Tutshill

Archaeological Excavation conducted in February/March 2017, by APAC Ltd, in a field adjacent to Gloucester Road and the A48, Tutshill, Chepstow (area centred on NGR: ST 54452 94500).A 50m by 50m area was excavated around a feature discovered by Headland Archaeology in 2015 in order to fully understand its extent, date and nature, and also to determine the possibility of other surviving features within this area. The Headland linear feature was located and fully excavated to its full (3m long extent). A prehistoric flint piercer was discovered close to but outside the Headland trench, suggesting use of this area over a considerable period of time. Another linear feature excavated was probably naturaly formed. This assessment report details the findings of an archaeological excavation on land adjacent to Gloucester Road, Tutshill, Gloucestershire (centred on NGR: ST 54452 94500). The work was carried out in advance of a proposed housing development. An Archaeological Evaluation, conducted by Headland Archaeology (HA) in November 2015, discovered a single, potentially significant feature, which was partly excavated in the field's southern zone. In light of this discovery, further work was recommended by Gloucestershire County Council (GCA) prior to granting planning permission for a residential development. A 50m by 50m area of land was excavated to encompass the feature discovered by HA in order to fully understand its extent, date and nature, and also to determine the possibility of other surviving features within this area. The HA linear feature was located and fully excavated to its full (3m long extent). Late Iron Age or Roman pottery sherds were identified within charcoal dumps from the HA backfill. Post-excavation analysis of the contents of the undisturbed linear basal fill of the excavated feature, identified iron slag fragments and possible hammer-scale, together with charred seeds. A radiocarbon date obtained from the seeds (1216 +/- 25 BP) suggest an early medieval date for this feature, possibly indicative of an agricultural settlement nearby. It is likely that the pottery sherds and flint are residual and relate to much earlier activity in the area. A late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age flint piercer was discovered in subsoil close to, but outside, the HA trench, lending credence to this interpretation.