The trial pits and newt ponds were excavated with a 360� excavator and a toothless ditching bucket under the supervision of an archaeologist. During the excavations of the trial pits there was unprecedented wet weather, with the trial pits quickly filling with water. Trail pit 1 was located in the field to the north-east of Manor Farm. The trial pit was approximately 4.80m in length, 1.50m width and 1.30m in depth. Trial pit 2 was also located in the field to the north-east of Manor Farm 142m to the north west of trail pit 1. Trail pit 2 was approximately 4.80m in length, 1.50m width and 1.20m in depth. Trial pits 3 and 4 was located in a field approximately 615m south-east of Manor Farm. Trail pit 3 was approximately 6m in length, 1.50m in width and 1.30m in depth. Trial pit 3 was later extended to a width of 4.6m and length of 6.5m in order to address land drain issues. Trial pit 4 was located 33m east from trial pit 3 and was approximately 7.30m in length, 1.50m in width and 1.30m in depth. Trial pit 5 was located in a field approximately 410m south-west from Manor Farm Trial pit 5 was approximately 5.80m in length, 1.50m in width and 1.10m in depth. Trial pit 6 was located 184m to the south-west of trial pit 5. Trial pit 6 was approximately 4.20m in length, 1.50m in width and 0.70m in depth. Newt Pond 1 was located to the north east of Manor Farm on a largely flat plateau at a ground level of 69.2m to 69.65m aOD. The excavation area was roughly centred on Trial pit 1, was oval in plan and measured approximately 30m long by 21m wide. Newt Pond 2 was located approximately 108m north east of Newt Pond 1. The area for the pond sloped downwards to the north west to the River Cherwell, with surface level ranging from 66.37m to 65.9m aOD. The excavation area was approximately centred on Trial pit 2. The first stage of trial pitting and Newt Pond 2 revealed only natural deposits. The second stage of archaeological monitoring within the area of Newt Pond 1 revealed a very small amount of residual material dated to the Later Prehistoric period, with the main phase of activity dating to the Early Roman period. The remains are likely to represent liminal part of an Early Roman rural settlement of modest economic status. Whilst it is clear that the site had an agrarian function, the limited extent of the archaeological investigations prevents from speculating the presence of a permanent settlement in the immediate vicinity. The features are all broadly contemporary, and have similar orientation, following the natural topography of the site. The exception was ditch 28=33=34, which appeared to respect ditch cut 30=40 at a 90 degree angle and was most likely re-cut by ditch 49 at a later date (although pit 43 truncated this relationship, it is somewhat visible in plan). Ditches perpendicular to each other can indicate rectilinear enclosures, and this may suggest a possible function for these ditches, with only one 90 degree return visible within the excavation area. Rectilinear enclosures of the Romano British period were often associated with livestock management and land enclosure for specific purposes. The presence of pits and a posthole within and nearby this juncture of ditches indicates a possible use of this area for waste deposition and fencing associated with the use of the enclosure. Whether the space between ditches 16=18 and 24=49, or ditch 14, comprised a trackway is difficult to ascertain. If this was the case, the terminus at the southeastern end of ditch 14 may indicate that this area could denote a trackway with an entry point delineated by the terminus. Trackways are associated with rectilinear enclosures, enabling the movement of livestock or access/egress points. Ditches on either side of a trackway would have functioned as drainage.
Burke et al. (Mon,) studied this question.