A29 Realignment, Nursery Site, West Sussex: Archaeological Evaluation

The trench locations were set out using a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), in the approximate positions proposed in the WSI, although Trenches 55 and 58 had to be slightly moved because of obstacles such as trees and located services (Fig. 1). Due to the presence of disconnected services within Trench 54 a small area of baulk was left in the trench to act as a buffer zone for health and safety purposes (Fig. 2). Seven trial trenches, each measuring 30 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. Where necessary, the base of the trench/surface of archaeological deposits were cleaned by hand. A sample of archaeological features and deposits was hand-excavated, sufficient to address the project aims. Spoil from machine stripping and hand-excavated archaeological deposits was visually scanned for the purposes of finds retrieval. Artefacts were collected and bagged by context. All artefacts from excavated contexts were retained, although those from features of modern date (19th century or later) were recorded on site and not retained. Trenches completed to the satisfaction of the client and the Archaeological Advisor for WSCC were backfilled using excavated materials in the order in which they were excavated, and left level on completion. No other reinstatement or surface treatment was undertaken. Archaeological remains were found in two of the seven trenches excavated during the course of the evaluation. These remains comprised a tree throw that produced pottery dating to the later prehistoric period and struck flint of late Mesolithic - Early Neolithic origin present in Trench 57, and a shallow pit present in Trench 56. Drainage runs associated with the former nursery buildings were located across the site.