WYRE ESTUARY PIPELINE,POULTON-LE-FYLDE,LANCASHIRE Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment

In 2007, United Utilities submitted proposals for the construction of a water pipeline on land to the east of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire (SD 35841 30921 to SD 35559
38793; Planning References 02/07/0966-8 and 02/07/0940-1). Following recommendations by the Planning Archaeologist at Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS), an archaeological desk-based assessment, walkover survey, and
watching brief were undertaken by Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) during 2008–9. Features of potential Romano-British date were encountered during the watching brief and, as a result, programmes of archaeological strip and record were undertaken on land to the north of Garstang Road East, and to the south of Mains Lane.
The archaeological strip and record revealed the presence of remains indicative of at least five phases of activity, pertaining to the Romano-British, medieval, and post-medieval periods. The most conspicuous remains lay to the north of Garstang Road East and comprised an enclosed settlement dated to the Romano-British period. This
settlement was defined by at least two rectilinear ditched enclosures surrounding two roundhouses; furthermore, up to four rectilinear structures were also revealed within,
and adjacent to, the enclosures. Other ditches extended beyond the excavated area and might represent further inhabited enclosures, working areas, or parts of field systems. Numerous pits and ditches were encountered within the settlement and fragments of metalwork and worked stone, together with ceramics datable to the Romano-British
period, were recovered from features in this area. Other features could not be dated by associated finds, but may be prehistoric in date. Samples collected for palaeoenvironmental analysis revealed that some of the soil deposits associated with these features contained preserved organic remains.