Land North of Chippenham, Wiltshire: Archaeological Excavation

Eight excavation areas were opened within the site (Areas 1A, 1C, 1D, 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 6), with an additional area monitored as part of a watching brief (2C). Two further areas (1B and 5) were preserved in situ (Fig. 2): " Areas 1A (2105m2) and 1C (1303m2) were located to investigate the western and southern extents respectively of the known Roman remains preserved within Area 1B (Figs and 2, 3 and 4). " Area 1D (3023m2) was established to extend 1C, to further investigate these Roman remains. " Areas 2A (20873m2) and 2B (2754m2) were located to investigate a focus of medieval activity (Figs 2 and 5). The area between these (Area 2C) was monitored during the watching brief. " Area 3 (624 m2) and Area 4 (624 m2) were located to target discrete features attributed to the medieval period (Figs 2, 5 and 6). " Area 6 (1303m2) was located to investigate geophysical anomalies in the western part of the site (Figs 2 and 6). Based on the findings of the preliminary investigations, it was agreed with Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger (Wiltshire Council) that the site should be further investigated through a series of targeted excavations, with the contingency for additional areas should these be required. In the event, seven excavation areas were selected (Areas 1A, 1C, 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 6), along with two contingency areas (Areas 1D and 2C), of which Area 2C was monitored as part of a watching brief during contractor's groundworks (Fig. 2). Areas 1B and 5 were preserved in situ at the developer's request and in agreement with Melanie Pomeroy-Kellinger due to the presence of concentrations of archaeological remains and required no further mitigation. Between June and November 2018, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an excavation on land north of Chippenham, Wiltshire. Eight areas totalling 3.5ha were excavated across the development area alongside an archaeological watching brief in an adjoining area. The excavation revealed Roman and medieval enclosures and ditches, most likely relating to livestock management on the River Avon floodplain. These remains are likely to have been on the periphery of Roman and medieval settlements. Roman occupation may lie within an area of the site preserved in situ, whilst medieval settlement is attested close to the site itself. The artefacts from the site reflect rural settlement nearby and, for both the Roman and medieval periods, are dominated by locally produced pottery . Small quantities of metalwork, including some of Anglo-Saxon date, were recovered, along with small assemblages of other finds. Palaeoenvironmental remains reflect the site's floodplain location; animal bone survived poorly. A small collection of worked flints, residual in later features, reflects an early prehistoric presence, although no cut features pre-dating the Roman period were identified.