Specification for Archaeological Monitoring and Strip, Map and Sample Excavations (V2) Site Name: Postwick Distribution and Overflow Mains Site Code: tbc County (Grid Ref): Norfolk (starting at TG 2963 0844) Project No: CNF44209 Planning App. No. Client: Anglian Water Date: revised 29/5/14 Author: Dr P Spoerry 30 May 2014 20140920 1 Specification for Archaeological Excavation Oxford Archaeology Ltd is an Institute of Field Archaeologists Registered Organisation and follows IFA By-Laws, Standards and Policy. Site Name: Site Code: County (Grid Ref): Postwick Pipelines tbc Norfolk (from TG 2963 0844) Project No.: Project Type: CNF 44209 Excavation Event No.: CNF 44209; and others as required by NCC Planning App. No.: Client: Date: Author: tbc Anglian Water Revised 29/5/14 Dr P Spoerry 1 General Background 1.1 Circumstances of the Project This specification (Written Scheme of Investigation) has been prepared on behalf of Anglian Water in response to an Archaeological Brief issued by Norfolk HES. This specification conforms to the principles identified in English Heritage's guidance documents for the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment, specifically the Morphe Project Manager's Guide (2006) and PPN3 (Project Planning Note 3): Archaeological Excavation. 1.2 The Geology of the Site The site lies between approximately 10m OAD and 30m OAD on Norwich Crag sand and gravels (BGS, Geology of Britain Viewer; http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html). Borehole logs from the A47 scheme in the central part of the site mostly identify approximately 0.4m-0.5m of topsoil over 1.1m to1.6m of silty sands or silty clays. Tender Ref. No. 16335 22 1.3 The Proposed Development Pipelines are to be laid supplying the new WTW works at Postwick. Norfolk HES have provided requirements for areas of pipeline to be monitored and for other areas to be subjected to strip, map and sample excavation. Distribution Main; Monitoring ch. c.40 – 1850 (TG 2963 0844 – TG 2966 1003) ch. 2750 – 3550 (TG 2971 1088 – TG 2952 1164) Distribution Main; Strip, map and sample excavation ch. 1850 – 2750 (TG 2966 1003 – TG 2971 1088) ch. 3550 – 3853 (TG 2952 1164 – TG 2933 1189) Overflow Main; Monitoring ch. -100 – 0 (TG 2955 0832 - TG 2965 0830) (Borehole Site) ch. 0 – 1220 (TG 2965 0830 – TG 3031 0748) Overflow Main; Strip, map and sample excavation ch. 1220 – 1512 (TG 3031 0748 – TG 3041 0727) 2 Archaeological Background 2.1 Background Study In line with Norfolk HES's recommendations, which preclude the use of data from the Norfolk Heritage Explorer online resource for commercial work, a formal search of the NHER was commissioned by OA East, with data supplied on 9/12/13. This data confirms that the site lies within what was a densely utilized environment throughout most periods. 2.2 Undated The cropmarks of a group of undated ditches are visible on aerial photographs to the south west of the Postwick Transmitter Station, and to the west of a comparable cropmark site (NHER 49558) – just east of this easement. It seems likely that these cropmarks represent several phases of activity, and may date to the Late Prehistoric to Tender Ref. No. 16335 3 Roman period or medieval to post medieval period. They probably represent part of a wider grouping and as such remain undated (although see 2.2 below), and these alignments may extend into the easement. 2.3 Prehistoric Records of casual finds and non-metallic finds recovered during detecting within close proximity of the eaeement indicate the presence of flint tools and prehistoric pottery (e.g. NHER 29867) indicating activity areas and possibly occupation close by. Neolithic tools have been found in several fields close to the northern easement in Plumstead (e.g. NHER8169, 2420). It is possible that the parallel ditch features recorded to the west of the central part of the easement (e.g.NHER 52004) represent the fragmentary remains of of a prehistoric trackway. A ring ditch, which probably dates to the Bronze Age or Iron Age (or just possibly the Roman, or medieval to post medieval period) is located at the WTW site in the centre of the eaeement. The ring ditch is quite small for a Bronze Age round barrow and may instead be the remains of eavesdrip gully from a roundhouse. This site is located within a wider area of undated cropmarks relating to field boundaries and enclosures, which may be late prehistoric to Roman, or medieval to post medieval in date (NHER 52004). A magnetometer survey conducted in late 2013 identified weak anomalies probably associated with the ring ditch and also located a small number of linear features within the WTW area. A cropmark of a possible Bronze Age ring ditch or hengiform monument located 200m to the west of the central part of the easement was visible on aerial photographs, and was excavated as part of the NDR evaluation (NHER 49758). It is possible that this feature represents a C-shaped hengiform monument, such as that at Roughton (NHER 38501), and is not, in fact, a round barrow. Several cropmark records from areas only a few hundred metres to the north and west of the easement include pit alignments characteristic of neolithic or later prehistoric activity. In conclusion there is evidence for a variety of kinds of activity and types of remains across the period from the neolithic to the Iron Age Tender Ref. No. 16335 44 within the general vicinity of the easement, and therefore potential for similar discoveries here. 2.4 Romano-British As indicated above it is possible that the ring ditch recorded within the WTW site is the remains of an eavesdrip gully from an iron Age or Romano-British building. Additionally the multi-period enclosure systems see across many fields to the east and north of the easement include alignments that are characteristic of Roman-British agriculture. Roman coins and other finds were found during metal detecting in the field through which the southern easement traverses (NNHER 23777). It is also believed that multi-phase cropmarks in this area (e.g. NHER 49560) include some of Roman date. In conclusion the site may include Roman-British settlement and/or enclosure systems. 