Trial trenching by Archaeology South-East at Turncole Farm, Southminster, 2010 - EEX59908

Nineteen evaluation trenches, each measuring 30m long were excavated using a mechanical excavator. NRHE data transfer: Site code: TWF10. A programme of archaeological evaluation was undertaken at Turncole Farm, Southminster, Essex, in advance of a proposed wind mill farm to be erected on the agricultural land. The work was undertaken between the 13th and 17th September 2010 on behalf of RSK Environment Ltd and RES. Nineteen evaluation trenches measuring 30 metres in length sampled the archaeology across the site. Five of these trenches sampled the proposed access roads while the remaining fourteen formed seven cross-shaped trenches at the base of each proposed windmill. Due to the thick deposits of alluvium in this reclaimed marshland, the trenches were excavated to a maximum of 1 metre in depth. The surface of the alluvium varied in height from 1.053m OD in the north of the site and 0.2053m OD in the south of the site. The evaluation trenches two areas of activity. A Roman saltern, known locally as a 'red hill' was uncovered producing a large quantity of Roman pottery including high status wares and a Roman coin. A post-medieval ditch found to the centre of the site corresponding to the boundaries associated with Old Turncole Farm and appears on the 1st century OS map. Information from OASIS Online Form.