Downton Manor, Downton, near Lymington, Hampshire

Transcription

1 Downton Manor, Downton, near Lymington, Hampshire An Archaeological Evaluation for New Milton Sand and Gravel by Sian Anthony Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code DMD03/20 May 2003

2 Summary Site name: Downton Manor Farm, Downton, near Lymington, Hampshire Grid reference: SZ Site activity: Evaluation Date and Duration of Project: 28th April to 8th May 2003 Area of Site: c. 7.2hectares Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Sian Anthony Site code: DMD03/20 Summary of results: One ditch and one gully, six postholes and two potential postholes were located, all undated, with one unstratified find of Bronze Age pottery. Monuments identified: None Location and reference of archive: The archive is presently held by Thames Valley Archaeological Services, De Beauvoir Road, Reading, RG1 5NR and will be deposited with Hampshire Museum Service in due course. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford Steve Preston i

3 Downton Manor, Downton, near Lymington, Hampshire Archaeological Evaluation by Sian Anthony Report 03/20 Introduction This report documents the results of the first phase of archaeological field evaluation carried out at Downton Manor Farm, Downton, near Lymington, Hampshire (Fig. 1). The work was commissioned by Mr John Salmon, Land and Mineral Management Limited, Roundhouse Cottages, Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1BE on behalf of New Milton Sand and Ballast, Caird Avenue, New Milton, Hampshire, BH25 5PX. Planning permission is to be sought from Hampshire County Council for the extraction of sand and gravel on the site. This evaluation and a previous desk-based assessment (WA 2002) were commissioned to investigate the potential impact of these proposals on any archaeology in the area. The site has been divided into two phases, the first consisting of Fields 3 and 4, the second phase of Fields 1 and 2 (Fig. 2). The first phase is described in this report which has been completed to give an indication of the archaeological potential prior to the application for planning permission. The second phase is due to be completed in September The work was undertaken to a specification approved by, and was monitored by, Mr Ian Wykes, Senior Archaeologist, Hampshire County Council. The fieldwork was carried out by Sian Anthony, Julie Cassidy and Steve Ford from 18th April to 8th May The site code is DMD03/20. Location, topography and geology The site is located on the south coast of the New Forest (Fig. 1), on the south side of the A337, Lymington to New Milton Road. It lies to the east of the village of Downton and north-west of Milford-on-Sea. The site comprises four fields all to the south-east of the farm, bounded by a farm track to the west and the remains of Blackbush Copse and a stream to the east. The topography slopes down gently from the north at 25m above Ordnance Datum with occasional gentle undulations, particularly in Field 3. Field 4 shows the most variation with a dramatic slope down from the west to the stream, the land dropping to less than 15m above OD here. This may have been enhanced by modern extraction of gravel for farm use close to the stream. The ground was extremely waterlogged in the area surrounding trenches 49, 50 and 58 closest to the stream. Field 3 is the only field to be deep ploughed, Field 4 was formerly Blackbush Copse, a heavily wooded tract of land bordering the stream. The geology is Hambridge Beds and Bembridge Marls (IGS 1979) with 1

