Carlisle Flood Defence Scheme, Carlisle, Cumbria. Archaeological Watching Brief

A watching brief was undertaken by Oxford Archaeology North between April and May 2004 at Carlisle, Cumbria (centred on NY 42000 56000), on a series of geotechnical test pits. The work was commissioned by Atkins Water following proposed improvements to the local flood defence system. To complement the watching brief results, data from geotechnical boreholes was also required by Oxford Archaeology North for palaeoenvironmental purposes.

Of the 33 geotechnical test pits that were opened, seven contained significant archaeological horizons. The finds included many bottles and jars, mostly complete, as well as drinking glasses and other tableware, both glass and ceramic. The context from which they came is interpreted as a midden dating from between the late nineteenth century through to the early twentieth, including the First World War. No horizons of earlier date were encountered.

No further archaeological work was recommended as a result of the watching brief. However, the results from of the palaeoenvironmental element will be the subject of a separate, forthcoming, report.