Fen Farm, South Somercotes, Lincolnshire: Trial Trench Evaluation

The work involved the excavation of 36 trenches, all of which measured 50m by 2m. The trenches were positioned to target potential archaeological anomalies identified during the previous geophysical survey, as well as to provide a wide sample across the remaining areas of the site. Six of the trenches were extended before backfilling to define the limits of some excavated features following consultation with Heritage Lincolnshire. All work was undertaken in accordance with accepted professional standards and guidelines, in accordance with the ASWYAS site recording manual (ASWYAS 2020) and in compliance with the WSI. All trenches were set out and the limits resurveyed using a Trimble VRS differential GPS accurate to +/-0.01m. The trenches were opened in a controlled manner using a 360 excavator using a flat-bladed ditching bucket under direct archaeological supervision. All topsoil deposits were removed in level spits (not more than 0.20m) with the topsoil and subsoil being separated to allow for re-instating in reverse order. Machining stopped at the first archaeological horizon or natural deposits, whichever was encountered first. All excavations of archaeological deposits were undertaken manually with the stripped surface being cleaned and investigated for archaeological remains. An appropriate sample was excavated through all archaeological features with at least a 20% sample through linear features (with a minimum sample of 1m) and a 50% sample through discrete features. These were undertaken to investigate the full depth, profile and fills, where possible, and to recover dating evidence from the fills. All excavated sections were, where possible, located adjacent to the trench edge in order to provide a full stratigraphic sequence. Spoil heaps were scanned for both ferrous and non-ferrous metal artefacts using a Minelab X-Terra 705 metal detector fitted with a 9inch 7.5kHz coil, capable of discriminating between ferrous and non-ferrous material and was operated by an experienced metal detector user. Modern artefacts were noted but not retained. A soil sampling programme was undertaken consisting of bulk soil samples for the identification of plant macro-fossils, small animal bones and other small artefacts. All samples were taken from appropriate archaeological deposits, in accordance with the WSI and Historic England guidelines. All archaeological features were accurately recorded in plan at a scale of 1:20 or 1:50. Feature sections were drawn at a scale of 1:10 or 1:20. All plans and sections include spot heights that relate to Ordnance Datum in metres. The site contains two foci of significant archaeological remains. The centre of the site, around Trench 20, contains a likely later Roman feature. This may represent a watering hole, possibly used for grazing animals or for salt making, depending on the salinity of groundwater at the time of its use. The pottery and CBM in its fill are suggestive of significant activity of this period in the vicinity of the site, perhaps even the presence of a nearby brick and tile structure. The south-eastern edge of the site contains significant evidence of medieval activity. It was not possible to fully establish the limits and character of activity in this area of the site though a series of pits and enclosure or field boundaries may indicate settlement. Unfortunately the geophysical survey results provided limited additional evidence of its character and size.