Source/Archive record (Unpublished document) SNT6047 - Phase 10 and 11 Works at Fairham Pastures, Land East of Nottingham Road, Clifton, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation Trenching Report

Title Phase 10 and 11 Works at Fairham Pastures, Land East of Nottingham Road, Clifton, Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire: Archaeological Evaluation Trenching Report
Author/Originator
Date/Year 2025

Abstract/Summary

A programme of archaeological evaluation trenching took place on land within the Phases 10 and 11 areas of works of the Fairham Pastures development, situated to the south of Clifton in the Borough of Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire. This project forms part of a scheme of archaeological mitigation works that are required as a condition of planning permission. This is to ensure that any features of archaeological importance are identified and that appropriate mitigation works are undertaken so as not to lose unrecorded archaeological resources. The evaluation trenching was informed by a geophysical survey, and by the findings of similar archaeological mitigation schemes carried out in Phases 1-8 of the development. Archaeological investigations in advance of development in previous phases recorded evidence of occupation dating from the later prehistoric period to the Romano-British period, including probable Iron Age and Romano-British settlements, a Romano-British pottery kiln, a cremation cemetery of probable Bronze Age date and long-distance landscape boundaries dating from the Neolithic period onwards. The geophysical survey identified two possible complexes of archaeological features in the Phase 11 works area (neither of which were on the alignment of the Phase 1 features), but only recorded strip cultivation traces in Phase 10. No archaeology was encountered in the Phase 10 works area, but a number of archaeological features were exposed in the southern trenches of Phase 11. These included six ditches and six pits. One ditch produced Iron Age pottery, and another one, Roman pottery. No dating evidence was retrieved from the pits, which were sealed by a layer of colluvium. Although it cannot be confirmed, it is likely that the colluvium also sealed the ditch with the Roman pottery which would then provide a terminus post quem for the formation of the layer. It seems likely that the exposed pits formed part of a double northwest-southeast pit alignment, which could represent the continuation of a pit alignment previously investigated to the north of the current site, situated in the Phase 1 works area. None of the features exposed in the current investigation appear to relate to the archaeological evidence uncovered further to the east in the Phase 2 works area, where a further pit alignment was exposed.

External Links (0)

Description

Results of an evaluation. Report includes pottery and animal bone reports

Location

Referenced Monuments (7)

  • Ditch at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Ditch at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Ditch at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Ditch at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Ditches at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Pits at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)
  • Possible Pit Aligment at Fairham Pastures, Clifton (Element)

Referenced Events (1)

  • Evaluation at Fairham Pastures, Clifton

Record last edited

Jan 20 2026 3:48PM

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