Cobbs Lane, Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire: Archaeological Evaluation
Birmingham Archaeology, 2016. https://doi.org/10.5284/1038409. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 2187
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1038409
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology in September 2009 at Cobbs Lane, Guilden Morden, Cambridgeshire (centred on NGR TL 2844 4570). The evaluation was commissioned by the Cambridge Water Company in advance of the proposed installation of a replacement water pipe.
Fourteen trial-trenches were excavated during the evaluation. A small number of residual worked flints provided evidence for activity dating from between the Mesolithic and Bronze Age periods on the site. The small size of the assemblage would suggest that there may have been small-scale or temporary usage of the site at some point during these periods. However, no features dating to these periods were uncovered. A small number of features including a pit and two ditches dated to the middle Iron Age period (5th/4th – 1st centuries BC) and may be associated with settlement activity. Several other undated pits may also date to this period.
Three main concentrations of medieval features were revealed. A dense concentration of medieval features near the northern end of the site, mainly north of the River Cam, some of which correspond with features visible on air photos, are probably associated with the moated enclosure at Bridge Farm. The pottery assemblage recovered from these features, which consisted of ditches and pits, is consistent with domestic usage, suggesting nearby settlement. The majority of the medieval assemblage appears to date to the mid-12th – 13th century AD, with smaller amounts of pottery suggesting less activity in the 14th and 15th century. The concentration of features, along with the presence of a moated enclosure nearby suggests that this area was heavily utilised during the medieval period.
A second group of mid-12th – 13th century features suggestive of ditched enclosures was located south of the river. A third group of medieval or early post-medieval features, at the south part of the site, consisted of two inter-cutting probable mid- 12th – 13th century plot boundary ditches and a possible palisade ditch or fence line, perhaps of 16th century date or earlier, indicating the presence of an enclosure.
