Blackwater IWMF Bridge Alterations, Rivenhall Airfield, Essex: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

The Archaeological Monitoring and Recording comprised the observation by a competent archaeologist of all intrusive groundworks associated with the proposed development. Seven areas were subject to investigation, recorded as Areas 1 through 7. The work in these seven areas included the stripping of topsoil from a field ahead of the construction of a temporary compound (Area 1), the reduction of the embankment flanking the road at the river crossing (Areas 2, 5, 6, and 7), and the replacement of existing structural elements belonging to the Bailey bridges at the crossing point (Areas 3 and 4). This work was conducted by a mechanical excavator, equipped with a toothless grading bucket. Concrete structures were first broken and removed using a pneumatic breaker attachment and toothed bucket. The resultant stripped ground was examined for archaeological remains and subject to a metal detecting survey. In addition, the surface of the field in Area 1 was examined prior to the site strip for artefacts. The topsoil and underlying surface geology were assigned context numbers in the range of 0001 to 0004. These were recorded using CA pro forma context sheets. In addition, detailed notes were made regarding the stratigraphy and topography of each of the areas. Between February and April 2024, Cotswold Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording during groundworks associated with the widening of an access road and the replacement of an associated bridge-crossing at the Blackwater Integrated Waste Management Facility, Bradwell-juxta-Coggeshall, Essex. This included monitoring the stripping of an adjacent field for a site compound. No archaeological features were uncovered by these works, although a small number of unstratified artefacts, consisting of worked flints, heat altered flints, a sherd of Roman pottery, and a piece of post-medieval tile and clay tobacco pipe, were found in the topsoil. The ground immediately beside and below the road and bridge-crossing was found to be heavily disturbed as a result of their construction.