Source/Archive record SCH9569 - A Palaeoenvironmental Analysis at Chelford Road, Henbury

Report of the results of a palaeoenvironmental analysis which was undertaken on land situated at the north-eastern extent of Chelford Road, Henbury. The analysis targeted two peat-filled wetland basins which are the result of organic formation extending back to the onset of the Holocene. This analysis follows an earlier geoarchaeological assessment (R4702, SCH9458) which highlighted these two basins as being notable palaeoenvironmental archives, as well as defining their spatial extent. This analysis demonstrates that these peat-filled basins are palaeoenvironmental archives which specifically detail a history of local natural vegetation transition following the onset of the Holocene. Following the transition from post-glacial lacustrine clay deposition and onto organic sediment formation, a succession of woodland communities dominated the site. Dominant birch forest was eclipsed by hazel woodland during the early Holocene, this was superseded by mixed coniferous (pine) and deciduous woodland by the mid-Holocene and then by deciduous forest primarily composed of oak and alder. No evidence for human presence was identified by the palaeoenvironmental analysis.