were recorded in Trenches 49 and 72. A post-medieval ditch, not recorded by historic mapping or geophysical survey was recorded in Trench 54, and a pit containing post-medieval artefacts was recorded in Trench 70.
Sixteen trenches contained archaeological remains of potential significance, although only one of these contained dateable artefacts. Three undated ditches were recorded in Trenches 9 (and 74), 24, 71 (and 78), which had an alignment that was oblique to the current or historic field layout. None of these ditches had been recorded by the geophysical survey. The ditch in Trench 71 (and 78) was associated with a gully and two possible pits, all of which contained charcoal, perhaps suggesting contemporaneity. Undated gullies were present in Trenches 13 and 70. Possible pits (or root boles), some of which contained charcoal, were also recorded in Trenches 15, 33, 42, 43, 44 and 62.
Two pits were present in Trench 16, one of which contained pottery dating from the Roman period, including a sherd of imported samian ware and numerous fragments from a coarseware vessel. A distinct dump of hearth waste was recorded within a tree throw hole in Trench 7, which comprised charcoal, heat-fractured stones and possible fragments of charred hazelnut shell and has the potential to represent early prehistoric activity. A layer of ancient soil (a palaeosol) was sealed beneath a layer of hillwash and two ploughsoils in Trench 6.
Layers of modern made ground, perhaps resulting from use of the area for landfill, were recorded in Trenches 1, 20, 22, 48, 63, 68, 70 and 79, suggesting such disturbance was more extensive than indicated by historic mapping and geophysical survey. It was also apparent that at least some of this dumping was undertaken above the previous ground level.
Assessment of the results of the trial trenching has demonstrated the potential for Roman period settlement within, or in the vicinity of the development area and also suggests that early prehistoric remains may be present. In addition, the undated features exposed in Trenches 71, 78 and 79 in Field 9 have the potential to be of significance considering their alignments.
Due to the potential significance of some of the features further analysis of the results is warranted, including specialist analysis and radiocarbon dating of the palaeobotanical remains from contexts 114, 118, and potentially 198. |
