Title: |
Woodlands, Manton Lane, Bedford - Archaeological Excavation and Observation |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
albionar1-102039_1.pdf (697 kB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Early in 2011 an amateur archaeologist observed the remains of a limestone wall on a development site at Woodlands, Manton Lane. With the permission of the developer, landowner, the archaeologist began a small trial excavation and provisionally dated the wall to the Roman period, indicating the presence of a previously unknown and potentially significant archaeological site. This discovery was reported the Historic Environment Team of Bedford Borough Council. Because there was no planning condition requiring archaeological mitigation of the development, Bedford Borough Council (with the cooperation of the developer) invited Albion Archaeology to investigate and record the remains within the area to be affected by the laying of a service trench and to observe digging of the trench. Albion Archaeology confirmed the presence of a limestone wall foundation of probable Roman date. Excavations also revealed evidence that the wall had been robbed in the post-medieval period, possibly accounting for the limited survival of the shaped stone. The wall was overlain by a demolition deposit containing mortar, limestone fragments, ceramic building material, wall plaster and 2nd-century Roman pottery. The extent of this general scatter of Roman material suggests that there was a range of Roman buildings in the immediate vicinity, either side of Manton Lane. Three undated linear features were identified to the north of the wall on a broadly east-west alignment; they are interpreted as a ditch and a pair of wheel ruts. The linears were located to the south of a large, undated depression likely to be a quarry. These features all contained deposits that yielded mortar, limestone and Roman artefacts indicating they were filled during or after the demolition of the buildings. |
Author: |
J Newboult
J Oetgen
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Bedford Borough HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2011
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Locations: |
Site: |
Woodlands, Manton Lane, Bedford |
Parish: |
BEDFORD |
District: |
Bedford |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
Country: |
England |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Woodlands Manton Lane With |
Location - Auto Detected: |
Manton Lane Three |
Grid Reference: 504140, 250990 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-102039 |
OBIB: |
2011/118 |
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Note: |
A4 comb bound report with colour figures
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
28 Nov 2016 |