Land east of Roundhills Mead, Highworth, Swindon: Archaeological Evaluation

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 38 trenches, each measuring 50m in length by 1.8m in width, in the locations shown on the attached plan. The trenches were located to test geophysical anomalies and to provide a representative sample of the remainder of the site. In August to September 2024, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land to the east of Roundhills Mead, Highworth, Swindon. A total of 38 trenches were excavated. The evaluation recorded potential evidence of Iron Age or Early Roman activity, through residual metalwork recovered from a subsoil deposit and a furrow fill in trenches excavated in the south-western part of the site. However, no features or deposits of an Iron Age or Roman were identified in the site itself. Two ditches were recorded in the central and south-eastern parts of the site, with one containing post-medieval material. Extensive evidence for medieval/post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation was recorded in all areas of the site.