| Abstract: |
Aims The aims of this project as defined in the approved WSI (Watson 2022) were: • To establish the date, nature and extent of activity or occupation within the development area • To establish the relationship of any remains found to the surrounding contemporary landscape • To recover palaeo-environmental remains to determine local environmental conditions. In addition, the research aims inter alia considered various aspects of the origins and development of small towns, their inter-relationships with their hinterlands and early town planning from the Saxon/medieval through to the early post medieval periods (Ayers 2000, 27-32, Going and Plouviez, 21, Oake et al 2007, 11 and 14 and Medlycott 2011, 47-48, 58, 70 & 79). As two inhumations were recorded during building works at 21 Kingsway, the contribution of human remains was also considered in relation to health and sickness in medieval urban centres, and the impact disease had on those centres, along with subsidiary issues such as improving our understanding of religious institutions within urban centres (East of England Research Framework, Medieval (Urban) 7,9,11,28). Methods The methods used were as follows: • The archaeological monitoring of all groundworks related to the development, including foundation trenches, service trenches, ground reduction, landscaping and any other ground impact. This will include a contingency for preservation or further excavation of any remains encountered • The analysis of the results of the archaeological work with provisions for subsequent production of a report(s) and/or publication(s) of these results & an archive • Provisions necessary to protect the archaeological interests of the site In December 2022 KDK Archaeology Ltd undertook a programme of Observation and Recording at 26 Kingscroft Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire in order to fulfil Condition 4 of planning permission for the development of the site. This necessitated the monitoring of ground reduction, the excavation of five foundation trenches and a soakaway pit. The excavations revealed a previously unrecorded well, with a 1m diameter shaft, which could not be investigated due to safety concerns. The shaft was not lined with brick or stone but cut directly into the natural chalk. No dating evidence was recovered, but it is thought that it p[re-dated the post-medieval period. |
