Land to the West of Oxford Road, North Abingdon, Oxfordshire

The works comprise the excavation of 99 trenches measuring 30m by 1.8m, equating to a 2% sample of the area of the site. The trenches were positioned to target a single geophysical feature and were otherwise arranged on a standard grid array. All trenches were excavated using a 16-ton tracked 360 mechanical excavator with a 1.8m-wide toothless ditching bucket under archaeological supervision (Plates 1 and 2). Soil was stored adjacent to each trench at a minimum distance of 1m and to one side only to minimize impact. The surface was cleaned and spoil heaps were investigated for archaeological remains. Potential archaeological features were investigated by hand based on the recording procedures outlined within the project WSI (OA 2019). In June 2019 Oxford Archaeology South (OAS) was commissioned by Orion Heritage on behalf of Commercial Estates Group and David Wilson Homes Southern to undertake an archaeological evaluation of a consented residential development at Land to the West of Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire (centred on SU 50244 99555). A total of 99 trenches were excavated across the site targeting a single geophysical feature and otherwise arranged on a standard grid array, representing a 2% sample of the proposed development area. The trenching revealed no significant archaeological remains from any period. The earliest features identified were distinct areas of former ridge and furrow of medieval and post-medieval origin. A ditch marking the parish boundary was also identified and excavated. This was found to have been re-established during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Based on the results of the evaluation the site is considered to have low archaeological potential.