Site Event/Activity record ECH3963 - A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 2002 of the proposed route of the A34 Alderley Edge to Nether Alderley Bypass. The evaluation works comprised targeted topographic and palaeoecological survey of several previously identified sites of archaeological potential, followed by trial trenching of portions of the remaining route corridor. The evaluation identified the presence of worked flint dating to the Mesolithic or early Neolithic on a sand ridge overlooking the site of a former mire. The former mire was found to contain deposits of peat with well preserved plant remains that offer the potential to reconstruct the vegetation of the area during the past. A causeway was shown to be post medieval in date, whilst two other sites were shown to be former extraction pits. Four portions of the proposed route corridor were subjected to trial trenching, with a total of 102 trenches excavated. Only one archaeologically significant feature was identified - an undated ditch (D29). An area of archaeological potential was identified by the presence of fragments of lead across a discrete area (trenches D1-D12). (1)