WITNEY TO NORTH LEIGH MAINS OXFORDSHIRE
PROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDING
CA PROJECT: 1363 CA REPORT: 02094
Author:
Franco Vartuca
Approved:
Cliff Bateman
Signed:
……………………………………………………………. Issue: 01
Date: September 2002
This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission. © Cotswold Archaeology Headquarters Building, Kemble Business Park, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:
[email protected]
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 3
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4 The site ................................................................................................................ 4 Archaeological specification and methods........................................................... 4
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 6
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX 1
TABLE OF CONTEXTS........................................................................ 7
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1 Location plan, showing pipeline route..............................................................8 Figure 2 Location of groundworks..................................................................................9
2
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
Witney to North Leigh Mains
Location:
Oxfordshire
NGR:
SP 3667 1094 to SP 3834 1209
Dates of work
June to August 2002
Project Type:
Programme of archaeological recording
Client:
Thames Water Utilities Ltd
Archive:
Oxford County Museum Store, accession number 2002.115
Site Code:
WMW 02
Between June and August 2002, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) undertook a programme of archaeological recording during construction of the Witney to North Leigh Water Mains, Oxfordshire.
No archaeological features or deposits, excepting a modern brick-lined well, were observed during groundworks and no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
3
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
This report presents the results of a programme of archaeological recording carried out between June and August 2002 during construction of the Witney to North Leigh Mains. The work, which was commissioned by Lang Hall Archaeology on behalf of Thames Water Utilities Ltd, constituted Permitted Development under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act and was exempt from the requirements for planning permission under the General Development Order. Thames Water chose to commission the archaeological cover in accordance with the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation, published as a result of the 1989 Water Act.
The site
1.2
The pipeline route runs for approximately 1.5km between Witney (NGR SP 3667 1094) and North Leigh (NGR SP 3834 1209) traversing a landscape dominated by arable farmland (Fig. 1).
1.3
Preliminary consultation of Oxfordshire County Council SMR indicated that the proposed pipe route crossed an area of known archaeological potential.
In
particular, two possible Bronze Age ring ditches (Oxon SMR 15688 – OX2602) are recorded close to the south-western limit of the pipeline at NGR SP 3672 1102. Evidence of Roman activity, including pottery and an undetermined pavement, or possible stone foundations were previously recorded at NGR SP 3752 1165 (Oxon SMR 13389 – OX2596). Grim’s Ditch lies approximately 160m beyond the northeastern limit of the scheme.
1.4
The natural substrate largely comprised Middle Jurassic cornbrash, although Oxford Clay was present at the north-eastern limit (Geological Survey of Great Britain 1982). Archaeological specification and methods
1.5
A detailed project design was prepared by CA in line with the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA 1999) and the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991). This document was approved by Hugh Coddington of Oxfordshire County Council Archaeology Service in advance of the commencement of works.
4
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
1.6
© Cotswold Archaeology
The objective of the programme of archaeological recording was to mitigate the effects of groundworks by recording and recovering information on any archaeological deposits encountered.
Contractor’s working methods
1.7
A fenced wayleave, typically 18m in width, was established throughout the pipeline route within which all topsoil was mechanically stripped using a 360° machine equipped with a toothless bucket (Fig. 2).
Archaeological methodology
1.8
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the detailed project design (CA 2002). An archaeologist was present during all intrusive groundworks.
1.9
Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with the CA Technical Manual 1: Excavation Recording Manual (1996).
1.10
Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the finds and site archive will be deposited with Oxford County Museum Store under accession number 2002.115.
2.
RESULTS
2.1
Natural geological substrate 101, comprising limestone brash within orange-brown silty clay, was revealed throughout the route of the pipeline at an average depth of 0.3m
below
the
present
ground
level
immediately
sealed
by
modern
topsoil/ploughsoils
2.2
No features or deposits of archaeological interest, excepting a modern brick lined well identified at NGR SP 3705 1108, were observed during groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
5
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
© Cotswold Archaeology
3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains, with the exception of a modern brick-lined well, within the area of observed groundworks.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
Fieldwork was undertaken by Franco Vartuca, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Franco Vartuca, and prepared for deposition by Ed McSloy. The project was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.
5.
REFERENCES
CA 2002 Witney To North Leigh Mains: Project Design for an Archaeological Watching Brief
6
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
APPENDIX 1
Context 100 101 102
© Cotswold Archaeology
TABLE OF CONTEXTS
Description Topsoil: mid red-brown silty clay. Natural substrate: limestone brash within orange-brown silty clay. Well: constructed of unmortared brick.
7
Dimensions 0.3m thick
0.55m in diameter, at last 1.1m in depth
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
Figure 1 Location plan, showing pipeline route
8
© Cotswold Archaeology
Witney to North Leigh Mains, Oxfordshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording
Figure 2 Location of groundworks
9
© Cotswold Archaeology
Witney
Fig. 1 Location plan, showing pipeline route
370
380
N
120
Well 102
compound area
110
Pipeline route
SP
Reproduced from the 2002 Ordnance Survey 1:5000 map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust AL50196A
Fig. 2 Location of groundworks
0
500m
