SWX8174 - Wytch Farm Oilfield Development, Infield Flowlines: Wellsite D to Gathering Station, Archaeological Assessment.

This report contains a summary of the results of an archaeological survey undertaken during November 1987 along the route of the proposed infield flowline from Wellsite D to the Gathering station. The survey area covers the proposed easement of the flowline, generally a 30 m wide corridor, and involves 12 field parcels (‘plots’). The results from the trial pits demonstrate that in addition to the earthwork observed in plot 3, an area of possible archaeological interest has been identified in plot 6. Here, trial pit 34, (located on a geophysical anomaly) and pit 35 (positioned within a surface depression), identifies two subsoil features or probable archaeological origin. The extent and nature of any associated deposits cannot be confirmed without further investigation. The linear earthwork observed in plot 3 is of unknown date, although its is unlikely to be of very recent date. This area is known to be the limit of Medieval heathland reclamation and it is therefore possible that the earthwork is a major land boundary of that period. Along the remaining areas of the proposed flowline route, the almost total lack of finds and the generally shallow and undifferentiated soil profiles recorded provide evidence to suggest that intensive, preserved archaeological deposits do not exist within the proposed easement.