2009 has seen Midland Archælogical Services expanding, adding more fields of specialisms to its repertoire, including geophysical survey and historic building survey, and since August we have had the opportunity to employ a former English Heritage building surveyor to manage and conduct all of our historic building projects.
This year has also seen us undertaking more building surveys and working for large scale development companies in Lincolnshire, as well as planning agents throughout Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Suffolk.
Ermine St
During September we discovered a well preservered 1st-2nd century Roman building at Ancaster, adjacent to Ermine Street. The project was undertaken on behalf of G S Developments Ltd during development of their site. The building was discovered underneath what had been a domestic garden and had survived in places upto a meter in depth. Constructed of the local Limestone, it formed an oblong structure of approximatley 10.00 by 7.50 meters. Evidence of industrial activity was also found close by, as well as pottery dating to the 1st-2nd century AD, including imported Samian Ware from Gaul, some of which was decorated.
Plan showing Roman building discovered at Ermine Street
Levington Hall
In October we were fortunate enough to work with The Landscape Partnership Ltd, a planning agency based in Suffolk. Midland Archaeological Services were asked to undertake a trenched field evaluation at Levington Hall, Suffolk. This involved the monitoring of 150m of trenching for possible archaeological remains prior to a major hydraulic landscaping project being undertaken throughout the grounds of the hall. Several archaeological features were uncovered, unfortunatley no dateable artefacts were retrieved.
Working in conjunction with the projects civil engineers in a methodical and precise manner helped to greatly reduce both time needed to undertake the archaeological work and also the costs involved. The time factor also meant that the client was also able to proceed quickly on fulfilling and clearing the archaeological condition attached to his planning application.
Toynton St Peter
In November 2009 Midland ArchælogicalServices were asked to undertake a programme of archaeological works on land at Toynton St Peter Lincolnshire. The site lay very close to the location of some regionally important kiln structures of the 13-14th centuries, these had produced pottery known as Toynton Ware. In this instance no archaeology was encountered, possibly due to the fact that it had either been lost to the previous site development or that it possibly lay beyound the confines of the development area.
