An Archaeological Test Pit Evaluation at Rave Coffee, Cirencester

Six test pits, initially measuring 1m in length and 1m in width, were excavated in locations pre-agreed with the Assistant Archaeologist for Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) in order to explore the archaeological potential of the Site. While on Site, the positions of Test Pits 2 and 6 were minorly adjusted, in order to avoid encroaching upon services and the client's smoking shelter. Prior to excavation, the tarmac covering the location of each test pit was removed using a disc cutter and a lightweight concrete breaker. Once the tarmac was removed, the test pits were machine excavated using a 360� mechanical excavator fitted with a c.0.6m wide toothless ditching bucket under constant archaeological control. The tarmac and subsoil/overburden (where present) were stacked separately at a safe distance back from the trench edges. A programme of archaeological investigation was undertaken by Arthian in support of a planning application for the construction of an extension to the pre-existing commercial building at Rave Coffee, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, in order to determine the potential for below ground archaeological remains. The investigation comprised the excavation of six test pits located on a random grid array: this has resulted in a 2.6% sample of the roughly 300m� footprint of the proposed extension. The test pits were largely sterile, with only two archaeological features being recorded in Test Pits 1 and 6. These features comprised [103], a very straight, steep-sided feature, and (607), a deposit of large subangular stones. The fill within feature [103] contained a large, Fe nail, flint ballast and modern CBM; as the Great Western Railway line formerly cross through the Site, it is suggested that this feature could either relate to its construction, or the groundworks for the development of Phoenix Way. No artefactual remains were found within (607) itself, but fragments of 19th century pottery, CBM and glass were recovered from the silty clay deposit, (609), which lay above and between the stones. It is therefore considered that the stones represent a modern overburden deposit, perhaps added to aid in levelling the area after the removal of the railway line. The rest of the deposits recorded (including those overlying the aforementioned features) were largely homogenous and represented modern aggregate material laid to create the tarmac car park for present Rave Coffee roastery. The furthest depth reached within this evaluation was 1.72m below present ground level, within Test Pit 1; the natural substrate was encountered at a depth of 0.76 in this test pit. Excavation ceased between the depths of 0.5m and 1.16m below present ground level in the rest of the test pits. At these depths, a stiff mixed mid brownish grey and mid blueish grey clay was encountered; as modern artefactual material was recovered from this deposit in Test Pit 6, it is likely that this is a redeposited natural. It is therefore considered that the potential for the survival of archaeological remains of significance is low. However, it should be cautioned that while no Roman remains or artefacts were recorded during the course of this investigation, that they may be sealed by redeposited natural. As the proposed foundations for the extension to Rave Coffee are not planned to exceed 1m in depth, this will limit the intrusive impact upon any surviving remains below the modern material recorded during this evaluation. The archaeological investigation was undertaken in favourable conditions and the results are considered to be reliable.