M40 JUNCTION 15 LONGBRIDGE WARWICKSHIRE WATCHING BRIEF STAGE 2
For
HYDER CONSULTING LIMITED on behalf of
THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY
CA REPORT: 06055
MAY 2006
M40 JUNCTION 15, LONGBRIDGE, WARWICKSHIRE
WATCHING BRIEF STAGE 2
CA PROJECT: 2081 CA REPORT: 06055
Author:
David Cudlip
Approved:
Mary Alexander
Signed:
……………………………………………………………. Issue: 01
Date: 15 May 2006
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 Building 11, Kemble Enterprise Park, Kemble, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail:
[email protected]
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 4 1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 5 The site ................................................................................................................ 5 Archaeological background.................................................................................. 5 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 6
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 7 Test pit 501 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 502 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 504 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 505 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 531 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 532 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 533 .......................................................................................................... 7 Test pit 538 .......................................................................................................... 8 Test pit 539 .......................................................................................................... 8 Test pit 540 .......................................................................................................... 8 Test pit 541 .......................................................................................................... 8 The Biological Evidence....................................................................................... 8
3.
DISCUSSION....................................................................................................... 9
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 9
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 9
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................... 11 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF BOREHOLE/TRIAL PIT LOGS (NOT MONITORED)....... 13
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1
Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2
Test pit locations (1:12,500)
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© Cotswold Archaeology
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
M40 Junction 15
Location:
Longbridge, Warwickshire
NGR:
SP 262 627
Type:
Watching brief
Date:
3-4 May 2006
Location of Archive:
To be deposited with Warwickshire Museum
Accession no.
Applied for
Site Code:
WMJ 05
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during the excavation of a series of geotechnical test pits as part of investigative groundworks in advance of proposed road improvements at Junction 15 of the M40.
Alluvial deposits relating to the Sherbourne Brook were present in two of the test pits; but no features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the watching brief and no artefactual material pre-dating the modern period was recovered. Where alluvium was recorded in the geotechnical trial investigation logs, there was a general concordance with the mapped areas of alluvium, although some minor variations were noted.
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In May 2006 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching brief for Hyder Consulting Limited on behalf of the Highways Agency on land adjacent to M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire (centred on SP 262 627; Fig. 1).
1.2
The watching brief was undertaken to inform the design of proposals for the improvement of Junction 15 of the M40. The objective of the watching brief was to record all archaeological remains exposed during the excavation of geotechnical test pits, and to record the presence or absence of alluvium.
1.3
The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2005) and approved by the LPA acting on the advice of Anna Stocks, Warwickshire County Council Planning Archaeologist. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999).
The site
1.4
The site comprised agricultural land adjacent to Junction 15 of the M40, bounded to the south by existing sections of the A46(T) (Fig. 2).
1.5
The underlying geology within the development area is Keuper Marl of the Triassic era with some overlying River Terrace Gravels (British Geological Survey South Sheet, Fourth Edition Solid, 2001, First Edition Quaternary, 1977). Alluvial deposits have also been identified within the development area (ULAS 2004A 24-28).
1.6
The site is currently under a mixed agricultural regime.
Archaeological background
1.7
Archaeological interest in the site arises from a programme of fieldwalking and geophysical survey which was conducted on a corridor of land immediately to the west of the proposed development area. The fieldwalking survey recovered three pieces of worked flint and a single sherd of Romano-British pottery. A small quantity
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
of medieval and late medieval/early post-medieval pottery was also recovered; however, the majority of the assemblage comprised later post-medieval pottery and building material (ULAS 1004B). The results of the geophysical survey were inconclusive. A number of anomalies were identified and some of these may have represented field boundary ditches (Stratascan 2004). A desk-based assessment was also conducted and it identified a complex of cropmarks of probable prehistoric and/or Romano-British date c. 0.8km to the south-east of the existing junction (ULAS 2004A, 28-9). An Anglo-Saxon cemetery, the exact position of which is uncertain, is thought to be located c. 1km to the north-east of the development area (ULAS 2004A, 23). Previous geotechnical test pits to investigate suitable soil for borrow pits were excavated in December 2005 on agricultural land to the north and south of the M40 and to the west of the A461, and these were archaeologically monitored (CA 2006). One test pit to the south of the M40 revealed an undated field boundary ditch. Test pits close to the Horse Brook and another unnamed watercourse helped to map the extent of the alluvium, highlighting areas in which archaeological may be masked or preserved (ULAS 2004A 24-28).
Methodology
1.8
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2006). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the hand excavation of test pits to a depth of 1.5m below the present ground level (bpgl). Excavation beyond this depth was carried out mechanically. The watching brief applied only to those test pits deemed likely to lie within alluvial areas, (Fig. 2). Deposit information from the preliminary logs for the remaining test pits has been summarised in Appendix 2. It is anticipated that areas not covered by alluvium will be sampled by trial trenching at a later stage.
