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Bristol
Archaeological field evaluation
May 2008
GGAT report no. 2008/022
Project no.P1251
A report for Cabot Property Partnership National Grid Reference:
by Steve Sell BA & Andy Sherman BA ST 53657975 53977947
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Contents
Summary 2
Acknowledgments 2
Copyright notice 2
1 Introduction
1.1 Development proposal and commission 3
1.2 Location and description of site 3
1.3 Archaeological and historical background, general 3
1.4 Archaeological and historical background, specific 4
2 Methodology 6
2.1 Trenches 79-92 6
2.2 Packgate Farm (Trench 78) 7
3 Results 8
3.1 Trenches 79-92 8
3.2 Packgate Farm (Trench 78) 11
4 The Finds 14
5 Conclusions 15
References 16
Figures
Fig 1 Site location 5
Fig 2 Plan showing location of trenches and estimated extent of Packgate Farm 10
Fig 3 Plan of Trench 78 showing archaeological features 12
Fig 4 Plan showing underlying features within Trench 78, locations as indicated in Fig 3 13
Plates
Plate 1 Trench 81, showing lower gley 81006 17
Plate 2 Trench 85, showing organic layer 85009 17
Plate 3 Trench 78, showing platform 78004 (sectioned) and posthole 78010 18
Plate 4 Trench 78, showing posthole 78010 (half-sectioned) 18
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
Summary
An archaeological evaluation was carried out on a parcel of land consisting of four fields
collectively forming plots P7/8, at Cabot Park, Poplar Way East, Bristol. The evaluation
established the presence of the platform for Packgate Farmhouse and also the existence of an
organic layer, probably the B-layer a prehistoric stabilised soil horizon, elsewhere within the
proposed development.
Acknowledgements
This project was managed by Andrew Marvell BA MIFA (Chief Executive), and the fieldwork
was undertaken by Steve Sell BA and Andy Sherman BA of the Glamorgan-Gwent
Archaeological Trust Ltd Projects Division, with the assistance of Liam Fogarty MA and Mark
Yorath Middleton BA. Initial survey work was undertaken by Jo Higgins MSc of GGAT
Projects and Andy Sherman, and the report was prepared by Steve Sell and Andy Sherman
with assistance from Paul Jones of GGAT Illustration Department. Thanks are due to Andrew
Learmouth of Burford for his assistance during the project, and to Russell Smith for
allowing the use of the main contractor’s compound for the duration of the evaluation.
Copyright notice
The copyright of this report is held by Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd; GGAT has
granted an exclusive licence to Cabot Property Partnership to use and reproduce the material it
contains. Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced under license (AL 10005976). Annotations
are GGAT copyright.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
1 Introduction
1.1 Development proposal and commission
Conditional outline planning consent was granted to Burford Western Estates Ltd for a
second phase of development at Cabot Park industrial estate, Avonmouth (Pl App
98/02621/P/N as amended 02/00928/X/N) in March 1998.
In response to condition 14 (11) a Written Scheme of Investigation was prepared (Locock
1999), which set out a phased programme of investigation on each phase of the development.
This included geophysical survey, evaluation and full excavation.
A further detailed scheme for this particular investigation was prepared in 2008 (Marvell
2008), which set out how a series of evaluation trenches would be excavated to test the results
of geophysical survey, undertaken in January of that year (Stratascan 2008); whilst further
examining the Packgate Farm complex which had been identified and evaluated in 1998
(Locock et al 1998).
The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Projects Division (GGAT Projects) was
commissioned by Cabot Property Partnership to undertake the work, which took place between
8th and 18th April 2008, with reinstatement being carried out between 29th April and 2nd
May.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
prehistoric times, probably including hunting, grazing stock and possibly salt-making. For this
reason, they have become a focus of archaeological attention at Cabot Park and a number of
archaeological deposits have been found associated with the later Bronze Age (B-layer)
horizon (Yates et al forthcoming).
Another characteristic feature of the alluvial sequence is the presence of relict stream courses,
or palaeochannels, that intersect the alluvial layers. Some of these features are minor channels
that may have been in place for a short period of time, whilst others have endured over
hundreds of years, as part of an evolving, meandering, natural drainage system. The channels
are more visible when they cut through the gleyed layers but difficult to distinguish when the
gleyed layers are absent. At Cabot Park it has been found that prehistoric sites are located in
close relationship with these channels and also that remains of settlement can occur in any area
where suitable conditions exist.
