Coalville Solar Farm Normanton Le Heath Leicestershire Archaeological Evaluation

Coalville Solar Farm Normanton le Heath Leicestershire Archaeological Evaluation

for Savills on behalf of Belectric Solar Ltd

CA Project: 660385 CA Report: 15031

January 2015

Coalville Solar Farm Normanton le Heath Leicestershire

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660385 CA Report: 15031

Peter James, Project Officer prepared by and Derek Evans, Project Manager date 27 January 2015

approved by Simon Carlyle, Principal Fieldwork Manager

signed

date 28 January 2014

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.

Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover Building 11 41 Burners Lane South Stanley House Kemble Enterprise Park Kiln Farm Walworth Road Kemble, Cirencester Milton Keynes Andover, Hampshire Gloucestershire, GL7 6BQ MK11 3HA SP10 5LH t. 01285 771022 t. 01908 564660 t. 01264 347630 f. 01285 771033 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY ...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

The site ...... 3 Archaeological background ...... 4 Archaeological objectives ...... 5 Methodology...... 5

2. RESULTS ...... 6

The finds ...... 9

3. DISCUSSION ...... 9

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 10

5. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS ...... 12 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS ...... 14 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 16

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan showing geophysical survey results (1:2,500) Fig. 3 Trench location plan showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results (1:1,500) Fig. 4 Fig. 3 Trench location plan showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results (1:500) Fig. 5 Trench 1: plan, section and photograph (1:200 & 1:20) Fig. 6 Trench 14: plan and sections (1:200 & 1:20) Fig. 7 Trench 14: photographs Fig. 8 Trench 15: plan, section and photograph (1:200 & 1:20) Fig. 9 Trenches 17 and 19: plans and sections (1:200 & 1:20)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Coalville Solar Farm Location: Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire NGR: SK 3871 1350 Type: Evaluation Date: 3–8 December 2014 Location of Archive: To be deposited with Leicestershire Museums Service Site Code: CSF 14

In December 2014, Cotswold Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation at the proposed location of Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire. Twenty trenches were excavated.

The remains of a Roman farmstead have previously been excavated in the north-eastern corner of the site. A previous geophysical survey of the site identified a number of anomalies suggestive of areas of intensive burning.

The current evaluation recorded two Roman ditches and a posthole at the site, as well as a small number of shallow, undated ditches and an undated pit containing evidence for in situ burning. Only one of the ditches and the burnt pit had been detected by the geophysical survey. Further geophysical anomalies suggestive of burning in the south-western corner of the site were not found to relate to similar burnt pit features.

The evaluation established the limits of the Roman farmstead in the north-eastern corner of the site, although the Roman ditches and posthole recorded by the evaluation probably represent associated outlying agricultural activity.

A clay and charcoal-lined pit had clearly been the location of intensive in situ burning, but the purpose of this burning is unclear. The pit was entirely devoid of artefactual material and did not match a Roman kiln previously recorded in the north-eastern corner of the site.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In December 2014, Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation at the proposed site of Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire (centred on NGR: SK 3871 1350; Fig. 1). This work was commissioned by Savills, acting on behalf of Belectric Solar Ltd.

1.2 The results of the evaluation will inform a planning application for the development of a solar park at the site. The scope of the evaluation was defined in discussions between Savills and Richard Clark (Principal Planning Archaeologist, Leicestershire County Council), the archaeological advisor to North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC; the local planning authority).

1.3 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2014a) and approved by Richard Clark. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation (IfA 2009), the Management of Archaeological Projects (English Heritage 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (English Heritage 2006). It was monitored by Richard Clark, including a site visit on 8 December.

The site

1.4 The proposed development site is located c. 1km to the north-east of Normanton le Heath and encloses an area of approximately 29.5ha. At the time of the evaluation, the site comprised five arable fields. The site is bounded to the north-east by a small area of woodland and on all other sides by agricultural land. The site occupies an east-facing slope and lies at approximately 145m AOD in the west, sloping downwards to c. 131m AOD in the east.

1.5 The underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Tarporley Siltstone Formation, siltstone, mudstone and sandstone of the Triassic Period. No overlying superficial deposits are recorded (BGS 2014).

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeological background

1.6 The proposed development site has been the previous subject of a desk-based heritage assessment (CA 2014b) and a geophysical survey (PCG 2014). The following section is summarised from these sources.

