| Title: |
Watching Brief at Land adjacent to Rook Tree Farm Road, Hulcote, Bedfordshire |
| Series: |
KDK Archaeology unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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kdkarcha1-512679_214917.pdf (5 MB)
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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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: |
The methods as outlined in the WSI were as follows: • Initially the archaeological Watching Brief included only the ground reduction within the foundation pits. However, due to the sloping ground, further excavation was necessary to l level the area for the proposed barn. A strategy for investigating the archaeological features that were subsequently revealed was agreed t with Clara Schonfeld and Hannah Firth of Central Bedfordshire Council Archaeology Team (CBAT) and the client (Paul Harris). • 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 The Archaeological Watching Brief, undertaken by KDK Archaeology in April 2023 recorded seven archaeological features, consisting of 3 ditches, 2 gullies and 2 pits spread across the site. The silty fills, the small number of finds and the downhill oriented linear features are a probable indication for water management and drainage. The footprint of the barn is located within a depression of the ground, sloping gently eastwards towards the road. During the excavation, parts of the field were constantly waterlogged, probably as a result of being fed by several small springs,(Paul Harris pers. comm). It would seem that drainage has been a problem on the site since at least the medieval period. The pottery ensemble found in the archaeological features dates from two distinct phases, the 11th/12th century and the 16th/17th century. The very small number of pottery sherds suggests that the site was outside the occupation area, probably on land that was used as pasture rather than arable farming. Animal bone, either sheep or goat was present in the 11th and 12th century features, while the 16th century and 17th century contained half an oyster shell and the remains of a pig (Watson 2023). Iron nails were found in Ditch [022] and Gully [010]. The length of these nails suggests they were use for construction rather than horseshoes. The two tile fragments found in the fills of Ditch 1 [004] and Ditch [006] indicates the presence of Romano-British activity in the vicinity of the site (Blinkhorn 2023). The archaeological investigations encountered a surprisingly large number of densely-packed features mostly of 11th/12th century date but with finds demonstrating that human activity in this area dates back at least to Roman period. The features are located, both now and when first utilised, within an agricultural setting, while the finds are indicative of nearby settlement activity, probably related to the shrunken medieval villages of Hulcote and Salford and the 17th century Rook Tree Farmhouse. Therefore, the records produced from the excavation have been able to address some of the original research aims of the project, such as the date, nature and extent of activity on the site and how it relates to its contemporaneous landscape. |
| Author: |
Florian Weber
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| Publisher: |
KDK Archaeology Ltd
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| Other Person/Org: |
Central Bedfordshire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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| Year of Publication: |
2023
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| Locations: |
| County: |
Central Bedfordshire |
| County: |
Bedfordshire |
| District: |
Central Bedfordshire |
| Country: |
England |
| Parish: |
Hulcote and Salford |
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Grid Reference: 494648, 239029 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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DITCH
(Monument Type England)
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TILE
(Object England)
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WATCHING BRIEF
(Event)
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POST MEDIEVAL SHERD
(Tag)
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MEDIEVAL BUTCHERED ANIMAL REMAINS
(Tag)
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UNCERTAIN TILE
(Tag)
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MEDIEVAL SHERD
(Tag)
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OYSTER SHELL
(Object England)
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ANIMAL REMAINS
(Object England)
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MEDIEVAL ANIMAL REMAINS
(Tag)
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NAIL
(Object England)
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GULLY
(Monument Type England)
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POST MEDIEVAL BUTCHERED ANIMAL REMAINS
(Tag)
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MEDIEVAL NAIL
(Tag)
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ROMAN TILE
(Tag)
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SHERD
(Object England)
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UNCERTAIN OYSTER SHELL
(Tag)
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MEDIEVAL DITCH
(Tag)
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BUTCHERED ANIMAL REMAINS
(Object England)
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POST MEDIEVAL NAIL
(Tag)
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POST MEDIEVAL GULLY
(Tag)
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ROMAN
(Historic England Periods)
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MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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POST MEDIEVAL
(Historic England Periods)
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UNCERTAIN
(Historic England Periods)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
kdkarcha1-512679 |
| Report id: |
748/HRT/2.2 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
22 Dec 2023 |
