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A.P.A.C. Ltd.
Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy
REPORT
WB/CAE6/16
Prepared for:
MR A. Lewis
By: Dr N. Phillips.
A.P.A.C. Ltd. Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent WB/CAE6/16
Summary
The property is situated close to the Roman town of Caerwent and as such, within
an archaeologically sensitive area.
Copyright Notice:
A.P.A.C. Ltd. retains copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains
otherwise with the Ordnance Survey.
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent WB/CAE6/16
Contents
Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Contents........................................................................................................................................... 2
Figures: ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Plates: .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Appendices ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Site Location and Description ......................................................................................................... 4
Brief archaeological and historical background .............................................................................. 4
Aims and Objectives ....................................................................................................................... 6
Watching Brief ................................................................................................................................ 6
Watching Brief Results ................................................................................................................... 6
Interpretation ................................................................................................................................... 7
Staff ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Archive: ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Acknowledgements: ........................................................................................................................ 7
Bibliography and References: ......................................................................................................... 8
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Figures:
Plates:
Appendices
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A.P.A.C. Ltd. Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent WB/CAE6/16
Introduction
This report; arising from an Archaeological Watching Brief, has been prepared by Dr N. Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd, in
response to a required programme of works: Proposed front single story extension and porch: Ten Elms Farm
Caerwent Road, Caerwent, Pl.App.No. 2015/00869, (MON2185/JBHD) NGR: 346332190647 for which a planning
condition was attached.
The need for a programme of archaeological works; a watching brief, resulted from advice by Glamorgan Gwent
Archaeological Trust, (GGAT); consultants to Monmouthshire County Council, (MCC), (ibid.).
No development shall take place until the applicant, or their agents or successors in title, has
secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written
scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved in writing by the
local planning authority.
Reason: To identify and record any features of archaeological interest discovered during the
works, in order to mitigate the impact of the works on the archaeological resource.
(ibid.).
Approval of planning permission with conditions was granted on 1st September 2015; condition 3 requiring
archaeological investigation, as stated above.
A Written Scheme of Investigation for the archaeological work was drawn up, submitted and approved in writing
before any work began, WSI: WB/CA6/15.
The location of the site NGR: 346332 190647 can be gained from the A448, Chepstow – Newport Rd, fig 01.
Approximately 4½ miles after leaving Chepstow on the A48, turn left at the sign for Caerwent Roman City.
Drive through the town entering by the old east gate and exiting through the old west gate and continue for a few
hundred meters to the second property on the left; 10 Elms Farm.
The area to be developed was a lawn to the side of the property and showed no sign of any surface anomalies.
The solid geology at the site is Avon Group, mudstones and limestone with a possible superficial deposit of silts,
(BGS).
The ground is bordered along the north by the old road through Caerwent and gently slopes southward towards the
shallow valley of the Nedern brook.
The archaeological record of the Caerwent area is well represented from prehistory to present, with resources from
late prehistoric times to present, surrounding the village.
Indeed, a 5km diameter search around Caerwent would reveal archaeological resources from the Bronze Age, Iron
Age, Roman, Early Medieval, Medieval, Norman, Post medieval and even Modern WWII.
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However, as the search area is reduced, the resources become more Roman based, which is no surprise, for as stated
above; the site lies adjacent to the area of the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Venta Silurum, SAM MM001, the
Roman civitas of the Iron Age Silures.
The site itself is outside of the scheduled area but within one of Monmouthshire’s 31 designated conservation areas
since its designation in 1976, (CCAAMP, p9 2012).
A 500m radius HER search; 5284, around the proposed site, NGR 346332 190647, revealed records for a total of 16
archaeological events, appendix I and 34 Core listings, appendix II.
Of the 16 Events; 5284, listed for the 500m search; Appendix I, of specific interest due to close proximity were:
E002548: A watching brief by Cambria Archaeology, (Dyfed Archaeological Trust) in 2001 near
the West gate which resulted in the confirmation of archaeological resources in the
form of Roman building foundations running North-south. The presence of the walls
suggested the underlying deposits in the western area hide fairly extensive Roman
remains. (Jones 2001) The watching brief also yielded an assortment of Roman finds,
and two sherds of post medieval ceramics. (1078 201/13).
E000944 A further watching brief in the above area mentioned, yielded more Roman finds.
(Hood. A, 2610 209/01).
E003672 In 1991 an evaluation by GGAT took place for the instalment of a new pipeline for
British gas. During field walking numerous Roman and post medieval finds were found.
One particular find during the field walk in the area to the north west of the Ten Elms
Farm, was a prehistoric flint arrow head. Core No 05049g. (Maylan, C.N., 1991).
The Core report; 5284 mentions many finds of mostly Roman origin; however, in the area of Ten Elms
Farm these finds are confined to the events at Westgate farm. (E003563), (E000139), (E000944), with the
one exception of a Neolithic arrow head (05059g) found during field walk evaluations. (E003672)
One other Core report of specific interest lies with record 07746g; an unknown, rectilinear enclosure
apparent on aerial photographs, showing an enclosure c30m x 15m running parallel with another
rectilinear feature with its long side 20m to its south.
This cropmark is aligned on the Roman road which continues its use as a modern day road. (Air
photo/1946/CPE UK 1885/4038-40.) (Evans 2001)
This could be fairly significant as this spot lies directly within the property of Ten Elms Farm.
Cartographic information gathered for the area from the first series maps indicates nothing of any note.
Nothing of interest appears until sometime between 1900 and 1950 and the 1954 map, fig 04a shows the placement
of 10 Elms farm, Caerwent.
