EDO5578 - Buckland Newton Sewage Scheme; observations and recording 1995-6

Southern Archaeological Services Ltd carried out an archaeological watching brief during the installation of mains drainage across a large area around Buckland Newton. The route of the easement was stripped by two tracked excavators with 360 degree slew. Topsoil was stripped to approximately 150mm along the route of the development, and the pipe trench was observed after excavation. 106 fragments of pottery were recovered, 25 fragments of ceramic building material, 12 fragments of glass, 19 fragments of metal and a fragment of slag were recovered during the watching brief. A single mammoth tooth was recovered as well. The majority of finds are of Early Modern origin, and seemed to occur near the settlement at Spring Grove. Medieval activity is also indicated in fields 1 and 31. The fields across which the development stretches show plentiful evidence of ploughing, and as such a thorough mixing of artefacts from all periods. Undated features include postholes and an earthwork complex in filed 7, and further work is required on them.