Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief on Land at the Hope Limestone Quarry, Near Dirtlow Rake, Derbyshire

ARCUS were commissioned by CgMs Consulting on behalf of Lafarge Cement UK to undertake an archaeological excavation and watching brief on land adjacent to the Hope Limestone Quarries, Derbyshire. Planning permission exists for a extension to the current quarry, and although archaeological works were not required as part of this permission, they were undertaken in parallel with a review of the planning permission under the Environment Act. Excavation was conducted in three areas (Trenches A-C) located to investigate features identified during previous archaeological survey (Badcock 2004a) and to meet objectives specified in a project design (Badcock 2004b). This report summarises the results of the archaeological works at the site and assesses the potential of the findings for additional analysis and reporting In Trench A multiple archaeological features were identified including a group of several pits probably associated with mineral prospection and a large cutting relating to more recent lead extraction. Animal bone from one of the pits provided a late medieval or post-medieval/early modern radiocarbon date (AD1530-1550 and AD1630-1950) for its infilling. Other features investigated included a natural hollow, from which several pieces of worked flint were recovered, an undated low stone bank, and the remnants of a possible enclosure ditch previously excavated by the Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust. In Trench B a sampling and sieving strategy was established, in an area of a suspected lithic scatter, to retrieve material from a formal grid laid across the trench. The presence of a scatter or concentration of artefacts could not be identified, however, a small assemblage of worked chert was recovered. In Trench C a small wall, possibly an enclosure boundary, was identified, cleaned and recorded. The investigations produced a small assemblage of worked flint and chert, and a large fragment of animal bone. In addition a number of samples were taken for the recovery of palaeoenvironmental information.