Site Event/Activity record ECH3541 - M6 Motorway Widening Scheme, Junctions 16-20. Archaeological Recording of Test Pits.

Desk-based archaeological evaluation supplemented with field visits, also the monitoring of 93 geological test pits, opened in April and May 1993, between Junctions 16-20 of the M6 Motorway prior to carriageway widening. The 93 trenches each measured 3m by 1m and were excavated to an approximate depth of 3m. The location of the trenches had been chosen to test the integrity of the ground surface and did not take into account archaeological considerations. A principle result of the programme of archaeological observation of the geological test pits is the lack of any significant below ground, archaeological deposits. However given the location of the test pits was chosen on geological and not archaeological grounds, this result is not overly surprising. Only a small number of the test pits produced evidence for archaeology, and these were mostly field systems. It was also apparent that the original construction of the M6 carriageway has had a profound destructive effect on the potential survival of ephemeral archaeological features in its vicinity. Few finds were recovered and those that were, were modern in date. However, the desk-based research did highlight potential archaeological sites and buildings requiring further assessment. (1)