Berkeley Vale Wind Park Stinchcombe

BERKELEY VALE WIND PARK STINCHCOMBE

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

For

ECOTRICITY

CA PROJECT: 3307 CA REPORT: 10229

DECEMBER 2010

BERKELEY VALE WIND PARK STINCHCOMBE GLOUCESTERSHIRE

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION

CA PROJECT: 3307 CA REPORT: 10229

prepared by Tim Havard, Project Officer

date 23 December 2010

checked by Simon Cox, Head of Fieldwork

date 23 December 2010

approved by Mark Collard, Head of Contracts

signed

date 23 December 2010

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 Tel. 01285 771022 Fax. 01285 771033 E-mail: [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6) ...... 6

3. DISCUSSION...... 9

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 9

5. REFERENCES ...... 10

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 11 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS...... 13 APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 14

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan (1:25,000) Fig. 2 Trench location plan (1:5000) Fig. 3 Trenches 1-3 showing archaeological features and results of geophysical survey (1:1000) Fig. 4 Trenches 4-6 and 8 showing archaeological features, geophysics and section (1:1250) Fig. 5 Trench 7 showing geophysical survey results (1:1000) Fig. 6 Trenches 2 and 6 plans and sections (various scales)

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Berkeley Vale Wind Park Location: Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire NGR: ST 7185 9920 Type: Evaluation Date: 6-9 December 2010 Planning Reference: S.10/1638/FUL Location of Archive: To be deposited with Stroud Museum In The Park Accession Number: STGCM 2010.79 Site Code: BVW 10

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2010 at the site of the proposed Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. Eight trenches were excavated.

Two parallel ditches of Roman date, several furrows and an undated pit were recorded.

2 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In December 2010 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological evaluation for Ecotricity at the site of the proposed Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: ST 7185 9920; Fig. 1). The evaluation was undertaken to accompany a planning application to Stroud District Council for the development of a wind farm comprising four wind turbines with associated crane hardstandings, access tracks and temporary construction compound (Ref. S.10/1638/FUL).

1.2 The evaluation was carried out in accordance with a brief for archaeological evaluation (GCC 2010) prepared by Mr Charles Parry, Senior Archaeological Officer, Gloucestershire County Council, the archaeological advisor to Stroud District Council, and with a subsequent detailed Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (CA 2010) and approved by Mr Parry. The fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (IfA 2008), Statement of Standards and Practices Appropriate for Archaeological Fieldwork in Gloucestershire (GCC 1995), 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).

The site

1.3 The proposed development area comprises a total area of approximately 152ha, almost exclusively under pasture. The site is bounded to the west by the Gloucester- Bristol railway line, and partly bounded to the north by the B4066 and several field boundaries. To the east, the site is partly defined by Standle Lane, as well as several further field boundaries. The southern part of the site is defined by existing field boundaries (Fig. 2). The highest part of the site lies at around 54m AOD, towards the central-eastern area. A natural ridge runs south from here, and the land slopes gently east to heights of around 25m AOD. The land also slopes gently down to the north of the site, to a height of around 35m AOD.

1.4 The solid geology of the majority of the site comprises Lower Lias Clay of the Jurassic period. A small deposit of drift River Terrace gravels (First Terrace of the River Severn and tributaries) is mapped by the BGS within the southern extreme of the site

3 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

(Ecotricity 2010, Fig. 9.1). A very narrow, localised, deposit of Alluvium is also mapped along the course of the small drainage stream in the northern part of the site (ibid.). During the evaluation reddish or yellowy-brown clay substrate was recorded in all trenches.

Archaeological background

1.5 Chapter 9 of the Environmental Statement prepared by Ecotricity contains a Cultural Heritage Assessment of the site, and further reference should be made to this for the detailed archaeological background (Ecotricity 2010). The results of the assessment are, however, summarised below, followed by the results of a subsequent geophysical survey undertaken in 2010.

