Ladybridge Farm: Evaluation Trench (Intervention 18)

Intervention 18 was located 21.0m from the eastern limit of Zone C and c.20.0m from Intervention 17. This trench was also positioned to contact a large isolated anomaly defined by the magnetometer area survey (Intervention 4, F29). The intervention measured 3.0m x 3.0m and was handexcavated. The dark yellowish-brown ploughsoil was found to be a uniform 0.30m deep and ground level was level at c.42.00m AOD (C1123). The ploughsoil overlay a homogenous orangish-brown gravel and clayey silt subsoil (C1124).

A single feature (F13) was identified within Intervention 18, and was located at the southern limit of the intervention disappearing beyond the western, eastern and southern sections. The visible dimensions of F13 were 3.0m x 1.4m x 0.60m deep, although a larger area of the same feature was later encountered in Intervention 23 where it proved to be a large sink hole (F19). The excavated sample of F13/F19 within Intervention 18 encountered a single deposit, a sterile dark brown sandy silt with occasional mixed gravel inclusions (C1187). Another possible deposit was defined during excavation, which was thought to represent subsoil; within the confines of Intervention 18 it was not clear, although excavation of the feature within Intervention 23 confirmed the deposit to be filling the sinkhole (=C1206). No dateable material was recovered from the feature.

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