Title: |
Shefford Lower School: Archaeological Observation, Investigation and Recording - Final Report |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
albionar1-131916_1.pdf (1 MB)
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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: |
Between December 2012 and December 2013 Albion Archaeology carried out a programme of archaeological observation, investigation and recording and two open area excavations at Shefford Lower School, School Lane, Shefford, Bedfordshire The school lies in an area of a known heritage asset comprised of a Roman settlement which is known to contain several buildings including an aisled building with heated rooms, potential temple and burial ground. The two extensions to the school were investigated as open area investigations. Improvements to the existing car park, internal works and the construction of two additional playgrounds, a tank area, and associated drainage pipe trench were monitored and investigated. Whilst the car park improvement did not impact on the archaeological horizon, the two playground areas revealed a large expanse of Roman quarry pitting, boundary ditches and traces of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation. Investigation of the tank area and drainage trenches identified an extensive Roman boundary which is likely to have defined the western limit of the settlement's domestic focus. Investigation of the eastern school building extension identified another boundary ditch which, given its substantial nature, may have defined the eastern boundary of the domestic focus. It produced a significant artefact assemblage dating mainly to the 2nd to 3rd century AD. The western extension was heavily disturbed by modern activity but yielded additional evidence for internal boundary ditches and quarry pits. The limited internal works within the present school buildings identified a posthole associated with a significant dump of Roman building material. This was further evidence for post-built buildings found in previous investigations. The investigations have confirmed that, despite considerable modern disturbance, Roman features do survive within Shefford Lower School. |
Author: |
B Barker
H Duncan
M Luke
J Wells
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Central Bedfordshire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2014
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Locations: |
Site: |
Shefford Lower School |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
District: |
Central Bedfordshire |
Parish: |
SHEFFORD |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 513750, 238750 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-131916 |
OBIB: |
2014/50 |
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Note: |
A4 comb bound report
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
29 Oct 2021 |