Feasibility Study, Fishlake, South Yorkshire: Geoarchaeological Investigation and Dating Project

Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) was commissioned by the Environment Agency to undertake a feasibility study for a geoarchaeological investigation and scientific dating of a sediment sequence on land adjacent to the River Don, near Fishlake, Yorkshire (centred NGR TA 655135), which is proposed for a flood alleviation and habitat creation scheme. The client requested that OA North should assess the potential for investigating the sediment sequence that will be impacted by the proposed development. The site is situated on the floodplain of the River Don, between Stainforth in the south-west and Hangsman Hill in the north-east, and covers an area of approximately 4.5 km by 1.25 km.
The main aim of the feasibility study was to characterise the sequence and patterns of accumulation of sediment in the study area and to date the sediments using Optical Luminescence Dating (hereafter OSL dating).