| Abstract: |
Non-invasive fieldwork in 1999, comprising fieldwalking, field reconnaissance and geophysical survey, produced evidence of various sites along the route of a new gas pipeline between Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and Chalgrove in Oxfordshire. Several locations were also evaluated by machine trenching. The report details the subsequent excavation of three sites along the Buckinghamshire section and four sites in the Oxfordshire stretch. Due to the nature of the pipeline, investigations at all the sites were of limited extent, but the sites cover a range of periods from the Later Bronze Age through the Iron Age to the late Roman and Saxon periods. They included, in Buckinghamshire, an Early Iron Age site at Chilton Grove North; an Early/Middle and Late Iron Age site at Chilton Grove South; and a late Roman site at Peppershill Farm. Radiocarbon dates were obtained on the two phases of Iron Age activity at Chilton Grove South (388--174 cal BC and 197--1 BC). Reports on the artefacts and ecofacts are incorporated, including pottery, charred plant remains, faunal remains, struck flint, cremated bone, fired clay, brick and tile, shell, burnt flint and iron slag, and an unusual late medieval miniature candlestick. In Oxfordshire, excavations and watching briefs revealed four sites, a few isolated features and stray finds of various periods. The sites comprised an Iron Age and Saxon site at Rycote, a Late Bronze Age site at Latchford, a Middle Iron Age site with some Roman features at Cornwell Copse, and a Middle Iron Age and Roman site at Warpsgrove. Radiocarbon dates were obtained on two Saxon sunken-featured buildings at Rycote (cal AD 437--637 and cal AD 646--768), on the Iron Age site at Cornwell Copse (403--235 cal BC), and on the Late Bronze Age site at Latchford (1210--921 cal BC). Includes specialist reports on the pottery, struck flint, charred plant remains, charcoal, metalwork, stone, brick and tile, fired clay, burnt flint, animal bone, human bone and cremated bone. Excavation in advance of house construction on the site of an old orchard off Walton Road, Walton, on the eastern side of Aylesbury, revealed dense activity mostly of Middle Bronze Age and Middle Saxon dates. The Middle Bronze Age phase is represented by a number of shallow pits and four possible circular structures. The Saxon use of the site took place over several phases represented by at least ten structures, eight of which were rectangular post-built halls. The remaining two consisted of a sunken floored structure and a foundation trench structure. The site can be seen to lie close to the centre of a cluster of excavations carried out since the 1970s, several of which have been published. These have documented the intensive use of this area during most periods from the Mesolithic through to the modern day. Includes specialist reports on pottery, a loomweight, daub, worked bone and antler objects, struck flint, stone, burnt flint, metalwork, iron slag, animal bone, oyster shell, and plant remains. |
