Faverdale East, Darlington

Page 2 - Phase 1 - Trial Trenches

Results of the trial trenching

• Phase 1 (summer 2003) - very disappointing results.
• Very few archaeological features encountered.
• Remains of medieval & later ‘ridge-and-furrow’ ploughing.

• Phase 2 (July 2004) - a hitherto unknown settlement site of Iron Age and Roman date discovered.
• Geophysical anomalies in the north of the site related to numerous ditches and other features.
• Many features produced Iron Age and/or Roman pottery, rather than medieval artefacts - this was completely unexpected.
• Archaeological remains concentrated in Field 1.

Why were the findings at Faverdale East so unexpected?

• Iron Age sites fairly well represented in the region. However, a hitherto unknown pre-Roman settlement site of this extent was surprising.
• Darlington is not renowned for its Roman archaeology. Lies midway in a ‘blank’ corridor between Roman roads Dere Street & Cades Road.
• Only previous evidence of Roman activity in Darlington: a few stray finds of Roman coinage.
• Remains of medieval date were expected because of the proximity to Whessoe DMV site. Practically no medieval features were found.

What happened next?

• Argos development was due to start autumn 2004 - only 3 months after the site was ‘discovered’.
• No possibility of ‘preservation in situ’ due to extent of ground reduction for Argos development.
• PCA designed a scheme of archaeological excavation - approved by the Durham County Archaeology Section - the site would be effectively ‘preserved by record’.
• The archaeological excavation was funded by:

Preparing for excavation

• Three ‘open areas’ stripped, a total of almost 6 hectares.
• Site strip - to remove ploughsoil masking archaeological features - began in late July 2004.
• Approximately 25,000 cubic metres of soil moved by machines in 10 days to expose archaeological remains.
• PCA mobilised team of more than 30 archaeologists to undertake 3 month-long excavation.
• One thing is more important than archaeology: Health & Safety.

Click here to find what was discovered!

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Trial Trenches