One evaluation trench was excavated as a contingency trench to target a ring ditch identified by the geophysical survey and to investigate the extent of continuing features previously identified in another trench (MNT28944). It contained three ditches, one pit and three plough furrows. The location of the ditches and furrows corresponded the results of the geophysical survey.

Towards the south-western end of the trench, a ring ditch was present. Initially it was orientated southeast to northwest and then curved to the south. The continuation of the ditch to the northeast was also visible within the trench. The ditch had a U-shaped profile, with an average depth of 0.35m. It contained a single fill comprising mid-reddish brown silty clay. Small, degraded fragments of pottery were observed within the fill, none of a size that could be identified.

Internal to the ring ditch, was a pit. The pit had a shallow, irregular profile, with a depth of 0.20m, and contained a single fill. The fill comprised light brownish grey clay with frequent cobble and charcoal inclusions. No finds were recovered from the pit.

Running across the centre of the trench, on a north-south alignment, two intercutting ditches were present. One ditch had a shallow, U-shaped profile, with a depth of 0.11m. It contained a single fill comprising light yellowish brown silty clay. The ditch is a continuation of a pre-Roman Iron Age ditch (MNT28944). The ditch was cut by another ditch on its southern side. This ditch also had a shallow, U-shaped profile, with a depth of 0.12m. It contained a single fill comprising mid-brownish grey silty clay. The location of the ditches corresponds to the results of the geophysical survey. No finds were recovered from either ditch.

Based on the geophysical survey, the pre-Roman Iron Age ditch (MNT28944) likely comprises the southwest corner of an enclosure, with the undated curvilinear ditches at the southwest end of an evaluation trench forming the northwest corner. However, given the narrow nature of the trial trenches and the fragmentary nature of the geophysical anomalies, the possibility that both curvilinear ditches form circular ring ditches for roundhouses should not be discounted. No intercutting was noted within the ring ditch, suggesting that there was only a single phase of occupation. A single undated pit within this area was identified, perhaps demonstrating some internal activity, but no finds were recovered from the pit to confirm this, or demonstrate any type of function.

Stephanie Blues, 2023, Winkburn Solar Farm, Kirklington, Nottinghamshire: Trial Trenching Evaluation (Unpublished document). SNT6065.