Eighteen sub-rectangular gullies. … fourteen were c. 6.5m long by 3.5m wide and rectangular in shape, with rounded corners, indicating some consistent measurement for size. Some appeared to be roughly aligned and grouped. Some were very neatly dug with steep sides and constant depth and width. Others varied in depth and width, with apparent butt ends meeting at different heights. There was no evidence of post holes or beam slots within the gullies. The fills were consistent with gradual silting up. No internal or external post holes were found. One of the gullies was earlier than the Cropmark I ditch. The ditch was dug across the sides of the gulley … the ditch upcast sealed the fill of the gully … two joining sherds of Romano-British grey ware came from its upper fill. Apart from the pottery noted above, a rotary quern fragment, two other pieces of Millstone grit, a few fire cracked pebbles and probable sheep's tooth and limb bone were recovered from the gully fills. Some evidence for tool marks was found in most of the gullies. … In summary, the eighteen subrectangular gullies appear to form a localised group as they were not observed in the E part of Cuts 1 and 2. Orientation, size and shape were important and they were not all necessarily contemporary with each other. One was clearly dug before the Cropmark I ditch. Two possible functions, agricultural use such as drainage around straw or hay stack, However, this doesn't explain the importance of size or orientation. The second is a drain around a temporary structure such as a tent or prefabricated, freestanding, wooden building, possibly a seasonal shelter for a herdsman or for animals. (1)

<1> TPAT, Mar 1997, Interim report on an Archaeological Watching Brief Near Blaco Hill, Mattersey, Nottinghamshire, on Behalf of Tarmac Quarry Products Limited. Phase 1A: November 1996 to March 1997, pp 5, 6 (Unpublished document). SNT2246.