City Bank Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Archaeological Excavation and Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Cappagh Contractors Construction Ltd, on behalf of Thames Water Utilities Ltd to undertake and archaeological excavation and archaeological monitoring and recording during sewage works at City Bank Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 403149, 201249. The archaeological works were undertaken between 29 October 2024 and 22 January 2025. The archaeological works were undertaken between 29 October 2024 and 22 January 2025 and identified a limited number of archaeological features and deposits within the site; these were encountered across all six of the excavated trenches. The uncovered features comprised ditches, pits, surfaces, made ground, levelling deposits, stone dumps, soakaways and drains, representing three periods of activity, Neolithic, post-medieval and modern. In addition a number of artefactually sterile alluvial deposits post-dating the Neolithic activity and pre-dating the post-medieval activity were identified. Neolithic The Neolithic activity was evidenced by a ditch and pit revealed at the eastern margin of the site. The fill of the ditch contained 202 pieces of worked flint indicative of in situ, or at least proximate, knapping. Although lacking in securely diagnostic tool forms, the flint indicates a broad Neolithic date for the feature. The southeastern side of the ditch was truncated by a pit from which was recovered a single undiagnostic flint flake. Both pit and ditch were sealed by a thick layer of alluvium, perhaps suggesting they are broadly contemporary. Post-medieval Post-medieval features and deposits were encountered in Trench 5 and relate to the use of the site prior to the construction of the current residential property. The features and deposits consisted of a possible stone surface, its bedding layer and a possible associated construction cut, a trampled layer above the stone surface, two stone rubble spreads/dumps, a ditch and a possible recut of said ditch. Modern The modern features and services revealed by the archaeological monitoring and recording relate to the current residential property occupying the site. These consisted of a concrete surface, its associated bedding layer, the backfill of an extant manhole, drains, two rubbish pits, a soakaway, a flint gravel drive surface and its associated bedding and make-up layers, a landscaping cut of uncertain function with hardcore infill, and a modern levelling deposit. Undated Similar thick alluvial deposits were encountered in all six trenches, although these all remain artefactually undated. However, the alluvium is clearly stratigraphically later than the Neolithic activity and is truncated by post-medieval and modern features. The alluvial deposits clearly indicate the historic waterlogged nature of the site and included several stone dumps interpreted as possible stabilisation horizons due to the marshy nature of location.