April 2022: A total of six evaluation trenches, of varying lengths, were excavated across the proposed site at the Land at Showell Farm. Trench 1 measured 30m by 1.65m and reached a maximum depth of 1.01m. Trench 2 and 3 measured 15m by 1.65m. Trench 2 reached a maximum depth of 0.86m and Trench 3 reached a maximum depth of 0.43m. Trench 4 measured 35m by 1.65m with a maximum depth of 0.78m. Trench 5 measured 25m by 1.65m and reached a maximum depth of 0.48m. Trench 6 measured 35m by 1.65m and reached a maximum depth of 0.40m. Two areas of potential flint scatters were identified during evaluation trenching that took place in 1999. These areas will be subsequently identified as Square 1 and Square 2. Both areas were situated in the south-eastern extent of the site. Square 1 was the south-western-most area which measured 36m by 30m. It was orientated north to south. The existing grass and roots was initially removed via careful machine stripping to expose the ploughsoil deposit below. A total of 27, 2m by 2m test pits were chosen at random throughout the Square 1 area and were excavated down to the natural geology. The total thickness of the ploughsoil deposit was up to 0.35m and the natural geology layer was observed to exceed 0.05m in depth. Square 2 was situated 32m to the north-east of Square 1. Square 2 measured 24m by 32m and was orientated north-west by south-east. It was treated through the same methods as Square 1, whereby the grass and root horizon was carefully removed to expose the underlying ploughsoil. A total of 19, 2m by 2m test pits were excavated into the ploughsoil, down to the natural geology. Within Square 2, the maximum depth of the ploughsoil was 0.40m and the geology layer exceeded 0.05m also. A total of 20% of each test pit was sieved using a 5mm sieve in order to recover lithics. The remaining 80%, although not sieved, was carefully excavated by hand, and hand sorted, to retrieve additional lithics. June-September: 2022 The groundworks undertaken included the removal of topsoil, subsoil, and made-up ground, down to the archaeological or natural horizon in three areas: the compound, the roundabout and one area to the south of the existing A350 road. Within the stripped compound area several anomalies were identified; the compound area was then extended to the south. Work progressed to the southwest, to the area of the proposed roundabout. The stripping of a curved east to west pathway connecting the compound area to the roundabout area was also monitored. The area to the south-west of the existing A350 road was the final area being watched starting from the southeast and working towards northwest. In areas where overburden was known to be of significant depth, topsoil over laying patches of made-up ground and natural were partially stripped over night with no archaeological monitoring. Test pits to establish the depth of the final strip were excavated, two of these in the south-eastern part of this area were dug at night without notice to John Moore Heritage Services. This was later rectified and the two open test pits were recorded in full and the remaining test pits were dug with an archaeologist present. During the final part of the strip a modern concrete platform was also exposed as well as modern cables, a drain and a man hole, which had extensively truncated the area. October-December 2024: The first phase was the excavation of a new underground electric cable to replace the overhead line which ran across the entire site. This was excavated west to east, during quite wet weather. When the cable trench reached the eastern side of site the terrain dropped down to an area near a stream. Here the trenches were being pulled and immediately filled with water. It was here in this east area that an existing old concrete farm yard surface was also partly excavated to contact the water services.
Skillen-Thompson et al. (Wed,) studied this question.