Quaternary Scientific (Quest) unpublished report series

Environmental archaeological analysis was carried out on boreholes collected during a previous borehole survey at the site. The investigations consisted of radiocarbon dating, organic matter determinations, and pollen and waterlogged plant macrofossil (seeds and wood) investigations. The results revealed that peat formation took place at the site during the Bronze Age, during which time the wetland was dominated by alder, with an understorey of shrubs (including willow, elder and hazel) grasses, sedges and semi-aquatic taxa. During the later stages of peat formation an increase in aquatic and grass pollen values indicated a transition towards wetter conditions. On the dryland, the pollen-stratigraphic analysis indicate a relatively open environment (post elm and lime decline) with stands of mixed deciduous-coniferous woodland. The presence of cereal pollen (including Avena-Triticum type) within the pollen sequence is strong evidence for cultivation nearby to the site.

Two geoarchaeological boreholes were put down and a series of geotechnical records examined in order to investigate the sub-surface stratigraphy at the site. A sequence of Gravel overlain by (in places slightly organic) Alluvium and Made Ground was recorded. The Gravel surface was recorded at between ca. -0.5 and 0.5m OD, overlain by Alluvium to a level of between ca. 2.5 and 3.5m OD. The sequence was capped by between 5.5 and 3m thicknesses of Made Ground. The sequences recorded were very similar to those at the nearby Morganite Site (Branch et al., 2007) ca. 200m to the west. No further environmental archaeological investigations were recommended.

CgMs Consulting Ltd commissioned Quaternary Scientific (QUEST) to carry out an environmental archaeological analysis of samples collected during a previous geoarchaeological borehole survey of land at Site A2 to Site A4, Canada Water, Surrey Quays Road, Rotherhithe, London. The combined results of the borehole survey and environmental archaeological analyses have demonstrated that the sub-surface sediments at the site comprise basal Shepperton Gravel overlain by a sequence of Holocene alluvial sediments (including Peat), truncated by Made Ground. The alluvial sequence appears to be slightly thicker in the northern half of the site and slopes towards the main channel of the River Thames. Multiple radiocarbon determinations indicate the formation of differently aged Peat units across the site. The majority of this Peat dates to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age cultural periods. However, the occurrence of a second Peat unit dating to the Roman, Saxon and Danish cultural periods in the Q.<BH11> sequence, suggests that a small tributary channel cut through the site in this area; an interpretation enhanced by the presence of a network of small channels/creeks in John Rocque's map of 1747. The local environment was under the influence of tidal conditions during the cultural periods represented. During the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, the wetland vegetation underwent a transition from alder dominated woodland to open waterlogged conditions, prior to inundation. Stands of lime and oak dominated woodland occupied the dryland surface, which was relatively open with a diverse range of herbaceous plants indicative of clearance and agriculture (pastoral and/or cultivation). These wetland and dryland vegetation communities were still prevalent during the Roman, Saxon and Danish cultural periods.

CgMs Consulting Ltd commissioned Quaternary Scientific (QUEST) to carry out an environmental archaeological analysis of samples collected during previous geoarchaeological investigations at Bear House and Bear Lane, London Borough of Southwark. The following report aimed to analyse select samples in order to reconstruct the environmental history of the two sites and their environs. The combined results of the environmental archaeological investigations have demonstrated that the sub-surface sediments at the site comprise basal Shepperton Gravel overlain by a sequence of Holocene alluvial sediments (including Peat), truncated by Made Ground. The underlying gravel surface decreases in elevation from north to south, and is overlain by Holocene alluvial sediments including very organic silts and peat. The alluvial sequence is generally thicker in the southern half of the site, both as a result of a lower gravel surface and thinner made ground. Peat initiation began earlier in the southern half of the site. Towards the centre of the channel peat accumulation may have begun as early as the Middle Neolithic. During the period of peat accumulation the wetland initially consisted of alder woodland, which was replaced by reeds, sedges and grasses during the Bronze Age, prior to inundation. On the dryland nearby to the site, the surface was initially dominated by oak and lime woodland, which also began to decline from the beginning of the Bronze Age, this time a consequence of land clearance, and the growth of plants indicative of disturbance and cultivation.

Two geoarchaeological boreholes were put down and a series of geotechnical records examined in order to investigate the sub-surface stratigraphy at the site. A sequence of Gravel overlain by (in places slightly organic) Alluvium and Made Ground was recorded. The Gravel surface was recorded at between ca. -0.5 and 0.5m OD, overlain by Alluvium to a level of between ca. 2.5 and 3.5m OD. The sequence was capped by between 5.5 and 3m thicknesses of Made Ground. The sequences recorded were very similar to those at the nearby Morganite Site (Branch et al., 2007) ca. 200m to the west. No further environmental archaeological investigations were recommended.

