Church of St Peter, Awsworth, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation of the Northern Boundary Wall

The groundwork was carried out by the archaeological contractor. All deposits were inspected in order to identify any archaeological remains of interest, in particular those medieval or earlier in date,and were cleaned by hand, examined and recorded. Recording of all groundworks included the position and depths of the excavations and the deposits exposed, by drawing (both in section and plan where applicable) and photograph. Prior to backfilling spoil heaps were inspected for any datable or significant archaeological artefacts. All identifiable deposits were given unique individual four-digit context numbers e.g. 0001, 0002 etc. starting at 0001. All saved artefacts were to be given individual three letter finds codes e.g. AAA, AAB. Disarticulated human remains found in the confines of the work were to be recorded appropriately and left on site for reburial. Advice from the Diocese Archaeological Advisor would be sought if articulated remains were present The wall and foundations lean to the north, probably due to the insertion of a ceramic land drain at the base of the foundations. The fill of the land drain trench is likely to hold moisture well and thus encouraging dampness to get into the brickwork. The lean of the wall has been compounded by the raising of the ground level by up to 0.5m against its southern face. To the south the additional service trench dug for a water pipe is likely to have had a destabilizing effect on the wall. Large roots are present throughout which would push the wall to the north. Small quantities of skeletal material, almost certainly human, were recovered from the buried topsoil and the infill of the ceramic land drain trench indicating graves could be present in the vicinity. The ground level by the southern face of the wall has probably been raised using material excavated when the driveway was created that extends from Main Street to the north doorway of the chancel.