1.7 The remains of a Roman farmstead, comprising a series of enclosures, trackways, postholes and a pottery kiln, have been excavated in the north-eastern corner of the site (LAU 1991) and a fieldwalking survey of the north-central area of the site recovered quantities of Roman pottery (ULAS 1996). There is, however, no cropmark or LiDAR evidence for significant Roman activity within the main body of the site.

1.8 Early medieval pottery recovered by the fieldwalking survey might be an indicator of a nearby settlement dating to this period; however, there is no evidence for such a settlement within the site boundary.

1.9 Ridge and furrow earthworks are visible across the site on historic aerial photographs, although the earthworks have been ploughed out since these photographs were taken. The former ridge and furrow indicates that the site formed part of the medieval open field system associated with Normanton le Heath Parish.

1.10 Historic mapping and aerial photography records a farm complex labelled Bulwell Barn within the western area of the site, as well as more minor farm buildings elsewhere within the site. A large mound was identified in the location of Bulwell Barn during the walkover survey for the desk-based heritage assessment.

Geophysical survey

1.11 The geophysical survey identified a number of discrete zones of magnetic variation indicative of areas of intensive sustained burning, similar to those induced by kilns. Some of these potential areas of burning occur in groups, with one such group along the south-eastern site boundary forming a linear alignment. It was noted that further archaeological remains at the site may not have been detected as they may have been too deeply buried beneath alluvium and/or exhibited only minimal magnetic contrast with soils and geology.

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Archaeological objectives

1.12 The objectives of the evaluation were to provide information about the archaeological resource within the site, including its presence/absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality. The information gathered will enable NWLDC to identify and assess the particular significance of the site’s heritage resource, consider the impact of the development upon that significance, and develop appropriate mitigation strategies to avoid or minimise conflict between heritage resource conservation and any aspect of the solar farm development, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (DCLG 2012).

Methodology

1.13 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of twenty trenches (Fig. 2). Some of the trenches were excavated in segments in order to maintain established agricultural tramways. All trenches were 1.8m in width. T1–T9 were located to define the limits of the Roman farmstead recorded previously in the north-eastern corner of the site. T14, T18 and T19 were located to test geophysical anomalies indicative of areas of burning.

1.14 Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual (2012). All trenches were excavated by a mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate, which was the level at which archaeological features were first exposed. Where archaeological deposits were encountered, they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2013).

1.15 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (2003). All recovered artefacts were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (1995).

1.16 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. CA will make arrangements with Leicestershire Museums

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Service for the deposition of the site archive and, subject to agreement with the legal landowner, the artefact collection. A summary of information from this project, as set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS

2.1 This section provides an overview of the evaluation results. Detailed summaries of the recorded contexts and finds are to be found in Appendices A and B, respectively. Figures 3 and 4 show the evaluation trenches and the archaeological features overlain on the geophysical survey results.

General stratigraphy

2.2 The natural substrate generally comprised red-brown sandy clay and was exposed at a depth of 0.28m–0.53m below the present ground level. In the majority of the trenches, the natural substrate was overlain directly by the topsoil, which measured 0.21m–0.32m in thickness. In T7–T9 and T14–T15, a sandy clay subsoil layer measuring 0.12m–0.2m in thickness was present between the natural substrate and the topsoil. The relatively shallow nature of the overburden meant that the underlying archaeological features (which were exposed at the level of the natural substrate) had undergone a degree of horizontal truncation through post- medieval/modern agricultural practices.

Blank trenches

2.3 Archaeological features were recorded in T1, T14, T15, T17 and T19. With the exception of furrows (discussed below), the remainder of the trenches were blank. The following blank trenches were targeted on geophysical anomalies interpreted as being potentially archaeological in nature by the geophysical survey report (PCG 2014):

• T18: sampled an anomaly indicative of an area of sustained burning at its western end; and • T20: sampled an anomaly indicative of an area of sustained burning at its southern end.

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

2.4 The natural substrate within T18 was found to be disturbed by a substantial cut (1802; not illustrated on Fig. 4) backfilled with modern brick fragments in a silty matrix. This material lay just within the entranceway to the southern field, and probably represents an attempt to firm up the ground at this point. It is likely that the geophysical anomalies sampled by T18 were actually caused by this importation of ferrous-rich brick rubble.

2.5 T20 may have been located slightly too far to the north-east to sample the geophysical anomaly in this area of the site (see Fig. 4). Additionally, a furrow present in the southern end of the trench may have masked any outlying contexts associated with this anomaly.

