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Test-Pit 41: Field at bottom of Cedar Drive (SK 40932 02833)

Test-pit 41 was excavated in grassland in a horse paddock at the southern end of Cedar Drive at SK 40932

02833 (Figure 1). Over two days on 21-22 July 2018, the test-pit was dug to a depth of c.0.35m with four spits

recorded. The excavation was carried out by Judy Buckell, Gill Higgins, Lesley Tweddle and Ben Harding.

Figure 1: Excavation of Test-Pit 41. Looking north-east.

Figure 2: Test-Pit 41 post-excavation. Looking north.

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During the excavation, c.0.25m of turf and greyish-brown clayey-silt topsoil (Spits 1-3) was removed. Beneath

this was c.0.05m of greyish-orange silty-clay subsoil (Spit 3). The natural substratum, greyish-yellow clay,

was reached c.0.25m below the ground. No archaeological features or deposits were recorded (Figure 2).

In all, 55 individual finds (426g) were recovered from the test-pit (Table 1). The topsoil and subsoil produced

39 fragments of brick rubble and broken breeze-block. This probably relates to the construction of the Cedar

Drive housing development to the north in the latter half of the 20th century. Pottery included 2 sherds of post-

medieval glazed earthenware (c.1550-1850), 2 sherds of medieval Chilvers Coton and sandy ware (c.1250-

1400), and a single sherd of Roman greyware (AD c.43-410) - Figure 3. Other finds included 7 pieces of

modern bottle and window glass, 7 pieces of clinker and iron slag, and 4 pieces of animal bone.

Figure 3: From l-r: Roman, medieval and late medieval pot from TP 41.

The thin, poor quality soil and scarcity of recent finds reflect the site’s known history. Historic maps show that

this area was formerly part of Bosworth Park until the Cedar Drive housing development took place. Bosworth

Park, part of the Bosworth Hall estate, dates to at least the 17th century when the Hall was built but is probably

much older, potentially part of the medieval Southwood Park, a deer park first mentioned in the early 13th

century. For much of this time it was probably permanent grassland and therefore there was no opportunity to

enrich the soil with domestic waste. However, surviving ridge and furrow in the field shows that this area was

once under cultivation. This would account for the small quantity of Roman, medieval and post-medieval

material found in the test-pit which is likely to have been introduced to the soil through manuring cultivated

ground with domestic waste transported from elsewhere.

Table 1: Catalogue of finds from Test-Pit 41.

Test

-pit Spit Material* No. Description Date Notes

41 1 CBM 5 Reddish orange

CBM Modern

41 1 Glass 1 Clear curved glass Modern

41 1 Industrial 6 Clinker Unknown

41 2 BM 8 Breeze block Modern

41 2 CBM 12 Orangeish pink

CBM Modern

41 2 Glass 6 Clear flat glass Modern

41 2 Industrial 1 Slag Unknown

41 2 Pot 1 Black glazed

earthenware later Post-medieval pierced hole in upper wall, ?collander

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Test

-pit Spit Material* No. Description Date Notes

41 2 Pot 1 Earthenware 1 early Post-medieval

41 2 Pot 1 Chilvers Coton A

ware later High medieval c.1250+

41 2 Pot 1 Grey ware -

unclassified Roman

41 3 Bone 4 Misc animal bone Unknown

41 3 CBM 6 Reddish orange

CBM Modern

41 3 Pot 2 Medieval sandy

ware later High medieval

*BM – Building Material, CBM – Ceramic Building Material