The modern day magic map, fig 04b would confirm that there have been no changes of any significance to the area
since the construction of 10 Elms farm.
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The aim of the watching brief was to preserve by record, within the resources available, any archaeological deposits
uncovered during groundwork.
The watching brief also ensured that: in the event of archaeological resources of significance, being discovered and
requiring treatment beyond the remit of the watching brief, that steps would be implemented to ensure that their
treatment would be undertaken within the standards recommended by the CIfA.
Watching Brief
The ground disturbance work was proposed for the 10th of June 2016 and GGAT and planning were given due
notice of that intention.
Prior to the excavation of the trenches, a small porch, and surrounding path, PL01 were removed and an area of
lawn, was de turfed, PL02.
Initial recording
A record of the features and stratigraphy exposed during excavation was kept including written notes and
photographs.
Measurements were taken regularly using Leica Disto 510, laser measurement device.
Post Ex
Following the watching brief, the field notes and photographs were digitised to produce the context record of the
stratigraphy; Appendix III, and an annotated list of the photographs, Appendix IV.
The two appendices; III Context and IV Photographs were cross referenced ready for inclusion in the report.
Presentation Notes:
All contexts are denoted [#] in the text, listed in Appendix V, cross referenced in Appendix VI, to the plates section.
Photographs used in the text are denoted Pl # and a complete list of photographs can be found in appendix VI with
contact sheets.
Initial excavation began at the north east corner of the property and quickly established a natural stratigraphy under
a deposition layer of topsoil, PL03.
Trench 1:
[100] a light brown sandy clay topsoil to a depth of 320mm which overlay
[101] a light brown sandy silt some 200mm in depth, under which was
[102] a light brown sandy clay, at least 150mm, and finally
[103] an orange/red silty clay of which 500mm was exposed within the depth range of the trench.
A further small lens of orange sandy clay with small rounded pebbles, [104], was detected some 2m from the house
wall in trench 1 but this was as a result of a miss judged depth by the machine operator.
The chance glimpse did however, confirm the geology of the vicinity as being of riverine origin.
A localised disturbance was observable in east and west sections of trench 1 taking the form of a buried service pipe
and associated fill, which had been cut into [101] and covered by [100], PL02, (centre).
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At the southern end, the foundation of the house, [108] can be seen, cut into [101] to about 120mm.
Trench 2, was identical to trench 1 with the exception of a couple of tree roots from a large tree recently felled for
this project, PL04.
The same was found to be the case with trenches 3 and 4, PL05, PL06, PL07, PL08.
Interpretation
The site provided no evidence of any disturbance other than a land drain which cut trenches 1 and 2 east to west.
The apparent shallow 260mm depth of foundation exposed in trenches 1 & 2 also denote little ground disturbance.
No evidence of anything relating to the cropmark 07746g was found but then the cropmark could be further north,
just beyond this ground disturbance.
It would appear that the area that was disturbed during this work is entirely natural, undisturbed, riverine deposit on
a gentle slope towards to brook to the south.
Staff
Archive:
The original archive for this project will remain with APAC Ltd.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Mr A Lewis for allowing access to his site, and his efficient handling of the excavation.
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Ashby, T.,
Hudd, A.E.,
& Martin, A.T., 1903 Excavations at Caerwent, Monmouthshire on the Site of the Romano-British City of
Venta Silurum in 1902. J.B. Nichols 1903.
Code of Conduct and the Code of Approved Practice for the regulation of
Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology. 2008.
GGAT. 2014. MON2185/JBHD. Re: Proposed Front Single Storey Extension and Porch: Ten
Elmes Farm, Caerwent Rd. Caerwent. PL.App.No.: DC/2015/00869.
GGAT HER 5284 HER 500m search centred NGR 346332 190647, Caerwent.
Monmouthshire County
Council Approval of Planning Permission. DC/2015/00869.
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Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
adapted from: Maison Design
MH-G651
1k
Map data ©2015 Google
TR4 Lawn
TR3
TR2 TR1
Lawn
Hedge
House
Path
0 2 4
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
Plate 03a, HER Core map.
The Ordnance Survey has granted A.P.A.C. Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. 100046577)
Plate 04a, Monmouthshire XXX. Revised 1949. Published 1954. 1:25000 detail.
Plate 04b, magic map 2016, 1:25000 detail. A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CAE6//16
Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent
DSC00066
DSC08751
Plate 01: Site visit for WSI. General view Plate 02: Trench 1, stratigraphic sequence [100], [101],
[102], [103], [105], [106], [107],
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DSC00067
Plate 03: Trench 1, stratigraphic sequence [100], [101], Plate 04: Trench 2, stratigraphic A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CAE6/16
[102], [103], [105], [106], [107], [108], [109] sequence [100], [101], [102], [103],
[105], [106], [107], & [108], Detail
Ten Elms Farm, Caerwent
DSC00077
DSC00071
Plate 05: Trench 2 & 3, stratigraphic sequence [100], Plate 06: Trench 4, sequence [100], [101], [102], [103],
[101], [102], [103] [105], [106], [107], [108], [109]
DSC00075
DSC00076
Plate 07: Trench 1, stratigraphic sequence [100], [101], Plate 08: Trenches 1, 2, & 3 A.P.A.C. Ltd WB/CAE6/16
[102], [103], [105], [106], [107], [108], [109] complete with 4 being excavated.
[100], [101], [102], [103], [105], [106], [107], [108], [109]
A.P.A.C. Ltd. Appendix I WB/CAE6/16
Contractors: