Site Event/Activity record ECH5612 - A556 Knutsford to Bowden Environment Improvement Scheme, Cheshire. Archaeological Evaluation Report

Following on from earlier archaeological assessment and geophysical survey (sources 2-4), an archaeological evaluation was undertaken in 2012 to further inform the proposed A556 Knutsford to Bowden Environment Improvement Scheme. This phase of work comprised the excavation of 19 trial trenches targeted on the results of the geophysical survey which included a group of undiagonistic anomalies adjacent to a possible barrow site north of the A50 (Area A) and two possible clamp kiln bases (Area B). The most significant discovery of the evaluation was the discovery of a cremation pit and associated gully termini in Area A, which are presumably Bronze Age in date. The remains comprised the bones of a young, probably female, adult and pyre debris which included animal remains. Two gully termini either side of the cremation pit may have formed part of a barrow ditch. No remains of archaeological significance were found in Area B, although the presence of burnt brick fragments in the topsoil could represent the remains of a ploughed out clamp kiln. (1)