Furrows

2.6 The majority of the trenches contained the ploughed-out remnants of furrow bases (Figs. 3 and 4). These had not been noted by the geophysical survey. The furrows were generally aligned east-south-east/west-north-west, although there was some variation in the northernmost field.

Trench 1 (Fig. 5)

2.7 East/west-aligned ditch 102 measured 0.8m in width and 0.11m in depth. It contained a single clayey sand fill which yielded no artefactual material. This shallow ditch was on the line of a linear geophysical anomaly interpreted as a probable land drain in the geophysical survey report.

Trench 14 (Figs. 6 and 7)

2.8 Ditch 1410 ran through the western end of T14. The western edge of this ditch was aligned north-east/south-west, while the eastern edge was aligned north/south, perhaps indicating that 1410 was actually two intercutting ditches on different alignments, rather than a single feature. In total, 1410 measured 3.85m in width. It was excavated to a depth of 0.46m without its base being reached. It contained a sequence of clayey fills, the uppermost of which (1413) yielded pottery dating to the 2nd century AD or later.

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

2.9 Possible posthole 1414 lay to the immediate east of ditch 1410. This feature measured 0.58m in diameter and 0.43m in depth. It featured three clayey fills, the uppermost of which (1417) contained Roman pottery.

2.10 East-north-east/west-south-west-aligned ditch 1403 was slightly curved in plan. It was 1.7m wide and 0.58m deep, with a flat-bottomed step in its base. Ditch 1403 featured a sequence of clayey fills, the uppermost of which (1407) contained pottery dating to the 3rd–4th centuries AD.

2.11 Ditch 1403 was truncated at its western end by substantial circular pit 1424, which measured 3.6m in diameter and 0.58m in depth. The sides of this pit (but not its base) had been lined with a charcoal-rich deposit (1423), measuring 0.15m in thickness. The eastern edge of the pit also featured an internal lining of baked clay (1422), measuring 0.1m in thickness. This clay lining was not present in the western edge of the pit and it is possible that the lining had partially collapsed into the pit post-use, as fragments of baked clay were present in the pit fills.

2.12 The base of the pit was not fully exposed, but appeared to be fairly flat. The natural substrate underneath the pit was scorched and baked hard, indicating in situ burning.

2.13 The pit contained three fills, the lower two of which (1421 and 1420) contained frequent inclusions of charcoal and burnt clay. No dating evidence was retrieved from any of the pit fills.

2.14 The ditches and the posthole within T14 had not been detected by the geophysical survey. Pit 1424 corresponded to a geophysical anomaly indicative of an area of sustained burning.

Trench 15 (Fig. 8)

2.15 North-west/south-east-aligned ditch 1503 measured 1.13m in width and 0.42m in depth. It contained a single sandy clay fill which yielded no artefactual material. This ditch had not been detected by the geophysical survey.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Trench 17 (Fig. 9)

2.16 East-south-east/west-north-west-aligned ditch 1702 measured 0.55m in width and 0.18m in depth. It contained a single sandy clayey fill which yielded no artefactual material. This ditch had not been detected by the geophysical survey.

Trench 19 (Fig. 9)

2.17 North-west/south-east-aligned ditch 1902 measured 0.64m in width and 0.18m in depth. It contained a single sandy clay fill which yielded no artefactual material. This ditch had not been detected by the geophysical survey.

The finds

2.18 This section presents a summary of the finds evidence. A full discussion of the artefacts recovered during the evaluation is given in Appendix B.

2.19 Artefacts were recovered from T14 only, and consisted entirely of Roman pottery. Pottery from ditch 1410 dated to the 2nd century AD or later. Pottery from ditch 1403 was suggestive of dating in the 3rd–4th centuries AD. The pottery from posthole 1414 was only broadly dateable to the Roman period.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The evaluation recorded two Roman ditches and a posthole in the north-central area of the site, as well as a small number of shallow, undated ditches and an undated pit containing evidence for in situ burning. The only archaeological features which had been detected by the previous geophysical survey were ditch 102 (T1) and burnt pit 1424 (T14). Further geophysical anomalies suggestive of burning in the south- western corner of the site (T18 and T20) were not found to relate to similar burnt pit features; the anomaly in T18 was most likely the result of modern disturbance, while the anomaly adjacent to T20 may have been just outside the limits of the trench.

