Source/Archive record SCH8302 - Investigation of Two Enclosures at Puddington Lane, Burton, Wirral

A programme of archaeological assessment was undertaken by the National Museums Liverpool for two enclosures at Puddington Lane, Burton, Wirral. They were originally identified as cropmarks through aerial reconnaissance. Investigation of the southern, sub-circular enclosure occurred in 2010-2011 as part of a research project to discover its date, function and character. Work comprised field walking, metal detecting, geophysical survey (see ECH 5301, SCH 6678) and the excavation of test pits and two trial trenches across the perimeter ditch of the enclosure. From the artefactual evidence recovered, three main phases of activity on site were identified. The earliest evidence consists of lithics (worked chert and flint) of early Mesolithic date found in the topsoil and enclosure ditches, these are thought to be residual, but indicates a more widespread and diffuse earlier activity across the site. A later prehistoric pottery sherd, probably Iron Age, was recovered from a primary fill of the enclosure ditch, providing evidence that the enclosure was constructed and used from this date. Three pottery sherds of Roman date were recovered, including a black-burnished sherd from a primary fill of the ditch, dating between 120-350 AD. The other sherds recovered were a piece of Cheshire Plains orange ware, of probable second to third century date, and a mortarium rim dating to the late third to mid fourth century, indicating later activity on site. Both trenches produced evidence of metal working waste. Investigation of the northern, sub-rectangular enclosure followed in 2013 as a result of a threat to the site through development of the proposed Wirral HVDC Cable Project. Work similarly included field walking, metal detecting and the excavation of five trial trenches. The specific aims of the assessment was to determine the full extent of the enclosure, in particular to the north where the ditch was not visible on the photography as a clearly defined cropmark, also to recover sufficient artefactual evidence to determine the date and function of the enclosure. Excavation within the enclosure was intended to determine character and preservation of any internal features. Trench I, situated within the enclosure's interior, recorded two stone-lined post holes and a key-hole shaped oven with a fired clay lining and containing Roman pottery. Trench II cut through the perimeter ditch of the enclosure on the east side. It measured 1.8m wide and 0.70 deep and had a U-shaped profile, sloping sides, with a wide, flattened bottom. Roman pottery was recovered from the lower fill of the ditch. Trench III also cut through the enclosure perimeter ditch on the north side. It measured 3.25m wide and 1.25m deep. The primary fill contained much charcoal which was sampled. Trench V recorded a ditch boundary producing eighteenth and nineteenth century pottery, it coincides with a boundary depicted on the Tithe Map. Trench VI recorded nineteenth century field drains; this trench was not fully excavated. Artefactual evidence recovered demonstrates a Romano-British date for the sub-rectangular enclosure. The walkover surveys produced at least 42 sherds of Roman pottery, a sizeable quantity for lowland North West England. The trenches produced a further 15 sherds, 8 of which were stratified. The sherds date from 160-200 (Wilderspool mortarium rim) to third to mid fourth century (Oxfordshire red-slipped ware). This date range is confirmed by two Roman coins recovered through the metal detecting survey, including a worn coin of Marcus Aurelius, indicating a date of loss in the latter part of the second century, whilst the second coin dates to 337-41, confirming activity until the mid fourth century.