4 overlying fine brown silty clays. Geology observed on the site varied; a fine silty clay brickearth was present in a small layer overlying orange brown gravels in Field 3. Field 4 (formerly Blackbush Copse) consisted of mixtures of silty clay, light grey to brown sands and mixed gravels, there was frequent geological gravel activity and tree root activity obscuring the natural geology. Archaeological background An archaeological desk based assessment highlighted the archaeological importance of the site (WA 2002). There are several points of archaeological interest in the area; none were Scheduled Monuments but many were listed buildings lying to the north of the site. Only two entries in the Sites and Monuments Record lie on the site. They relate to cropmarks observed on an aerial photograph, showing a curvilinear and linear feature in the northeast corner of Field 3. Various other cropmark features were observed throughout this field and field 4, however they were all of indistinct amorphous shape (reproduced on Fig. 3). Many prehistoric stray finds have come from the vicinity indicating widespread human activity from the Palaeolithic onwards, as the site lies on gravel terraces known to be rich in archaeological material. Only stray evidence exists for the Roman period, and none for the Saxon period. Medieval records indicate Downton as a manor from the late 12th century and many of the listed buildings from the village are from this period, although Downton Manor Farm does not appear in maps until the Second Edition of the Ordnance Survey (1898). Objectives and methodology The purpose of the evaluation was to determine the presence/absence, extent, condition, character, quality and date of any archaeological deposits within the area of proposed sand/gravel extraction. Another aim was to investigate both of the anomalies identified by the crop marks found on the aerial photograph. This was to be accomplished by a phased investigation comprising the non-invasive techniques of geophysical survey and field walking, followed by evaluation trenching to target any anomalies or patterns identified by the prior techniques. The possibility of encountering Palaeolithic material was considered as the site lies on one of the gravel terraces of the proto-solent. However, examination of the borehole logs for the site suggested that there were very few locations where in situ Palaeolithic material might be present and that these were deeply buried within the gravel, and at or beyond the margins of the site. Apart from digging more shorter trenches rather than fewer longer trenches to increase the number of sample points for a given sample fraction, the trenching strategy was not specifically designed to search for deeply buried Palaeolithic finds. 2

5 The geophysical survey is fully detailed in Appendix 4. The whole area was scanned by magnetometer on 20m transects and then areas with anomalies were selected for a more detailed survey. Three fields were surveyed using this method; Field 2 was omitted because of the presence of livestock. The fieldwalking was completed using 10m transects aligned on the National Grid with material collected from 10m intervals along these lines. The effect width of search along these transects is 1m and this approximates to a 10% survey of the field area. Collection conditions and other features such as areas of soil discolouration were recorded. Only one field (Field 3) was suitable for fieldwalking as the rest were under pasture. A contingency arrangement for test pits was made available for any investigation of concentrations of flint finds following this initial phase of investigation. The trenches were excavated using a type machine with a 1.8m wide toothless ditching bucket and were intended to be 10m long. This approximated to a 2% sample of the site area. The machine was employed under direct and continuous archaeological supervision to remove turf and topsoil until the relevant archaeological levels were reached. All possible archaeological features were hand cleaned and a selection investigated, and all spoilheaps were monitored for finds. A complete list of trenches giving lengths, breadths, depths and a description of sections and geology is given in Appendix 1. Results Fieldwalking The fieldwalking took place on Field 3 which had been ploughed and harrowed. The ground was dry and was stoney to the east but clayey towards the west. Most of the walking took place in overcast conditions but the west of the area was walked in sunshine. Fieldwalking revealed only a very low level of worked flint and a single piece of pottery. Very rare finds of burnt flint and more modern items were observed but not collected. A modern charcoal patch 3m in diameter and areas of darker soil which coincided with small undulations in the ground were observed on the east side of the field (Fig. 2). Sixteen struck flints were recovered during the fieldwalking, none of which were more closely datable than later Neolithic or Bronze Age. In terms of their distribution they did form a loose cluster on the western side of the field but were spread over more than 2 ha and had a corresponding density of c. 80/ha (extrapolating the figure to assume 100% coverage). This low figure is normally interpreted as background noise and may represent no more than casual loss, or the manuring of arable land (Ford 1987). On flint-poor geological outcrops, low density clustered distributions can indicate the presence of occupation sites, though for this site the 3

