ARCUS were commissioned by CgMs Consulting on behalf of Lafarge Cement UK to undertake an archaeological evaluation of land at the shale quarry, within the Hope Cement Works in advance of shale extraction within agreed quarry limits. Information held on the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) showed the area to be of archaeological interest with the potential for archaeological remains relating to the nearby Navio Roman fort to be present in the area. Although excavations in 1986 had encountered probable vicus features under what is now the tree belt, more recent evaluations and geophysical surveys within the limits of the quarry have not, to date, revealed any evidence for the fort or associated features. Area 2 Field B was the subject of controlled turf and topsoil stripping which proved to be archaeologically sterile. In Area 2, Fields C D, seven trial trenches were opened to assess the potential of geophysical anomalies. One archaeological feature, an agricultural furrow of medieval or post-medieval date, was identified in Trench 19. All other trenches proved to be archaeologically sterile.
Rob Barnett (Tue,) studied this question.