Agenda item

(To receive a presentation from Beryl Lott, Places Manager on the current situation with regards to the archaeological findings on the first part of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass)

Consideration was given to a report and presentation on the current situation with regards to the archaeological findings on the first part of the Lincoln Eastern Bypass (LEB).

Members were advised that there was a statutory responsibility to protect all types of heritage including archaeological remains and planning consent for the LEB required substantial archaeological work to be undertaken prior to the start of any road construction works.  Previous evaluations had identified a number of areas along the route which had a high potential for significant archaeological remains, and as construction of the road would destroy any such remains it was a condition of the Planning Consent that these remains were professionally excavated and recorded.

Archaeological contractors were appointed in October 2016 and concentrated on the land required by Network Rail, as part of it was required before the end of November 2016.  This area of land north and south of the railway line and across the valley of the River Witham had been identified as one of the most potentially significant archaeological areas along the route.  Members were advised that it was known that the valley of the River Witham had been an important focus of activity throughout the prehistoric period and that a medieval monastic grange was located somewhere in the vicinity of the railway west of Washingborough.  Evaluation work which had been carried out in 2008 had also shown that there was a potential for Roman remains.

Work undertaken on site so far had unearthed extensive remains associated with a 18^th century farmstead, the medieval monastic grange, a previously unknown medieval stone tower, a Saxon cemetery and extensive Roman remains which were not yet fully understood.  In addition there had also been extensive prehistoric finds from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age periods identified.  It was reported that this site was one of the largest Mesolithic site so far identified in the county and one of the largest known sites in the country.

Members were informed that burial sites had also been found which were dated from the 7^th and 8^th century, which was earlier than originally thought as it had been thought they were Anglo Saxon and dated from 9^th and 10^th century.   Remains of an 18^th century farmstead had also been discovered, which were quite extensive.  It was thought that this had been demolished at some point in time and rubble spread across a wide area.

The Committee received a presentation which gave a visual view of where remains had been found and were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and presentation and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was queried whether anything had been found with the burials which could give information about the people who had been buried there.  Members were advised that nothing had been found with them.

·         It was noted that some very substantial stone walls had been uncovered and it was reported that these could have been a medieval flood wall, as it was known that there had been wharves all the way out from Lincoln.

·         It was confirmed that the River Witham had been rerouted in the past, and the flood plain used to be very wide.

·         The remains for the stone tower were thought to date from 12^th century, and it was thought it could have been a beacon tower.  It was also noted that Roman material had been discovered beneath it.

·         It was commented that with remains being found on both sides of the railway, it was wondered what could be underneath it.  Officers advised that it was possible that most of the monastic grange was actually underneath the railway, as evidence of the building itself had not been found.

·         It was clarified that the Mesolithic finds dated from around 6000BC.

·         A large collection of flints had been discovered and it was believed that it was one of the largest in the region, and possibly one of the largest in the country.

·         It was reported that about 4 Roman pottery kilns had been found so far.

·         Roman burials had also been discovered.  However, they were not in a cemetery but were dotted about the site.

·         Also discovered were two trenches which were believed to be the remains of the most northern roman vineyards in the UK.

·         Three bronze age barrows had been found which had been excavated, and bronze age cremation urns and ashes had also been found.

·         Members were advised that officers had never seen a site with so many difference periods of archaeology and this had been a huge opportunity to learn more about the Lincoln landscape, and the finds told a story of how the river was used.

·         As the road was built all the remains would be destroyed.  All recovered artefacts would go to the Collection.  It had been suggested to Highways that there was a rolling exhibition as building of the road progressed.

·         It was queried whether some interpretive boards could be put up in suitable places along the route so people could understand what had been found.

·         Members were assured that there was sufficient budget and time to complete and record all the archaeological work before construction of the road commenced.

(NOTE: Councillor C Pain left the meeting at 3.05pm)

RESOLVED

            That the comments made in relation to the report and presentation be noted.