1.4 Archaeological and historical background, specific
Packgate Farm, at the western end of the study area, is known to have been established by 1765
(Locock et al 1998) but may have an earlier foundation. The remainder of the application area
is known to have contained ridge-and-furrow ploughing, which respects the farmstead
boundary and thus is likely to post-date the establishment of the farm (Marvell 2008), although
in the case of the Avon Levels this technique may have more to do with drainage than
elsewhere. The remainder of the field to the north of Packgate Farm is shown as orchard on
the First Edition (1880) 25” Ordnance Survey map.
Evaluation trenches excavated in 1998 revealed the presence of a man-made platform on which
the farmhouse had been built, as well as a number of other features which appear to indicate an
earlier date for the foundation of Packgate. These include a well for which a late 17th century
date was postulated, and which cut the platform, indicating that the latter might belong to a
foundation of perhaps early 17th century date, perhaps representing a replacement for
Yeoman’s, a medieval dwelling lying to the southwest of Packgate Farm, which was
abandoned c1600 (idem).
The evaluation also revealed a number of gleyed horizons (former stabilised surfaces which
have subsequently been waterlogged), sometimes in association with organic lenses. Although
no evidence for human activity was noted, these are the environments in which occupation has
been found in Cabot Park, and one in particular, the B-layer, has been associated with localised
human occupation during the Late Bronze Age at sites such as Little Googs, Stinkums, Kites
Corner and most recently, Plot P11 (Tuck 2006).
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
OS Grid
N
0 1km
2 Methodology
A full written, drawn and photographic record was made of all archaeological contexts as
appropriate, in accordance with the GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording Techniques.
Contexts were recorded using a single continuous numbering system, and are summarised in
Appendix 1. All significant contexts were photographed using a Canon SLR camera,
supplemented by a Finepix S9600 and Pentax Optio E40 digital cameras. Finds were selected
according to the GGAT Manual of Excavation Recording Techniques discard policy.
A total of 14 evaluation trenches (Trenches 78-88 and 90-92) were excavated over the entire
development area, mainly in response to anomalies shown on the geophysical survey
(Stratascan 2008), using a 360° excavator with 2m grading bucket. The trench numbering
sequence follows that established in earlier work at Cabot Park.
2.1 Trenches 79-92
The trenches varied between 5m and 46m in length, and were widened to 4m throughout in
order to give a basal width of 2m with a step at c0.80m. One trench (Trench 89) could not be
excavated owing to rhine diversion in connection with the construction of the access road
to Plots P7/P8.
The location of the trenches were chosen for the following rationale:
Trench 79: To establish the northern extent of the Packgate platform
Trench 80: To test a previously unevaluated area
Trench 81: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 82: To test whether two adjacent areas of positive anomalies revealed by geophysical
survey relates relate to past human activity
Trench 83: To test whether a positive anomaly with negative response revealed by geophysical
survey relates relate to past human activity
Trench 84: To test whether a positive anomaly with negative response revealed by geophysical
survey relates to past human activity
Trench 85: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 86: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 87: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 88: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies and a
moderate strength dipolar anomaly revealed by geophysical survey relates to past human
activity
Trench 89: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 90: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
Trench 91: To test whether an area of combined negative and positive anomalies revealed by
geophysical survey relates to past human activity
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
Trench 92: To test whether a positive anomaly with negative response revealed by geophysical
survey relates relate to past human activity (Marvell 2008)
Each trench was examined for signs of human activity and for any anomaly that might indicate
the presence of conditions associated with an archaeological presence. The spoil produced was
also monitored for any such variations and for any artefactual evidence that might be present.
A photographic record of each trench was made in plan and section, and the basic stratigraphy
of each was recorded in order to provide the information necessary to enable a schematic
reconstruction to be made.
2.2 Packgate Farm (Trench 78)
Trench 78 was located to examine further the ditch encountered on the north side of the
Packgate platform, to establish the relationship of the ditch to the platform and the date of both
features, and to establish the northern extent of the Packgate platform (Marvell 2008).
This trench was also excavated mechanically to the uppermost archaeological level, at which
point it was cleaned manually and fully recorded in plan, and also partially in section. Further
recording took place following sampling of a selection of the soil cut features. Otherwise the
methodology employed was as given above.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
3 Results
3.1 Trenches 79-92 (Figure 2, Plates 1 and 2)
Trenches 79 and 80, within the former orchard to the north of the Packgate Farm site, differed
slightly in their upper stratigraphy both as the result of former land use and owing to
disturbance from the construction of a new reen immediately to the west of this field.
