Wallingford Road Phase 2, Cholsey, Oxfordshire. Archaeological Evaluation (OASIS ID: cotswold2-402847)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology in October 2019 at Wallingford Road, Cholsey, Oxfordshire. Twenty four trenches were excavated. The evaluation demonstrated a high level of archaeological survival across the site and a close correlation with the geophysical results, as well as additional previously unknown features. This has significantly built upon the results of the excavation at East End Farm and clearly demonstrated a continuation of the identified field systems into the evaluated site. The evaluation has tentatively identified a minimum of two phases of activity on site. A late Neolithic phase consisting of a series of sinuous ditches was identified across the south-eastern side of the site. These ditches most likely formed part of a larger agricultural system of enclosures and drove ways. Further evidence of this period is found in Pit 907, with Late Late Neolithic pottery and evidence of hearth waste recovered from it. Well persevered Early Neolithic pottery was also recovered from the subsoil in Trench 21, although not related to the Later Neolithic field systems, this hints at an earlier phase of activity on site. The excavation at East End Farm dated the field system ditches found there to predominantly the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age and the continuation of this field system can be clearly seen within the site. It is characterised by relatively large fields interspersed with ditches delineating smaller paddocks or enclosures. A series of trackways/droveways can be seen running parallel across the landscape at regular intervals, in a broad northwest, south-east alignment