Trial Trenching on Land west of St Peter's Road, West Lynn, Norfolk

The 14 trenches were located in accordance with the directions laid out in the Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) and approved by the curatorial archaeologist. The most recent deposits were removed mechanically, using a tracked digger fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. All mechanical excavation was undertaken under archaeological supervision. Mechanical excavation was discontinued when archaeological deposits were exposed, or when undisturbed natural deposits were revealed. Exposed surfaces, both vertical and horizontal, were then cleaned by hand to define the archaeological remains. A metal detector was also used to aid artefact recovery. A second phase of mechanical excavation was undertaken in Trench 2 and Trench 14 at the request of the Historic Environment Service, Norfolk County Council (NCCES). The additional machining was required following investigation and recording of features initially revealed in order to establish whether further archaeological remains survived at depth. Potential archaeological features were further investigated by manual excavation in line with the sampling guidelines outlined in the WSI. A record of the investigations was compiled through: " Notes detailing the progress of archaeological fieldwork. " Individual written descriptions of archaeological contexts made on pro-forma recording sheets and indexed appropriately. " Measured section drawings showing specific archaeological contexts as well as general stratigraphic sequences, produced at scales 1:10 or 1:20 as appropriate. " Measured plans of archaeological contexts (individual and/or multiple) at scale 1:20 " Sequences of colour digital and black and white 35mm film photographs showing individual archaeological features and overall site circumstances. The trenches, the features and the sample hand-excavated slots were located using survey grade GPS equipment, referenced to the Ordnance Survey National Grid. At the discretion of the site supervisor, four samples were taken to assess the palaeoenvironmental potential of deposits considered suitable for retention and further processing. Archaeological trial trenching of the site revealed features associated with the former salt-making industry of West Lynn, mostly related to its Post-Medieval phase, within the 16th and 17th centuries. Truncated remains of seven filtration units were recorded, the two best preserved of which retained the bases of both the connected clay-lined pits which comprised the unit. Further remains are likely to be present in the vicinity of those revealed by the fieldwork described in this report.