New College, Savile road, Oxford, Pre-determination Evaluation Report

All archaeological excavation, monitoring and recording during the evaluation was carried out in accordance with the preceding Written Scheme of Investigation. Seven test pits (TP), three soakaway trial pits (SP) and four boreholes (BH) ere excavated in December 2016 as Phase 1 works of this evaluation. Additionally four trenches were excavated and one test pit n Phase 2 in April 2017. Natural gravel deposits were reached in test pit 5, in trenches 1, 2 and 4 and in two soakaway trial pits. Cutting the natural deposits in trench 2 was a limestone lined well, probably of 16th/17th century date. To the east of the well was a 19th century rubbish pit containing fragmented medicine and soda water glass bottles, ash, pott and charcoal. No archaeological evidence of the Civil war defences was encountered. Phase 2 work continued in October 2017 with investigation on the north side of the site to re-examine test Pits 2 and 7. Natural gravel deposits were reached overlain by earthen reddish loamy dumps. In Test Pit 2 a prehistoric flint scraper dated to the Mesolithic/Neolithic period, roman pottery and animal bone were found. This was sealed by dumps producing medieval pottery dating to the 12th-14th centuries with the top of the sequence dated to the 18th//19th century. In Test Pit 7 a reddish brown deposit 'red loam' was located c 1.00m below the current ground level.