Lochinvar Flood Alleviation Scheme, Longtown, Cumbria- Watching Brief

The Environment Agency has proposed the construction of a new embankment and lagoon as part of flood alleviation works to the east of Longtown, Cumbria (NY 38912 68774). The scheme was considered to lie within an area of archaeological potential. Consequently, Jacobs UK commissioned an archaeological watching brief on behalf of their client, the Environment Agency, to be undertaken during the preliminary phase of geotechnical groundworks.
The watching brief was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) in January 2008. In total, eight geotechnical trial pits were excavated, comprising four investigation pits for the boreholes and four hand-excavated trial holes. The pits and holes were each excavated to a maximum depth of 1.2m below the existing ground surface.
While no features, structures or deposits of archaeological significance were observed during these works, a small assemblage of artefacts were recovered from the topsoil disturbed during hand-digging activity. These comprised a small group of potsherds and a single prehistoric flint flake. The artefacts were unstratified and contributed little significance to the understanding of the site. No further archaeological work is recommended.