Network Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a detailed investigative programme of archaeological research, investigation and mitigation during the planning and construction of the Transco 18.5km, Lower Quinton to King's Coughton Gas Pipeline in Warwickshire. The construction contractor was McAlpine - PPS Pipeline Systems JV. The pipeline route runs roughly north-west to south-east. The northern end is at a height of approximately 55m above Ordnance Datum (AOD) and the route rises to over 100m AOD to the east of Temple Grafton and the Redhill area before falling again to around 50m AOD at its southern end. The pipeline crosses ten main and subsidiary roads including the A46 Stratford-upon-Avon to Alcester road which has Roman origins. The line also crosses three main rivers the Arrow the Alne and the largest the Avon. This project began in 2001 with a pipeline feasibility study. Archaeological Desk- Based Assessment and pre-construction surveys, comprising field reconnaissance, fieldwalking and geophysical surveys, carried out during 2002 highlighted several areas of archaeological potential along the route. Mitigation at this early stage meant that the line could be moved away from sensitive areas. Evaluative trial trenches were dug at the beginning of 2003 in order to assess several anomalous areas along the route and to test out the validity of the previous surveys. In all, eight areas were tested which led to area excavation ahead of construction in three areas. The archaeological evaluations, excavations and permanent-presence Watching Brief, undertaken during the months of March to August 2003, formed the final part of this long and detailed staged archaeological approach. Fourteen sites of varying date and form were recorded along the pipeline. The sites include a nationally important Bronze Age Burnt Mound located on the bank of the River Avon and similar flint deposits discovered in the pipe-trench within the Arrow River Valley. Later prehistoric features comprising a series of prehistoric pits were discovered near Long Marston during the construction watching brief. Part of an Iron Age and Romano-British settlement and field system were excavated on the edge of Long Marston Airfield. A further Roman site was identified at the north of the route close to Church Farm, King's Coughton. This site was identified from the Desk-Based Assessment as a series of undated cropmarks and the pipeline re-routed to have minimal impact. Trial trenching and excavation revealed several Roman ditches thereby tentatively dating the whole cropmark complex. A possible roadside drainage ditch was identified to the south of the present Stratford to Alcester road which has Roman origins. Several medieval, post-medieval and modern features were also discovered. Numerous areas of remnant ridge and furrow were recorded along the whole route highlighting the intensity of agricultural activity in the area. Topographical survey and reinstatement by the client was instigated on fifteen areas. Historic field boundaries identified as part of the ADBA and part of the framework agreement were recorded as part of the watching brief duties. Later agricultural activity in the area was recorded in the identification of numerous redundant field-boundaries. A background assemblage of unstratified pottery and flint was collected along the route.
David Bonner (Wed,) studied this question.