| Abstract: |
As laid out in the WSI the watching brief was to be undertaken in the following areas during ground reduction for the new build and the excavations for foundations and new services, along with any other significant below ground impacts: 'the access from the B4068, the holding pond west of that, the western half of the trot and jump track, the courtyard building and associated groundworks within and to the rear of it, the area of the NE part of the two furlong track close to where is thought to have been the cist burial (see plan below). If archaeological remains are found in these areas then the watching brief will be extended into other relevant areas where there would appear to be potential for archaeological remains to be preserved'. However, initial groundworks commenced on site without an archaeologist in attendance. Groundworks that were not monitored included: Excavation of the holding pond Construction of the access track Excavation of the two furlong track Ground reduction in the area of American Barns 1 to 3. As such groundworks monitored included: Ground reduction around the internal perimeter of the two furlong track Excavation of footings for American Barns 1 and 2 Further ground reduction and cleaning within two furlong track Elsewhere ground levels were raised substantially, thus ensuring that any underlying archaeological remains present would not have been impacted by the development. This included within the area of The Courtyard, American Barns 1 and 4, the Hay Barn and both Horse Walkers. Subsequently, it became apparent that further ground reduction was planned. This was outside of the area initially proposed for the watching brief, however due to the findings of the initial watching brief it was considered necessary to monitor the ground reduction. Where archaeological horizons were encountered they were cleaned by hand and excavated appropriately. The archaeological watching brief was partially successful in meeting the aims of the investigation as laid out in the written scheme of investigation; unfortunately, due to work commencing without archaeological involvement the full extent of the archaeological remains present within the site remain unknown. Where archaeological remains were encountered they appeared to represent elements of an enclosure or the ditches of a field system associated with a modest settlement of late Iron Age to early Roman date. No evidence of the cist grave (Gloucestershire HER: 21210) was encountered, though excavation did not extend to the highest point of the hill where the grave was reportedly found. It is uncertain whether the features recorded during the watching brief represent the outer ditches of an enclosed settlement, focused on the hill at the centre of the site, or if they form elements of a field system associated with such a settlement; the small area available for excavation makes definitive interpretation difficult. However, the presence of two discrete pit features, quantity of the ceramic assemblage and former discovery of the inhumation burial perhaps indicates that a settlement is located nearby. There appears to be some evidence of re-cutting and the re-alignment of some features, suggesting continued occupation and maintenance throughout the early Romano-British period. Though modest, the ceramic assemblage is made up of both local and imported wares from the wider region, demonstrating a certain level of trade. It is probable that Salmonsbury Camp, a late Iron age and Romano-Britishvalley fort near Bourton-on-the-Water, located c.5km east, was an important centre for trade with the local area during this period. The faunal assemblage, though small, appears typical of such a site; during the period mixed farming predominated in the region with sheep, cattle and pig being the dominant species present (Moore 2006, p.84). |
