Burns Wood, Lancashire. Archaeological Post Excavation Assessment

An archaeological evaluation of Franklaw to Burnacre water main was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology North in February 2003 on behalf of United Utilities Ltd. The results of the evaluation have been presented in a separate report (OA North 2003). One of the sites evaluated, site 37 Burns Wood (SD 35193 44799), located a number of post holes and stake holes within trench 11. These were dated to the Middle Bronze Age by a large vessel sherd of Deverel Rimbury pottery found within one of the post holes. Following recommendations made by the Lancashire County Council Archaeological Services, OA North was commissioned to undertake the archaeological excavation of the pipeline easement in the area of Site 37, prior to the insertion of the pipe in July 2003. The following report details the assessment of the paper archive, artefacts and ecofacts recovered from excavation, considers the site in terms of both national and regional research agendas, and supplies an updated project design detailing the post-excavation requirements and costings.