TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS JOINT COMMITTEE
27 NOVEMBER 2003
REPORT OF: Director of Museums and Galleries
SUBJECT:
Recent Archaeological Fieldwork
1.
2.
3.
Newcastle Great Park
1.1
Within Cell LC, to the north of Brunton Lane and south of the Sage
complex, an area of about 2.5 acres has been stripped of topsoil to
reveal a complex of circular timber dwellings presumed to be of Iron
Age date. Excavation is planned to take 12 - 16 weeks over the
winter and the results should enhance those of a previous
excavation undertaken on a similar site reported to this committee
throughout 2002. An evaluation of this site was reported to
committee in the report for August 2003.
1.2
A public relations company, Karol Marketing, has been appointed by
the Newcastle Great Park consortium, to promote the exercise to
the public, including media coverage and school visits.
Large Projects
2.1
The evaluation of a site selected for development in Co. Durham
has revealed a complex of ditches containing a type of pottery
known as Meldon Bridge ware. This is one of the earliest forms of
pottery known in Britain and dates to the third - fourth millennium
BC, i.e. around 3,500 BC. Of the greatest importance is evidence of
early environments provided by well-preserved organic deposits
including worked wood.
2.2
An evaluation at Woodbridge Quarry, north Northumberland, has
revealed a complex of prehistoric features, some of which contain
Grimston ware pottery, the earliest form of pottery known from
Britain, dating to the fourth millennium BC. This find provides
additional information about an area already known to be of
extremely high significance for the earliest post-glacial communities
in northern England.
Other Sites
3.1
At West Allotment, North Tyneside, as part of an on-going
programme of evaluation and archaeological appraisal, an
evaluation of one of the earliest waggonways on Tyneside, which
was constructed in 1764, has been undertaken. The work has
revealed settings for stone sleepers and a sleeper itself.
3.2
At Pendower Hall, Benwell, a well-preserved stretch of the Military
Way, the Roman road linking forts along the line of Hadrian's Wall
has been located. Elsewhere, the northern ditch of Hadrian's Wall
was identified within an evaluation trench undertaken at Throckley
Middle School.
3.3
Other Assessments, Surveys, Watching Briefs and Evaluations to
inform the relevant authorities in advance of developments have
been or are being undertaken at Walwick, Stobswood, Peel House
and Blyth Links (all Northumberland), Riverview (Gateshead), Hume
Street and Miller's Dene (Newcastle).
3.4 Trial excavations at Millers Road, Fossway, were carried out on the
assumed line of Hadrian’s Wall in advance of road and service
works associated with the redevelopment of the former bus depot.
The brief (prepared by the County Archaeologist) was for a trench
one metre deep, the level to which the proposed works would
penetrate. No signs of Hadrian’s Wall were seen because of the
depth of the modern overburden.
4.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is recommended to note the report
Background Papers held by the Head of Archaeology at Arbeia Roman Fort;
Tel 0191 454 4093 or by the Senior Keeper of Field Archaeology at Jesmond
Old Cemetery. Tel: (0191) 281 6251
Other background papers to this report contain confidential or exempt
information.