The evaluation trenching comprised of two 1.8m x 10m trenches (Figure 2), and involved the monitoring of removal of overburden and modern fill deposits by machine, until archaeological features, or natural deposits, were exposed. These features were cleaned by hand and located by Leica viva GPS equipment. Trenches were excavated by machine under archaeological supervision in spits. Where features or significant deposits were identified, these were cleaned using hand tools and recorded to determine extent, function, date and relationship to adjacent features. All features were cleaned and recorded via pro-forma context sheets, drawn records at 1:10 and 1:50 on permatrace, and a full photographic record, with a register maintained on site. The detailed methodology can be found in the approved WSI Research places the site to the east of the medieval settlement of Elmley Lovett, its is likely the site was part of the agricultural fields orbiting the village. The 1842 historic mapping shows structures to the north of the site, seen as part of a farm complex and smithy. The site itself has remained fields throughout this period, to present day (2025). The evaluation revealed both Trenches 1 and 2 were void of any archaeological features and the natural was encountered between 800-900mm below ground level. The stratigraphy was made up of plough and subsoils over natural clay and sandstone, with several sherds of residual Roman pottery and late medieval/post-medieval roof tiles recovered from the plough soils in both trenches.
Rachael Matthews (Wed,) studied this question.