2.5 Saxon to medieval and post-medieval An early Saxon brooch was recovered 300m to the east of the scentral part of the easement (NNHER 50468). Cropmark features identified to the west of the easement (NNHER 52045, 52046) may be evidence for Saxon SFBs, although they could equally have an origin as quarries or field ponds. Very substantial numbers of metal finds have been recovered from fields through which the southern part of the easement traverses(e.g. NNHER 16847, 30475, 31762) and additionally small numbers of similar objects have been found slightly to the north and adjacent to the easement (e.g. NNHER 24062, 240630. These finds date primarily to the medieval and post-medieval periods. The southern easement site lies just beyond the historic village envelope of Postwick, and HER records from the settlement itself lying just to the southwest attest to the unsurprising discovery of medieval pottery and coins. St Ethelred's chapel possibly lay in the WTW field, but magnetometer survey has not indicated its presence. The central northern easement traverses an area on the western periphery of the historic settlement of Great Plumstead. It passes through several fields which contain HER references to medieval and Tender Ref. No. 16335 5 post-medieval enclosure systems. Remains of these may be present within the easement, and possibly of associated settlement. The range of evidence for the Saxon to medieval period, as described in this section, all point to the site being previously within the area of medieval to post-medieval infield activity and the settlement periphery. Settlement shift from the early Saxon period onwards may have at times included this location. 3 Aims and Objectives The main aim of the project will be to preserve the archaeological evidence contained within the excavation area by record and to attempt a reconstruction of the history and use of the site. Additionally the following site-specific research objectives will be taken into account and guide the project programme. Beyond the site-specific objectives outline below, assessment of the significance and potential of archaeological remains will be considered in context with relevant regional research objectives as outlined in Medlycott, M. (ed.) 2011, Research and Archaeology Revisited: a revised framework for the East of England. E. Anglian Arch. Occ. Pap.24 3.1 Prehistoric 3.1.1 Can casual finds evidence be associated with any earlier prehistoric activity? If the ring ditch recorded as a cropmark on the WTW site can be dated, can this be associated with other remains along the route?b 3.2 Iron Age and Roman 3.2.1 Can the ring ditch in the WTW site be confirmed as a Iron Age to Roman eavesdrip gully, and therefore the presence of occupation be confirmed? 3.3.2 Do enclosure systems in adjacent fields on both sides of the southern part of the easement and a possible East-west trackway in the Tender Ref. No. 16335 66 southern route area, represent a field system, part of which, can be confirmed by excavation? 3.3.3 Can groups of Iron Age and Roman detector finds recorded adjacent to the southern easement prove indicative of occupation or other activity? 3.3 Anglo-Saxon 3.3.1 Does the recovery of a brooch to within fields adjacent to the southern easement indicate the possibility of a cemetery nearby? 3.3.2 Can Saxon settlement and enclosure systems, pre-dating the village cores of Plumstead and Postwick be identified? 3.4 Medieval to Post-Medieval 3.4.1 Can the vast number of medieval to post-medieval metal finds recovered from fields to the south be contextualized on the basis of objects, or settlement features, found through controlled investigation? 3.4.2 Can the date and extent of medieval to post-medieval enclosure systems seen adjacent to the northern easement be confirmed? 4 Timetable 4.1 It is estimated that the fieldwork will take approximately eight working weeks to complete. This does not allow for delays caused by bad weather or any additional works beyond the current agreed limits of the excavation area. In addition to excavation areas (SMS) provision is made for an experienced archaeologist to observe other parts of the easement, with teams brought in to record features where identified. 