Redhill Marina, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire. A Programme of Archaeological Investigations

Birmingham Archaeology was commissioned by Red Hill Marine Ltd to undertake a programme of trial trenching in 2001, to establish the depth and nature of archaeological deposits to the south of Red Hill. In 2007 an evaluation was carried out in advance of any development at the site of Red Hill marina, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire. The project was sponsored by Richard Morley of Red Hill Marine Ltd and undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology. A total of 68 trenches were excavated across the site in order to characterise and assess the depth and nature of the archaeological deposits. The trenches aligned parallel, and close to the farm track revealed deep, urban style stratigraphy with a thick Roman layer overlying discreet features. The archaeology was characterised by rubbish pits and gully-like drainage features. There were also four inhumations with associated grave goods in two of the trenches. A number of metal artefacts were also recovered, mostly comprising Roman coinage. The pottery recovered was wide ranging in style and status but all was very well preserved. A small amount of possible prehistoric or Saxon material was also recovered which is illustrative of the longevity of the site. Later episodes of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation were visible as positive as well as negative features. These features tail off towards the floodplain edge and are good indicators for the limit of dry land exploitation in antiquity. The floodplain deposits were found to consist mostly of oxidised alluvium overlying grey inorganic silts. An archaeological assessment of an area of land at Red Hill Farm, Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire was conducted in 2008. This assessment forms part of an Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed development and considers below ground impacts only.