Archaeological Watching Brief with Option to Excavate at Test Park Community Sports Facility, Lower Brownhill Road, Southampton.

Abstract

The project was an archaeological watching brief carried out on the construction of a new sports facility at Lower Brownhills Road, Southampton for Southampton Solent University. The natural was gravel overlain by brickearth. The aims of the investigation as defined in the written scheme of investigation were 'principally to determine the presence or absence of human use of the area, and the date, type, state of preservation, and extent of that use; to recover associated objects; and to record such evidence as does survive. In addition the nature, dimensions, and relationship of natural deposits will be noted and recorded' A total of 62 trenches were dug. Prehistoric activity was marked by three ditches, four pits and one posthole. Dating evidence was limited and some of the ditches were probably still functioning into the Roman period. Late Saxon activity was marked by one pit/posthole and four sherds from the subsoil. Medieval activity was marked by a pit and a posthole. Post-Medieval activity was marked by seven ditches, one pit and a posthole. The ditches are earlier than the field divisions shown on the mid-19th century tithe map and presumably pre-date the enclosure of the area