Shotton Triangle Site, Northumberland, Archaeological Evaluation (OASIS ID: adarchae1-163165)

AD Archaeology was commissioned by Banks Mining to undertake an archaeological trenching evaluation in advance of a proposed extension of Shotton Surface mine, to the south and west of Shotton Village. The evaluation consisted of 15 trenches representing a relatively low level of trial trenching sample which was designed simply to test the results of the geophysical survey and establish if significant archaeology occurs in areas of the site. The sample size was not sufficiently robust to confirm the presence/absence of archaeological features across the site as a whole. As such it is understood by all parties that a further stage of mitigation in the form of a strip and record (monitoring) exercise will be required irrespective of the results of the limited evaluation trenching. In addition after the initial evaluation trenches were excavated, and following discussions with Banks Mining and Northumberland Conservation Team, three additional trenches (tr14b, 16, 17) were excavated in the north western portion of the site to investigate features identified there. In total archaeological features were present in 9 of the 18 trenches excavated (total includes tr14b). With the exception of trench 8 at the southern end of the site, the trenches with features of archaeological interest were all located in areas where geophysical anomalies gave a strong suggestion that such features would be present. Three principal areas of archaeological sensitivity have been identified by the archaeological trenching evaluation: 1- Medieval Features associated with the medieval village in the southeast sector within trenches 1-4. 2- Medieval features associated with the medieval village to the west of extant village within trenches 14/14b, 16, 17. 3- Two undated archaeological features and possible water course within trench 8.

AD考古（AD Archaeology）受班克斯矿业（Banks Mining）委托，为配合肖顿村（Shotton Village）西南及西侧区域拟建的肖顿露天矿（Shotton Surface mine）扩建工程，开展考古探槽评估工作。本次评估初始布设15个探槽，属于样本量相对有限的试掘探槽组，其设计目标仅为验证地球物理勘探（geophysical survey）结果，并探查场地内是否存在具有重要学术价值的考古遗存。本次探槽样本量不足以全面验证整个场地内考古遗迹的有无情况，因此各方均达成共识：无论本次有限探槽评估的结果如何，均需开展后续阶段的考古文物保护工作，具体形式为覆土剥离与遗存记录（监测）作业。此外，在初始评估探槽开挖完成后，经与班克斯矿业及诺森伯兰保护团队（Northumberland Conservation Team）磋商，项目组在场地西北部额外开挖了3个探槽（编号tr14b、16、17），以进一步探查该区域已初步识别的考古遗迹。本次共开挖18个探槽（含新增的tr14b），其中9个探槽内发现了考古遗迹。除场地南端的8号探槽外，其余发现考古遗存的探槽均分布在地球物理勘探显示存在显著异常、提示大概率存在考古遗存的区域。本次考古探槽评估共识别出三处具有较高考古敏感性的核心区域：1. 东南片区1-4号探槽内发现的中世纪村落相关遗存遗迹；2. 14/14b、16、17号探槽内发现的现存村落西侧中世纪村落相关遗存遗迹；3. 8号探槽内发现的两处未断代考古遗迹及疑似古河道遗存。