3.2 T1–T9 established that the Roman farmstead recorded previously in the north- eastern corner of the site (see Archaeological background, above) did not extend as far southwards as the locations of these trenches. However, the Roman ditches and

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

posthole recorded in T14 probably represent limited outlying agricultural activity associated with the farmstead. It is also possible that some of the shallower, undated ditches recorded at the site are Roman in date, although there was no evidence for this.

3.3 Clay and charcoal-lined pit 1424 had clearly been the location of intensive in situ burning. However, the purpose of this burning is unclear. Pit 1424 does not appear to have been a pottery kiln; the kiln excavated during the previous archaeological works in the north-eastern corner of the site (feature F2 in LAU 1991) contained a large quantity of Roman pottery, whereas pit 1424 was entirely devoid of artefactual material. Furthermore, kiln F2 and pit 1424 displayed significant differences in morphology: the kiln comprised an oval stokepit with adjoining flue/oven and was sandstone-lined. The date of pit 1424 is also uncertain; it was undated artefactually, although it did truncate the infill of 3rd–4th century ditch 1403, indicating that it was late Roman or later in origin.

3.4 The evaluation also recorded the remains of extensive ridge and furrow throughout the site, matching evidence from historic aerial photographs and confirming that the site formed part of the medieval open field system associated with Normanton le Heath Parish.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Peter James, assisted by Edwin Pearson, Daniel Wojcik and Kostas Papagiannakis. This report was written by Peter James and Derek Evans. The illustrations were prepared by Leo Heatley. The archive has been compiled by Emily Evans. The project was managed for CA by Derek Evans.

5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2014 Geology of Britain Viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html Accessed 21 November 2014

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014a Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluationef

10 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2014b Land at Normanton-le-Heath, Normanton-le-Heath, Leicestershire: Heritage Desk-Based Assessment CA Report No. 14208

DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) 2012 National Planning Policy Framework

LAU (Leicestershire Archaeological Unit) 1991 The Excavation of a Romano-British Farmstead at Normanton-le-Heath, Leicestershire

PCG (Pre-Construct Geophysics) 2014 Land at Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Geophysical Survey

ULAS (University of Leicester Archaeological Services) 1996 A Fieldwalking Survey at the proposed Thorntree Opencast Coal Site east of Normanton-le-Heath, Leicestershire ULAS Report No.96/90

11 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench Context Context Description Length Width Depth/ Spot-date No. No. interpretation (m) (m) thickness (m) 1 100 Topsoil Mid grey-brown clayey silt 0.29 1 101 Geology Mid yellow-brown sandy clay 1 102 Ditch East/west-aligned; linear in plan >2 0.8 0.11 1 103 Fill of 102 Mid brown-grey clayey sand 0.11 2 200 Topsoil Mid red-brown silty clay 0.29 2 201 Geology Mid red-brown sandy clay 3 300 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.28 3 302 Geology Mid red-brown sandy clay 4 400 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.34 4 401 Geology Mid grey-brown sandy clay 5 500 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.28 5 501 Geology Mid grey-brown sandy clay 6 600 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.29 6 601 Geology Mid red-brown sandy clay 7 700 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.3 7 701 Subsoil Mid grey-brown sandy clay 0.12 7 702 Geology Mid grey-brown sandy clay 8 800 Topsoil Dark brown-grey clayey silt 0.29 8 801 Subsoil Mid brown-grey clayey sand 0.13 8 802 Geology Mid brown-orange clayey sand 8 803 Furrow East-north-east/west-south-west- >2 2.88 0.36 aligned 8 804 Fill of 803 Mid grey-brown clayey silt 0.36 9 900 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.21 9 901 Subsoil Mid grey-brown clayey silt 0.13 9 903 Geology Mid brown-orange sandy clay 10 1000 Topsoil Dark grey-brown sandy clay 0.28 10 1001 Geology Mid red-brown sand 11 1100 Topsoil Dark grey-brown sandy clay 0.32 11 1101 Geology Mid red-brown clayey sand 12 1200 Topsoil Dark grey-brown sandy clay 0.28 12 1201 Geology Mid red-brown clayey sand 13 1300 Topsoil Dark grey-brown sandy clay 0.3 13 1301 Geology Mid red-brown sandy clay 14 1400 Topsoil Dark grey-brown sandy clay 0.32 14 1401 Void Void 14 1402 Geology Mid red-brown sandy clay 14 1403 Ditch East-north-east/west-south-west- >5 1.7 0.58 aligned; slightly curved in plan 14 1404 Fill of 1403 Light brown-red sandy clay 0.14 14 1405 Fill of 1403 Mid brown-grey clayey silt 0.82 14 1406 Fill of 1403 Light brown-grey silty clay 1.4 0.17 14 1407 Fill of 1403 Mid pink-brown sandy clay 0.15 C3–C4 14 1408 Void Void 14 1409 Void Void 14 1410 Ditch North/south-aligned; linear in plan >2 >3.85 0.46 14 1411 Fill of 1410 Mid yellow-grey sandy clay >0.36