1.6 Archaeological investigations and observations were carried out during the construction of the M5 motorway in the early 1970s, including part of the fields in the easternmost extreme of the site, where a small scatter of Roman and medieval pottery was recorded. The course of the Roman road running between Seamills (Roman Abona,) and Gloucester (Glevum) is projected by the NMR records to run through the site. The road is number 541 in Ivan Margary’s standard text Roman Roads in Britain (Margary 1973, 140). Although it is almost certain that there was a road between these two settlements, the actual route of the road is largely uncertain, and is projected as an approximate alignment in the vicinity of the site. Between Dursley to the north (where it is thought to have joined a better recorded route between Gloucester and near Keynsham; Margary route 541a) and the Stone area it is thought likely to have run on the eastern side of the Vale of Berkeley, but there is little further evidence for its course. Possible alignments and earthwork evidence for the route were examined during the site inspection for the Environmental Statement, but no evidence for the route was identified. The course of a Roman road running immediately to the east of the site is rather better established. This road ran from Gloucester to meet the Bath (Aqua Sulis)-Sea Mills road close to modern-day Keynsham. The length of this route has been established largely through aerial photographs and the fossilisation of the route in the current road system, paths and tracks, field boundaries and lynchets.

1.7 It is likely that the site area formed part of the agricultural hinterland of Stinchcombe during the medieval period, much as it does today. No ridge and furrow earthworks (formed by medieval ploughing practices in the open field system) were recorded

4 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

within the Cultural Heritage Assessment study area, or observed on aerial photographs of the area (Ecotricity 2010).

1.8 A geophysical survey, within the proposed locations of access roads, wind turbines and a temporary construction compound, found no conclusive evidence for archaeological features (PCG 2010). Anomalies identified were tentatively interpreted as ditches in the northern part of the survey area and three pits in the access track and location of proposed Turbine 3. Buried services, land drains and rubble spreads, potentially associated with railway construction, were also identified. However, the strong response of the railway fence may have masked weaker anomalies of potential archaeological origin.

Archaeological objectives

1.9 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist Stroud District Council in making an informed judgement on the significance of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it of the proposed development.

Methodology

1.10 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of eight trenches in the locations shown on the attached plan (Fig. 2). Trenches 1-4 and 6-7 measured 50m x 1.8m, trench 5 measured 45m x 1.8m and trench 8 was 5.5m x 1m. Trench 5 was excavated to the south-west of the originally proposed location due to the presence of overhead tree canopies, and a smaller hand dug trench, trench 8, was excavated in its original location. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using a Leica 1200 series SmartRover GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual (2009).

1.11 Trenches 1-7 were excavated by mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with CA

5 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2007). Trench 8 was excavated by hand.

1.12 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) and no deposits were identified that required sampling. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3 Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (2010).

1.13 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Stroud Museum in the Park, along with the site archive, under accession number STGCM 2010.79. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix C, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

2. RESULTS (FIGS 2-6)

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.

2.2 All recorded features were cut into the natural clay substrate, and sealed by subsoil.

2.3 No features of archaeological significance were encountered in trenches 1, 3-5 and 7-8. Trench 8 was located to examine a pit like anomaly identified by geophysical survey although no such feature was observed.

Trench 2 (Figs 2-3 & 6)

2.4 A wide shallow ditch 204 was identified on an east/west alignment towards the north-eastern end of trench 2. The ditch measured approximately 4.6m in width and a maximum of 0.16m depth with the exception V-shaped portion which measured 0.54m wide and 0.26m in depth. This feature contained a single fill 203 whose dark colour compared to the surrounding natural substrate suggested a deposit derived from standing water. Seventeen sherds of Roman pottery, a pennanular brooch of

6 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Roman date and some animal bone were recovered from this fill, which was sealed by subsoil 201.

2.5 A sub-circular pit 205 was observed centrally within trench 2. Initial cleaning of this demonstrated that it contained an articulated animal burial, the full extent of which lay beyond the trench, and it was therefore decided not to excavate this feature.

2.6 Ditch 207 lay in the south-western half of trench 2 on an east/west alignment. It had steeply sloping sides, a concave base and measured approximately 1.1m in width and 0.45m in depth. It contained a two silty clay fills, 209 and 208, both of which appeared to be derived from gradual erosion and deposition rather than deliberate backfilling. Roman pottery was recovered from both fills of this ditch.

2.7 Six furrows were identified within the trench all aligned on a broadly similar east/west alignment parallel to ditches 204 and 207. The furrows were demonstrated to be no more than 0.1m in depth and all contained a fill similar to the overlying subsoil from which no artefactual evidence was recovered. The alignment of both the furrows and ditches within the trench corresponded broadly to several ditch-like anomalies identified by geophysical survey.

