NHER 56800 (Monument record) - 11th to 12th century pit and possible early modern plough furrow

October 2011. Geophysical Survey.
A detailed magnetometer survey was carried out over a sub-rectangular, arable field of approximately 2.6ha prior to proposed residential development. The survey was somewhat impeded by overgrown vegetation, particularly in the south-western half of the site, but several possible archaeological features were recorded.
An L-shaped ditch was recorded as a positive linear anomaly running north-south from the northern edge of the field and then curving east. This may be a continuation of the cropmark enclosures recorded under NHER 50729. A C-shaped negative anomaly with a diameter of approximately 9.4m, possibly the remains of a roundhouse or a ring gully with a stony fill, was recorded in the north-east of the survey area. This feature was located within an area of pit-like anomalies that could include archaeological features but could equally be caused by geological variation. Three rather ephemeral positive linear anomalies could also represent archaeological features such as field boundaries, but this interpretation is extremely tentative.
All other magnetic responses have been interpreted as the result of geological or modern phenomena. These include seven linear and curvilinear negative anomalies interpreted as field drains, amorphous areas in the north-eastern portion of the site caused by geological variation, magnetic interference from the nearby railway, fences, and accumulation of modern debris around the edges of the field, and the presence of modern ferrous or highly fired debris in the topsoil.
See report (S1) for further information.
H. Hamilton (HES), 20 April 2015.

December 2011. Trial Trenching.
Seven 50m long trial trenches were excavated in order to investigate the anomalies detected during the geophysical survey.
Archaeological features were limited to one possible and five definite early modern to modern plough furrows in the west of the investigated area and one pit located towards the centre of the site. The pit was likely dug to dispose of domestic waste or debris from charcoal production. It contained a large deposit of charcoal and charred wood towards its base and one small, abraded sherd from an 11th to 12th century cooking pot was recovered from its uppermost fill. The possible plough furrow contained a single sherd from an 18th century tin-glazed plate.
No evidence of the L-shaped ditch or the possible roundhouse detected during the geophysical survey was observed. These features were likely the result of variations in the natural geology.
See report (S2) for further details.
S. Howard (HES), 28 February 2012. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 08 May 2015.