STONEHENGE CAR PARK
STONEHENGE
WILTSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
For
For
ENGLISH HERITAGE
CA REPORT: 06035
MARCH 2006
STONEHENGE CAR PARK
STONEHENGE
WILTSHIRE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF
CA PROJECT: 2142
CA REPORT: 06035
Author:
Franco A. Vartuca
Approved:
Mark Collard
Signed:
…………………………………………………………….
Issue: 01
Date: 6 April 2006
This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any
third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report
entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.
© Cotswold Archaeology
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Tel. 01285 771022
Fax. 01285 771033
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Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
CONTENTS
SUMMARY........................................................................................................................ 3
1.
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 4
The site ................................................................................................................ 4
Archaeological background.................................................................................. 4
Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5
2.
RESULTS ............................................................................................................ 5
3.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ..................................................................... 5
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM ........................................................................................... 6
5.
REFERENCES .................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS..................................................................... 7
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Fig. 1
Site location plan (1:25,000)
Fig. 2
Location of observed groundworks (1:1250)
Fig. 3
Photograph showing south-east facing section in soakaway
2
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
SUMMARY
Site Name:
Stonehenge Car Park
Location:
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
NGR:
SU 1225 4230
Type:
Archaeological Watching Brief
Date:
2 March 2005
Location of Archive:
English Heritage
Site Code:
SCP 06
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) during
groundworks associated with the creation of an area of hard standing for an ice cream unit
and the installation of a soakaway in the car park at Stonehenge, Wiltshire.
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during groundworks and no
artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered.
3
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
In March 2006 Cotswold Archaeology (CA) carried out an archaeological watching
brief for English Heritage at Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire (centred
on NGR: SU 1225 4230; Fig. 1). The objective of the watching brief was to record all
archaeological remains exposed during the development.
1.3
The archaeological fieldwork was carried out in accordance with a written scheme of
investigation (WSI) produced by CA (2006) and approved by English Heritage. The
fieldwork also followed the Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching
Brief issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (2001) and the Standards for
Archaeological Assessment and Field Evaluation (Wiltshire County Council
Archaeology Service 1995).
The site
1.4
The area of investigation measured approximately 5m by 5.7m, comprising part of a
grass verge adjacent to the exit from the overflow car park (Fig. 2). The site lies on
level ground at approximately 100m AOD.
1.5
The underlying geology of the area is mapped as Upper Chalk with Flints of the
Upper Cretaceous period (Geological Survey of Great Britain 1976).
Archaeological background
1.6
Archaeological interest in the site arises from the fact that it lies in such close
proximity to the henge monument itself, and from previous discoveries made during
the extension of the extant car park, and the construction of a new toilet block and
pedestrian underpass (Vatcher 1968 & 1973, Central Excavation Unit 1979).
Methodology
1.7
The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2006).
An
archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising the mechanical
reduction of the development area measuring approximately 5m by 5.7m to a depth
4
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
of 0.1m, and the hand-excavation of a soakaway measuring 1m by 1m to a depth of
approximately 1m (Fig. 2).
1.8
Written, graphic and photographic records were compiled in accordance with CA
Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (2005).
1.9
Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the site archive will be deposited
with English Heritage.
2.
RESULTS
2.1
This section provides an overview of the fieldwork results; detailed summaries of the
recorded contexts appear in Appendix 1.
2.2
The natural geological substrate 103 consisting of soft chalk and flint nodules was
revealed in the excavation for the soakaway at a depth of approximately 0.33m
below present ground level. This was overlain by subsoil 102, which was in turn
overlain by a gravel sub-base 101 beneath topsoil and turf 100.
2.3
No features or deposits of archaeological interest were observed during
groundworks and, despite visual scanning of spoil, no artefactual material predating
the modern period was recovered.
3.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
3.1
Despite the archaeological potential of the application area (see archaeological
background above), the watching brief identified no archaeological remains within
the area of observed groundworks.
4.
CA PROJECT TEAM
4.1
Fieldwork was undertaken by Franco A. Vartuca, who also compiled this report. The
illustrations were prepared by Liz Gardner.
The archive has been compiled by
Franco A. Vartuca, and prepared for deposition by Teresa Gilmore. The project was
managed for CA by Mark Collard.
5
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
5.
© Cotswold Archaeology
REFERENCES
CA 2006 Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Written Scheme of Investigation for
an Archaeological Watching Brief
Central Excavation Unit, DoE 1979 Excavations in Stonehenge Car Park. WAM, 74
Geological Survey of Great Britain (England and Wales)
1976
Sheet 298: Salisbury
1:50,000
Vatcher, L. & F. 1973 Excavation of Three Post-Holes in Stonehenge Car Park. WAM, 68,
57-63
Vatcher, L. & F. 1968 Amesbury: Stonehenge Avenue & Bronze Age Stockade Trench.
WAM, 63, 108
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Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge, Wiltshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
© Cotswold Archaeology
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Trench
100
101
102
103
Topsoil and Turf: firm, mid red-brown sandy silt. 0.1m in thickness.
Sub-base: moderately compacted, mid red-brown sandy coarse gravel. 0.05m in thickness.
Subsoil: moderately compacted, mid to dark yellow-brown sandy silt with very occasional small
fragments and flecks of chalk. 0.18m in thickness.
Natural substrate: soft, off-white chalk with very occasional small and medium sized flint nodules.
0.67m+ in thickness (not bottomed).
7
Reproduced from the 1994 Ordnance Survey Landranger map with the permission
of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
N
Site
0
2.5km
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
PROJECT TITLE
Wiltshire
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge
Wiltshire
FIGURE TITLE
Site location plan
SCALE
1:25,000@A4
PROJECT NO.
2142
FIGURE NO.
1
Reproduced from the 2006 Ordnance Survey Superplan map with the permission
of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office
c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109
121
122
N
424
423
Stonehenge
0
SU
100m
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
PROJECT TITLE
site
observed groundworks
pit excavated for soakaway
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge
Wiltshire
FIGURE TITLE
Location of observed
groundworks
SCALE
1:1250@A4
PROJECT NO.
2142
FIGURE NO.
2
3
COTSWOLD ARCHAEOLOGY
3
Photograph showing south-east facing section in
soak away
PROJECT TITLE
Stonehenge Car Park, Stonehenge
Wiltshire
FIGURE TITLE
Photograph
SCALE
PROJECT NO.
n/a
2142
FIGURE NO.
3