Evidence for the earliest surviving archaeology across the trenches excavated in Phase 1 of the Tiln Farm solar farm project was found in one evaluation trench in the form of three archaeological features masked by a north-south furrow.

A north-south ditch contained sherds of Iron-Age pottery dated from c.350BC to c.50BC. This feature cut two curved ditches, potentially part of the same feature, although the relationship was obscured. These features could be of a contemporary date and may suggest a localised area of pre-historic activity in this area of the site.

The features themselves were not identified on the geophysical survey of the site, rather as an area denoted as ‘ferrous spread’, although the presence of later ridge and furrow
across this area may have made interpretation in this area of the site difficult. The ditch had been obscured by the ridge and furrow within the trench, and as a result similar furrows were excavated within the trench, and a further evaluation trench to the south, to determine if earlier features were masked here, although this proved not to be the case.

Another evaluation trench contained two features not identified on either the geophysical survey, or on historic mapping. Two ditches were recorded, both had well-defined cuts and a grey sandy clay fill similar to that of the first trench which may suggest that they were contemporary, although no dating evidence was recovered.

George Beardow, 2021, Tiln Solar Farm, Retford, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation Phase 1 (Unpublished document). SNT6003.