12 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Trench Context Context Description Length Width Depth/ Spot-date No. No. interpretation (m) (m) thickness (m) 14 1412 Fill of 1410 Pale grey sandy clay 0.12 14 1413 Fill of 1410 Mid grey-brown silty clay 0.18 C2+ 14 1414 Posthole Circular in plan 0.43 14 1415 Fill of 1414 Dark grey silty clay 0.43 14 1416 Fill of 1414 Mottled grey and white sandy clay 0.33 14 1417 Fill of 1414 Mid yellow-grey-brown silty clay 0.13 RB 14 1418 Subsoil Mid red-brown silty clay 0.2 14 1419 Fill of 1424 Mottled yellow-brown sandy clay 0.14 14 1420 Fill of 1424 Mid brown silty clay 0.18 14 1421 Fill of 1424 Sandy clay; mid grey with black 0.44 and red mottling 14 1422 Fill of 1424 Pit lining: mid orange-red baked 0.1 clay 14 1423 Fill of 1424 Pit lining: silty charcoal 0.15 14 1424 Pit Sub-circular in plan; not 3.6 >2 0.58 excavated to depth 15 1500 Topsoil Dark brown-grey clayey silt 0.33 15 1501 Subsoil Mid red-brown silty clay 0.2 15 1502 Geology Mid brown-grey clayey sand 15 1503 Ditch North-west/south-east-aligned; >2.12 1.13 0.42 linear in plan 15 1504 Fill of 1503 Mid brown-grey sandy clay 0.42 16 1600 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.3 16 1601 Geology Light yellow-brown clayey sand 17 1700 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.3 17 1701 Geology Light yellow-brown clayey sand 17 1702 Ditch East-south-east/west-north-west- >2 0.55 0.18 aligned; linear in plan 17 1703 Fill of 1702 Mid brown-grey sandy clay 0.18 18 1800 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.24 18 1801 Geology Light yellow-brown clayey sand 18 1802 Cut Modern disturbance (unexcavated) 18 1803 Fill of 1802 Modern brick rubble in a silty matrix 19 1900 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.34 19 1901 Geology Light yellow-brown sandy clay 19 1902 Ditch North-west/south-east-aligned; >2.5 0.64 0.18 linear in plan 19 1903 Fill of 1902 Mid brown-grey sandy clay 0.18 20 2000 Topsoil Dark brown-grey silty clay 0.29 20 2001 Geology Light yellow-brown sandy clay

13 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

By Jacky Sommerville, CA

The finds recovered during the evaluation consisted entirely of pottery.

Pottery: Roman

A sherd of denuded (i.e. no slip remains) central Gaulish samian (LEZ SA2) was recovered from ditch fill 1413 (ditch 1410, T14). This ware type was exported to Britain during the 2nd century AD (Webster 1996, 2–3).

A base sherd from a mortarium in Mancetter-Hartshill White ware was recovered from ditch fill 1407 (ditch 1403, T14). This type of pottery was manufactured in the Mancetter-Hartshill area of north Warwickshire during the 2nd–4th centuries AD (Tyers 1996, 123). The use of black, angular trituration grits is suggestive of 3rd–4th century dating in this instance (Tomber and Dore 1998, 190).

The bulk of the remaining Roman pottery is only broadly dateable. A possible exception is a bodysherd in a grog-and-quartz tempered fabric from ditch fill 1413 (ditch 1410, T14), which probably dates to the 1st century AD.

Pottery in reduced sandy fabrics (grey or black-firing) makes up the bulk of the remainder and is probably representative of local coarseware types. Identifiable forms include: a greyware jar with a bifid rim in posthole fill 1417 (posthole 1414, T14); a jar from ditch fill 1413 (ditch 1410, T14) and a globular jar with an everted rim from posthole fill 1417 (posthole 1414, T14). The latter vessels were both made in the black-firing, sand-tempered fabric.

