Archaeological Resource Assessment of the Aggregates Producing Areas of Warwickshire and Solihull
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Warwickshire County Council Archaeological Resource Assessment of the Aggregates Producing Areas of Warwickshire and Solihull Final Report Draft Version 2.0 31/03/2008 By Magnus Alexander with Stuart Palmer and Laurence Chadd Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund English Heritage Project No 4681 Archaeological Resource Assessment of the Aggregates Producing Areas of Warwickshire Summary This document is an assessment of the archaeology associated with aggregate minerals in Warwickshire and Solihull. The project was undertaken by the archaeology section of Warwickshire Museum Field Services, based within the Adult, Health and Community Services Directorate of Warwickshire County Council. The project has characterised, digitally mapped and subsequently analysed the resource, in order to inform the development of both minerals development frameworks and archaeological research, and provide a sound dataset for management and decision-making. This project primarily matched the criteria in Objective 2 of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF; strategic mitigation of future extraction): the analysis of existing data and wider dissemination matched Objective 3 (mitigation of past extraction). This project has used a number of data sources, primarily: relevant geological information, in particular that which is available in digital form from the BGS; relevant archaeological data, contained in the Warwickshire and Solihull HERs; aerial photographic information including additional mapping as part of English Heritage’s National Mapping Programme. The project has resulted in: a corpus of baseline data to inform future strategies; enhancement of the Warwickshire and Solihull HERs; increased awareness of archaeological issues in relation to aggregates extraction; dissemination via this project report, a non-technical leaflet and through the Warwickshire County Council web site. Acknowledgements Everyone at Warwickshire Museum Field Services for their advice and support in particular to: Stuart Palmer, Emma Jones, Alison Hatcher, Jonathan Parkhouse, Nick Palmer, Candy Stevens and Anna Stocks. Hester Hawkes for undertaking many aspects of the data enhancement on a voluntary basis and Rebecca Smith who made a significant contribution during her work experience placement. Dr Jon Radley for geological advice and Jim Davies for minerals planning advice. Buzz Busby, Lisa Moffett, Fachtna McAvoy, Linda Monkton and Helen Winton at English Heritage for their encouragement and support. Rachel Edwards of Arboretum Archaeological Consultancy for input at the Project Design stage and subsequently. Ed Wilson of the Environment Agency for supplying the sample LIDAR data. Front cover illustration: An Anglo-Saxon square-headed brooch from Wasperton Page i Warwickshire County Council Museum Field Services Page ii Archaeological Resource Assessment of the Aggregates Producing Areas of Warwickshire Contents 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background..........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Report Scope .......................................................................................................................1 1.3 Management and Personnel................................................................................................2 1.4 The Project Area ..................................................................................................................3 1.5 Minerals Planning Context...................................................................................................3 2 Aim and Objectives ...................................................................................................................5 2.1 Aim .......................................................................................................................................5 2.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................5 3 Methodology..............................................................................................................................6 3.1 Description of Methodology .................................................................................................6 3.1.1 Definition of the Aggregates Resource...........................................................................6 3.1.1.1 Current and Potential Exploitation .............................................................................6 3.1.1.2 Past exploitation ........................................................................................................7 3.1.1.3 Final processing.........................................................................................................8 3.1.2 Definition of Study Areas ................................................................................................8 3.1.2.1 Bedrock Aggregate Areas .........................................................................................9 3.1.2.2 Superficial Aggregate Areas......................................................................................9 3.1.3 Data Enhancement .........................................................................................................9 3.1.3.1 Data Correction and Validation..................................................................................9 3.1.3.2 Aerial Photography ..................................................................................................10 3.1.3.3 LIDAR ......................................................................................................................10 3.1.4 Data Collation ...............................................................................................................10 3.1.5 Archaeological Resource Assessment .........................................................................11 3.1.6 Research Agenda .........................................................................................................11 3.1.7 Management proposals ................................................................................................11 3.1.8 Dissemination ...............................................................................................................11 3.2 Appraisal of the Efficacy of the Methodology.....................................................................12 4 Description of the Aggregates Resource ................................................................................13 4.1 Geological Description .......................................................................................................13 4.1.1 Minerals Resource Classification..................................................................................13 4.1.2 Hard rock ......................................................................................................................14 4.1.3 Superficial (Quaternary) Deposits of Sand and Gravel ................................................15 4.1.3.1 River Sands and Gravels.........................................................................................15 4.1.3.2 Glacial Sands and Gravels ......................................................................................16 4.2 Overview of Past and Present Extraction ..........................................................................17 4.2.1 Bedrock Aggregate Areas.............................................................................................17 4.2.2 Superficial Aggregate Areas (Sands and Gravels).......................................................18 Page iii Warwickshire County Council Museum Field Services 4.3 Implications for Future Extraction ......................................................................................21 4.3.1 Bedrock Aggregate Areas.............................................................................................21 4.3.2 Superficial Aggregate Areas (Sand and Gravels).........................................................21 4.3.3 Summary.......................................................................................................................22 5 Description of the Archaeological Resource...........................................................................23 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................23 5.1.1 The Historic Environment Record.................................................................................23 5.1.2 Overview of Fieldwork within the Project Area .............................................................23 5.1.3 Individual Finds.............................................................................................................24 5.2 Countywide Monument Densities ......................................................................................24 5.2.1 Districts .........................................................................................................................24 5.2.1.1 Solihull .....................................................................................................................26 5.2.1.2 North Warwickshire..................................................................................................26 5.2.1.3 Nuneaton & Bedworth..............................................................................................27