Langport Road Somerton Somerset Archaeological Evaluation
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Langport Road Somerton Somerset Archaeological Evaluation for Barratt Developments Ltd CA Project: 3940 CA Report: 12265 October 2012 Langport Road Somerton Somerset Archaeological Evaluation CA Project: 3940 CA Report: 12265 prepared by Diarmuid O Seaneachain, Assistant Heritage Consultant date 24 September 2012 checked by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork date 8 October 2012 approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts signed date 10 October 2012 issue 01 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 t. 01285 771022 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Langport Road, Somerton: Archaeological Evaluation CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 2 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 3 2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-11) ........................................................................................ 8 3. DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 22 4. CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 24 5. REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 24 APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ..................................................................... 26 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ............................................................................................... 39 APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE ........................................ 41 APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ........................................................................... 43 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing Areas A, B and C: archaeological features and geophysical survey results Fig. 3 Trench location plan, showing Area A: archaeological features and geophysical survey results Fig. 4 Trench location plan, showing Area B: archaeological features and geophysical survey results Fig. 5 Trench location plan, showing Area C: archaeological features and geophysical survey results Fig. 6 Trenches 1, 2 and 3; sections and photographs (1:20 and 1:50) Fig. 7 Trenches 4 and 7; sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 8 Trench 10; sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 9 Trench 11; sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 10 Trench 10; plan, sections and photographs (1:20) Fig. 11 Trenches 15 and 19; sections and photographs (1:20 and 1:50) 1 © Cotswold Archaeology Langport Road, Somerton: Archaeological Evaluation SUMMARY Project Name: Langport Road Location: Somerton, Somerset NGR: ST 4772 2815 Type: Evaluation Date: 3-21 September 2012 Location of Archive: Somerset County Museum Accession Number: TTNCM 73/2012 Site Code: LRS 12 An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in September 2012 on land off Langport Road, Somerton, Somerset. Twenty-two trenches were excavated. The evaluation provided evidence of Early to Middle Bronze Age, Middle to Late Iron Age, Roman, medieval and post-medieval activity. The earliest activity, located in the north- eastern part of the southern field, is represented by ditches containing Early to Middle Bronze Age pottery and lithics. A large enclosed settlement area was established in the southern part of the south field in the Middle to Late Iron Age, with a ditch flanked trackway leading to its entrance from the north-west. Activity in the southern field continued in the Roman period, as represented by ditches and pits both within the area of Iron Age settlement, and possible enclosures to the north of the southern field. Undated ditches in the central and northern fields may be contemporary with the Iron Age or Roman activity. Medieval agricultural activity, mainly in the form of ditched enclosures and furrows probably representing strip fields, was recorded in the northeast part of the southern field, the eastern part of the central field and the south-eastern corner of the northern field. Agricultural activity at the site continued into the post-medieval period, with evidence of later field systems and a possible rubble wall foundation which may relate to a farm building known to have been demolished in the 20th century. 2 © Cotswold Archaeology Langport Road, Somerton: Archaeological Evaluation 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In September 2012 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Barratt Developments Ltd at Langport Road, Somerton, Somerset (centred on NGR: ST 4772 2815; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application to South Somerset Council for residential development and forms part of a broader evaluation of the archaeological potential of the site, which also includes a Heritage Desk-Based Assessment (CA 2012), and geophysical surveys (Stratascan 2011 & 2012). 1.2 The evaluation was carried out at the request of Steven Membery, Senior Historic Environment Officer for Somerset County Council Heritage Service, the archaeological advisor to South Somerset Council, in accordance with a detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2012) and approved by Mr Membery. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (IfA 2008), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). It was monitored by Mr Membery, including site visits on 7 and 14 September 2012. The site 1.3 The proposed development site is situated immediately to the west of the small market town of Somerton, which lies on a low ridge between two rivers, the Yeo and the Cary (Richardson 2003). The proposed development site comprises a total area of 16.7 ha. The landscape is generally flat, with hills to the north, and situated on a gentle south-facing slope. 1.4 The underlying solid geology of the proposed development site comprises Mudstone of the Blue Lias Formation. No superficial deposits are recorded by the British Geological Survey. However, a former watercourse (paleochannel) running east-west through the proposed development site, identified during archaeological evaluation excavations; a second former watercourse in the northern part of the proposed development site, identified from air photos; and evidence of flooding events suggests that there is some potential for deposits of palaeoenvironmental interest to be preserved on the proposed development site (CA 2011). The general 3 © Cotswold Archaeology Langport Road, Somerton: Archaeological Evaluation site sequence comprises limestone bedrock overlain by a deep subsoil of yellow clay, in turn sealed beneath a deep layer of ploughsoil. Archaeological background 1.5 The archaeological potential of the site has been assessed within a Heritage Desk- Based Assessment (DBA; CA 2011), and subsequent geophysical surveys (Stratascan 2011 and 2012) and is summarised below. 1.6 The assessment revealed evidence of extensive (but undesignated) buried archaeological remains in the southern and central part of the site and a reasonable potential for as yet unrecorded remains in the northern part of the site. These were identified through crop marks and soil marks visible on aerial photographs, as well as through previous small-scale archaeological investigations (see below). These remains are likely to be associated with settlement within the proposed development site in the late prehistoric, Roman and medieval periods. The previous small-scale archaeological excavations discovered a human burial; stone and daub building debris and foundations; in-filled ditches of a former property and field boundaries; general occupation debris comprising pottery sherds and animal bone. This activity was primarily Roman or medieval in date. 1.7 Somerton was situated within the Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and two focal points of Saxon and medieval activity, Somerton itself and St. Cleer’s to the east of the proposed development site, are recorded within the DBA study area. Documentary sources indicate that Somerton was of importance in the Saxon period, although no Saxon features have as yet been excavated within the town. Somerton is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of AD 733, and while evidence for the town as a burgh is extremely limited (focused outside of the DBA study area to the east), the town may have been the administration centre for a Royal Estate. The name Somerton may also indicate a seasonal nature to this role. 1.8 St Cleer’s Farm, immediately to the east of the proposed development site, is the putative location of the seat of a Saxon Royal Manor. A source of 1579 records reference to ‘the Kynges saete of the westesaxons called Senteclere the ruynes whereof remaynithe to this daye’. A farm at this location is known to have been established by at least 1336. Although no extant remains of an early medieval date have been recorded within the proposed development site or the study area, three 4 © Cotswold Archaeology