6 western extent of the distribution, beyond the site boundary would need to be determined by more fieldwork to explore this possibility further. Geophysics Following the scanning exercise, three areas were chosen for detailed surveying by magnetometer (Areas 3 5) (Fig. 3) though Area 3 lies in the planned second phase of evaluation. Modern agricultural plough scars were evident in all the areas examined. Additional positive anomalies were also considered as of probable modern agricultural origin. Some anomalies were suggested as of possible archaeological origin (Appendix 4). Area 4 was divided into two parts but both parts revealed miscellaneous irregular linear anomalies including plough stripes. Area 5 also revealed plough stripe anomalies but also possible pits and a possible rectilinear ditch. Evaluation trenches (Fig. 3) Field 3 Field 3 was investigated by 45 trenches ranging in length from 3.4m to 19.9m, the longer trenches being necessary to pinpoint the cropmark locations noted on aerial photographs. The stratigraphy was observed to vary only towards the eastern margins of the field. It usually comprised ploughsoil with an average depth of m but ranged overall from 0.4m to just 0.1m at the far eastern end. Deep ploughsoil lay on top of a thinner subsoil mixture of dark brown silty clay with occasional gravel inclusions, this in turn lay above an orange brown silty clay matrix with varying amounts of gravel inclusions, this proving to be the archaeologically relevant layer. Test pits to confirm that this was the correct interpretation proved that deeper stratigraphy consisted of an orange brown gravel onto occasional orange clays and sand. There was more brickearth lying to the western margin of the field, with the subsoil lying directly onto gravels in the east. The presence of brickearth naturals in the west made it necessary to permit the open trenches a period of weathering to allow any potential features to show clearly. There were frequent indications of gravel upsurge and tree root activity showing in the relevant layers, several of these were investigating to confirm they were not archaeologically relevant. Two were recorded (as features 5 and 12) because it was possible that they were of archaeological interest, however later excavation proved them to have a natural origin. Frequent plough scars were noted in the majority of the trenches in this field, many as much as 0.62m below the ground surface confirming the comments made by the farmer on the 4

7 depth of modern ploughing. Five trenches (13, 14, 15, 17, 39) did contain possible archaeological features though a natural origin could not easily be dismissed for some of these (Figs 4 and 5). Trench 13 The trench was sited within a geophysical area covering potential agricultural features. Posthole or small pit (11) was circular, 0.44m in diameter and 0.11m deep, with a flat base. The fill was mid grey silty clay with frequent gravel. It was fully excavated but revealed no finds nor material such as charcoal. Trench 14 The trench lay inside an area scanned for features by the geophysical survey and produced features of possible agricultural origin: frequent plough scars covered the trench. One oval post hole or small pit (10) lay at the northern end of the trench, 0.4m long, 0.27m wide and 0.09m deep, it had a round base and a moderate grey brown fill with frequent gravel inclusions, it was fully excavated but contained no finds nor material such as charcoal. Trench 15 This trench also lay within a scanned area by geophysics. One gully (7) and one posthole or pit (9) were investigated, a further area of tree root activity (8) butted against or cut posthole (9). Gully (7) was 0.42m wide and 0.23m deep with a flat base, it had a moderately firm fill of grey brown silty clay and frequent gravel. Posthole or pit (9) was 0.36m long and 0.43m wide and only 0.09m deep with a flat base and shallow sides, it had a similar fill to gully (7). No finds, nor material such as charcoal were recovered from either feature. Trench 17 Trench 17 lay parallel to the southern margin of the field. No features were apparent from the initial geophysical scan. Seven potential features were located, two are confirmed as postholes (4, 6), a large area at the eastern end of the trench was a tree bole, feature (5) was confirmed as a natural scoop rather than human activity. Three interlinking features may be postholes (1, 2, 3) but these are uncertain. They contained no finds nor material such as charcoal. Posthole (4) was 0.39m in diameter and 0.12m deep with a flat base. Posthole (6) was 0.3m in diameter and 0.1m deep with a round base. Posthole or pit (1) was 0.45m long, 0.26m wide and 0.06m deep, it butted against posthole or pit (2) which is 0.41m long and 0.3m wide with a depth of 0.1m. Posthole (3) also butted against (2) and was 0.37m in diameter with a depth of 0.12m. Features (1, 2, 3) had a similar fill of moderately firm silty 5

