An archaeological trial trenching evaluation of 7-10% of the proposed development site was required to evaluate the archaeological potential. The proposed development covers an area c. 14,630m2, and 12 trenches covering 960m2 were excavated to cover c. 7% of the area. Trenches were dug using a machine excavator with a 1.6m wide ditching bucket and were monitored at all times by an archaeologist in order to establish the presence or absence of archaeological remains. The archaeological evaluation was carried out from 20th to 24th February 2023 in generally mild weather conditions. Twelve trenches, measuring 50m long, were excavated across the development site. The subsoil was severely disturbed in some trenches by animal burrows. In Trench 5, two stone-filled field drains were identified. No significant archaeological features or deposits were identified in any of the trenches.
Callum Murray (Sun,) studied this question.