Archaeological Work in Oxfordshire, 2022

Summary

The county archaeological team have dealt with a considerable level of planning casework over the last year and were consulted on 1,805 planning applications in 2022/23, including 431 major schemes. We asked for archaeological work in association with 461 of these applications.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Ambrosden Manor, Ambrosden

An archaeological evaluation was carried out by CA on land where the HER recorded the possible location of Ambrosden Manor, which was also recently seen in aerial photographs. The Manor was built after 1673 and was pulled down in 1768. A geophysical survey recorded the remains of the Manor in more detail. Evaluation trenching on the site recorded a layer of demolition material overlying the remains of walls and a possible moat around the outside of the building. The trenching also recorded a possible outbuilding, which was not identified from aerial photography or in the geophysical survey but appeared to be of a similar date to the main building. The pottery recovered from the site was largely consistent with the date of the Manor house.

Symmetry Park, Ardley

CA undertook an archaeological evaluation on the proposed site of the new Symmetry Park development at Junction 10 of the M40. The site was known to have produced a large number of metal-detected finds, including a hoard, and aerial photographs had recorded a potential Roman settlement, banjo enclosure and ring ditch on the site. A geophysical survey confirmed that there was an area of dense, likely Roman, settlement with potential for buildings and agricultural activity on the site, as well as a possible banjo enclosure.

On the southern side of the site a potential sunken-featured building with other remains of Anglo-Saxon settlement were recorded, which is rare in the general area. Trenching over the area of the Roman activity revealed a well-made wall and demolition layers, but the function of this building is not clear. Below the demolition layers, Iron Age features have been recorded which suggests there could be a level of continuity of occupation on the site. Surrounding the potential building, the trenches have revealed dense activity with some very large ditches, the function of which is currently unclear. The trenching also revealed a number of cremations and an inhumation burial.

Berry Hill Road, Adderbury

OA carried out an excavation on Berry Hill Road in Adderbury, following on from an evaluation they carried out earlier in 2022.