8 clay with frequent gravel. It is possible that they represent archaeological features as they were not surrounded by tree root activity, but did not contain any finds nor material such as charcoal to confirm their origin. Trench 39 The furthest north of the trenches containing features was also located closer to the cropmarks and over an area scanned in detail by geophysics. A shallow ditch 1.1m wide and 0.18m deep was excavated (13), the fill was a firm mid grey brown silty clay with frequent gravel inclusions [Plate 2]. The ditch was clearly visible from the surface and had a flat base. No finds were recovered from the fill although a 15 litre sample of the fill was sieved on site for finds and the entire ditch visible in the trench was then excavated. Field 4 Field 4 was of rough pasture ending just before the Blackbush Copse stream to the east. Thirty-four trenches were excavated over the field which ranged in length from 5.6m to 13.2m. Turf and topsoil layers were thin, averaging 0.1m, over a mixed stratigraphy: mid orange brown silty clay was most common in trenches towards the west of the field; further to the east and down the slope towards the stream, the stratigraphy became noticeably more gravelly and mixed with grey sand. Modern land drains filled with modern gravel were common, usually aligned northwest-southeast, draining towards the stream. Tree root activity was frequent throughout the field, particularly towards the east, where the natural levels were mostly totally obscured by it or large amounts of human disturbance. Human disturbance in the form of large holes was evident at the base of the slope close to trenches 48, 49, 50. More human disturbance was evident in trenches 67, 68 and 79, these contained modern metal dumps in the subsoil and natural gravel levels. Trench 72 Turf and topsoil 0.09m deep lay over 0.17m of mid brown silty clay, in this silty clay was recovered a large piece of earlier prehistoric pottery. Despite hand cleaning, no feature was located. Finds Struck flint by Steve Ford Just 16 struck flints were recovered during the fieldwalking programme on field 3 (Appendix 2). These comprised 9 flakes; one of which might have been retouched and one of which is a narrow flake; 2 cores, 2 scrapers and 3 bashed lumps, that is flint nodules with only one or two removals and which are possibly of non- 6

9 archaeological origin. None of the struck flint is chronologically distinctive. It does not obviously contain any earlier (Mesolithic) pieces and is likely to be of later Neolithic or Bronze Age date. Pottery by Steve Ford The evaluation exercise only produced two sherds of pottery in total. 1) One small sherd of black, coarse sand tempered pottery (<10g) was recovered from the fieldwalking in Field 3 and is probably of Iron Age/Roman date. 2) A large, thick (14mm), hand made sherd (64g) was recovered from the subsoil in Trench 72. The outer surfaces are red with a black core. The sherd is poorly fired and is tempered with coarse angular white and grey quartz inclusions. It has no curved surface and may be a large base sherd. It is likely to be of earlier prehistoric (Bronze Age) date. Conclusion The first phase of evaluation on this site has successfully some finds and possible deposits of archaeological origin. Fieldwalking located a small number of prehistoric flints towards the west of Field 3, forming a loose cluster but neither subsequent geophysical survey nor trenching revealed features to allow interpretation of this material as representing Neolithic or Bronze Age occupation. These finds and the single sherd of Iron Age or Roman pottery recovered could represent the manuring of farm land at various times rather than occupation. Geophysical survey over Fields 1, 3 and 4 revealed several possibilities for archaeological activity, but subsequent trenching revealed only natural features such as convolutions in the gravel and modern human disturbance such as ploughing and pit digging (gravel extraction?). Features observed on an aerial photograph identified in the desk-based assessment of the site are now thought to represent this type of activity. Trenching revealed several features of very shallow depth. The observed plough scars frequently encountered over Field 3 indicate deep ploughing which may have contributed to destruction of much of the original depth of these features. The features, which were located in trenches spread across the site area, comprised: a ditch, gully and six postholes or pits. All of these have been excavated in full but unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered. The stray find of prehistoric pottery in Trench 72 is worthy of mention as it is a large and unabraded. However it occurred in isolation and it is unclear if it reflects prehistoric occupation in the vicinity or, as above, is also representative of manuring activity. 7

