Land adjacent to 10 Walworth Road, Picket Piece, Andover, Hampshire - Post-excavation Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

The excavation was focused on two areas of archaeological consideration based upon a previous evaluation conducted by Wessex Archaeology in April 2019. Area A contained several discrete prehistoric features arranged along an east-west axis with artefactual evidence of struck flint from the Neolithic/Bronze Age periods. A single sherd of Romano-British pottery was also recovered. The excavation located an additional two intercutting pits to the east of, and aligned with, the prehistoric features. Worked flint from these pits was of a similar nature to the flints recovered during the evaluation and were dated to the Neolithic/Bronze Age period.

Area B was centred on the southern ends of trenches 15, 16 and 17, which had revealed an undated trackway aligned with, and to the north of, the modern Walworth Road. The excavation of Area B further defined the trackway as being composed of wheel-ruts set 1.6 m apart with an area of animal disturbance between them caused by draught animals pulling wheeled vehicles. The trackway was determined to be a precursor to the modern Walworth Road. Evidence of prehistoric quarrying was also noted to the immediate north of the trackway; this was considered likely to be contemporary with the Area A activities.

A single iron arrowhead, of medieval date, was recovered from a ditch. Although it is likely to be residual and no other medieval activities were noted from the area, it was considered to be the most significant artefact from the assessment.

It is proposed that no further works or analyses are required in relation to the evaluation and excavation.