Post-medieval field boundaries, Turncole Windfarm (EHER 49877)

Geophysical survey and trial trenching in advance of construction of Turncole Windfarm identified post-medieval field boundaries.

September 2010. Trial trenching. The evaluation recorded a post-medieval ditch in Trench 15, which corresponds with the boundaries associated with Old Turncole Farm and appears on the 1st century OS map. <1> August-September 2014. Geophysical survey. Detailed magnetic gradiometer survey was undertaken on land at Turncole Wind Farm. The survey totalled about 12.5ha. Aerial photography has suggested that the site was marshland crossed with creeks and previous archaeological trial trenching indicates Roman salt making may have been conducted on the site. The geophysical survey revealed a broad network of 37 undated drainage ditches. Although no solid dating can be put forwards for these (except to say they predate the 1873 OS map), their extent and regularity suggest a post-medieval or early modern origin and they probably relate to attempts to drain the marsh. One further linear clearly is not orientated on the same alignment as the drainage ditches or the current field, which may indicate an earlier ditch or possible archaeological feature. <2> June 2015. Trial trenching. Further evaluation in 2015 focused on three areas highlighted by the geophysical survey as potential saltmaking sites. No evidence was apparent in the trenches for the ancient salt-making but two of the excavated trenches were found to cross former field boundaries, which can be traced on 19th and early 20th century mapping. The finds retrieved included Roman and post-medieval pottery, medieval roof tile and animal bone. <3>