4.2 Post-excavation tasks and report writing will take a approximately 12 months following the end of fieldwork, unless there are exceptional discoveries requiring more lengthy analysis. A summary statement of results, however, can be produced more quickly if required. Tender Ref. No. 16335 7 5 Staffing and Support 5.1 The following named staff will form the project team: 1 x Project Manager (supervisory only, not based on site) (Paul Spoerry) 2 x Project Officer/Supervisor (full time) 5 x Site Assistant (part time, as required) 1 x Finds Assistant (part time, as required) 1 x Illustrator for post-excavation work (part time) 5.2 The Project Manager and Project Officer/Supervisor will be core staff of OA East. Names, qualifications and experience of key project personnel will be communicated to the relevant County Archaeological Planning Advice team before the commencement of fieldwork. All Site Assistants will be drawn from a pool of qualified and experienced staff. The Contractor will not employ volunteer amateur or student staff, whether paid or unpaid, to fulfil any of the above tasks except as an addition to the stated team 5.3 Specialists will be employed for consultation and analysis as necessary. The following individuals will be consulted based on the evaluation results. Pottery will be examined by Sarah Percival, Alice Lyons and Paul Spoerry. Faunal remains will be examined by Chris Faine. Small Finds will be examined by Nina Crummy. Environmental analysis will be carried out by OA staff, where necessary in consultation with Val Fryer and the results will be conveyed to the English Heritage Regional Scientific Advisor. Conservation will be undertaken by Colchester Museums. Should unexpected remains be encountered, a list of other specialists who may be consulted is given in Appendix 1. 6 Methods 6.1 SMS areas will be opened using one 360° excavator with a toothless ditching bucket to reveal as much easement width as is safely possible. All mechanical excavation will take place under supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced archaeologist. Spoil will be moved away from machined area by side-casting. Tender Ref. No. 16335 88 6.2 All excavation areas will be cleaned as necessary to facilitate the identification of archaeological features and buried soils. All features will be mapped onto a base plan either by hand (1:50 or 1:100) or using a Total Station Theodolite, as appropriate. The survey data will be made available in digital format for transfer to the Heritage Environment Record (HER) GIS system. A plan showing all significant features will be located on the Ordnance Survey National Grid. 6.3 Established excavation and recording methodology will be used as has been generally employed on rural sites in Eastern England, a system closely based upon the DUA manuals of London Museum, and utilising single-context recording where appropriate. A Project Manager will monitor the work of the site director (Project Officer/Supervisor). A Supervisor and experienced excavators will be used to ensure accuracy of excavation and recording. Regular communication between PM/PO will ensure that the work programme and research direction is kept to, and that the recording strategy develops in the light of excavation results and input from finds, environmental and other specialists. On-site records checking and matrix creation will be kept up to date and will be carried out by key site personnel. Photographic records and hand-drawn sections will be completed to recognised standards. 6.4 A minimum 50% of each discrete feature will be excavated unless it is unsafe to do so. Where linear features are not directly related to settlement they will be excavated sufficient to provide evidence for an informed interpretation of their date and function. Where linear features are directly related to settlement, a minimum of 25% of each feature will be excavated. 6.5 Each feature will be individually documented on context sheets and hand drawn in section and plan at an appropriate scale (1:10 or 1:20). 6.6 Spoil will be scanned visually and with a metal detector to aid recovery of artefacts. 6.7 Monochrome and colour photographs supplemented by colour slides will form the photographic archive. 6.8 Bulk samples will be taken by the excavator and in consultation with the English Heritage Regional Scientific Advisor and the project environmental specialists where practicable, to test for the presence and potential of micro- and macro-botanical environmental indicators. If buried soils are encountered a soil micromorphology specialist will be consulted. The results of any analysis will be included in the excavation report. Tender Ref. No. 16335 9 6.9 If Human remains are encountered, the relevant County Archaeological Advice Team, the Coroner and the client will be informed. Removal of these remains will be carried out in accordance with all appropriate Environmental Health regulations and will only occur after a Ministry of Justice licence has been obtained. 610 Public Presentation: The subject site may not be suitable for direct presentation through the provision of a public open day. The results of this work will be disseminated during lectures and presentations to the public and archaeological societies upon request, as part of the growing body of work being conducted within the local area by OA East. 6.11 All work will be conducted to professional standards, and will be executed in line with the appropriate sections of Gurney, D., 2003, ‘Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England’, as adopted by the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers for the East of England Region and published as East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Paper 14. 