Hydes Park, Wednesbury, West Midlands, Archaeological Watching Brief and Geoarchaeological Assessment

A programme of archaeological watching brief and geoarchaeological assessment was undertaken as part of a programme of site investigation works for a proposed new watercourse between the River Tame and an existing channel, located in Hydes Park, Wednesbury, West Midlands, centred on National Grid Reference 399784 294450. The archaeological watching brief was undertaken 20 - 21 May 2024. The archaeological and geoarchaeological work undertaken comprised the monitoring of two hand excavated test pits, whilst the geoarchaeological assessment consisted of a review of GI logs and deposit modelling was undertaken, integrating the results of the archaeological watching brief (TP01 and TP02) and a review of logs arising from geotechnical boreholes (BH01, BH02 and BH03) and available British Geological Survey (BGS) archive boreholes. The main aim of the assessment was to characterise the sequence of Quaternary superficial deposits at the Site, including their distribution, thickness and topography, and to determine their archaeological and palaeoenvironmental potential. The Quaternary stratigraphy was heavily truncated by modern development in all of the assessed sequences, including the boreholes and test pits. The superficial deposits were only fully recorded in BH01 and consisted of carboniferous bedrock overlain by Middle Pleistocene glacial till covered by glaciofluvial gravel. As these sediments consist of reworked and deposited material from different sources in a glacial or periglacial environment, they have a low palaeoenvironmental and archaeological potential. The interface between the Pleistocene and Holocene deposits was recorded at 113.93 m OD (3.0 m bgl) in BH01. The Holocene strata consisted of oxidised minerogenic alluvium accumulated as a result of overbank flooding of the River Tame. The presence of the coarser component (occasional gravels embedded in the clay) may suggest an increase in flow energy, or reworking of coarser grained sediments. No archaeological material suitable for establishing the chronology of the alluvium was recovered. The which is likely to have affected the preservation of biological remains within the upper part of the alluvial sequence. The lack of well-preserved organic and datable material and archaeological remains indicates that the alluvium is of low archaeological and paleoenvironmental potential. The uppermost part of the sequence consisted of thick, up to 5.4 m in BH02, deposits of Made Ground consisting predominantly of gravel and clay mixed with demolition debris such as bricks, slag, glass, clinker and coal. Redeposited alluvial clays containing fragments of clinker and coal were recorded in BH02 and BH03 at depths of c. 2.0 m bgl. The Made Ground likely relates to backfilling/levelling of the area prior to construction of the car park and pavilion. Although the modern deposits can contain redeposited cultural material, their archaeological potential is low and they have no paleoenvironmental potential. Although the alluvium may have potential to preserve palaeoenvironmental evidence, specifically wood, pollen, diatoms and mollusc remains, no evidence indicative of such preservation was identified in the assessed deposits. Consequently, no further geoarchaeological works relating to the excavation of the proposed channel are recommended as deposits of significant archaeological and geoarchaeological potential are unlikely to occur within the Site. The archaeological watching brief monitored deposits wholly within modern made ground. Following the limited results and consultation with Sandwell Museums Services it is recommended that the archive is deposited by uploading of the site report via OASIS only.