Heathfield Nook Road, Harpur Hill - Archaeological Investigations Report

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological test pitting survey, evaluation and mitigation on a 5.4 ha parcel of land located off Heathfield Nook Road, Harpur Hill, Derbyshire, SK17 9PP, centred on NGR 407144 370461.

Thirty-six test pits were dug on a 2 x 2 m grid within a 10 x 10 m area. Each measured 0.25 x 0.25m, with a maximum depth of 0.3 m. The 10 x 10 m test pitting area was centred on a flint artefact previously recovered. Three trial trenches, each measuring 10 x 2 m, were also excavated. Two were arranged in a T shape centred on silt deposit previously identified; the third targeted further flint identified by the test pit survey. The third trench was later extended to create a 10 x 10 m mitigation area designed to clarify the origin of the flint identified during test pitting and evaluation.

Of the 36 excavated test pits, five contained archaeological finds, with a slight concentration in the northern part of the sampled area. However, no features were noted. Trenches 1 and 2 intercepted a limestone quarry pit, seemingly backfilled in or shortly after the late 19th/early 20th century, whereas trench 3 contained no evidence of an archaeological nature, with no further remains encountered when it was extended to form the 10 x 10 m mitigation area (trench 4).

A small quantity of finds was recovered; apart from five struck flints, all finds were either of presumed or demonstrable modern date. A bulk sediment sample was taken from the quarry pit, but was found to contain little environmental evidence.