Watermill Leisure Park Ltd. Watermill Farm, Station Rd, Moortown, Lincolnshire. Archaeological evaluation - Phase 3

PCAS Archaeology Ltd was commissioned to undertake archaeological evaluation trenching on land at Watermill Farm, Station Road, Moortown, Lincolnshire where a static caravan park is to be developed. The site is situated in a landscape which has produced evidence for prehistoric activity, from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age periods. Such evidence is rare within Lincolnshire and there is the potential for remains of regional or national significance which may be impacted by the proposed development. Five evaluation trenches measuring 50x1.80m were excavated across the site using a JCB fitted with a toothless ditching bucket under archaeological supervision. Overburden was removed to the first significant archaeological or natural horizon, whichever was encountered first. Final trench positions were recorded using survey grade GPS. Where features were present, these were sample excavated and drawn in section at scale 1:20, and in plan at 1:50; a representative section of the trench baulk was drawn at scale 1:20 in each trench. A photographic record in high resolution digital was maintained during the archaeological intervention, and extracts from this are reproduced as colour plates in this report. All deposits observed and investigated were recorded using standard PCAS Archaeology Context Recording Sheets, and general progress was noted on a standard PCAS site diary sheet Despite the high potential of the area, the evaluation exposed very little archaeology. A small pit or posthole was exposed in Trench 4 while a cut feature, likely to be an animal burrow, was recorded in Trench 2. All the remaining trenches revealed a stratigraphy of topsoil laying directly over the natural sandy geology. Modern land drains were recorded in Trenches 2, 4 and 5. No clear evidence of prehistoric occupation was recorded, and no artefacts were recovered