Evaluation at Scot Elm Drive, Weston-Super-Mare

Avon Archaeology Ltd were appointed to undertake a programme of archaeological investigation on land at Scot Elm Drive, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. The work was commissioned in order to fulfil the requirements of the planning department in relation to an application to develop the site for housing (application ref: 21/P/2219/OUT). The methodology and aims of the project were set out in a Written Scheme of Investigation (Context One 2025), which was approved by North Somerset Council. This report sets out the results of a programme of archaeological works undertaken at land off Scot Elm Drive, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. It is required by North Somerset Council in relation to the planning application to develop the site (ref: 21/P/2219/OUT). The fieldwork took the form of two defined areas of investigation, which are described as 'enhanced evaluation'. The two areas were targeted features uncovered during previous archaeological evaluation undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology. The aims and methodology of the project were set out in a WSI prepared by Context One Archaeology. In summary the project was designed to further interrogate, and gain a better understanding of, features identified during the earlier site evaluation. Features, buried deep within alluvial estuarine deposits were recorded within both of the excavated areas. The alluvial deposits can be considered as part of an estuarine depositional sequence known as the Wentlooge Formation, which has been proven, at various strata, to seal anthropogenic activity. Findings from within this sequence are significant because they provide dating evidence and information that enable greater understanding of the Wentlooge Formation as a whole, which encompasses a large area of the Severn estuary. As is often the case with archaeological investigations within the alluvial deposits of the Severn, although cut features and deposits were identified, dating evidence was scarce. The features, in both areas, comprised gullies and ditches sealed by and cut into layers of alluvium. Area 2 also contained two probable post holes. No dating evidence was recovered for Area 1, but animal bone fragments were recovered from stratified features and deposits in area two, from which radiocarbon dates were obtained. The dates, although unreliable coming from such sparse evidence, which may be residual, indicate Roman activity and at least low level land management followed by marsh in the post-Roman period. A monolith through the features and deposits, along with bulk samples, have been assessed for geoarchaeological and environmental potential and, whilst additional fieldwork could probably not be justified, a further programme of geoarchaeological study and potentially further radio carbon assay is recommended.