Fenland Education Campus, Wisbech Green SEMH: An Archaeological Evaluation

Abstract

On the 31st January 2022 the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) undertook a test pit evaluation on the proposed development area (PDA) on Barton Road, Wisbech, in advance of the land being developed as a Fenland Education Campus- Wisbech Green SEMH by Kier Construction on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council. The work was to monitor the excavation of three test pits down to the underlying terrace gravels or Ampthill clay as far as was viably possible and record the fen deposit sequence and assess the potential of archaeological deposits within the sequence. A relatively uniform sequence was observed in Test Pits 1 and 2, with slight variation in 3, which largely conformed to the profile detected by the geotechnical test pits and boreholes previously excavated. Due to the water table causing instability to the sections digging ceased at a depth of 3m. No archaeological features or layers were identified within the deposits. However, a deep tidal/alluvial sequence, characterised by massive fine sand, sandy silt loams and sandy loams, overlying a poorly humified peat horizon with silty clay and sands beneath.