Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works South Cerney ...

Cirencester Sewage Treatment WorksSouth Cerney

GloucestershireArchaeological Watching Brief

foreight20

on behalf ofThames Water

CA Project: 5548CA Report: 15741

October 2015

Cirencester Sewage Treatment WorksSouth Cerney

Gloucestershire

Archaeological Watching Brief

CA Project: 5548CA Report: 15741

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

Document Control GridRevision Date Author Checked by Status Reasons for

revisionApproved

byA 02 October

2015Sian

ReynishLuke

Brannlund

Cliff Bateman

Internal review


1

Cirencester STW, South Cerney Gloucestershire: Archaeological Watching Brief

CONTENTS

SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................2

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................3

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND................................................................3

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES...................................................................................4

4. METHODOLOGY...............................................................................................4

5. RESULTS (FIG. 2) .............................................................................................4

7. CA PROJECT TEAM..........................................................................................5

8. REFERENCES...................................................................................................5

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS....................................................................7

APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM...........................................................................8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSFig. 1 Site location plan (1;25,000)

Fig. 2 The site, showing location of observed groundworks (1:750)


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SUMMARY

Project Name: Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works

Location: South Cerney, Gloucestershire

NGR: SU 0345 9700

Type: Watching Brief

Date: 3-28 August 2015

Location of Archive: To be deposited with Corinium Museum

Site Code: SEW 15

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during

groundworks associated with the construction of a new pumping station, filters and

associated ducts at Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works (STW), South Cerney,

Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and

no artefactual material was recovered.


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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 In August 2015 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching

brief at Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works (STW), South Cerney, Gloucestershire

(centred on NGR: NGR SU 0345 9700; Fig. 1). The watching brief comprised

Permitted Development for the construction of a new pumping station, filters and

associated ducts but is governed by Thames Water’s responsibilities under the

Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation.

1.2 The watching brief was carried out in accordance with a Written Scheme of

Investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2015). The fieldwork also followed Standard

and guidance: Archaeological watching brief (CIfA 2014), the Management of

Archaeological Projects 2 (English Heritage 1991), and the Management of

Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE): Project Manager’s Guide

(EH 2006).

The site1.3 The proposed development area is contained within the existing STW. The

underlying bedrock geology of the area is mapped as Kellaways Clay Member –

Mudstone overlain by superficial deposits of Northmoor Sand and Gravel (BGS

2015). Sands and gravels were encountered within the site.

2. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

2.1 The site lies in an area of known archaeological potential. In particular a programme

of archaeological recording undertaken 300m+ to the south and west of the current

site, in advance of gravel quarrying at Shorncote Quarry, identified a small Neolithic

and Bronze Age barrow cemetery, Deverel Rimbury cremation cemetery, open late

Bronze Age settlement, Iron Age settlement, and Romano-British settlement and

agricultural features (Hearne & Heaton 1994 and Brossler et al 2002).

2.2 An archaeological watching brief undertaken during drainage works associated with

previous upgrading within the STW identified three undated ditches that correlate

closely with the alignment and dimensions of Iron Age ditches previously excavated

during the Shorncote Quarry excavations (CA 2004).


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3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

3.1 The objectives of the archaeological works were:

to monitor groundworks, and to identify, investigate and record all significant buried

archaeological deposits revealed on the site during the course of the development

groundworks;

at the conclusion of the project, to produce an integrated archive for the project work

and a report setting out the results of the project and the archaeological conclusions

that can be drawn from the recorded data.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2015). An

archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks within nine areas (recorded

as Trenches 1 to 9 inclusive; see Fig. 2 for locations and extent).

4.2 Where archaeological deposits were encountered written, graphic and photographic

records were compiled in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork

Recording Manual.

4.3 The archive from the watching brief is currently held by CA at their offices in Kemble

and will be deposited with Corinium Museum. A summary of information from this

project set out within Appendix B will be entered onto the OASIS online database of

archaeological projects in Britain.

5. RESULTS (FIG. 2)

5.1 The natural geological substrate was revealed within Trenches 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 at an

average depth of 0.45m bpgl, overlain by subsoil. The subsoil was typically sealed

by made ground, that was in turn overlain by topsoil. Evidence for tree throws and

modern services were observed in Trench 8 cutting into the natural sands and

gravels.

5.2 Within Trenches 2, 3, 6 and 9 the observed groundworks only penetrated into the

subsoil deposits. No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed


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during the groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material

pre-dating the modern period was recovered.