10 On balance, despite the recovery of some finds of archaeological interest and the possibility that some of these undated deposits are of pre-modern and human origin, the archaeological potential of the site would appear to be relatively low. References Ford, S, 1987, East Berkshire Archaeological Survey, Berkshire County Council Dept Highways and Planning Occas Pap 1, Reading IGS 1979, Geological Map of the United Kingdom South Sheet, 1: , Third Edition Solid. Institute of Geological Sciences PPG16, 1990, Archaeology and Planning, Dept of the Environment Planning Policy Guidance 16, HMSO WA 2002, Downton Manor and Yeatton Farms, New Milton, Hampshire, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment, Wessex Archaeology report 51312, Salisbury 8

11 APPENDIX 1: Trench details 0m at South or West end Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment Topsoil (0.27m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Test pit at west end to 0.72m deep confirmed orange brown sand and gravel underneath the brickearth Topsoil (0.25m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.2m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars and one tree bole filled with gravel and burnt charcoal Topsoil (0.3m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.15m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. A small burnt patch visible in north end was a tree bole Topsoil (0.24m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.14m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.28m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.1m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Pottery found in plough scar at 8m Topsoil (0.23m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.3m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural Topsoil (0.3m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.14m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural Topsoil (0.26m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel Topsoil (0.4m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.15m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.3m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.12m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural Topsoil (0.36m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Natural gravel patches Topsoil (0.32m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.26m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural Topsoil (0.33m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Ditch aligned NW-SE Topsoil (0.3m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural Topsoil (0.28m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.1m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel Topsoil (0.31m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.36m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown gravel natural Topsoil (0.27m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty gravel Topsoil (0.4m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.22m) onto frequent dark brown gravel and sand. Tree boles Topsoil (0.3m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.05m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel. Frequent plough scars in natural and one tree root activity Topsoil (0.4m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.04m) onto orange silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel Topsoil (0.32m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.05m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel Topsoil (0.29m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.16m) onto orange brown gravel onto yellow green sand. Test pit depth to 1.22m. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.28m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.28m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.11m) onto 9

12 Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment 1.8orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.29m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.19m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with moderate gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.22m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.18m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.35m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.23m) onto orange brown frequent gravel Topsoil (0.15m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.17m) onto orange brown silty gravel Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.14m) onto orange brown gravel Topsoil (0.16m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.16m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with frequent gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.1m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.14m) onto orange brown silty gravel Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.25m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel Topsoil (0.13m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.23m) onto orange brown silty gravel. Frequent plough scars Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.2m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Plough scar Topsoil (0.09m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.21m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Frequent plough scars. [Plate 2] Topsoil (0.1m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.29m) onto orange brown silty gravel. Plough scars Topsoil (0.14m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.27m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural. Plough scars Topsoil (0.2m) onto dark brown silty clay subsoil (0.14m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Plough scars Topsoil (0.2m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.11m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel. Plough scars Topsoil (0.2m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.12m) onto orange brown silty gravel Topsoil (0.22m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.24m) onto orange brown silty clay brickearth natural with occasional gravel and gravel patches. Plough scars. [Plate 1] Topsoil (0.1m) onto dark brown silty clay sub soil (0.22m) onto sandy light brown silt (0.23m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.2) onto grey brown sand. Test pit in NW end 0.63m deep Turf (0.16m) onto mid brown subsoil (0.24m) onto frequent gravel natural, test pit in SW shows gravel onto orange clay Turf (0.15m) onto mid brown silty clay(0.19m) onto orange brown silty clay with occasional gravel. Land drain Topsoil (0.19m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.18m) onto orange brown silty gravel with frequent root activity. Land drain, test pit at SW end to 0.61m Topsoil (0.13m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.17m) onto light grey sandy silt with frequent root activity. Land drain at SW Topsoil (0.12m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.09m) onto mid brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity at NW Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.14m) onto dark brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity Topsoil (0.08m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.14m) onto dark brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.13m) onto dark brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity Topsoil (0.1m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.19m) onto dark brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity Topsoil (0.12m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.16m) onto dark brown sandy gravel with frequent root activity Topsoil (0.11m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.14m) onto orange brown silty clay with occasional gravel. Test pit at E end to depth of 0.62m goes on to orange clay Topsoil (0.13m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.11m) onto mid brown 10

