Stage 1 Report

THE FOREST OF DEAN GLOUCESTERSHIRE Archaeological Survey Stage 1: Desk-based data collection Project Number 2727 Volume 1 Jon Hoyle Gloucestershire County Council Environment Department Archaeology Service November 2008 © Archaeology Service, Gloucestershire County Council, November 2008 1 Contents 1 Introduction.............................................................................................. 27 1.1 Reasons for the project ............................................................................. 27 1.2 Staged approach to the project ................................................................. 28 1.2.1 Stage 1 ..................................................................................................................28 1.2.2 Stage 2 ..................................................................................................................28 1.2.3 Stage 3 ..................................................................................................................28 1.2.4 Stage 4 ..................................................................................................................28 1.3 Related projects......................................................................................... 29 1.3.1 Scowles and Associated Iron Industry Survey .......................................................29 1.3.1.1 Aim of the survey ..............................................................................................29 1.3.1.2 Methodology .....................................................................................................30 1.3.1.3 Outreach ...........................................................................................................30 1.3.2 The National Mapping Programme ........................................................................30 1.3.2.1 Aim of the NMP project .....................................................................................30 1.3.2.2 Methodology .....................................................................................................31 1.3.2.3 Mapping and database .....................................................................................31 1.4 Location of the survey area (Figure 1) ...................................................... 31 1.5 Topography of the survey area (Figure 2)................................................. 32 1.6 Geology of the survey area (Figure 3)....................................................... 35 1.7 Landuse within the survey area................................................................. 38 1.8 Relationship between woodland and solid geology .................................. 40 2 Survey methodology............................................................................... 43 2.1 Checking of existing SMR records ............................................................ 43 2.1.1 Alterations in perceived project methodology.........................................................43 2.1.2 Checking against additional data sets....................................................................43 2.1.3 Standardisation of procedure and maintenance of records of progress.................44 2.2 Systematic collection of data from identified sources ............................... 44 2.2.1 Published and unpublished documentary and map sources..................................44 2.2.2 Information from local individuals or groups...........................................................45 2.2.3 Information from local museum collections ............................................................46 2.3 The project database................................................................................. 46 2.3.1 Recommendations for future use of the SMR ........................................................47 3 Results of Stage 1 of the project ........................................................... 49 3.1 Summary of the results of Stage 1............................................................ 49 3.1.1 Total number of sites .............................................................................................49 3.1.2 Analysis of sites by period .....................................................................................51 3.1.3 Discussion of data sets and analysis .....................................................................53 3.1.4 Sites and Monuments Record data........................................................................54 3.1.4.1 Extraction of information from the SMR ............................................................54 3.1.4.2 Limitations of SMR data for real comparative purposes....................................54 3.1.4.3 Nature of the evidence......................................................................................54 3.2 Analysis of geological, geographical and environmental factors .............. 55 3.2.1 Landuse data .........................................................................................................55 3.2.1.1 Recommendations for improved landuse data..................................................59 3.2.2 Geological data......................................................................................................59 3.2.2.1 Solid geology ....................................................................................................60 3.2.2.2 Drift geology......................................................................................................62 3.2.2.3 Recommendations for improved geological data ..............................................64 3.2.3 Topography............................................................................................................65 3.2.3.1 Height ...............................................................................................................65 3.2.3.2 Aspect...............................................................................................................65 3.2.3.3 Slope.................................................................................................................65 3.2.3.4 General limitations of height slope and aspect data..........................................66 3.2.3.5 Recommendations for improving height slope and aspect data........................66 3.2.3.6 Soils ..................................................................................................................67 3.2.4 Possible future improvement of analysis strategies ...............................................67 4 Discussion of the archaeology within the Forest of Dean Survey area ................................................................................................................... 69 4.1 The Palaeolithic period.............................................................................. 69 4.1.1 Known Palaeolithic sites and artefacts...................................................................69 3 4.1.2 Other evidence for possible Palaeolithic activity ....................................................69 4.1.3 Distribution.............................................................................................................70 4.2 The Mesolithic period ................................................................................ 73 4.2.1 Artefacts of Mesolithic date....................................................................................73 4.2.1.1 Nature of the evidence......................................................................................73 4.2.2 Distribution.............................................................................................................74 4.2.2.1 Discussion of the distribution ............................................................................75 4.3 The Neolithic period................................................................................... 79 4.3.1 Field monuments ...................................................................................................79 4.3.2 Artefacts of Neolithic date ......................................................................................79 4.3.2.1 Nature of the evidence......................................................................................79 4.3.2.2 Other evidence for Neolithic activity..................................................................80 4.3.3 Distribution.............................................................................................................80 4.3.3.1 Discussion of the distribution ............................................................................82 4.4 The Bronze Age......................................................................................... 85 4.4.1 Nature of the evidence: Field monuments .............................................................85 4.4.1.1 Dated evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age funerary activity..........................85 4.4.1.2 Reported sites...................................................................................................86 4.4.1.3 Undated mounds...............................................................................................86 4.4.1.4 Nature of the evidence......................................................................................88 4.4.1.5 Distribution........................................................................................................88 4.4.1.6 Discussion of the distribution ............................................................................91

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