Table B1: Finds concordance Context Description Count Weight(g) Spot-date 0 Roman pottery: coarse oxidised fabric 1 3 - 1407 Roman pottery: Mancetter-Hartshill White ware; greyware; 9 401 C3-C4 black-firing, sand-tempered fabric 1413 Roman pottery: samian; greyware; black-firing, sand-tempered 7 101 C2+ fabric; grog-and-quartz tempered fabric 1417 Roman pottery: greyware; black-firing, sand-tempered fabric 10 177 RB

14 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

References

Tomber. R. and Dore. J. 1998 The National Roman Fabric Reference Collection: A Handbook MOLaS Monograph 2

Tyers, P. 1996 Roman Pottery in Britain London: Routledge

15 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS Project Name Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation Short description (250 words maximum) In December 2014, Cotswold Archaeology undertook an archaeological evaluation at the proposed location of Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire. Twenty trenches were excavated.

The evaluation recorded two Roman ditches and a posthole at the site, as well as a small number of shallow, undated ditches and an undated pit containing evidence for in situ burning. Only one of the ditches and the burnt pit had been detected by the geophysical survey. Further geophysical anomalies suggestive of burning in the south-western corner of the site were not found to relate to similar burnt pit features.

The evaluation also recorded extensive ridge and furrow remains throughout the site, matching evidence from historic aerial photographs and confirming that the site formed part of the medieval open field system associated with Normanton le Heath Parish. Project dates 3–8 December 2014 Project type Field evaluation (e.g. desk-based, field evaluation, etc.) Previous work Excavation (Leicestershire Archaeological Unit 1991) (reference to organisation or SMR Fieldwalking Survey (University of Leicester Archaeological numbers, etc.) Services 1996) Geophysical Survey (Pre-Construct Geophysics 2014) Desk-Based Assessment (Cotswold Archaeology 2014) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire Study area (M2/ha) 29.5ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SK 3871 1350 PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Leicestershire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Derek Evans Project Supervisor Peter James MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS None PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content (e.g. pottery, (museum/Accession no.) animal bone, etc.) Physical Leicestershire Museums Service Ceramics

16 © Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton Le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Paper Leicestershire Museums Service Context sheets, registers, trench sheets, drawings, etc. Digital Leicestershire Museums Service Database, digital photos, registers, etc. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cotswold Archaeology Coalville Solar Farm, Normanton le Heath, Leicestershire: Archaeological Evaluation CA typescript report 15031

17 N Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 218320 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Leicestershire Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 2005 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 1:25,000 1

Section AA

NS N Trench 1 139.0m AOD

103 101 ditch 102

01m

ditch 102 A

0 10m

Ditch 102, looking east (scale 0.4m)

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 1: plan, section and photograph

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 1:200 1:20 5 Section BB

NW SE ditch N 1410 Trench 14 133.0m AOD

posthole 1414 1407 1406

pit 1405 1424 B C D 1404

ditch 1403 D ditch B 1403 01m

0 10m

Section CC

SE 1400 NW S NW E 133.5m AOD 1413 1417

1412 1416 ditch posthole 1411 1410 1414 1415

01m

Section DD

SW NE 133.5m AOD 1400

land 1418 drain 1422 1423 1419

1420 Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk pit 1421 e [email protected] 1421 PROJECT TITLE Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE

01m Trench 14: plan and sections

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 1:200 1:20 6 Trench 14, looking north-east (1m scales) Pit 1424, looking south (2m scale)

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

Ditch 1410 and posthole 1414, looking north (0.4m scale) PROJECT TITLE Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 14: photographs

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 NA 7 Section EE

SW NE 133.0m AOD Trench 15 N

1504 ditch 1503 land drain

01m

land drain

furrow

E ditch 1503

E land drain

0 10m

Ditch 1503, looking north-west (scale 1m)

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trench 15: plan, section and photograph

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 1:200 1:20 8 Trench 17 N Trench 19 N

ditch 1702 F

furrow land F drain

furrow

ditch 1902

G 0 10m G

0 10m

Section FF Section GG

NS NE SW 131.0m 1703 137.25m AOD 1701 AOD 1903 ditch 1901 1702 ditch 1902

Cirencester 01285 771022 Milton Keynes 01908 564660 Cotswold Andover 01264 347630 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk 01m 01m e [email protected]

PROJECT TITLE Coalville Solar Farm, Leicestershire

FIGURE TITLE Trenches 17 and 19: plans and sections

DRAWN BY DJB PROJECT NO. 660385 FIGURE NO. CHECKED BY JB DATE 23-01-2015 APPROVED BY DE SCALE@A3 1:200 1:20 9