The archaeological evaluation was undertaken following the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Standard and guidance for field evaluation (2020a), and in accordance with the WA fieldwork manual (2021). The fieldwork programme was followed by an assessment of the data as set out in the Standard and guidance for field evaluation (CIfA 2020a) and the Standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (CIfA 2020b). The evaluation comprised the excavation of one 15m x 1.8m trench and four 30 x 1.8m trenches, focussed in the central and eastern sections of the Site. Following on from previous bore hole investigations, the anticipated depths of all trenches was in excess of three metres. Consequently, the trenches were to be stepped at least twice. As a result, the initial dimensions of the trenches were one of 19m x 7m and four of 34m x 7m. Features were encountered within three of the trenches investigated. The evaluation recorded a total of seven paleochannels and one possible pit. All of the features cut the natural alluvial deposits. The evaluation also identified a large number of man-made deposits, essentially made ground, overlying layers of colluvial origin. No dating evidence was found in association with the paleochannel system, possible pit, alluvial deposits or peat deposits. The basal gravel deposits in Trenches 2 and 5 have been ascribed to the late Pleistocene epoch, whilst the majority of the deposit sequence has been designated to the Holocene epoch, and possibly as late as the early Iron Age.
Kate Higgs (Mon,) studied this question.