CUMBERLAND SCHOOL SPORTS HALL
BARKING ROAD, CANNING TOWN
LONDON E16
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION
ASSESSMENT REPORT
Prepared on behalf of
London Borough of Newham
Environment and Regeneration Department
by
Wessex Archaeology
Unit 701
The Chandlery
50 Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7QY
Report reference: 55860
December 2004
(c) Wessex Archaeology Limited 2004 all rights reserved
r Wessex Archaeology Limited is a Registered Charity No. 287786
CONTENTS
Summary i
Acknowledgements ii
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Project Background 1
1.2 The Site 1
2 Archaeological Background 2
3 methodology 2
3.1 Excavation Strategy 2
3.2 Fieldwork Recording 3
3.3 Health and Safety 3
4 results 4
5 Finds 4
6 Discussion 5
7 conclusion 6
8 Proposals for further analysis and publication 6
9 Archive 6
10 OASIS 6
11 BIBLIOGRAPHY 7
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS 8
APPENDIX 2: OASIS Form 10
FIGURES
1 Location of Site and Excavation Area
2 Location of previous evaluation trenches and all archaeological features
3 Sections through features 309, 311, and 313
CUMBERLAND SCHOOL SPORTS HALL
BARKING ROAD, CANNING TOWN
LONDON E16
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION
ASSESSMENT REPORT
Summary
Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by London Borough of Newham Environment and Regeneration Department to conduct an archaeological excavation at the site of the proposed Cumberland School Sports Hall, Barking Road, Newham, centred on NGR 540055, 181897.
The excavation follows an evaluation of the Site which found evidence for possible Roman activity along with a single prehistoric/Roman unurned cremation burial.
The excavation comprised a 12m x 18m area centred on a previous evaluation trench. The fieldwork was undertaken over four days, from the 5th to 8th April 2004.
Four separate features were found during the excavation. Three of these appear to be natural marshland channels and the fourth, a post-medieval drainage ditch.
The post-medieval activity in the area appears to have been curtailed by an episode of flooding which is represented by a thick layer of alluvium that overlies all features.
The results of both the excavation and evaluation suggest that no further significant activities occurred in the area until its development in the 19th century.
No further evidence for cremation burials was found during the excavation.
It is proposed that further analysis of the cremation burial found during the evaluation be carried out to attempt to ascertain its date and that a summary report of the excavation be submitted for publication in The London Archaeologist.
Acknowledgements
Wessex Archaeology is grateful for the assistance and help provided by Bruce McSweeny of the London Borough of Newham Environment and Regeneration Department, and the staff of Cumberland School during the course of the project.
The project was monitored on behalf of the Local Planning Authority by Nick Truckle of the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service.
The fieldwork was carried out by Susan Clelland and Claire Davies. The report was prepared by Susan Clelland with contributions from Lorraine Mepham and Jackie Mckinley (Finds) and Mark Roughly and Liz James (Illustrations). The project was managed on behalf of Wessex Archaeology by Robert Wardill.
CUMBERLAND SCHOOL SPORTS HALL
BARKING ROAD, CANNING TOWN
LONDON E16
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION
ASSESSMENT REPORT
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Background
1.1.1 Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Newham Borough Council (the Client) to conduct an archaeological excavation on land at the site of a proposed sports hall at Cumberland School, Barking Road, Newham, centred on NGR 540055, 181897 (the Site).
1.1.2 The works were carried out in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation (Wessex Archaeology 2004) which was approved by the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service (GLASS) of English Heritage, and followed an earlier trenching evaluation of the Site carried out in 2003 (Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd).
1.1.3 This document reports on the results of the excavation and sets out proposals for the further assessment of the findings and final publication of the project.
1.2 The Site
1.2.1 Cumberland School is located to the south of the A124 Barking Road. The proposed sports hall development is to be sited in the south-east corner of the school grounds (Figure 1).
1.2.2 The excavation area measured 12m x 18m and was positioned within the footprint of the proposed building, towards its south-east corner where pile foundations will be at their most dense. The position of the excavation area was also located to coincide with the site of a previous evaluation trench (Figure 2) where potentially significant archaeological remains were uncovered.
1.2.3 The ground surface of the excavation area was covered by grass. Natural geological deposits beneath the Site were found to comprise a light, yellow brickearth.
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
2.1.1 A desktop assessment of the Site (Pre-Construct Archaeology 2003a) indicated there was high potential for prehistoric material to be found at the Site. Prehistoric activity has been identified within a Bronze Age or Iron Age soil horizon to the south of the Site and to the east in excavations along the A13. The study concluded there was low to moderate potential for Roman and medieval activity in the area.
2.1.2 The Site lay within marshland until reclaimation commenced in the post medieval period. The reclaimed land was used for agricultural purposes until the 19th century when the development of the docks and railways led to extensive building in the area. By 1868 streets had been laid out and by 1896 the Site was occupied by terrace housing (Pre-Construct Archaeology 2003a).
