Data from Archaeological Monitoring at Great Pond Farm and Hewins Woods, Buckinghamshire, 2020-2021 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., Oxford Archaeology Ltd, COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1126726. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4339
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1126726
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises of images, spreadsheet and GIS data from archaeological monitoring at Great Ponds Wood and Hewins Farm, Buckinghamshire, 2020-2021.
Project Summary
COPA was commissioned by Fusion (the Contractor) to undertake a programme of Archaeological Monitoring at Great Ponds Wood and Hewins Farm, Buckinghamshire (hereafter referred to as ’the Site’. The site encompassed two parcels of land (Areas C25093 and C25094) measuring c. 4.06ha in total. A Project Plan was prepared for the works in 2019. The Project Plan summarised the results of previous surveys of the Site, including remote sensing survey and geophysical surveys, and presented archaeological and historical background information prepared for the Environmental Statement in. The Project Plan established the scope, aims and potential contribution to the Generic Written Scheme of Investigations: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy, as well as the objectives, techniques, deliverables and reporting mechanism for the Archaeological Monitoring. A Location Specific Written Scheme of Investigation for Archaeological Monitoring was prepared in accordance with the standards and guidance provided by the GWSI: HERDS, the Technical Standard: Specification for Project Plans and Location Specific Written Schemes of Investigation, the Technical Standard: Specification for Historic Environment Investigations and relevant Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards (CIfA 2014a; CIfA 2014b). The LSWSI detailed the scope of, and the methodology for, the archaeological works.
The Archaeological Monitoring comprised the monitoring of ground reduction to be undertaken across Area C25094 by the Contractor, which involved the removal of topsoil to an estimated depth of no more than c. 200mm and, and where topsoil was not removed, the ripping or scarifying of subsoil through the topsoil. As Area C25093 has been descoped, no archaeological work was required. Additionally, a programme of micro drainage works comprising the excavation of a grid of ditches and gullies and a sump was added to the programme after the completion of the LWSI and this additional work was also considered to be suitable for mitigation by Archaeological Monitoring.
The Site is situated within Community Forum Area (CFA) 13 Calvert, Steeple Claydon, Twyford and Chetwode. The landscape is characterised by mostly level ground, at approximately 90m aOD. The site comprises two fields, divided by a hedgerow. Previous remote sensing survey of the Site revealed levelled ridge-and-furrow earthworks and the geophysical survey identified sinuous, curvilinear and discrete anomalies with the potential to represent archaeological remains in the easternmost corner of Area C25094.
Re-Use Value Statement
The Archaeological Monitoring observed no deposits or features of archaeological significance. Two sherds of pottery and three pieces of clay tobacco pipe were recovered from the topsoil, this may represent material originating from activity in the wider agricultural landscape during this period but may also have originated elsewhere and been brought to the site through imported topsoil.
