TVAS Update - Summer 1999

THE ROLE OF TVAS

TVAS are an independent Archaeological Unit that has been established for over ten years acting on behalf of a wide spectrum of clients from both the public and private sectors. We offer an extensive range of archaeological services to satisfy the requirements of PPG16, using both invasive and non-invasive techniques. These include field surveys, evaluations, watching briefs, building surveys, topographical surveys, consultancy and desk-based assessment.

We also undertake excavations and post-excavation analysis of sites and finds through to final publication using the latest technology. Advice on a broad range of subjects, from pottery to pollen analysis, is drawn from a selection of in-house and external specialists and geophysical surveys can also be commissioned. A selection of recent projects involving TVAS are illustrated here.

Stowford Road, Barton, Oxford
An excavation was carried out on a site adjacent to the Alcester to Dorchester Roman road after an evaluation located evidence of Roman settlement. The excavation revealed pits, postholes and gullies, and a considerable quantity of Roman pottery, all relating to a settlement here in the late 3rd century AD.

Approximately 100 years later the site was covered by a trackway, which may be a realignment of the Roman road. The settlement had been abandoned or moved some time before. The track was repaired on several occasions when wheel ruts were filled with stones and sand (see photograph). A single 4th century Roman coin was discovered during the evaluation, dated AD341-346.

Commissioned by Wilmott Dixon Housing Limited

The Roman road surface at Barton, with repaired wheel ruts still clearly visible in the foreground.

One of the more elaborate Medieval floor tiles from Friar Street, with a winged animal or bird motif.

Friar Street, Reading, Berkshire The site of a new office extension in the historic core of Reading was known to lie close to the western precinct of Reading Abbey, founded in 1164. This site was also the most likely location of Viking defensive earthworks which, according to documantary sources, were constructed in 870-871.

A small evaluation was carried out in order to see whether the extension would affect any archaeological remains. The results of this evaluation were sufficiently promising to justify a small excavation. This revealed a series of earth and chalk floors, a flint and chalk wall foundation, a hearth and other features, one of which contained 12th-13th century pottery. Of particular interest were a number of glazed and decorated floor tiles almost certainly from one of the Abbey buildings. Commissioned by Blandy and Blandy, Solicitors

The flint and chalk wall foundation at Friar Street, Reading, possibly part of the original Abbey hospitium.

Battlebridge Lane, Merstham, Surrey
Prior to development of the site for light industrial units, TVAS was commissioned to carry out a programme of archaeological work consisting of a desk-based study, an evaluation and subsequent excavation.

This fieldwork revealed evidence of activity spanning thousands of years. Struck flints scattered across the site relate to Mesolithic hunter-gatherers (10,000-4,300BC). The two pieces of Neolithic (4,300-2,100BC) Grooved Ware pottery from the site are rare finds in Surrey.

The excavation also revealed a late Iron Age/early Roman (c. 200BC-early 2nd century AD) ditched enclosure containing evidence of a single roundhouse. Nearby were several large storage pits, one of which contained a significant quantity of charred wheat grains. Further analysis of the artefacts and other samples from the pit and other features will help to recontruct some of the activitites which took place here. The settlement seems to have diminished or possibly relocated in the later Roman period. However continued occupation in the area is indicated by the Saxon pottery also discovered at the site.

Commissioned by HBG Properties

One of the large Iron Age pits at Merstham, half excavated. The upright scale is 1m.

Catbrook Road, Trellech, Monmouthshire In July 1998 TVAS carried out an earthwork survey and field evaluation of a site in Trellech, Monmouthshire. Aerial photographs had revealed a number of linear earthworks which may be part of the original Medieval settlement. This programme of archaeological work identified a main phase of activity between the 13th and 14th centuries. The earthworks represented burgage plots, boundaries and other components of the Medieval settlement. Commissioned by Beaufort Homes

Part of a limestone boundary wall defining the Medieval settlement at Trellech.

Ock Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
A field evaluation carried out before the redevelopment of the site of a former coal yard in Abingdon revealed a number of Medieval features. The following excavation has provided important information on the development of Abingdon during this period. Most significant was the discovery of the foundations of two 13th century timber-framed buildings.

A number of very large pits to the rear of the buildings may have been used to treat hides as part of the leather production process. A hearth found within one of the buildings has been dated archaeomagnetically to 1210-1270 AD. The continuing post-excavation process should enable us to build a picture of activity taking place on this particular plot and to relate that to other archaeological work already carried out in Abingdon.

Commissioned by Mr J Enock

The excavation in progress at Ock Street, Abingdon

5-7 Bushell Street, Wapping, London Borough of Tower Hamlets The archaeological potential of this location was highlighted in a desk-based study written in September 1997. This described the late Medieval and post-Medieval expansion eastwards from the City along the Thames waterfront. Foundation walls and a well discovered during an evaluation almost a year later confirmed that the site had been developed shortly after the Restoration (1660-1680). This is supported by Morgan's map of 1682, which shows that the site had been built upon by that date. Evidence of a more recent kind was seen in another of the trenches, which revealed a black layer of heavily charred material. This included household and personal items such as a burnt fragment of a page from a childen's fairy story book bearing the words: '...chin chin." I'll puff and...' Documentary evidence suggests that this black layer resulted from an enemy bombing raid on the night of 29th/30th December 1940. A photograph taken in 1946 shows that the two properties to the west of the site were no longer there. There is no evidence, however, of any casulaties relating to this particular raid and location. Commissioned by Berkeley Homes (Essex) Ltd

The dark layer in this trench at Wapping relates to damage caused by a bombing raid in 1940

GUIDELINES

The early 1990s saw publication of 'Archaeology and Planning' - a DoE Policy and Planning Guidance circular (PPG 16), along with EC Directives on Environmental Assessments. These have had a dramatic influence on the treatment of archaeology within the planning process.

Information about the effects of development on the archaeological heritage is required before planning decisions can be made, together with adequate provision for heritage management should development proceed. PPG16 has been instrumental in the discovery of many more sites and new site types, widening the scope of information available for reconstructing our past.