2.1.3 An archaeological evaluation (Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd 2003b) comprising two trenches (Figure 2) revealed potentially significant archaeological activity on the Site. Two ditches interpreted as Roman drainage ditches were recorded in the northern of the two trenches and a wide shallow channel, possibly a natural feature, and the remains of an unurned cremation burial of an adult human were recorded in the southerly trench. The unurned cremation burial could not be properly dated due to a lack of artefactual remains. The nature of the feature however, was indicative of being either prehistoric or Roman in date.
2.1.4 Sealing these features was a thick layer of alluvial material indicative of widespread flooding in the post-Roman period (Pre-Construct Archaeology 2003).
3 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Excavation Strategy
3.1.1 The excavation was carried out between the 5th and 8th April 2004 to coincide with the school Easter break.
3.1.2 Topsoil, modern overburden and the thick layer of alluvium mentioned in 2.1.4 above was removed using a mechanical excavator under constant archaeological supervision. Subsequent excavation of exposed archaeological features and deposits was undertaken by hand.
3.1.3 Machine excavated spoil was visually examined for archaeological material.
3.2 Fieldwork Recording
3.2.1 All archaeological deposits and features were recorded using the Wessex Archaeology pro forma recording system.
3.2.2 A complete drawn record of archaeological features and deposits was compiled. This includes sections and plans, drawn to an appropriate scale. The Site and associated archaeological features were tied to the Ordnance Survey National Grid. Ordnance Datum (OD) heights of all features and layers were established.
3.2.3 A full photographic record was maintained using both colour transparencies and black and white negatives (on 35mm film).
3.2.4 A Museum of London code of BKP 04, was issued for the Site.
3.3 Health and Safety
3.3.1 All work was carried out in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety regulations 1992 and all other relevant Health and Safety legislation and regulations and codes of practice in force at the time.
3.3.2 Prior to the commencement of the fieldwork a Risk Assessment was produced. All site staff involved in works signed and complied with this document.
4 RESULTS
4.1.1 Beneath modern deposits (301-303) comprising dumps of building material, concrete foundations and levelling deposits was layer (305) which was a thick greyish brown clay layer characteristic of alluvium. The layer, of average depth 0.5m, extended across the Site. No artefacts were retrieved from this deposit.
4.1.2 The upper part of this alluvial layer (304) had been affected by contamination and compaction from the overlying modern activity.
4.1.3 Archaeological features were found beneath the alluvial layer.
4.1.4 Two irregular, wide (3.56m) and shallow (0.19m deep) channels [311 and 309] (Figure 3), orientated west-north east and south east-north west respectively, intersected towards the centre of the Site. Alluvial clay deposits (312) and (310) filled these channels. Two pieces of worked flint, a core fragment and a retouched flake, were recovered from (312) however, neither could be dated more closely than within the prehistoric period.
4.1.5 A third feature [306] was present in the south-west corner of the excavation area and appeared to be another shallow natural channel however, its full extent could not be assessed as the feature was only partially exposed within the excavation area. No artefacts were found in the alluvial clay fill (307).
4.1.6 In the north west corner of the excavation a north east-south west linear ditch [313] (Figure 3) with moderate to steep stepped sides and a flat base was found. The ditch contained two fills. The lower fill (315) was an homogenous greyish blue sandy silt with very rare charcoal flecking. The upper fill (314) was a mid-light brown stiff alluvial clay. As with the other fill deposits at the Site the upper interface with overlying alluvial clay layer (305) was very diffuse. One post-medieval pottery sherd (coarse redware) and several small bone fragments were retrieved from the centre of the ditch fill.
4.1.7 All features cut into the natural brickearth (308) which was encountered at a height of around 0.74m above Ordnance Datum.
5 FINDS
5.1.1 As described above, the finds from the Site comprised two pieces of worked flint, a core fragment and a retouched flake from fill (312) which were datable only to the prehistoric period, and one post-medieval pottery sherd (coarse redware) and 3 joining fragments of large mammal long-bone from fill (314).
5.1.2 The material recovered during the evaluation of the Site (Pre-Construct Archaeology 2003) was re-examined for this report.
5.1.3 The 130g of cremated bone represents the remains of a single adult. The surviving bone is well oxidised, and not much trabecular bone survives (due to soil acidity). The accompanying bag of residue appears to contain quite a lot of charcoal, as well as more bone.
5.1.4 The report and records from the evaluation give insufficient detail on the deposit containing the cremated bone, and it appears that the contents of this relatively large feature (0.40m diameter, 0.20m deep) were excavated as a single block. The nature of its excavation mean that there is no way of determining whether the remains represent those of an unurned burial with redeposited pyre debris, or a deposit of pyre debris. This circumstance limits the usefulness of the deposit in understanding the Site.
6 DISCUSSION
6.1.1 The shallow and irregular nature of the wide channels [311 and 309] supports the conclusion of the earlier evaluation results that these features are likely to be natural channels within a marshland environment. The intersection of these two features was investigated during the evaluation and no evidence of phasing was found. It is probable that the both features are contemporary. The two flint artefacts recovered from the fill of [311] is insufficient evidence to prove that these features are the result of human activities.