13 Trench No. Length (m) Breadth (m) Depth (m) Comment gravel with frequent root activity. Human disturbance at E end Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.11m) onto orange brown silty clay. Modern white china in subsoil Topsoil (0.15m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.1m) onto mid orange brown silty clay with moderate gravel Topsoil (0.13m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.16m) Topsoil (0.1m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.17m) Topsoil (0.08m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.14m) Topsoil (0.1m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.13m). Test pit at north to 0.64m deep onto orange brown gravel Topsoil (0.1m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.14m). Modern land drain Topsoil (0.11m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.24m). Modern land drain Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.16m). Tree root activity Topsoil (0.1m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.13m). Tree root activity Topsoil (0.14m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.21m). Tree boles at East, modern metal in subsoil Topsoil (0.11m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.15m). Test pit to 0.62m onto orange clay and gravel Topsoil (0.06m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.17m) Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.17m). Prehistoric pot found in subsoil Topsoil (0.06m) onto dark grey silty gravel (0.16m) Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid grey moderate gravel (0.22m). Modern land drain Topsoil (0.09m) onto mid brown silty clay with occasional gravel(0.16m) Topsoil (0.07m) onto light orange brown silty clay with occasional gravel (0.11m) Topsoil (0.12m) onto light orange brown silty clay (0.11m). dark grey tree boles at east Topsoil (0.11m) onto mid orange brown silty clay (0.19m), frequent tree root activity. Modern land drain. Modern metal dumped into tree activity Topsoil (0.13m) onto mid brown silty clay (0.2m). Tree root activity at east, modern metal dumped into natural and tree boles. 11

14 APPENDIX 2: Catalogue of struck flint NGR Easting (SZ) Northing Type bashed lump bashed lump Narrow Flake Flake Flake Scraper Scraper Core Flake Core Flake Flake Flake Flake (retouched?) Flake bashed lump 12

15 APPENDIX 3: Catalogue of pottery Trench NGR Easting (SZ) Northing Type (fieldwalked) Sherd, Iron Age/Roman 72 1 Sherd, prehistoric 13

16 APPENDIX 4: Geophysical survey report. 14

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

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36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52 Track Downton Manor Farm, Downton, Hampshire, 2003 N Field Field 2 Blackbush Copse Track B B Field 3 Iron Age/Roman pottery Field 4 B S S SZ KEY: B Bashed lump Flake S Scraper Core 0 500m Figure 2. Distribution of fieldwalking finds in Field 3. DMD03/20

53 Downton Manor Farm, Downton, Hampshire, 2003 N Approximate location of cropmarks 49 Blackbush Copse Field 2 (Second Phase) Geophysics area Track Geophysics area Track Field Geophysics area Prehistoric pottery Field SZ m Figure 3. Location of trenches and features in site, cropmarks and detailed areas of geophysical scanning are in grey. DMD03/20

54 Downton Manor, Downton, Hampshire, 2003 N Trench 17 5 (natural scoop) m 4m 6m 8m 10m 3 4 Tree bole Trench Tree bole 4m 6m N Trench 14 Trench 13 N 8m 10m 9m 10 N 11 Trench 39 N 3m 4m m Figure 4. Plans of features. DMD03/20

55 Downton Manor, Downton, Hampshire, 2003 N S NE 54 4 SW N 5 S N 56 6 S SW NE Plough soil W E Subsoil N S W E E W Plough soil Subsoil m Figure 5. Sections of features. DMD03/20

56 Plate 1. Trench 45, looking north west, scale 2m Plate 2. Ditch (13), Trench 39, looking west, scales 0.5m and 0.1m DMD03/20