1.9
Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with 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 Warwickshire Museum (accession number applied for).
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
2.
© Cotswold Archaeology
RESULTS Test pit 501
2.1
The natural geological substrate (50102) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.2m thick layer of subsoil (50101). This was sealed by topsoil layer 50100.
Test pit 502 2.2
The natural geological substrate (50202) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.2m thick layer of subsoil (50201). This was sealed by topsoil layer 50200.
Test pit 504 2.3
The natural geological substrate (50402) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.25m thick layer of alluvium (50401). This was sealed by topsoil layer 50400.
Test pit 505 2.4
The natural geological substrate (50502) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.3m thick layer of alluvium (50501). This was sealed by topsoil layer 50500.
Test pit 531 2.5
The natural geological substrate (53102) comprising pink Keuper Marl was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.2m thick layer of subsoil (53101). This was sealed by topsoil layer 53100.
Test pit 532 2.6
The natural geological substrate (53201) comprising pink Keuper Marl was revealed at a depth of 0.3m bpgl. This was sealed by topsoil layer 53200.
Test pit 533 2.7
The natural geological substrate (53302) comprising pink Keuper Marl was revealed at a depth of 0.5m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.2m thick layer of subsoil (53301). This was sealed by topsoil layer 53300.
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
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Test pit 538 2.8
The natural geological substrate (53802) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.4m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.2m thick layer of subsoil (53801). This was sealed by topsoil layer 53800.
Test pit 539 2.9
The natural geological substrate (53901) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.3m bpgl. This was sealed by topsoil layer 53900.
Test pit 540 2.10
The natural geological substrate (54002) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.6m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.3m thick layer of subsoil (54001). This was sealed by topsoil layer 54000.
Test pit 541 2.11
The natural geological substrate (54102) comprising River Terrace Gravels was revealed at a depth of 0.4m bpgl. This was overlain by a 0.1m thick layer of subsoil (54101). This was sealed by topsoil layer 54100.
2.12
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during the excavation of the test pits and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material was recovered.
The Borehole/Trial pit logs 2.13
Deep alluviuum was noted in the geotechnical log for HP 509, excavated to a minimum depth of 1.25m and in BH 513, where 1.5m of ‘made ground’ overlay alluvium. The locations of these trial pits correlates with mapped areas of alluvium. A 0.7m depth of alluvium was recorded beneath 0.3m of topsoil in TP 517, located in an area where alluvium was not indicated from known geological information.
The Biological Evidence 2.14
No deposits encountered during the watching brief were considered suitable for environmental analyysis, and so no samples were taken.
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
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3.
DISCUSSION
3.1
The results of the watching brief show that the alluvial deposits observed within test pits 504 and 505 are likely to be associated with the Sherbourne Brook (Fig. 2). The negative results from all the monitored test pits suggest either that no archaeologically significant features or deposits were present in the area, or that they lie outside the areas where test pits were monitored. Alluvium was also recorded in the geotechnical logs for HP 509 and BH 513, which correlate with mapped areas of alluvium, and in TP 517 which lies in an area mapped as river terrace deposits (BGS 1977, 2001).
In general, the results of the geotechnical
investigations confirms BGS mapping of the alluvium, although the information from TP 517 suggests a greater degree of complexity within alluvial areas than is shown on geological maps of the area.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
4.1
Fieldwork was undertaken by David Cudlip, who also compiled this report. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by David Cudlip, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was managed for CA by Mary Alexander.
5.
