New Road, Crook
NZ 1638 3456; (Mark Randerson); geophysics and evaluation; July 12th- 27th 2001; NRC01
A geophysical survey of sample areas of the site was undertaken and this was followed by an evaluation to investigate features identified through the field visit and geophysical survey. Ten trenches were investigated, which revealed evidence relating to post-medieval mining operations on the site and the subsequent use of the land for agricultural purposes. No firm evidence of anthropogenic utilization of the site prior to the post-medieval period was encountered.
Natural boulder clay was encountered in all 10 trenches during the archaeological field evaluation. These drift deposits varied greatly in character, and ranged from light orange brown mottled silty clay to mid yellow brown sandy clay. The level at which the natural sub-stratum was encountered varied between 134.80m AOD to 128.08m AOD across the site.
Trench 1 contained post-medieval or modern drainage features and a shallow ditch of
post-medieval or modern date. At the western end of this trench, the edge of another
shallow cut feature was exposed. No dating evidence was recovered from this feature.
Evidence of recent ploughing was also observed within the trench. Trench 2 contained a
substantial, E-W orientated ditch of post-medieval date. This trench also revealed
evidence of ploughing, suggesting that the western portion of the site has been ploughed
repeatedly. Trench 4 contained rough stonework, probably relating to a post-medieval
waggonway serving abandoned mine workings in the immediate vicinity of the site. Trench 6
revealed make-up deposits for the probable post-medieval waggonway, although no other
structural remains were visible. Trench 7 contained modern drainage features. A cut
feature of uncertain function and of assumed post-medieval date was observed in the
extreme western end of Trench 8. Trench 9 revealed only natural boulder clay, although a
waste deposit of rough shale, probably from the nearby mine workings, was also observed in
section. Trench 10 contained a substantial block of pink sandstone embedded horizontally
into the natural sub-stratum. This was probably detritus from the nearby mine workings.
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