1116096. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Whitbred Borrow Area: Evaluation Report

Series:

Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series

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This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1116096

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

Trial trenching During November 2008 Oxford Archaeology carried out an archaeological field evaluation on behalf of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd along the proposed route of the A421 Improvements: M1 Junction 13 to Bedford, between NGR SP 955 375 and TL 045 465. The evaluation has identified ten areas of archaeological remains. Six of these (Trench 48; Trench 54; Trenches 59-61; Trenches 91-2; Trenches 97-100; Trenches 114-120) are interpreted on the basis of the range of features and finds recorded as being possible settlement sites of late Iron Age or Roman date. Two further areas, where groups of ditches of uncertain date were recorded, may represent field boundaries forming part of a contemporary rural landscape. This pattern is consistent with the general picture established for rural areas of Bedfordshire during the late Iron Age and Roman period, which consists of small settlements interspersed with areas of fields. Only one of these sites, that in Area 7 (Trenches 114-120), has been identified as continuing in use into the later part of the Roman period. This subsequent decline in the number of settlements in relation to the late Iron Age/early Roman period may be attributed to the adoption of a less dispersed settlement pattern, with settlement becoming focused on villa estates. During the medieval period settlement became more nucleated, and this is demonstrated in the case of the current project by the limitation of remains of this period to a small area east of Lower End Farm, approximately defined by trenches 31, 34, 37 and 38. These remains form part of the deserted medieval village of Lower End, which extends into the development corridor at this location. The ubiquitous presence of furrows resulting from ridge and furrow cultivation indicates that much of the area encompassed by the scheme was farmland during this period. In January 2009, Oxford Archaeology undertook an evaluation by trial trenching of the proposed Berry Farm Borrow Area for Balfour Beatty. The site is centred on NGR: 500632, 243638. A total of ten trenches were excavated. The evaluation revealed two separate areas of archaeology. The first area was located in the NE corner of the site. It was comprised of pits and ditches, including a number of very wide linear features, potentially forming the boundary to a settlement. The second area of activity was located along the southern perimeter of the site. In this area the evaluation exposed a series of sub-rectangular enclosures. The results of the evaluation correspond well with an earlier geophysical survey of the site. Finds recovered from both of these areas indicate that the archaeological deposits date to the late Iron Age-early Romano-British period, suggesting settlement activity during that period. In January 2009, Oxford Archaeology (OA) undertook an evaluation by trial trenching of the proposed Whitbred Borrow Area on behalf of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd. The site is centred on NGR 503955 246210. A total of nine trenches were excavated. The evaluation revealed the site to have been truncated by modern activity, possibly related to previous work on the A421. No archaeological features were observed during the course of the evaluation. The trenches revealed natural geology overlain by a layer of made ground which was in turn overlain by topsoil. The presence of a layer of made ground directly overlying the natural clay indicates that the site has previously been stripped of topsoil which is likely to have damaged or destroyed any archaeological features which may once have existed at the site.

Author:

Hefin Meara

Publisher:

Oxford Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2009

Locations:

County:	Bedford
Parish:	Husborne Crawley
County:	Central Bedfordshire
County:	Bedfordshire
Parish:	Elstow
District:	Central Bedfordshire
Country:	England
District:	Bedford

Grid Reference: 503953, 246209 (Easting, Northing)

Grid Reference: 495498, 237499 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

EVALUATION (Event)

NEOLITHIC LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE SHERD (Tag)

IRON AGE SHERD (Tag)

SHERD (Object England)

IRON AGE SETTLEMENT (Tag)

ROMAN SETTLEMENT (Tag)

LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Object England)

SETTLEMENT (Monument Type England)

ROMAN SHERD (Tag)

IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

NEOLITHIC (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

oxfordar1-508980

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

30 Nov 2023