Normanton
Golf Course
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The excavation of features and deposits in Intervention 2 recommenced in February 1998 in accordance with the archaeological scheme of works. The evaluation of the remainder of the site was undertaken in stages. This initially involved the stripping of the road lines and roundabouts for the development using mechanical excavators fitted with toothless ditching buckets under strict archaeological supervision. Further trenches were then excavated to answer specific questions relating to the archaeology within the site.
The size and timescale of this development created the need for a innovative approach to the archaeological fieldwork. The deployment of a small, full-time fieldwork team was considered to be a far more effective use of resources than evaluating the site with a large team within a fixed shorter period. This allowed each phase of intervention to be tackled within the development timetable while additional groundworks could be monitored when required. If extra manpower was required to complete an intervention to deadline, then additional staff were temporarily deployed on the site. Consequently, a permanent team of three archaeologists were resident on the site for the duration of the phased groundworks.
The excavation of the enclosure (Intervention 2), with such a small team, proved to be a long-term undertaking and continued, intermittently, throughout 1998. This allowed work to be carried out on the development almost continuously between other phases of intervention. Due to the variable nature of the ground certain areas of the site were prone to flooding. The location of Intervention 2 on the top of a low rise in the centre of the site meant that working conditions in Intervention 2 were often acceptable when bad weather had stopped fieldwork in other areas of the site. This factor alone resulted in only three working days being lost due to adverse weather conditions between March and November 1998.
A local site grid was used for recording purposes in Intervention 2. For the remaining Interventions recording was undertaken using OS coordinates obtained from a series of stations set out by the developer. The results from Intervention 2 were later aligned to the OS National Grid. All heights were recorded in metres (AOD). The recording system employed followed Field Research Procedure (Carver, 1990), the standard operating system employed by Field Archaeology Specialists. A single index was created for contexts starting at C1000 and for features starting at Fl. This was used to allocate numbers to deposits and features recorded within all of the Interventions.
All of the interventions were stripped of topsoil using either a tracked or wheeled mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under strict archaeological direction. Exposed soil surfaces were scanned for archaeological deposits and features. Archaeological features present were then fully defined by hand-cleaning and their edges tagged. The points along the outlines of these soil features were surveyed using a total station theodolite and plotted out to scale before being enhanced in the field to create a pre-excavation plan. The edges of furrows, drains, edge of excavations and the site boundary were all recorded in this manner.
The level of sampling was undertaken in accordance with the scheme of works (see Appendix A). In some cases this was exceeded to answer specific questions relating to the date or sequence of the recorded features.
The natural subsoil was predominately an impervious boulder clay. This created several problems in the identification and excavation of archaeological deposits on the site, particularly in Intervention 2. When wet, this material would degenerate into a sludge which became too plastic to work and very difficult to move on safely. In periods of dry weather, the exposed soil surfaces quickly became hard and cracked. This made the definition and excavation of deposits difficult, particularly in the case of shallow or ephemeral features. Within Intervention 2 a policy of covering small areas of the site in plastic sheeting overnight kept the exposed soils damp in dry weather and workable in periods of wet. A series of boarded barrow runs were also used to minimise damage to deposits and provide safe access.
Intervention 2 was originally opened in November 1997 and was left exposed to the elements over the winter of that year. Initially, concerns were expressed that leaving the site for that period of time would be detrimental to the archaeology. It soon became apparent, however that weathering of the clay had actually enhanced the definition of several ephemeral features which may not otherwise have been detected.
In accordance with the archaeological scheme of works (see Appendix A) a total of twenty four separate archaeological interventions were carried out across the site. These are summarised in Table 1 and are shown in Figure 6. Interventions 2 to 14 were excavated in 1998. Interventions 15 to 24 were excavated during 1999. Intervention 25 was carried out in 2001.