Three geoarchaeological boreholes were put down at the site. The results were combined with previous geotechnical records from the site to produce a deposit model, clarifying the nature, depth, extent and date of any alluvium and peat associated with the Battersea channel. The anthropogenically-derived material incorporated in the silty deposits and the nature of their structure and fabric suggest that the deposits were not entirely the result of undisturbed natural processes of sedimentation, but have been significantly influenced by human occupation. It seems possible that most of the material recovered from one borehole, situated over the crest of the gravel 'spur' may be Made Ground, while in another the sediment recovered might represent semi-natural deposition during a late stage in the infilling of the palaeochannel that passed to the south of the Battersea 'eyot'. Borehole <4> confirmed that the sedimentary sequence was very thin, comprising soil and heavily contaminated sub-soil overlying sands and gravels, representing a rise in the gravel surface to the south of the site. In the absence of sediments that can be confidently regarded as in situ products of natural or semi-natural processes, further geoarchaeological or palaeoenvironmental investigation of the site was not recommended.

CgMs Consulting Ltd commissioned Quaternary Scientific (QUEST) to carry out an environmental archaeological analysis of samples collected during previous geoarchaeological investigations at Bear House and Bear Lane, London Borough of Southwark. The following report aimed to analyse select samples in order to reconstruct the environmental history of the two sites and their environs. The combined results of the environmental archaeological investigations have demonstrated that the sub-surface sediments at the site comprise basal Shepperton Gravel overlain by a sequence of Holocene alluvial sediments (including Peat), truncated by Made Ground. The underlying gravel surface decreases in elevation from north to south, and is overlain by Holocene alluvial sediments including very organic silts and peat. The alluvial sequence is generally thicker in the southern half of the site, both as a result of a lower gravel surface and thinner made ground. Peat initiation began earlier in the southern half of the site. Towards the centre of the channel peat accumulation may have begun as early as the Middle Neolithic. During the period of peat accumulation the wetland initially consisted of alder woodland, which was replaced by reeds, sedges and grasses during the Bronze Age, prior to inundation. On the dryland nearby to the site, the surface was initially dominated by oak and lime woodland, which also began to decline from the beginning of the Bronze Age, this time a consequence of land clearance, and the growth of plants indicative of disturbance and cultivation.

This report summarises the results of an environmental archaeological analysis of two boreholes, and follows on from geoarchaeological fieldwork, deposit modelling and assessment of the sub-surface stratigraphy carried out along the route of the proposed London Cable Car. The results have revealed a sequence of Shepperton Gravel overlain by peat and alluvium, capped by varying thicknesses of made ground. Two boreholes were collected from the route. Collectively, the sedimentary sequences from these sequences indicate deposition between the Early Mesolithic and Bronze Age cultural periods. During this time, the biostratigraphic records indicate the transition from birch and pine woodland growing under cool climatic conditions to the growth of mixed deciduous woodland on the dryland and alder fen carr on the floodplain during the later Mesolithic and Neolithic, before a decline of woodland during the Bronze Age in response to relative sea level change and woodland clearance for settlement and agricultural purposes.

Six geoarchaeological boreholes were put down at the site to clarify the nature of the sub-surface stratigraphy. A sequence of Shepperton Gravel overlain by sandy Lower Alluvium (in places containing a lower organic horizon), Peat, silty Upper Alluvium and Made Ground was recorded. The surface of the Gravel was recorded at between ca. -9 and -7m OD. The Alluvial sequence overlying it was similar to that at the nearby Pirelli Works site, where the lower organic horizon (recorded at the Nufarm UK site at levels between -8 and -6.8m OD) accumulated during the Mesolithic. The main, generally woody Peat horizon, recorded at elevations between -4 and -2m OD, may be of Neolithic to Bronze Age date.

Geoarchaeological fieldwork was carried out at the site to investigate the nature of the sub-surface stratigraphy. The results of the fieldwork were intergrated with previous geotechnical records from the site to provide a series of topographic maps for the surface of each major stratigraphic unit as follows: London Clay, Shepperton Gravel, Lower Alluvium, Peat, Upper Alluvium and Made Ground. The results revealed a reasonably uniform sequence of Holocene Alluvium overlying a gravel surface that lay between -3.20 and -4.50m OD.