Evaluation at Land South of Hardwicke, Gloucester

The archaeological fieldwork consisted of the excavation of 87 (97 proposed) 50m x 1.8m evaluation trenches. The trenches were positioned in relation to the impact area of the proposed new development and to target the potential archaeological features identified in the geophysical survey and investigate potentially blank areas of site. All areas have been cultivated to some extent, Area 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 were grassland fields, so were less disturbed, but upon excavation it became evident they have been previously altered/disturbed by agricultural activity or sewage management. The geophysical survey was accurate and correlated for the most part with what was found, notably in Area 1. This area appears to be a rectangular enclosure with possible Late Iron Age origins which spans the Roman period. The enclosure shows on the geophysics a series of internal partitions, however not all of these were noted in the evaluation. Area 2 appeared to be a continuation of this Roman activity with boundary ditches extending from the enclosure with some peripheral manufacturing activity in Area 9.