Table 1 Summary of Interventions
Int |
Size |
Type |
Description |
Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2 |
70m x 60m |
AREA EXCAVATION |
Complete excavation of rectilinear enclosure and its internal features |
2 |
3 |
1120m x 5-15m |
ROAD PULL |
Machine strip, map and sample of road lines and roundabouts in the field to the south of Whin Beck |
1 |
4 |
10m x 5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation over ridge and furrow to test for deposit survival and second enclosure |
3 |
5 |
10m x 5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation over ridge and furrow to test for deposit survival and second enclosure |
3 |
6 |
5m x 5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation over ridge and furrow to evaluate soil sequence |
4 |
7 |
5m x 5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation over ridge and furrow to evaluate soil sequence |
4 |
8 |
5m x 5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation over ridge and furrow to evaluate soil sequence |
4 |
9 |
5m x 3m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation to test for presence of second enclosure |
3 |
10 |
715m x 10m |
ROAD PULL |
Machine strip, map and sample of road lines and roundabouts across golf course |
4 |
11 |
3.5m x 3m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Hand excavation to test for presence of second enclosure |
3 |
12 |
282m x 12m |
ROAD PULL |
Machine strip, map and sample of road line |
3 |
13 |
28m x 3m |
AREA EVALUATION |
Machine strip, map and sample small area to evaluate northern area of site |
5 |
14 |
132m x 113m |
AREA EVALUATION |
Extend area around Int 2 to map and excavate external features and ditches to the main enclosure |
3 |
15 |
64m x 20m |
AREA EVALUATION |
Machine strip, map and sample archaeological features to the north of Whin Beck and test for earlier watercourses |
3 |
16/17 |
70m x 8m |
ROAD PULL |
Machine strip, map and sample road line |
4 |
18 |
variable |
EVALUATION TRENCHES |
series of nine trenches evaluating NE quadrant of the site |
4 |
19 |
variable |
EVALUATION TRENCHES |
series of eight trenches excavated to extend Int 12 and further evaluate the NW quadrant of the site |
3 |
20 |
variable |
EVALUATION TRENCHES |
Series of eleven trenches excavated to expose and define an east-west aligned ditch running across the northern end of the site |
5 |
21 |
27m x 21m 28m x 3m |
EVALUATION TRENCHES |
Two trenches excavated to evaluate NE part of the site |
4 |
22 |
140m x 5m |
ROAD PULL |
Machine strip of road line and roundabout to the south of Whin Beck |
1 |
23 |
125m x 35m |
EVALUATION TRENCHES |
Series of ten trenches excavated to evaluate eastern corner of the site |
4 |
24 |
9.5m x 4.5m |
EVALUATION TRENCH |
Trench located against northern boundary of the site |
5 |
25 |
WATCHING BRIEF |
Archaeological monitoring of the lagoon excavation and associated landscaping |
5 |
Intervention 2
Intervention 2 was situated 50m north of Whin Beck along the eastern boundary of the arable field adjacent to the golf course and comprised a rectangular trench measuring 70m x 60m. It was positioned over the site of a possible rectilinear enclosure detected by the gradiometer survey (Intervention 1). The enclosure was fully defined within the excavation area and the features were mapped prior to the start of excavation. The scheme of works required 100% excavation of the enclosure ditch and all of the internal features. The enclosure itself measured 43m x 43m. Initially the area of the whole enclosure was cleaned by trowel and features were defined, tagged and a pre-excavation plan was produced.
A total of eight hand excavated samples of the enclosure ditch were undertaken at intervals along its circuit. These comprised locations in each corner and mid way along each length. All sections were photographed and drawn to create a series of profiles through which deposits could be followed around the whole circuit of the enclosure. This proved to be an invaluable tool in phasing the enclosure and identifying recutting of the ditch circuit. Approximately 44% (68m) of the enclosure circuit was excavated by hand. The remaining 66% (88m) was removed using a mechanical excavator fitted with a 1.80m wide toothless ditching bucket once the excavation of the internal features had been completed.
Intervention 3
Intervention 3 was allocated to the machine stripping of the road line of the proposed development located in the field to the south of Whin Beck. The road line was marked out by the developer and topsoil was removed using a tracked mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. The total length of Intervention 3 was 1100m which varied in width between 15m and 5m. Several additional trenches were excavated during this operation to establish the extent and alignment of ditch features defined in the main trench. Exposed archaeological features were mapped then sampled in accordance with the scheme of works (see Appendix A). The presence of linear features was anticipated in Intervention 3 as both the aerial photographs and the gradiometer survey had indicated that a linear field system across existed in this area of the site.
Intervention 4, 5, 9, and 11
Interventions 4, 5, 9 and 11 comprised a series of four hand-excavated trenches immediately to the east of Intervention 2. These were located within the limits of the former golf course over an area of extant ridge and furrow. Intervention 4 (10m x 5m) was excavated to establish the presence of a putative second enclosure which had been suggested from the results of the gradiometer survey. Intervention 4 also served to evaluate the survival of stratified soils underneath the medieval ridges. Whether buried soils survived in this context would effect the sampling strategy for the rest of the development as outlined in the scheme of works (see Appendix A). The second enclosure ditch was not identified within Intervention 4. With the possibility that this trench had been positioned over a break or entranceway to the putative enclosure, a second hand-excavated trench (Intervention 5) was excavated 5m to the east. This trench measured 5.0m x 2.0m.
Intervention 9 (5.0m x 3.0m) and Intervention 11 (3.5m x 3.0m) were positioned to define the limits of a boundary ditch which had been identified running eastward from the enclosure in Intervention 2 and had doglegged southwards into the golf course within Intervention 5.
Interventions 6, 7 and 8
Interventions 6, 7 and 8 were allocated to three 5.0m x 5.0m hand-excavated trenches positioned across the golf course. These were excavated to evaluate the sequence and survival of deposits in areas of ridge and furrow prior to the machine stripping of the main road lines (Intervention 10). Intervention 6 was located 30m northwest of Whin Beck in an area of ephemeral ridge and furrow earthworks. Intervention 7 was located 110 m to the north of Intervention 6, centrally within the planned location of a roundabout. Intervention 8 was situated 120m to the northwest of Intervention 7 again in the centre of a proposed roundabout. On the basis of the results from Interventions 6 and 7 it was deemed adequate that Intervention 8 would measure 5m x 2m.