6.1.2 Finds recovered from the ditch [313] in the western corner of the excavation suggest that it is post-medieval in origin. This feature may represent a continuation of one of the ditches found in the northerly evaluation trench as the profiles, fills and alignments of both features are similar. If this is the case the tentative interpretation of the feature in the evaluation trench as being of Roman date is likely to be erroneous.
6.1.3 The 0.5-0.7m layer of alluvium located in the evaluation trenches was found to be consistent across the whole of the excavation area as layers (304 and 305). No evidence was found to contradict the evaluation conclusion that this layer was the result of flooding however the history of the area and finds recovered from feature [313] show the flooding event to have occurred during the post-medieval period.
7 CONCLUSION
7.1.1 Four features were found during the excavation. Three of these appear to be natural marshland channels and the fourth a drainage ditch indicative of post-medieval efforts to drain the area for agriculture purposes.
7.1.2 The post-medieval activity in the area appears to have been curtailed by an episode of flooding which is represented by a thick layer of alluvium that overlies all features.
7.1.3 The results of both the excavation and evaluation suggest that no further significant activities occurred in the area until its residential development in the 19th century.
7.1.4 No further evidence for any prehistoric/Roman cremation burials was found during the excavation. If further burials do exist then they are likely to be located beyond the south-east boundary of the Site.
8 PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS AND PUBLICATION
8.1.1 It is proposed that the cremation burial found during the evaluation works be further assessed. This would comprise extracting the remaining bone fragments from the residue, record the bone to archive level and submit appropriate samples for radiocarbon dating.
8.1.2 It is recommended that a summary report of the project be submitted for publication in The London Archaeologist.
9 ARCHIVE
9.1.1 The project archive will be held at the offices of Wessex Archaeology at Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire. In due course the archive will be deposited with the Museum of London and stored under the site code BKP 04.
10 OASIS
10.1.1 An Online Access to the Index of Archaeological Investigations (OASIS) form has been completed in accordance with the GLAAS policy on improving access to information on PPG16 related fieldwork, and a hard copy is included in this report as Appendix 2.
11 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd
2003a
An Archaeological Desktop Assessment of Land at Cumberland School, Alexandra Street, London Borough of Newham. Unpublished
Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd
2003b
An Archaeological Evaluation at Cumberland School, Alexandra Street, London Borough of Newham. Unpublished
Wessex Archaeology
2004
Cumberland School Sports Hall, Barking Road, Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological Excavation. Unpublished
APPENDIX 1: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS
Excavation Trench
Max depth: 1.34m
Length: 18m
Width: 12m
Context No.
Type:
Description:
Depth:
301
Layer
Topsoil/Turf Line A mid-dark brown clayey loam with sparse inclusions
0-0.1m
302
Layer
A deposit of light brown clayey loam with common rounded gravel inclusions
0.1-0.25m
303
Layer
Made ground comprising rubble, brickwork and asphalt
0.25-0.5m
304
Layer
Contaminated Alluvium, mid brown stiff clay. Upper part of alluvial episode relating to 305 representing post-depositional interaction with overlying make up deposit. Lower interface very diffuse
305
Layer
Greyish brown stiff clay. Occasional semi-fine roots & spreads of very fine charcoal flecks forming a layer of alluvial clays deposited in a marsh environment.
0.7-1.2m
306
Cut
Cut of shallow channel. Only present in the SW corner of the trench, full extent and profile unknown
1.2-1.35m
307
Fill
Mid-light brown stiff clay alluvial fill of channel [306]. Occasional spreads of very fine charcoal flecks. Vertical Fe staining. Very diffuse interface with overlying deposit (305). No artefacts retrieved
1.2-1.35m
308
Natural
Light creamy yellow, soft spongy brickearth. Very homogenous deposit containing moderate orange brown mineralisations which increase in density with depth
1.2m+
309
Cut
SE-NW irregular curvilinear shallow channel
310
Fill
Mid-light brown stiff clay alluvial fill of channel [309]. Occasional spreads of very fine charcoal flecks. Vertical Fe staining. Very diffuse interface with overlying deposit (305). No artefacts retrieved
311
Cut
W-NE irregular curvilinear shallow channel
312
Fill
Mid-light brown stiff clay alluvial fill of channel [311]. Occasional spreads of very fine charcoal flecks and sparse semi-fine roots. Vertical Fe staining. Very diffuse interface with overlying deposit (305). One worked flint flake retrieved during initial machining.
313
Cut
NE-SW linear ditch. Moderate-steep sides with square flat base.
314
Fill
Upper mid-light brown stiff clay alluvial fill of channel [313]. Occasional spreads of very fine charcoal flecks and sparse semi-fine roots. Vertical Fe staining. Very diffuse interface with overlying deposit (305). One pottery sherd and several small bone fragments retrieved from the centre of the deposit.
315
Fill
Basal fill of [313]. A greyish blue sandy silt with very rare charcoal flecks.
APPENDIX 2: OASIS FORM
1
10