In total 4 evaluation trenches, four geoarchaeological test pits and six foundation trenches for lighting columns were excavated within the Component. The evaluation trenches were 50m long by 2.1m wide, the geoarchaeological test pits averaged 4m long and 2.1m wide and the foundation trenches were 4m long and 3m wide. The trenches were set out in accordance with the agreed trench layout plan in the WSI using a Trimble GNSS device. Trench 01 was found to be located over a bund of soil and demolition material. Given the results from the other trenches and on the advice of Mr Havis this trench, and the associated geological test pit was not excavated. Trenches 03 and 05 could only be partially excavated due to the combination of the depth of the over-burden being greater than 1.2m and the rapid flooding that occurred as the ground was broken. The over-burden in the western end of trench 05 also contained probable asbestos so the excavation was stopped for health and safety purposes. The foundation trenches 06-11 were planned in the exact location of the lighting columns. As the trenches had the potential to destroy the structural integrity of the ground required for the lighting columns, and because some of these trenches were within the ecologically sensitive areas, these trenches were dug immediately adjacent to their planned location. The geological test pit was not excavated as the limit on its depth of 1.2m would not have been sufficient to learn anything about the geology of the site that could not already be gained from the trenches or geoarchaeological test pits. A mechanical excavator equipped with a toothless ditching bucket was used to remove the overburden under direct archaeological supervision. Potential archaeological features would have been excavated by hand. Investigation of archaeological remains would have been undertaken through hand excavation. A representative sample, sufficient to meet the objectives of the evaluation, of identified archaeological or potentially archaeological remains would have been investigated and recorded. The stratigraphy of each trench was recorded. No archaeological remains were identified. High potential for the retrieval of good quality palaeoenvironmental data was indicated by the geoarchaeological assessment and a borehole evaluation of the site with associated analyses of the extracted data was recommended.
Goacher et al. (Mon,) studied this question.