Fobney Island, Reading, Berkshire

In October 2010, Oxford Archaeology South undertook an archaeological evaluation at Fobney Island, Reading, Berkshire for Jacobs Engineering Ltd on behalf of the
Environment Agency. The evaluation aimed to assess the likely impacts of the creation of a new habitat
restoration project within the island on the buried archaeological remains and important floodplain sequence known within the Kennet Valley. Six trenches and six
boreholes were used to evaluate the site to assess its archaeological and palaeoenvironmental potential.
The boreholes successfully identified and mapped a 3m deep stratified sequence of fluvial sands, silty clay alluvium and organic silts. Mapping of the sedimentary
sequence revealed a possible Late Glacial channel, infilled with organic silts, peats and silty clay alluviums. A series of undated channels and buried surfaces were also
identified within the upper sequence. These deposits were found to have only moderate palaeoenvironmental potential with limited scope for further analysis.
No significant archaeological features or deposits were identified within any of the trenches. A small assemblage of animal bone, struck and burnt flint was collected
from the basal alluvial deposits within trenches 1, 4 and 5 adjacent to the main buried palaeochannel. The slightly abraded condition of the flints may suggest that
their position has been modified to some degree within the sequence.
The result of the fieldwork indicated that there is low potential for archaeological remains here, and if present are likely to be discrete features or deposits that are
difficult to identify within evaluations.
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