REFERENCES
BGS (British Geological Survey) 2001: South Sheet Fourth Edition Solid
BGS (British Geological Survey) 1977: South Sheet First Edition Quaternary
CA 2005 M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for a Programme of Archaeological Recording
CA
2006 M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Programme of Archaeological Recording Report No. 06009
Stratascan 2004 Geophysical Survey Report M40, Junction 15, Warwickshire. Stratascan Job No. J1927
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
ULAS 2004A M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge) Warwickshire. Stage 2 Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Walkover Survey. ULAS Report No. 2004-089 ULAS 2004B An Archaeological Fieldwalking Survey at M40 Junction 15 (Longbridge), Warwickshire. ULAS Report No. 2004/172
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS Trench 501 50100 50101 50102
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.2m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 502 50200 50201 50202
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.2m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 504 50400 50401 50402
Topsoil:0.25m deep Alluvial reddish brown fine sand: 0.25m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 505 50500 50501 50502
Topsoil: 0.2m deep Alluvial reddish brown fine sand: 0.3m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 531 53100 53101 53102
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.2m deep Natural: pink Keuper Marl
Trench 532 53200 53201
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Natural: pink Keuper Marl
Trench 533 53300 53301 53302
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.2m deep Natural: pink Keuper Marl
Trench 538 53800 53801 53802
Topsoil: 0.2m deep Subsoil: 0.2m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 539 53900 53901
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
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© Cotswold Archaeology
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
Trench 540 54000 54001 54002
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.3m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
Trench 541 54100 54101 54102
Topsoil: 0.3m deep Subsoil: 0.1m deep Natural: River Terrace Gravels
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© Cotswold Archaeology
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
© Cotswold Archaeology
APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF BOREHOLE/TRIAL PIT LOGS (NOT MONITORED)
Boreholes BH501 BH502 BH503 BH505 BH506 BH507 BH508 BH509 BH510 BH511 BH512A BH512B BH513 BH518 BH519A BH519B BH520 BH521 BH522 BH523 BH524 BH525 BH526 BH527 BH528 BH529 BH530 BH531 BH532 BH533 BH534 BH536 BH537 BH538 BH539 BH540 BH541 WS501 WS502 WS503 WS523 WS524 WS527 WS534
Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above gravelly sand Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above sandy/gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth Above sandy clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above gravelly sand Topsoil to 0.4m depth over made ground to 0.9m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.3m. Above river terrace sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sand gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sandy gravelly clay Only river terrace sand and gravel encountered Brown clay to 0.5m depth. Above river terrace sand and gravel Topsoil to 0.3m depth over made ground to 1.5m depth. Above alluvial sandy clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3 depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.6m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.6m depth. Above gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above gravelly sandy clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth over made ground to 1.4m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.6m depth over made ground to 1.6m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above river terrace clay Topsoil to 0.6m depth. Above gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Topsoil to 0.2m depth. Above river terrace gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Topsoil to 0.5m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Topsoil to 0.3m depth over made ground to 6.8m. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above river terrace gravelly sand Made ground to 2.2m depth (limit of borehole) Made ground to 1.8m depth (limit of borehole) Made ground to 1.8m depth (limit of borehole) Made ground to 2.7m depth(limit of borehole) Made ground to 1.6m depth. Above river terrace clay Made ground to 0.22m depth. Above gravelly clay Made ground to 4.45m depth. Above sandy clay
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M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Stage 2
Trial pits TP503 TP506 TP507 TP508 TP509 TP510 TP511 TP512 TP513 TP514 TP515 TP516 TP517 TP518 TP519 TP520 TP521 TP522 TP525 TP526 TP528 TP529 TP530 TP535 TP536 TP537 TP542 TP543 TP544 HP501 HP503 HP504 HP505 HP506 HP507 HP508 HP509 HP510 HP511 HP512 HP513 HP514 HP515 HP516 HP517 HP518 HP519 HP520 HP521 HP522 HP523 HP524
© Cotswold Archaeology
Made ground to 0.7m depth. Above gravelly sand Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravel Topsoil to 0.3m depth, over made ground to 1.2m depth. Above river terrace gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.45m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.35m depth. Above river terrace sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sandy gravel Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Made ground to 1.9m depth. Above sandy gravelly clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth over alluvial sandy silt to 1m depth. Above river terrace sandy gravel Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.25m depth, over made ground to 1.1m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Topsoil to 0.25m depth. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.32m depth. Above river terrace gravelly sandy clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace sandy clay Topsoil to 0.3m depth. Above river terrace gravelly sand Topsoil to 0.4m depth. Above river terrace sandy clay Topsoil to 0.5m depth, over made ground to 1.3m depth. Above river terrace sandy clay Topsoil to 0.3m. Above river terrace sand Topsoil to 0.35m depth over made ground to limit of excavation (4.3m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (3m depth) Made ground to 0.45m depth. Above river terrace gravels Topsoil to 0.3 depth. Above river terrace gravelly sand Made ground to limit of excavation (0.9m depth) Topsoil to 0.6m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Topsoil to 0.25m depth, over made ground to 1.2m depth (limit of excavation) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Made ground to 0.4m depth. Above mottled grey clay Alluvial sand/clay to limit of excavation (1.25m depth) Made ground to 0.6m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.77m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.6m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.12m depth. Above Mercia mudstone Made ground to 0.23m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.32m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.18m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to 0.12m depth. Above mottled grey clay Made ground to limit of excavation (1.1m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.25m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth) Made ground to limit of excavation (1.2m depth)
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Reproduced from the 2004 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
N
0
2.5km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT TITLE
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire FIGURE TITLE
Warwickshire
Site location plan SCALE
1:25,000@A4
PROJECT NO.
2081
FIGURE NO.
1
Reproduced from the 1998 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
26
27
N
HP509
63 TP532 TP538
TP531
BH513 TP540 TP541
TP517
TP538
62
TP 501
TP504 TP 505
TP 502 TP539
0
geotechnical investigation (monitored by CA) geotechnical investigation with alluvium (monitored by CA) geotechnical investigation with alluvium
1km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT TITLE
M40 Junction 15, Longbridge, Warwickshire FIGURE TITLE
Geophysical investigation results
alluvium (BGS 1984) SCALE
1:12,500@A4
PROJECT NO.
2081
FIGURE NO.
2