Trench 6 (Figs 2, 4 & 6)

2.8 Trench 6 was located to examine a pit-like feature identified by the geophysical survey, although no corresponding feature was identified. A sub-circular pit 603 was identified at the north-eastern end of the trench. It measured 0.6m in diameter, 0.06m in depth and contained a single dark grey silty fill, 605, with frequent charcoal inclusions. A single small piece of burnt animal bone was recovered from the fill. No scorch marks were visible on the sides of the pit cut, and the position of the feature did not correspond to any geophysical anomaly. A worked flint flake of broadly prehistoric date was recovered from the topsoil in this trench.

The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence

2.9 Quantities of artefactual material were recovered from five deposits consisting of Roman pottery, fired clay, burnt stone, a worked flint and a Roman brooch in copper alloy. A quantity of animal bone was also retrieved from four deposits (Appendix B).

7 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

Pottery 2.10 Roman pottery was recorded from three deposits 203, 208 and 209. The fabrics noted from deposit 203 (fill of ditch 204), mainly comprise local coarseware types typical for the earlier Roman period (later 1st or 2nd centuries AD); a sherd of Dorset Black-Burnished ware indicates dating no earlier that the 2nd century AD. A broad date in the late 2nd to 4th centuries was assigned to deposit 208 (the second fill of ditch 207). The dating is based on the occurrence of micaceous greyware, Dorset Black-Burnished ware and Oxfordshire whiteware; types most common after c. AD 180. A sherd of East Gaulish samian ware from this deposit dates to the late 2nd to mid 3rd centuries AD. A similar range of fabrics occurred in the lower fill of ditch 207 (deposit 209).

2.11 Identifiable vessel forms among the Roman pottery include tankards and a large jar in Severn Valley ware from ditch fill 203; a possible flagon base and mortarium bodysherd in Oxfordshire whiteware, from ditch fill 208; and a dish (form 32) in East Gaulish samian ware and an everted rim jar in Dorset Black-Burnished ware, both from ditch fill 209.

Other Finds 2.12 The single recovered item of copper alloy (Ra.1), from trench 2 fill 203, is identified as a penannular brooch, dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD. The brooch is distinguished by ‘proto-zoomorphic’ terminals and is classified as Fowler type D5 (Fowler 1960, 153), a well known type with a possible south-western British distribution (McSloy 2008, 56–57).

2.13 A worked flint flake of indeterminate (broadly prehistoric) date was recovered as an unstratified find (Trench 6 topsoil).

Animal Bone 2.14 Animal bone was recovered from four deposits. Three of these were from ditch fills 203, 208, 209, all of probable Roman date. One undated pit fill, 605, produced a single fragment of burnt animal bone. The species identified were cattle and sheep/goat, the remainder being more fragmented was classified as cow-sized and sheep-sized. The animal bone from ditch fill 203 exhibits butchery marks.

8 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

3. DISCUSSION

Roman 3.1 The wide and shallow nature of ditch 204, the centrally positioned V-shaped cut within the ditch, and the silty fill, are suggestive of a narrow drainage gully which has flooded. A comparatively large amount of Roman pottery of 2nd-century and later date, and animal bone, was recovered from limited excavation of the fill 203. The varied pottery types recovered perhaps represent periodic deposition within the feature, rather than a single event.

3.2 Ditch 207 was aligned broadly parallel to 204, although the former was substantially deeper. The alignment of the two features could represent a former trackway or field boundary, although greater exposure of both features would be required to confirm this.

Medieval/post-medieval 3.3 The furrows identified in trench 2 likely reflect the site’s location in the agricultural hinterland of Stinchcombe in the medieval and later periods.

Undated 3.4 The lack of scorching around the sides of pit 603 suggests the charcoal observed within the fill did not derive from in situ burning. The lack of dating evidence and lack of other features and finds, other than an unstratified worked flint flake of broadly prehistoric date from the topsoil, from the trench mean that no further interpretation can be offered for this pit.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Tim Havard, assisted by Anthony Beechey, Jerry Stone, Alex Wilkinson and Jamie Wright. The report was written by Tim Havard. The illustrations were prepared by Jon Bennett. The archive has been compiled by Tim Havard, and prepared for deposition by James Johnson. The project was managed for CA by Simon Cox

9 © Cotswold Archaeology Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

5. REFERENCES

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 20010a Berkeley Vale Wind Farm, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Evaluation

Ecotricity 2010 Berkeley Vale Wind Park Environmental Statement

GCC (Gloucestershire County Council) 2010 Brief for an archaeological field evaluation

Margary, I. 1973 Roman Roads in Britain. London: John Baker

PCG (Pre-Construct Geophysics) 2010 Geophysical Survey: Berkeley Vale Wind Farm, Dursley, Gloucestershire