In T79 up to 0.50m of turf and cultivation soil (79001) overlay the ubiquitous light brown
upper alluvial deposit (79002), shading to bluish-grey (79003) and extending to the limit of
excavation at 1.20m. Apart from one slight organic lens within the upper alluvial layer,
probably caused by root disturbance, there were no features or anomalies, apart from a tree
bole (79004) at the western end of the trench, perhaps confirming the former land use in this
part of the Packgate holding.
In T80 the general sequence was identical to that in T79, apart from some disturbance to the
west from upcast produced in excavating the new reen separating the development area from
the IO centre to the west. Some slight lenses of gley were noted within the lower alluvium
(80003), with a strong gley (80004, thickness 0.08m) being reached at a depth of 1.25m.
Below this, as elsewhere, was a ferruginous layer of blue gley (80005), shading to brownish
blue at the limit of excavation (1.40m).
The fields to the east were rough pasture (Trenches 81-88 and 90-92). In these excavated
trenches a broadly similar stratigraphical sequence was encountered. Turf and topsoil (001)
overlay rooted loam (002) to a depth of c0.30m, with the light brown coloured upper alluvial
level (003) below extending to a depth of c0.70-0.80m before gradually merging into the lower
alluvial bluish-brown. In some trenches a weak and partial upper gley helped to distinguish the
upper from the lower alluvial layers. Land-drains within the lower part of the upper alluvial
level, at a depth of between c0.60 and 0.75m, were also noted in Trenches 83, 88 and 91.
The results of excavation within this part of the proposed development area are summarised
below (full details are given in Appendix 1):
T81 Underlying the upper alluvial clay (81003) and directly above the bluish-brown clay
(81005) there appeared to be a weak and partial upper gley (81004); a stronger gley (81006)
lay beneath, similar to that noted in the work carried out at Plot 11 (see Tuck 2006). As noted
elsewhere, the deposit immediately below gley 81006 was an alluvial clay, yellowish-blue in
colour (81007) heavily flecked with a ferruginous material (Plate 1).
A sump cut for drainage during backfilling revealed an organic layer (81009, 0.05m thick) at a
depth of 1.60m, above a sequence similar to that overlying it, a ferruginous bluish layer
(81008) over light blue alluvium (81010). Although there was no evidence for human activity,
it is likely that this is the stabilised land surface referred to generally as the B-layer, and
thought to have been the basis for scattered occupation during the late Bronze Age.
T82 A similar sequence was noted in this trench, with a strong (lower) gley (81005) at a
depth of c1.20m. As in T81, a ferruginous layer (81006) was noted beneath the gley, shading
to a brownish-blue deposit (81007) at a depth of 1.35m. This lowest layer, here as elsewhere,
was very similar to the lower of the two main upper alluvial layers.
During backfilling a sump cut for drainage revealed the presence of an organic layer (82008,
thickness 0.06m) at a depth of 1.60m. The layers beneath appeared very similar to the
sequence above, with ferruginous bluish (82007) giving way to a lighter bluish-brown (82009).
T83 At a depth of c1.40-1.50m a weak partial gley was noted (83005), with the underlying
layer (83006) being very similar to layer 83004 overlying the gley.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
T84 A blue alluvial clay (84003) underlay the rooted loam (84002); below deposit 84003
was a mid, bluish-brown coloured alluvial clay (84004) which overlay a deposit of light,
bluish-brown alluvial clay (84005) heavily fleck with a ferruginous material. Underlying the
clay 84005 was an undulating weak and partial gley (84006).
T85/86/87 These trenches were linked and are reported together. The upper stratigraphic
sequence was as elsewhere, but with a partial and weak upper gley (85004/86004/87004) being
represented throughout these trenches, although perhaps being nothing more than a strong
horizon between layer 85003/86003/87003, the upper main alluvial layer, and its lower
counterpart (85005/86005/87005). A strong lower gley (85006/86005/87006) was present
here, overlying a ferruginous layer (85007/86007/87007) above another layer similar to
85005/86005/87005, a sequence very similar to that noted in Trenches 81 and 82.
Slightly deeper cuts were made at the northern end of T85 and at the point where Trenches 86
and 87 intersect. In these an organic layer (86009/87009) up to 0.10m thick being noted at a
depth of 1.70-1.80m (Plate 2); the sequence found above being parallel to that noted in
T81/T82.
T88 At its southern end this trench cut into the course of an old reen within which a land
drain had been laid, no gleys were observed within the alluvial build-up.
(T89 could not be excavated owing to the current reen diversion in connection with the
construction of a new access road to Plots P7/P8).
