Land off Chellaston Lane, Boulton Moor, Derbyshire: archaeological evaluation

A total of 31 trial trenches, largely measuring 50 m in length and 2 m wide, were excavated in level spits using a 360� excavator equipped with a toothless bucket, under the constant supervision and instruction of the monitoring archaeologist. Machine excavation proceeded until either the archaeological horizon or the natural geology was exposed. A sample of archaeological features and deposits was hand-excavated, sufficient to address the project aims. The trench evaluation shows that there is a good survival of archaeological remains. Evidence of post-medieval agricultural activity is present across the site, while there is a mapped post-medieval boundary and a small concentration of undated features in the east, comprising pits, ditches and gullies. The number of artefacts recovered is very small, and only from two trenches. The assemblage was post-medieval to modern in date and has no future research potential. The environmental assessment indicates that there is moderate potential for the recovery of environmental material. The amount of material recovered during the evaluation is sparse, with no charred plant remains. Charcoal and the coal deposits found in ditch 2303 and pit 2609 are possibly remains of fuel waste.