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Layer Topsoil 0.2 101 Layer Natural substrate: mid yellow brown clay >0.1

Trench 2

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 200 Layer Topsoil 0.22 201 Layer Subsoil 0.26 202 Layer Natural substrate: dark red brown clay >0.35 203 Fill Single fill of 204: mid to dark grey silty clay >2.2 4.6 Max C2+ 0.26 204 Cut Cut for broad shallow probable ditch >2.2 4.6 Max 0.26 205 Cut Cut of unexcavated sub-circular pit >0.8 0.8 n/a 206 Fill Single unexcavated fill of 205 containing articulated >0.8 0.8 n/a animal burial 207 Cut Cut of Ditch aligned east-west, steeply sloped sides >2.5 1.1 0.43 leading to concave base 208 Fill Second fill of 207: mid grey brown silty clay >2.5 1.1 Max LC2-C4 0.27 209 Fill First fill of 207: mid brown silty clay >2.5 1.1 Max C2+ 0.2

Trench 3

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 300 Layer Topsoil 0.23 301 Layer Subsoil: 0.17 302 Layer Natural substrate: light orange brown clay > 0.1

Trench 4

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 400 Layer Topsoil 0.25 401 Layer Subsoil: 0.2 402 Layer Natural substrate: mid red brown clay > 0.1

Trench 5

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 500 Layer Topsoil 0.19 501 Layer Subsoil: 0.13 502 Layer Natural substrate: mid brown red clay with some > 0.1 pockets of yellow brown clay

Trench 6

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 600 Layer Topsoil 0.09

601 Layer Subsoil: 0.19 602 Layer Natural substrate: mid red brown clay > 0.1 603 Cut Cut for sub-circular pit, shallow sloped sides and flat 0.6 0.6 0.08 base 604 Void Number not assigned 605 Fill Single fill of 603: mid black grey silty clay with 0.6 0.6 0.08 frequent charcoal flecking

Trench 7

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 700 Layer Topsoil 0.19 701 Layer Subsoil: 0.22 702 Layer Natural substrate: mid brown red clay > 0.1

Trench 8

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 800 Layer Topsoil 0.23 801 Layer Subsoil: 0.27 802 Layer Natural substrate: light orange brown clay > 0.1

APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Ct. Wt. Date 203 Roman pottery: Severn Valley ware, Dorset Black-Burnished ware, Malvernian 17 215 C2+ limestone-tempered, black-sandy fabric, limestone-tempered fabric Animal bone: sheep/goat, cow-sized 36 65 Burnt stone 3 233 Fired clay 5 261 Burnt animal bone: sheep-sized 1 1 Copper Alloy object: Penannular brooch. RA no. 1 1 4 208 Roman pottery: Micaceous greyware, Dorset Black-Burnished ware, Oxfordshire 11 194 LC2-C4 whiteware, CG samian ware Animal bone: sheep/goat, cow-sized 4 4 209 Roman pottery: Micaceous greyware, Dorset black-Burnished ware, greyware, 8 30 C2+ Severn Valley ware, grog-tempered fabric Animal bone: sheep/goat, cattle, cow-sized, sheep-sized 13 40 Fired clay 2 6 600 Worked flint: broken flake 1 6 - 605 Burnt animal bone: sheep-sized 1 1 - Fired clay 1 1

APPENDIX C: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Berkeley Vale Wind Park Short description An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in December 2010 at the site of the proposed Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. Eight trenches were excavated.

Two parallel ditches of Roman date, several furrows and an undated pit were recorded. Project dates 6-9 December 2010 Project type Field Evaluation )

Previous work Environmental Statement (Ecotricity 2010). Geophysical Survey (PCG 2010)

Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION Site Location Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire Study area (M2/ha) 152ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) ST 7185 9920

PROJECT CREATORS Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology Project Brief originator Gloucestershire County Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Simon Cox Project Supervisor Tim Havard MONUMENT TYPE None SIGNIFICANT FINDS Pennanular Brooch PROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical Stroud Museum In The Park Pottery, animal bone Accession no. STGCM 2010.79 metalwork Paper Stroud Museum In The Park Context sheets, Accession no. STGCM 2010.79 permatrace drawings, matrices Digital Stroud Museum In The Park Digital photos, drawings Accession no. STGCM 2010.79 BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2010 Berkeley Vale Wind Park, Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation. CA Report No. 10229