Series: HS2 Historic Environment Reports Series

Trial Trench Evaluation The results of the trial trench evaluation of the Site are limited, though the trenches revealed the potential remains of a small Roman farmstead and/or agricultural site located in the south-west of the Site. Residual pieces of possible prehistoric flint and pottery, and late Iron Age/early Roman pottery, however, hint at low levels of earlier activity. Evidence of medieval/post-medieval to modern agricultural activities in the form of hedgerows/field boundaries, plough furrows/scars and land drains was also encountered more widely across the Site.

Trial trench investigation Archaeological features, comprising ditches, pits, postholes and natural features were present in 10 trenches, with a further 26 trenches containing plough furrows, plough scarring and land drains; the remaining 13 trenches were devoid of features. The fragmentary remains of a possible late Bronze Age pottery vessel are suggestive of limited activity within the wider landscape during this period. More substantial evidence of prehistoric activity was concentrated in the south-east of the Site (Area C25109; Figs 4 and 5), comprising the remains of a pit alignment of probable late prehistoric date, with a nearby cluster of three postholes suggestive of related activity. Late Iron Age/early Roman activity is demonstrated by a small number of ditches that may have formed part of a small-scale agricultural enclosure/field system and/or farmstead in the west of the Site (Area C25108; Fig. 7), while evidence of later Roman land use was concentrated further eastwards (Fig. 6). Remains of medieval/post-medieval ridge-and-furrow cultivation were more widely distributed across the Site, with later land drains also observed, indicating continued agricultural land use in the later post-medieval/modern period.

Trial Trench The trial trench evaluation in land parcels C24005 and C24006 revealed several areas of archaeological potential. There were three main concentrations of activity. One was focused between Trenches 27 and 49 along a portion of the Roman road of Akeman Street and associated roadside plots or enclosures. Another was focused in Trenches 63 to 67 along part of a minor Roman road and its associated enclosures. A third notable area lay further to the south-east in Trenches 74-83, where evidence for prehistoric activity and a Late Roman cemetery were revealed. Another, though extensive, concentration, was recorded in Trenches 92 and 94, which targeted a group of conjoined enclosures along an apparent trackway or road

Trial Trench Evaluation The results of the trial trench evaluation of the Site are limited, though the trenches revealed the potential remains of a small Roman farmstead and/or agricultural site located in the south-west of the Site. Residual pieces of possible prehistoric flint and pottery, and late Iron Age/early Roman pottery, however, hint at low levels of earlier activity. Evidence of medieval/post-medieval to modern agricultural activities in the form of hedgerows/field boundaries, plough furrows/scars and land drains was also encountered more widely across the Site.

Trial trench evaluation of the c 17ha Site revealed archaeological remains within 30 of the 110 trenches investigated. The results identified two main phases of activity: the early/middle Iron Age and the medieval/post-medieval period. The earlier prehistoric and Roman periods were also represented, generally as residual finds in topsoil deposits, suggestive of only low levels of activity within the landscape during these periods. Evidence of early/middle Iron Age activity was concentrated in the north-east of the Site, comprising the remains of a pit alignment within which a potentially placed deposit was encountered. The parish boundary ditch of probable medieval origin was recorded in the north of the Site, with features indicative of medieval agricultural activity also revealed. Probable drainage ditches associated with post-medieval/modern agriculture were concentrated in the centre of the Site, with later land drains generally found across the south.

Trial Trench The trial trench evaluation in land parcels C24005 and C24006 revealed several areas of archaeological potential. There were three main concentrations of activity. One was focused between Trenches 27 and 49 along a portion of the Roman road of Akeman Street and associated roadside plots or enclosures. Another was focused in Trenches 63 to 67 along part of a minor Roman road and its associated enclosures. A third notable area lay further to the south-east in Trenches 74-83, where evidence for prehistoric activity and a Late Roman cemetery were revealed. Another, though extensive, concentration, was recorded in Trenches 92 and 94, which targeted a group of conjoined enclosures along an apparent trackway or road

Archaeological Monitoring No features or deposits of archaeological significance were observed during the Archaeological Monitoring, though a small assemblage of post-medieval/modern finds, largely comprising residual pottery and CBM fragments, were recovered from the topsoil

Trial trench evaluation of the c 17ha Site revealed archaeological remains within 30 of the 110 trenches investigated. The results identified two main phases of activity: the early/middle Iron Age and the medieval/post-medieval period. The earlier prehistoric and Roman periods were also represented, generally as residual finds in topsoil deposits, suggestive of only low levels of activity within the landscape during these periods. Evidence of early/middle Iron Age activity was concentrated in the north-east of the Site, comprising the remains of a pit alignment within which a potentially placed deposit was encountered. The parish boundary ditch of probable medieval origin was recorded in the north of the Site, with features indicative of medieval agricultural activity also revealed. Probable drainage ditches associated with post-medieval/modern agriculture were concentrated in the centre of the Site, with later land drains generally found across the south.

Archaeological Monitoring No features or deposits of archaeological significance were observed during the Archaeological Monitoring, though a small assemblage of post-medieval/modern finds, largely comprising residual pottery and CBM fragments, were recovered from the topsoil

Trial Trench The limited amount of archaeology in Areas 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 2.5 indicates that these areas of the Site have historically been on the periphery of a settlement. The geophysical survey and trial trenching results indicate a likelihood that any historical use of these areas of the Site would have been of an agricultural nature. In 2.2 a series of ditches was revealed which produced a small amount of material dating to the Late Iron Age/early Roman period. Ditches dominate this area and may represent agricultural activity on the periphery of a previously unidentified rural settlement. Given that Roman pottery has also been found c. 1km east of the Site, this evidence could be part of a wider cluster of Roman activity. The archaeology revealed in Area 2.3 was more substantial and included possible enclosure ditches, trackways and Roman field systems. It appears likely that these ditches represent the edge of a Late Iron Age/Early Roman settlement that may have continued in use until the mid-4th century AD. Alternatively there may have been several short-lived phases of settlement. The presence of a ridge and furrow indicative of arable agriculture, which may be associated with field boundary or drainage ditches within the trial trenches supports the conclusion that this area was farmed during the medieval and post-medieval periods, probably forming the agricultural hinterland supporting the settlement of Steeple Claydon, which was founded during the Saxon period.