The AMR monitored the removal and replacement of one 11kV wooden electricity pole and associated stay. The attending archaeologist monitored all mechanical excavations within the specified area which comprised the excavation of two slit trenches measuring 2 m in length and 0.6 m wide. These were excavated to facilitate the removal and replacement of the electricity pole and associated stay. Where necessary, the surfaces of uncovered deposits were cleaned by hand to aid visual definition. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually scanned for the purposes of finds retrieval. Despite the works being located within a Scheduled Monument no archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were encountered during the archaeological monitoring and recording. Both slit trenches were excavated through a black-brown silty clay topsoil which directly overlay the natural chalk geology, located approximately 0.3 m below ground level. The lack of archaeology is considered to be due to the limited scope of the works, which were designed to be of minimal impact, as opposed to a genuine reflection of the archaeological potential of the scheduled monument.
E. Legg (Mon,) studied this question.