Hamsterley Flow Transfer Works, Blackhall Mill, County Durham/Tyne and Wear
NZ 1225 5689; (Jennifer Proctor and Robin Taylor-Wilson); watching brief; September and October 2001; HAM 01
The archaeological investigations involved monitoring groundworks associated with the construction of a gravity sewer across the River Derwent between Blackhall Mill and Hamsterley Pumping Stations.
No archaeological features or deposits of significance were recorded during the investigations.
The natural sub-stratum, comprising slightly clayey sand, with occasional patches of gravel, was recorded in the far north of the site at a height of 53.36m OD. The natural sub-stratum was overlain by ploughsoil, in turn overlain by topsoil. This stratigraphic sequence was recorded along the northernmost c.40m of the site.
Sterile alluvial deposits were observed in a machine excavated trench c.5m in length immediately to the north of the river. Deposits of river bed sand and gravel, were revealed at a depth of c.1m below ground level (51.53m AOD), to the immediate south of the river. The sand and gravel was overlain by alluvial sand; this occurred in bands representing episodic flooding. The alluvium was overlain by topsoil.
The same sequence was recorded in a trench to the south, and in this area the alluvial sand was truncated by a substantial Victorian refuse pit.
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