Cherry Lea, South Elmsall, West Yorkshire: Trial Trench Evaluation

The work involved the excavation of eight trenches, seven of which measured 50m by 2m and one which measured 25m by 2m. The trenches were positioned to provide a wide study sample across the site. All work was undertaken in accordance with accepted professional standards and guidelines (Historic England 2008; CIfA 2020), 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 JCB 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 1:50. Feature sections were drawn at a scale of 1:20. All plans and sections include spot heights that relate to Ordnance Datum in metres. A full written, drawn and photographic record was made of all archaeological work undertaken. Archaeological Services WYAS (ASWYAS) undertook an archaeological evaluation at Cherry Lea, South Elmsall, West Yorkshire in December 2021. The works identified a number of features including the continuation of a probable Iron Age or Roman trackway identified by crop marks and several large quarry pits of likely post-medieval date.