| Abstract: |
The fieldwork comprised the excavation of 27 trenches, each measuring 30m in
length, 1.8m in width, in the locations shown on the attached plan. Following
on site discussions between CA and Aidan Smyth it was agreed that Trench 11
would not be excavated due to the presence of standing water in this part of the site.
It was further agreed that excavation of the identified archaeological features in
Trench 10 would not require excavation due to water ingress. An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in March and April
2018 on land at Rotherdale Farm, Throckmorton, Worcestershire. Twenty-seven trenches,
some of which were targeted on anomalies identified by a preceding geophysical survey,
were excavated.
The evaluation has identified a number of archaeological features within the proposed
development area. The majority of these features were identified in the central-western parts
of the site.
An undated ditch and a pit/ditch terminal, identified in the central-western part of the site,
confirm the presence of a sub-circular enclosure identified by the geophysical survey.
Pottery of Late Iron Age to 1st-century AD date and a fragment of human cranium were
recovered from a ditch seemingly representing an episode of re-cutting of the original
enclosure ditch. Further undated ditches, also identified in this part of the site, confirm the
presence of three additional enclosures identified by the geophysical survey. Two undated
curving ditches/gullies, both of which were cut by a pit containing pottery of Middle Iron Age
to 2nd-century AD date, were identified within one of these enclosures and seemingly relate
to circular or semi-circular structures. A further possible circular or semi-circular structure,
represented by a curving ditch containing Iron Age pottery, was also identified within one of
the enclosure. Three undated ditches, also identified in this part of the site, confirm the
presence of a sinuous ditch identified by the geophysical survey that appears to connect
these enclosures.
A number of undated ditches, identified in the central part of the site, confirm the presence of
a large double-ditched enclosure identified by the geophysical survey. The intercutting
nature of a number of these ditches suggests that parts of the enclosure have been subject
to repeated episodes of remodelling or maintenance. A pit containing pottery of Iron Age
date and a number of artefactually undated, but possibly broadly contemporary, postholes
were identified within the enclosure and appear to be indicative of settlement activity. Three
undated ditches, also identified in this part of the site, confirm the presence of two further
small enclosures identified by the geophysical survey. The function of these additional
enclosures remains unclear; however it is possible that they are associated with the larger
double-ditched enclosure.
Two ditches containing pottery of Iron Age to Early Roman (1st to 2nd century AD) date
confirm the presence of a sub-rectangular enclosure identified by the geophysical survey in
the south-central part of the site. No archaeological features were identified within this
enclosure and it therefore remains unclear whether it relates to settlement or agricultural
activity.
A number of undated postholes, pits and ditches, not identified by the geophysical survey,
were identified in the eastern part of the site. The function of these features remains unclear;
however they appear to be indicative of settlement activity and may be associated with the
activity identified to the west. |
