All trenches were located and levelled using the Trimble GPS Rover R8 (Fig. 2). The trenches measured 50m by 2m. One trench (Trench 17) was excavated with a narrow balk to keep in situ a ground water monitoring point. Once positioned the trenches were excavated using a mechanical excavator, fitted with a wide toothless bucket operating under close archaeological supervision. In each trench, soils were removed down to perceived archaeological/geological horizon. The exposed surfaces were cleaned appropriately. The trenches were photographed using a high resolution digital camera with appropriate scale. The trenches, deposits and trench photographs were recorded digitally on Diggit recording software, in line with the approved Specification Twenty-four trenches were excavated. In the north-east, the trenches revealed backfill of cinder, which was over 1.5m deep in one trench. One trench contained extensive rubble, probably from the demolition of Shaw Laithe farm.
Kelly Hunter (Wed,) studied this question.