7 Post-excavation, Publication and Archive 7.1 If required a post-excavation assessment report and updated research design will be completed within 4 months of the completion of fieldwork Post-excavation and reporting will follow guidance in English Heritage's Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (2009). 7.2 Following on from the updated project design a full archive report will be produced within 8 months of the completion of fieldwork. The archive report will incorporate the results of the archaeological evaluation. 7.3 An Oasis report will be initiated at the start of the project and completed/submitted on completion of the report. 7.4 A hard copy of the approved report will be produced for the HER and the County Archaeological Advisor. In addition a digital copy of the report will also be made available. 7.5 If appropriate a report will be published in an appropriate journal as approved by the County Archaeological Advisor. Tender Ref. No. 16335 1010 7.6 A security copy of the archive will be made. 7.7 All artefactual material recovered will be held in storage by OA East and ownership of all such archaeological finds will be given over to the relevant authority to facilitate future study and ensure proper preservation of all artefacts. In the unlikely event that artefacts of significant monetary value are discovered, and if they are not subject to Treasure Act legislation separate ownership arrangements may be negotiated. 7.8 It is Oxford Archaeology Ltd's policy, in line with accepted practice, to keep site archives (paper and artefactual) together wherever possible. All archives will comply in format with PPN3 recommendations. 7.9 The project archive will follow the guidelines contained in Guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives for Long Term Storage (United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, 1990), Standards in the Museum care of Archaeological Collections (Museums and Galleries Commission 1992), and Archaeological Archives: A guide to best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation (Brown 2007). The archive will be deposited within an approved county store. Costs associated with the deposition of the archive will be met by the client. 8 8.1 Further Considerations Backfilling/Reinstatement Backfilling/reinstatement undertaken by OA East. 8.2 of the excavation areas will not be Monitoring The relevant County Archaeological advice team will be informed appropriately of dates and arrangements to allow for adequate monitoring of the works. 8.3 Health and Safety 8.3.1 A risk assessment covering all activities carried out during the lifetime of the project will be prepared prior to project commencement and updated throughout the life of the project. This draws on OA East’s Tender Ref. No. 16335 11 activity-specific risk assessment literature and conforms with CDM requirements. 8.3.2 All aspects of the project, both in the field and in the office will be conducted according to OA East’s Health and Safety Policy, Oxford Archaeology Ltd’s Health and Safety Policy, and Health and Safety in Field Archaeology (J.L. Allen and A. St John-Holt, 1997). A copy of OA East’s Health and Safety Policy can be supplied on request. 8.4 Insurance OA East is covered by Public and Employer’s Liability Insurance. The underwriting company is Allianz Cornhill Insurance plc, policy number SZ/14939479/06. Details of the policy can be seen at the OA East office. 8.5 Services, Public Rights of Way, Tree Preservation Orders etc. The client will inform the project manager of any live or disused cables, gas pipes, water pipes or other services that may be affected by the proposed excavations before the commencement of fieldwork. Hidden cables/services should be clearly identified and marked where necessary. The client will likewise inform the project manager of any public rights of way or permissive paths on or near the land which might affect or be affected by the work. The client will also inform the project manager of any trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders within the subject site or on its boundaries 8.6 Site Security Unless previously agreed with the Project Manager in writing, this specification and any associated statement of costs is based on the assumption that the site will be sufficiently secure for archaeological work to commence. All security requirements, including fencing, padlocks for gates etc. are the responsibility of the client. 8.7 Access The client will secure access to the site for archaeological personnel and plant, and obtain the necessary permissions from owners and Tender Ref. No. 16335 1212 tenants to place a mobile office and portable toilet on or near to the site. Any costs incurred to secure access, or incurred as a result of withholding of access will not be OA East's responsibility. The costs of any delays as a result of withheld access will be passed on to the client in addition to the project costs already specified. 