Source/Archive record (Unpublished document) SNT5526 - Archaeological Fieldwalking Report: Land Off Fosse Road, Farndon, Nottinghamshire

Title Archaeological Fieldwalking Report: Land Off Fosse Road, Farndon, Nottinghamshire
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Abstract/Summary

A fieldwalking survey was undertaken on a roughly triangular area of agricultural land immediately east of Fosse Way and west of the A46, at the northeast end of Farndon, Nottinghamshire. The site is a focus of Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) activity dating from ~14,000 years ago with one of the most extensive LUP flint scatters known. In 1991 a small quantity of LUP worked flints were recovered during fieldwalking in advance of the construction of the A46. Further fieldwalking in 1993 receovered more than 30 lithic artefacts recovered from within the site. In 1994, fieldwalking and excavation of a 5 x 5 m test-pit targeting a cluster of artefacts yielded over 100 LUP flints the density and character of which is thought to be consistent with knapping and tool-use activity. In 2009, upgrades to the A46 led to a series of archaeological interventions with fieldwalking, test-pitting, trial trenching, and augering, just outside the site. This work identified more than 3500 lithic artefacts most of which were associated with a LUP scatter located less than 150m south of the proposed development area. From 2012-2015, the community project ‘Ice Age Journeys’ (supported by Heritage Lottery Funding) undertook fieldwalking, test-pitting and augering aimed at determining the state of preservation of deposits along the route of the A46 and revelaed considerable plough damage but that the spatial patterning of artefacts was relatively stable and primarily related to past activities by hunter-gatherers. Hundreds of later prehistoric finds have been recovered from the site and along the course of the A46, but no evidence of in situ archaeological remains dating from this period have been uncovered within the site itself. Fieldwalking covering an area to the east of Farndon produced a number of Roman artefacts, and immediately to the west of the site two Romano-British coins have been recovered. The site lies immediately to the east of the Fosse Way, which ran from the Roman city of Lincoln to Exeter and was a focus of activity in this period. A small number of post-Roman finds have been found in the vicinity and Anglo-Saxon remains have been excavated at Newark and close to the Fosse Way. A 10th century rampart has been excavated within Newark and during excavations beneath St. Peter’s Church in Farndon, sword of Norse type was discovered. Newark and its surroundings are closely associated with the Civil War which has left remnants of fortifications throughout the landscape. Forty lithic artefacts and eight burnt flints were collected during the survey. The worked assemblage comprised of flintwork ranging in date from the Later Upper Palaeolithic to Bronze Age. Although poor ground conditions affected recovery, the quantity of finds was still relatively high. There were no obvious concentrations of artefacts and the finds fit into the existing body evidence from the site, which has recognised local, regional, and national significance. Due to the shallow andfragile nature of the archaeology, any development is likely to substantially damage the archaeological resource. Continued agricultural use will also lead to the further degradation and damage to the site itself, albeit at a slower rate.

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Description

Results of a fieldwalking survey. Report includes a lithic asssessment and location of finds.

Location

Referenced Monuments (1)

  • Finds near Fosse Road, Farndon (Element)

Referenced Events (1)

  • Fieldwalking Survey near Fosse Road, Farndon

Record last edited

Feb 7 2024 11:32AM

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