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WARDELL ARMSTRONG ARCHAEOLOGY Project Design CP11018 PROJECT DESIGN FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STRIP MAP and SAMPLE EXCAVATION AT PARSONAGE AVENUE, RIBCHESTER, LANCASHIRE MOSAIC PLANNING Frank Giecco BA (Hons), MA, MIfA 08/07/2014 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology Cocklakes Yard, Cotehill, Carlisle Cumbria CA4 0BQ Tel: (01228) 564820 Fax: (01228) 560025 Email: [email protected] CONTENTS Page 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 2 2 LOCATION AND GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT .................................................................... 3 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................... 4 4 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 6 4.1 Scope of the Work .................................................................................................................. 6 4.2 Research Agendas ................................................................................................................... 6 4.3 Trial Trench Evaluation .......................................................................................................... 7 4.4 Finds ....................................................................................................................................... 9 4.5 Environmental ......................................................................................................................... 9 5 REPORTING AND PUBLICATION ................................................................................... 10 5.1 Post Excavation Assessment Report ..................................................................................... 10 5.2 Archive Report ...................................................................................................................... 11 5.3 Publication ............................................................................................................................ 11 6 HEALTH AND SAFETY ..................................................................................................... 11 7. STAFFING AND COMPANY SUMMARY ....................................................................... 12 8 WORK TIMETABLE ........................................................................................................... 13 9 ARCHIVE, OWNERSHIP AND STORAGE OF FINDS .................................................... 13 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................. 14 Project Design Wardell Armstrong Archaeology Land at Parsonage Ave, Ribchester, Lancashire 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology was commissioned by Leon Armstrong of Mosaic Planning to produce a WSI for an archaeological strip map and sample excavation of an area of land adjacent to Parsonage Avenue, Ribchester, Lancashire (NGR SD 6480 3513) to discharge the planning condition that a programme of archaeological analysis be undertaken on the site before development. 1.2 The site is located in an area of high archaeological potential due to its proximity to the Roman fort of Bremetenacum . Previous archaeological work within the site of the proposed development, and within the area surrounding it, has revealed evidence for associated extramural activity. 1.3 The proposed development area is located to the north of the site of the Roman fort of Bremetenacum, a site which was first established as a timber fort during the campaigns of Petillius Cerialis ( c.AD72/3). Renovation of the fort was undertaken in the late AD70’s, and was subsequently replaced in stone in the early 2 nd century. The prolonged occupation of the fort, from the early AD70s to the 4 th century, has suggested that its location was of considerable importance to the security and management of not only the road system and local military security, but also the economic infrastructure of the region. 1.4 Beyond the boundary of the fort itself, there is archaeological evidence for extramural activity, including evidence from within the proposed development area itself. Previous archaeological work has also identified the presence of a Bronze Age cremation cemetery on land immediately to the north-east. 1.5 On the evidence of previous archaeological work undertaken to the north- east of the proposed development area, and the geophysical survey and subsequent trial trenching undertaken as part of a Time Team programme in 1993, it is clear that the potential for features and deposits relating to extramural activity associated with the Roman fort at Ribchester is high. A archaeological evaluation within the development site by Wardell Armstrong Archaeology in 2013 confirmed the presence of significant Romano British occupation within the site (I McIntyre, 2013). 1.6 As a result Doug Moir, Planning Officer (Archaeology) at Lancashire County Council has requested a programme of archaeological mitigation be undertaken on the site. This archaeological work will comprise a strip map and sample excavation over south eastern side of the site in order to record the archaeological evidence contained within the sites, and to attempt a reconstruction of the history and use of the area. This is in line with Project Design CP11018 Page 2 08/07/2014 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology Land at Parsonage Ave, Ribchester, Lancashire government advice as set out in Section 12 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2012). 2 LOCATION AND GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT 2.1 The village of Ribchester is located approximately 12km to the east of Preston, and c. 8km to the north of Blackburn, in the Ribble Valley. The settlement is situated on a flood plain on the north side of the River Ribble (Figure 1). The Ribble flows between the Forest of Bowland in the north and the hill country of Pendle in the south. To the north and south of Ribchester the land rises markedly; to the west the land drops gradually to the flat, former mosslands of the Lancashire Fylde (The Conservation Studio 2005, 6). 2.2 The proposed development area is located to the west side of the village, adjacent to Parsonage Avenue and north of St Wilfred’s Church. To the south of the site are Ribchester Playing Fields, which includes a playing field, play area and tennis courts, and to the north and west the site is bounded by fields. Modern housing development forms the north-east side (Figure 2). 2.3 The proposed development area is situated just outside Ribchester Conservation Area, which consists of the village core centred around a small triangular area to the west of the White Bull Inn, and Stydd, which is located to the north-east of the main settlement. The proposed development area is also located just to the north and west of Ribchester Roman Fort (Bremetenacum ) Scheduled Ancient Monument (No. 1005110). 2.4 Around Ribchester the bedrock geology is dominated by the ‘Sabden Shales’ formation, previously part of the Millstone Grit Group (The Conservation Studio 2005, 7). The solid geology is masked by thick boulder clay deposits as the River Ribble follows a deeply incised meandering course through thick drift downstream from the rock gorge at Samlesbury Hall. The till exposed at the surface is typically a reddish-brown sandy clay with grey mottling, containing beds of laminated clay, sands and gravels, and rock fragments of Triassic derivation (Buxton and Howard-Davis 2000, 3). 2.5 Ribchester Roman town and fort are thought to stand on deposits of a Second Terrace of the Ribble, which rises to c.3-4m above the flood plain. This terrace formation is being actively eroded with about one third of the area of the fort lost to fluvial processes to date (Buxton and Howard-Davis 2000, 3). 2.6 Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) defines the study area as ‘Ancient Enclosure’ (information supplied by the HER). Project Design CP11018 Page 3 08/07/2014 Wardell Armstrong Archaeology Land at Parsonage Ave, Ribchester, Lancashire 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 3.1 For relevance to this present area of study, only those areas where archaeological work has been undertaken in close proximity to the proposed development area will be referred to in order to assess the extent and possible character of sub-surface archaeological remains which could be encountered on the site. 3.2 Ribchester Playing Fields 1968-1969: excavations were carried out by the Ribble Archaeology Society in September 1968 and May-June 1969 on land immediately opposite the present proposed development area, adjacent to Parsonage Avenue. Evidence of four clearly-defined periods of activity from before the 1 st century AD to the later 2 nd century were identified (HER Event Ref: ELA1100). 3.3 Ribchester Playing Fields 1973: Ribble Archaeology Society undertook an excavation at the south-west end of what is now the playing fields car park, to the north-east of the proposed development area. The line of a Roman road and buildings were uncovered, with pottery ranging in date from the 1 st to the 3 rd centuries (HER Event Ref: ELA1099). 3.4 Dutton Brook House, Old People’s Home 1980: excavations before the construction of Dutton Brook House by Cumbria and Lancashire Archaeology Unit on land immediately to the north-east of the proposed development site revealed a Bronze Age ring ditch with cremations, a Roman industrial area with a timber building which was demolished c.120AD, and later 2 nd and 3 rd century defences