EDO7836 - Lodden Lakes, Gillingham: Evaluation 2021

In 2021 Cotswold Archaeology undertook two phases of archaeological evaluation of Land South East of Lodden Lakes Gillingham for RPS Consulting Services Ltd with the results informing a planning application for residential development. This site comprised a total of 13 no.30m x 1.8m trenches. There depths at natural level (when reaches/recorded) range from >0.24m to >0.55m. Trenches 1-5, 8 and 13-14 were all archaeologically sterile and contained no archaeological features or deposits. Trenches 7, 9-11 contained archaeological features but no datable evidence was recorded as poor weather conditions and flooding meant the features could not be excavated. Trench 6 was located to the north-east of the site on a north-south alignment. As the trench had a significant change in elevation it was allicated alluvial deposit no. 604. Artefacts dating to the medieval period were recovered from a single deposit and were likely to have been redeposited there. The artefacts recovered and recorded include on sherd of pottery (5g) from trench 6. It has been identifued as a medieval grey jug worn by water. A small group of Cermaic building materials (10g) were also recovered from trench 6. The assemblage includes a small brick fragment and nine roof tile sherds c.15mm thick. Despite the archaeological potential of the site, the majority of trenches were archeologically sterile, with the only datable evidence recovered from the site located within alluvial deposit 604, which was residual in nature.