MOD Ratfyn to Bulford Electricty Distribution upgrade (OASIS id: wessexar1-82199)

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Utility Consulting, on behalf of EDF Energy, to undertake an archaeological watching brief during the installation of a 33kv underground cable and overhead line works running from the Ratfyn Amesbury MOD electricity substation for approximately 2.5km towards Bulford Army Camp. The site is located immediately east of the UNESCO designated Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site (WHS) and lies within an area rich in prehistoric archaeology which includes a number of extant Bronze Age barrows and extensive Iron Age or Romano British field systems. The watching brief involved the monitoring of the excavation of the easement for the underground cable run and the excavation of three new pits for double electricity poles and stays and a further 13 screw bore holes for single poles. Despite the line of the Scheme passing through an area rich in prehistoric activity no archaeological features were revealed. A number of undated tree throws and modern features were identified. The watching brief took place intermittently during April and May 2010.