2007 PROJECT SELECTION

River Crossing at Whittington, Lancashire: Archaeological Watching Brief

In order to lay a new cable beneath the river Wyre at Whittington it was necessary for United Utilities to excavate launch and retrieval pits on either side, to allow the cable to be positioned using a directional drill.

View from the site

The east side of the river, where the retrieval pit was to be sited, was close to the edge of the Scheduled Monument area of the Roman fort and settlement at Over Burrow. Because of this Lancashire County Council recommended that a watching brief should be maintained during the excavation of this pit. In the event only a deep deposit of alluvial material was revealed and no finds or features were encountered. It appeared that this deposit represented material left by the movement of the river over time or as a result of multiple episodes of flooding. If any archaeological remains were ever present in this area it is likely that they have been destroyed or buried by the continual processes of the river.

Archaeologically sterile cable retrieval pit