Intervention 10
Intervention 10 was allocated to the machine stripping of the main central road line running through the northern half of the development area. At its southern end it was bound by Whin Beck, on the other side of which, the road line continued as Intervention 3. At its northern end, Intervention 10 turned eastward 60m south of the northern boundary of the site and westward as the main road line out of the development through the site's western boundary. Intervention 10 measured approximately 605m in length and, like Intervention 3, was excavated using a tracked mechanical excavator fitted with a 2.0m wide toothless ditching bucket. Exposed archaeological features were mapped then sampled in accordance with the scheme of works (see Appendix A).
Intervention 12
Intervention 12 was allocated to the main north-south road line running parallel with the western boundary of the development area immediately to the west of Intervention 2. This trench was stripped of topsoil in the same manner as Intervention 10 and measured 280m in length and was, on average, 12m in width. The southern limit of Intervention 12 was marked by Whin Beck, the other side of which it continued as Intervention 3. Intervention 12 joined Intervention 10 at its northern end. The same strategy of mapping and sampling was employed that had been used in Intervention 3 and Intervention 10.
Intervention 13
Intervention 13 consisted of a sub-rectangular evaluation trench 23m long by 28m wide, stripped of topsoil using a tracked mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. Intervention 13 was located between the northeastern arm of Intervention 10 and the northern site boundary in order to evaluate the extent and character of archaeological deposits in this area of the site.
Intervention 14
Intervention 14 comprised the extension of Intervention 2 to form a sample area, sub-rectangular in shape which measured 132m in length and 113m in width. This joined with Intervention 12 to the west and was undertaken to define and sample archaeological features around the periphery of the enclosure in addition to identifying ditches and boundaries which may relate to its use or disuse.
Intervention 15
Intervention 15 consisted of a rectangular sample area, 64m long and 20m wide, positioned along the northern edge of Whin Beck. This was excavated to investigate the origins of the present watercourse and establish the role and function of any earlier features in this area. The trench was stripped of topsoil using a wheeled mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. The excavation area was extended to the north to define the full extent of a series of small gullies.
Intervention 16 and 17
Intervention 16 and 17 comprised the stripping of topsoil along a road line running west from Intervention 10. This trench proved to be 70m long and approximately 8m wide.
Intervention 18
Intervention 18 was allocated to a series of nine machine excavated trenches positioned to evaluate the area of the golf course to the east of the main road line of Intervention 10. The zig-zag alignment of these trenches reflected the most efficient way to test for the presence of linear features across this area. The trenches were stripped of topsoil using a wheeled excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket and any exposed archaeological features were mapped and sampled in accordance with the scheme of works (see Appendix A).
Intervention 19
Intervention 19 was allocated to a series of eight machine excavated trenches of varying sizes and orientation. These were excavated to evaluate the area to the east and west of Intervention 12. Additional trenches were excavated to fully define a system of irregular boundary ditches running across this area.
Intervention 20
Intervention 20 comprised a series of eleven machine excavated trenches situated across the northern zone of the development area, between the northern limits of Intervention 10 and the site boundary. These trenches were located to define an east-west aligned ditch identified in the northeastern spur of Intervention 10 and follow its route westward. This feature was exposed along its entire length in order to establish whether it was associated with any additional ditched boundaries or field systems running across the site.
Intervention 21
Intervention 21 was allocated to two trenches located to the east of the northeastern spur of Intervention 10. They were positioned to define the extent and nature of heavily gleyed deposits and possible post features previously identified at the eastern end of Intervention 10. This sequence of deposits was thought to relate to a possible ancient lake and associated activity. The trenches were initially excavated by machine with several hand-excavated sondages then cut through the exposed clay soils to record deposits in section.
Intervention 22
Intervention 22 was allocated to the machine stripping of topsoil along the road lines to the south of Whin Beck and to the east of Intervention 3. This intervention proved to be 140m long and 5m wide.
Intervention 23
Intervention 23 consisted of a series of ten machine excavated trenches, all of which were 2.0m wide and set at angles to each other. These were excavated in order to evaluate an area of the site to the east Sewerbridge Beck and to the north of Whin Beck. These trenches were stripped of topsoil using a wheeled excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket.
Intervention 24
Intervention 24 was allocated to a small rectangular trench, 9.5m by 4.5m, situated against the northern boundary of the site.
Intervention 25
Intervention 25 was allocated to the archaeological monitoring of the excavation of a lagoon through an area of made ground located in the far northern corner of the site. This and the associated landscaping were carried out between June and August 2001 and comprised the last phase of archaeological fieldwork to be undertaken on the site.
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