Site Event/Activity record ECH7155 - Land at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, Cheshire: Archaeological Watching Brief Report

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2022 at Crown Farm Quarry, Oakmere, in advance of extension of the quarry. Two fields in the Western Extension Area were stripped, as well as a small parcel in the Eastern Extension Area. A large enclosure ditch was recorded to the south of the Western Extension Area. The form of the ditch suggests it may be later prehistoric or, more likely, Roman in origin. A single sherd of samian pottery was recovered from a re-cut of the ditch, supporting a Romano-British date. Palaeoenvironmental data from the ditch was sparse, though charcoal was recovered. The investigation in the Western Extension Area also revealed twelve postholes, the majority of which were sub-square in plan with a least seven forming a possible circular structure. Palaeoenvironmental assessment suggests that two postholes, in relative isolation from the others, are likely to have contained burnt out conifer-type posts. Of potential significance, they also contained other plant remains including cereal grains, as well as a mixture of other non-economic plant remains. The posts are considered to be Industrial to modern in origin, however, may have been installed in an area where grain-drying was previously undertaken as some of the charred plant remains are reflective of earlier grain types although a date remains uncertain. A system of late post-medieval/modern drains, comprising a mixture of stone-filled and ceramic drains were recorded to the north of the area. Two ditches were recorded in the Eastern Extension Area, and likely to be related to modern agricultural activity. (1)