6. DISCUSSION

6.1 Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological

background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within

the area of observed groundworks. The survival of the in-situ subsoil deposits

suggests that the site was not subject to wholesale truncation during construction of

the STW. The absence of archaeological features/deposits may therefore indicate

that the prehistoric and Roman activity previously identified to the south of the site

does not extend as far as, or were not exposed by the development.

7. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Sian Reynish. The report was written by Sian Reynish

and Luke Brannlund. The illustrations were prepared by Rosanna Price. The archive

has been compiled by, and prepared for deposition by Hazel O’Neill. The project

was managed for CA by Cliff Bateman.

8. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2015 Geology of Britain Viewer

http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html (accessed 01

October 2015)

Brossler, A., Gocher, M., Laws, L. and Roberts M. 2002 ‘Shorncote Quarry: excavations of

a late prehistoric landscape in the Upper Thames Valley, 1997 and 1998’ in Trans.

Bristol Gloucestershire Archaeol. Soc. 120, 37-87

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 Cirencester Sewage Works, Siddington, Gloucestershire:

Programme of Archaeological Recording. CA typescript report 04174

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works, South Cerney,

Gloucestershire; Written Scheme of Investigation for an Archaeological Watching

Brief


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Hearne, C.M. and Heaton, M.J. 1994 ‘Excavations at a Late Bronze Age settlement in the

Upper Thames Valley at Shorncote Quarry near Cirencester 1992’ in Trans. Bristol

Gloucestershire Archaeol. Soc. 112, 17-57


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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench No.

Context No.

Type Fill of Context interpretation

Description L (m) W (m)

Depth/thickness (m)

1 100 Layer Made Ground Mid-dark grey-brown sand silt with modern inclusions

0.05

1 101 Layer Topsoil Mid-dark grey-brown sand silt 0.11 102 Layer Subsoil Mid yellow-brown sand silt 0.051 103 Layer Natural Light grey-yellow sand gravel n/a

2 200 Layer Topsoil Mid-dark grey-brown sand silt 0.15


0.18

2 202 Layer Subsoil Mid yellow-brown sand silt 0.05+



0.22a




0.15

4 402 Layer Subsoil Mid yellow-brown sand silt 0.1

4 403 Layer Natural Light grey-yellow sand gravel n/a


5 501 Layer Made Ground Mid yellow-brown sand silt 0.2




0.15




0.6








0.15



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APPENDIX B: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Cirencester STW

Short description An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the construction of a new pumping station, filters and associated ducts at Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works (STW), South Cerney, Gloucestershire.

No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks, and no artefactual material was recovered.

Project dates 3-28 August 2015Project type Watching Brief

Previous work CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2004 Cirencester Sewage Works, Siddington, Gloucestershire: Programme of Archaeological Recording. CA typescript report 04174

Future work Unknown

PROJECT LOCATIONSite Location Cirencester STW, South Cerney, GloucestershireStudy area (M2/ha) 0.8haSite co-ordinates SU 0345 9700

PROJECT CREATORSName of organisation Cotswold ArchaeologyProject Brief originator N/AProject Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology

Project Manager Cliff BatemanProject Supervisor Sian ReynishMONUMENT TYPE NoneSIGNIFICANT FINDS NonePROJECT ARCHIVES Intended final location of archive Content

Physical n/a n/aPaper Corinium Museum Trench SheetsDigital Corinium Museum Digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2015 Cirencester STW, South Cerney, Gloucestershire: Archaeological Evaluation.CA typescript report 15741

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PROJECT TITLE

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FIGURE NO.

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Reproduced from the 2009 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109

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Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works

Site location plan

PROJECT NO.DATESCALE@A4

DRAWN BYCHECKED BYAPPROVED BY

554814.10.151:25,000

LMDBCB

Andover 01264 347630

Cirencester 01285 771022

Exeter 01392 826185

Milton Keynes 01908 564660

w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk

e [email protected]

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Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey digital mapping with the permission ofOrdnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office© Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeology Ltd 100002109.

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PROJECT NO.DATESCALE@A3

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PROJECT TITLE

Cirencester Sewage Treatment Works

FIGURE TITLE

The site, showing location of observedgroundworks

FIGURE NO.

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excavation area

made ground/subsoil

modern

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AndoverCirencesterExeterMilton Keynes

[email protected]

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