Luke, M., Beswick, I., Wells, J., Maltby, M. J M., Robinson, J. and Renshan, L. (2002). Marsh Leys Farm, Kempston, Bedfordshire: Assessment of potential and Updated Project Design. Bedford: Albion Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.5284/1010488. Cite this using datacite

Title The title of the publication or report Title:	Marsh Leys Farm, Kempston, Bedfordshire: Assessment of potential and Updated Project Design
Series The series the publication or report is included in Series:	Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
Number of Pages The number of pages in the publication or report Number of Pages:	142
Downloads Any files associated with the publication or report that can be downloaded from the ADS Downloads:	albionar1-29591_1.pdf (22 MB) : Download
Licence Type ADS, CC-BY 4.0 or CC-BY 4.0 NC. Licence Type:	ADS Terms of Use and Access
DOI The DOI (digital object identifier) for the publication or report. DOI	https://doi.org/10.5284/1010488
Publication Type The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book Publication Type:	Report (in Series)
Abstract The abstract describing the content of the publication or report Abstract:	This report presented an assessment of archaeological investigations (both evaluation and the two areas of open area excavation) undertaken in advance of industrial development. Although the discovery of flint artefacts suggested limited earlier prehistoric activity, the first firm evidence of human activity came in the Early-Middle Iron Age. A ditched enclosure was dug possibly associated with the utilisation of the pastures along the Elstow Brook for animal grazing. Approximately 100 years before the Roman invasion of AD 43 two unenclosed farmsteads were established c.350m apart within the development area. Cremation burials were associated with both farmsteads and one may have contained a building which functioned as a shrine. During the first two centuries of the Roman period a regular layout of fields and enclosures, defined by ditches, was established centred on the original farmsteads. Although the two systems were similar they did not join and were clearly associated with different farmsteads. Within the smaller enclosure buildings, water pits/wells, pits and burials were identified. Several concentrations of domestic debris located within the enclosure system to the south west suggested that there may have been more than one family utilising this area. The animal bone recovered from the Roman deposits was mainly from cattle and sheep, which along with the charred spelt wheat suggested mixed agriculture was practised. This was supported by the recovery of quernstones, lead spindlewhorls/weights, a steelyard and a plough coulter. In addition there was evidence for ironworking although it was unclear if this was purely to meet the needs of the inhabitants of the farmsteads. The presence of a large number of quarry pits dug during the Roman period may have been associated or could have indicated a continual need to raise the level of the ground in certain areas (the area was very low-lying and had recently been subject to flooding). The most common evidence for everyday life was in the form of huge quantities of pottery, much locally produced but some imported from France. Metal objects of personal use included bronze coins, hairpins, bracelets and brooches. Despite these the farmsteads was classified as being of fairly low status. There was very little evidence for medieval and post-medieval activity. [Au(abr)]
Author The authors of this publication or report Author:	M Luke I Beswick Jackie Wells Mark J M Maltby John Robinson L Renshan
Publisher The publisher of the publication or report Publisher:	Albion Archaeology
Other Person/Org Other people or organisations for this publication or report Other Person/Org:	Historic England (OASIS Reviewer) Bedford Borough HER (OASIS Reviewer)
Year of Publication The year the book, article or report was published Year of Publication:	2002
Locations Any locations covered by the publication or report. This is not the place the book or report was published. Locations:	Site: Marsh Leys Farm County: Bedfordshire District: Bedford Parish: KEMPSTON RURAL Country: England Location - Auto Detected: Elstow Brook Grid Reference: 502630, 245700 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods Subjects / Periods associated with this record. Subjects / Periods:	LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) ANIMAL REMAINS (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) ANIMAL REMAINS (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) CERAMIC (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) COIN (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) FIRED CLAY (Find) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) FURNACE LINING (Find) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) GLASS BEAD (Find) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) HOB NAILS (Find) LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) SHERD (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) ROTARY QUERNS (Find) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) SLAG (Object England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) TIMBER NAILS (Find) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) CREMATION CEMETERY (Monus) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) DITCH (Monument Type England) MIDDLE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) ENCLOSURE (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) ENCLOSURE (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) FARMSTEAD (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) INHUMATION (Monument Type England) LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) PIT (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) PIT (Monument Type England) LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) POST HOLE (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) POST HOLE (Monument Type England) LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods) ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC) (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) TRACKWAY (Monument Type England) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) WATER PITS (Monus) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) WELL (Monument Type England) PREHISTORIC (Historic England Periods) ROMAN (Historic England Periods) Earlymiddle Iron Age (Auto Detected Temporal) Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal)
Identifiers Identifiers associated with the publication. These might include DOIs, site codes, Monument Identifiers etc. Identifiers:	OASIS Id: albionar1-29591 OBIB: 2002/42
Note Extra information on the publication or report. Note:	A4 comb bound report with cream coloured card covers Note from AIP record: Date Of Issue From: 2002 Date Of Coverage From: 01 Date Of Coverage To: 01 Editorial Expansion: Site name: MARSH LEYS FARM, KEMPSTON Study area: 59ha Investigation type: Post-determination/Research District: Bedford Monument: ENCLOSURE. Iron Age, [finds]. Prehistoric, FURROW. Medieval (1066-1540), FEATURE. Roman (AD43-410), FEATURE. Late Iron Age, PIT. Roman (AD43-410), ENCLOSURE. Roman (AD43-410), ANIMAL BURIAL. Roman (AD43-410), CREMATION. Late Iron Age, BOUNDARY DITCH. Roma Ngr: TL02634570 Parish: Kempston Postcode: MK439AA
Source Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in. Source:	OASIS (OASIS)
Relations Other resources which are relevant to this publication or report Relations:
Created Date The date the record of the pubication was first entered Created Date:	30 Aug 2017

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