Within two of the excavated trenches positive results were recorded, confirming that some ephemeral features suggested by the geophysical and aerial photograph study were of an archaeological origin. These comprised a series of features south-west of the proposed Turbine 2, and west of the concentration of the identified complex (L10782). These potentially all date to the early Roman period and consisted of ditches, gullies, and a pit. A further feature of uncertain date and origin was recorded just to the north.

Three trenches were located along the proposed access road from Turbine 2. The first trench (30m x 2m) was orientated north-east to south-west on the projected line of a linear anomaly from the cropmark complex to the east (L10782). The trench sloped to the south-west (12.83 –12.77m aOD). The natural substratum was exposed at a depth of 0.3 – 0.39m below the current ground level. The subsoil was thin and discontinuous, up to 0.08m thick. One metre from the north end of the trench, an isolated shallow pit-like ‘scoop’ feature was recorded in the base of the trench. Excavation revealed the feature to comprise two short linears orientated north-west to south-east, approximately 0.71m long. They lay 0.5m apart with a depth of c.0.07m and the fill had a concentration of charcoal in a pale orangey sandy clay.

It seems likely that these two ‘linears’ were once part of a single feature, perhaps truncated centrally by the plough, however this could not be determined during excavation. The base of the fill, context merged into a loose sand which still contained occasional charcoal, but was most likely natural in origin. The edges of this feature are quite imprecise, and its origin is unclear, but based on its form it may well be a tree-fall feature. After wet sieving and flotation, the sample of this feature produced occasional charcoal chips. The date of the feature is unclear, although four fragments of calcined flint, probably rejoining, were recovered during the excavation. The bladelet technology of the worked flint is typically Mesolithic in date, but not exclusively so and it is possible that the flint is a residual ‘stray’ artefact.

The second trench was sited west of two cropmark ring ditches perhaps suggestive of round barrows. This trench was 30m by 2m, and aligned approximately north-east to south-west. The ground sloped slightly to the south (13.04 – 12.96m aOD). The natural substratum in this trench comprised a drift deposit of orangey-brown sandy clay with a reddy-orange gravelly clay beneath. The subsoil varied considerably within the trench, being up to 0.21m deep in the central area but thinning to virtually nothing at the south end. A series of features were exposed below subsoil, at a depth of c.0.40m-0.45m below current ground level. Six linear features were identified, three running perpendicular to the trench (north-west to south-east).

In the north of the trench, a gully ran north-west to south-east for at least 2.5m across the trench. It had a curved concave profile 0.35m wide and was 0.18m deep. The gully had a single sterile fill of a browny-grey sandy clay, alluvial-like in nature, possibly suggesting an open feature subjected to a period of flooding.

Approximately 6m to the south lay the butt end of a further narrow gully. This was only seen adjacent to the west baulk of the trench, running for 0.9m. It was approximately 0.31m wide with a depth of 0.16m and with a similar fill to the first gully. Although not clear in plan, this may have had a slight curve (arcing to the south), and is perhaps part of a larger curvilinear feature, with a roundhouse ring-gully being the obvious interpretation. It could be suggested that the cropmark ring ditches to the east are more likely to be roundhouse gullies rather than round barrows as previously thought.

To the south of the second gully, a large but relatively shallow pit was identified. This was also only partially seen continuing beyond the west baulk of the trench. This pit was at least 1.45m long, and over 0.4m wide with a depth of 0.2m. Again this had a single ‘silty’ clay fill probably largely alluvial in nature. Beyond this pit to the south was another linear gully. This crossed the trench on a perpendicular alignment, and its length is unknown, but is at least 2m long. The gully was 0.6m wide with a depth of 0.29m. Its profile was curved and concave in nature with a fill similar to the other features in this trench.

Several metres south again a more substantial feature was recorded. This also crossed the trench on a perpendicular alignment and consisted of two cuts of a large ditch feature. The earlier ditch cut was approximately 1.7m wide with a depth of 0.7m. It had one fill, largely a clean deposit which produced some pottery and animal bone. This ditch was recut probably on the same alignment by another ditch. This other ditch was 2.35m wide, and 0.55m deep. Its lower fill, context produced some charcoal and a good quantity of pottery and animal bone. The pottery consisted of 21 sherds of Trent Valley Ware (mid-late 1st century AD). Fragments of fired clay, probably burnt daub suggesting nearby structures, were also recovered. The upper fill of the recut was more sterile, but produced some pottery (four sherds of shelly ware).

Near the south end of the trench, a feature was a further probable gully. This had been disturbed by a land drain (redepositing gully material into the land-drain backfill), but enough survived to indicate the nature of the feature. It appeared to be an east-west orientated gully, with a butt-end exposed in the trench but continuing westwards for more than 1.45m. It was very open in profile, more than 0.38m wide and just 0.14m deep. This produced a small amount of pottery (two sherds, shelly ware).

The different nature of the two basic fills of this group of features might suggest two phases of occupation, separated by a flood event. There is insufficient dating evidence to differentiate these two phases chronologically, but it is possible that they are broadly contemporary. Three land drains were also identified in the trench running slightly north of west-east.

A third trench, south-east of Turbine T2 and on the line of the proposed access road, (aligned broadly north-west to south-east), was negative with only modern root disturbance observed. This trench was 20m x 2m, and sloped down to the north-west (13.29 – 13.21m aOD) and located on the projected alignment of a linear ditch-type feature defining the west side of the main cropmark complex (L10782) to the north. The topsoil varied between 0.36m – 0.38m thick, overlying a subsoil of orangey-grey sandy clay, 0.16m – 0.24m thick. The natural substratum was an orange slightly clayey sand, seen at a depth of 0.52m – 0.62m below the ground level. No finds were recovered and no land drains were exposed.

The fourth trench, also on the access road, further to the east was also aligned broadly north-west to south-east. This trench was sited on the projected line of a probable double ditched trackway identified by the geophysical survey to the north. The trench measured 40m x 2m and sloped slightly to the north-west (13.29 – 13.21m aOD). The soil sequence here consisted of ploughsoil (0.21m – 0.28m thick), over an orangey-brown clay sand subsoil (0.07m –0.16m thick). Natural substratum was observed at a depth of 0.28m – 0.43m from the current ground level, and comprised a red clay with very occasional patches of a pale yellow clay sand. No archaeological features were identified, however, a single small sherd of pottery, and a piece of industrial residue (possibly hearth lining) were recovered from two north-south furrows, the pottery being of shelly fabric and mid-late 1st century date. These finds are probably derived from the occupation area upslope (to the north). Two land drains were also recorded on the same alignment as the furrows.

Wayne Jarvis, 2012, An Archaeological Evaluation at the Proposed Fox Covert Wind Farm, The Grange, Hawton, Nottinghamshire (Unpublished document). SNT5885.