Commonhead, Swindon

Client: Redrow and Persimmon

Location: Wiltshire

Services Provided:

• Archaeological Consultancy

• Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI)

• Procurement and Management of Archaeological mitigation investigation

Paul has been involved with this particular project since 2006, dealing with the initial application, predetermination fieldwork, scheduled monument consent and subsequent phases of mitigation of this 78ha residential development on the eastern edge of Swindon. The project has stayed with Paul whilst he has worked for five different companies and the final stage of fieldwork has been with GHC. The overall site contains a vast range of archaeology including a Scheduled stone circle and Bronze Age barrow, the earthwork remains of a deserted medieval village, all of which have been preserved within areas of open space, and below ground remains dating from the Neolithic through to the medieval periods which have been subject to full excavation. The final stage of fieldwork was to comprise the stripping of c.5ha to investigate what was believed to be a late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age settlement with later Roman settlement. The original trenching of the site in 2006 had been a very light touch and it was agreed to conduct some additional trenching in the hope that the overall extent of previously agreed open area excavation could be reduced. That additional trenching showed that, whilst scattered archaeology was present across the site, there was little of Bronze Age date present and it was agreed to limit the stripping to c.2.1ha of Iron Age and Roman settlement activity. This reduction in area presented a saving of c.£150,000 to our clients.