T90 There were no distinguishing features within this trench, except that the depth of the
main upper alluvial layer (90003) appeared to be greater here than elsewhere, with no
discernible horizons above a depth of 1.25m, at which depth it merged with the main lower
alluvial layer (90004). Only traces of gley were noted within layer 90003.
T91 This trench was similar in its lack of distinguishing features and clear horizons, with the
main lower alluvial layer not apparent above a depth of c1.40m. However in a deeper an
organic layer (91005), rather more clayey and irregular than that noted in T85-87, was at a
depth of between 2.20m and 2.35m, although a central organic band appeared to be present.
This could be the same layer as noted at the lowest levels elsewhere (the B-layer), its apparent
differences being attributable to the greater depths noted here at the eastern end of the proposed
development, or alternatively the N-layer, the lowest organic horizon recognised at Cabot Park.
T92 In this trench a similar stratigraphic sequence to that in T90 was observed, the two main
upper alluvial layers merged at a depth of c1.25m, where patches of gley (92004) were noted.
As elsewhere in these evaluation trenches at the eastern end of the proposed development, the
upper main alluvial layer appeared to have a much greater depth.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
Legend
Estimated extent of
Packgate Farm
2008 trenches
GRID
1998 trenches
N
0 50metres
Area of standing
masonry
Figure 2. Plan showing location of trenches and estimated extent of Packgate Farm
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
11
Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
78016
78016
SITE
Legend
Plan continued from above right
Stone
Backfilled Pottery
Sondage
Skeletal remains
Organic staining
Clay
Charcoal
0 3.00metres
Possible burnt bone
78004
78005
78011 78013
78015
78014
78022
78019
78012 78010
78023
78020 78021
0 1.00 2.00metres
SITE
Figure 4. Plan showing underlying features within trench 78, location as indicated in Figure 3
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
4 The finds
Almost all of the artefactual material from the evaluation was collected as surface finds from
the area of Packgate farmhouse and further to the north. This group consisted largely of
ceramics and glass with a date range from the 17th to the 19th centuries, but also contained
three sherds of medieval date as well as one rimsherd of possible 16th century date. Isolated
sherds of medieval pottery were also noted in contexts 004 (the platform), 005 (the upper
alluvial layer) and 009 (the fill of the possible relict stream bed), indicating the likelihood of
continuity of occupation in the area throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods,
whether at Yeomans, Moorend or Packgate.
A very small amount of ceramic material was recovered from the upper levels of certain of the
other evaluation trenches, notably the reinforced rim of a pan of probable early 17th century
date from T91 and another coarseware rim, probably also of 17th century date, from T81.
A very worn copper halfpenny, from the lower loam in T87, probably belongs to the period
c1675-1775, most likely from the reign of George II or George III.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
4 Conclusions
The results of the evaluation within the three fields in the eastern and northern part of the
proposed development area (Trenches 81-92) demonstrates the presence of a stabilized
prehistoric ground surface probably dating to the Bronze Age at a depth of c1.60m below the
present ground surface; however no evidence for human occupation was noted.
On the site of the Packgate farmstead (Trench 78) features associated with the farmhouse
survive within 0.3m of the present ground surface, with levels from which medieval material
has been recovered immediately underlying the deposit thought to represent the house
platform. The deposits underlying the probable house platform contained some evidence for a
timber construction that might represent an earlier foundation on the site.
The evaluation found no evidence of the geophysical anomalies identified in the Stratascan
report of 2008, it is possible that both the positive and negative anomalies recorded by the
survey work where formed by minor fluctuations in the gleyed layers.
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
References
Locock M 1999, Cabot Park Distribution Park and International Rail Freight Terminal, Phase
2: Poplar, Packgate and Moorend, scheme of archaeological investigation
Locock M, Robinson S, and Yates A 1998, Cabot Park Phase 2: Poplar, Packgate and
Moorend, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological evaluation, GGAT report 98/047, Swansea
Marvell AG 2008, Plots P7/P8 Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: Archaeological Written
Scheme of Investigation, GGAT report 2008/010, Swansea
Stratascan 2008, Geophysical Survey Report, Cabot Park Plots P7/P8, Avonmouth, Stratascan
job J2437
Tuck M 2006, Cabot Park, Strategic Drainage Proposals; Second pond at P11 (Pond 6) and
pond to the north of Poplar Farm (Pond 7), Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field
evaluation, GGAT report 2006/092, Swansea
Yates AM, Locock M and Walker MJC, forthcoming, ‘A Late Bronze Age coastal landscape at
Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol’, Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
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Plot P7/P8, Cabot Park, Avonmouth, Bristol: archaeological field evaluation
Note:
U
/S: Unstratified
(=1): Fragments join
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