8.8 Site Preparation The client is responsible for clearing the site and preparing it so as to allow archaeological work to take place without further preparatory works, and any cost statement accompanying or associated with this specification is offered on this basis. Unless previously agreed in writing, the costs of any preparatory work required, including tree felling and removal, scrub or undergrowth clearance, removal of concrete or hard standing, demolition of buildings or sheds, or removal of excessive overburden, refuse or dumped material, will be charged to the client, in addition to any costs for archaeological evaluation already agreed. 8.9 Invoicing 8.9.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, an invoice for 50% of the agreed costs of the project will be presented on the project’s initiation. This will normally be payable before further works take place. The remaining balance of the fees for the project will be invoiced to the client on completion of the project and presentation of the final report. 8.9.2 It is expected that payment will be received within 30 days of invoicing. If payment is not made within this time interest will be charged at base rate. After a period of three months Oxford Archaeology Ltd employs a debt collection company to recover unpaid invoices and any costs incurred during this process will be passed on to the client. Tender Ref. No. 16335 13 Tender Ref. No. 16335 APPENDIX 1: CONSULTANT SPECIALISTS NAME Allen, Leigh Allen, Martin Anderson, Sue Bamforth, Mike Bates, Andy Bayliss, Alex Biddulph, Edward Bishop, Barry Blinkhorn, Paul Jameson, Vicky Jones, Jenny SPECIALISM Worked bone, CBM, medieval metalwork Medieval coins HSR, pottery and CBM Wood Animal bone C14 Roman pottery Lithics Iron Age, Anglo-Saxon and medieval pottery Plant macrofossils, charcoal plant macrofossils; pollen preparations Roman pottery and coins Pollen and soils/ geology Prehistoric pottery illustration & reconstruction artist Snails, geoarchaeology Medieval/post-Medieval finds, pottery, CBM Small Find Assemblages Slag/metalworking residues Wood technology Worked Flint Flint Slags, metallurgy Pollen, charred plants, charcoal/wood identification, sediment coring and interpretation CBM (specialised) Roman pottery Animal bone Medieval pot, glass, small finds Charred plant remains Molluscs/environmental Charcoal ID Osteologist Herpetologist Post-Roman pottery, building materials, painted wall plaster Fish and small animal bones Conservation Small finds, Mesolithic flint, RB coarse pottery, leather, wooden objects and wood technology; Plant macrofossils, pollen Archaeobotany (charred, waterlogged and mineralised plant remains) Human bone Conservation King, David Locker, Alison Loe, Louise Lyons, Alice Macaulay, Stephen Masters, Pete Window glass & lead Fishbone Osteologist Late Iron Age/Roman pottery Roman pottery geophysics Boardman, Sheila Bonsall, Sandra Booth, Paul Boreham, Steve Brown, Lisa Cane, Jon Champness, Carl Cotter, John Crummy, Nina Cowgill, Jane Darrah, Richard Dickson, Anthony Donelly, Mike Doonan, Roger Druce, Denise Drury, Paul Evans, Jerry Faine, Chris Fletcher, Carole Fosberry, Rachel Fryer, Val Gale, Rowena Gibson, Mark Gleed-Owen, Chris Goffin, Richenda Hamilton-Dyer, Sheila Hogarth, Emma Howard-Davis, Chris Huckerby, Elizabeth Hunter, Kath ORGANISATION Oxford Archaeology Fitzwilliam Museum Freelance Freelance Oxford Archaeology English Heritage Oxford Archaeology Freelance Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Cambridge University Oxford Archaeology Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Freelance Freelance Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Freelance Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Freelance Freelance Oxford Archaeology Suffolk CC Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology ASUD, Durham University Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Cranfield University Middleton, Paul Phosphates/garden history Mould, Quita Nicholson, Rebecca Ironwork, leather Fish and small mammal and bird bones, shell Aerial photographs Prehistoric pottery, quern stones Multi-period finds, CBM, fired clay Roman coins Faunal and plant remains, can arrange pollen analysis Anglo-Saxon bone objects & related artefact types Insects Faunal and human bone Pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, dinoflagellate cysts, diatoms Architectural stonework Pollen Roman, Medieval, post-medieval finds, metalwork, glass Iron Age pottery Worked stone, cbm Medieval pottery Snails Animal bone Dendrochronology Human bone Samian, Roman glass Medieval Pottery in the Essex area Medieval landscape and garden history Osteologist Iron Age pottery Medieval Pottery in the Lincolnshire area Coins Palmer, Rog Percival, Sarah Poole, Cynthia Popescu, Adrian Rackham, James Riddler, Ian Robinson, Mark Rowland, Steve Rutherford, Mairead Samuels, Mark Scaife, Rob Scott, Ian Sealey, Paul Shafrey, Ruth Spoerry, Paul Stafford, Liz Strid, Lena Tyers, Ian Ui Choileain, Zoe Wadeson, Stephen Walker, Helen Way, Twigs Webb, Helen Willis, Steve Young, Jane Zant, John Peterborough Regional College Oxford Archaeology Air Photo Services Freelance Oxford Archaeology Fitzwilliam Museum Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Freelance Oxford Archaeology Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Freelance Oxford Archaeology Oxford Archaeology Radiocarbon dating is normally undertaken for Oxford Archaeology East by Waikate University, New Zealand and by the Oxford University Accelerator Laboratory. Geophysical prospection is normally undertaken by Cranfield University, Geoquest, and Geophysical Surveys, Bradford.