Data from a Trial Trench Evaluation at Calvert Infrastructure Maintenance Depot, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, 2020-2021 (HS2 Phase One)
Oxford Archaeology Ltd, High Speed Two Ltd., COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1128384. 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: 4389
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1128384
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises the site drawings; pottery data; flint data; animal bone data, and photographic archive from a Trial Trench Evaluation at Calvert Infrastructure Maintenance Depot, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire. The fieldwork was undertaken between October 2020 and February 2021. The documentary and finds archives will be deposited with Discover Bucks Museum.
Project Summary
COPA was commissioned by Fusion (the Contractor) to undertake the trial trench evaluation of the Site, which encompassed two parcels of land (Areas C25078 and C25092), and an additional area (Field F15_0031), measuring c. 46.25ha in total. A Project Plan was prepared for the works in 2020 (Document No. 1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-CS06_CL09-007811). The Project Plan summarised the results of previous surveys of the Site, including remote sensing survey (which incorporated light detection and ranging (LiDAR), multi-spectral imagery and aerial photographic analysis) and geophysical surveys (Document Nos ES 3.5.2.13.7, 1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-CS06_CL09-007776), and presented archaeological and historical background information prepared for the Environmental Statement in 2013 (Document Nos ES 3.5.2.13.4, ES 3.5.2.13.5).The Project Plan established the scope, aims and potential contribution to the Generic Written Scheme of Investigations: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (GWSI: HERDS; Document No. HS2-HS2-EV-STR-000-000015), as well as the objectives, techniques, deliverables and reporting mechanism for the trial trench evaluation.
The trial trench evaluation comprised the investigation of 225 machine-excavated trenches. Of these, 220 trenches measured c. 30m in length, the majority of which were c. 2m wide (213 trenches), though four trenches were c. 3.2m wide and a further three were c. 4m wide. Of the remaining trenches, four trenches measured c. 15m by c. 2m and one trench c. 20m by c. 2m. The trenches represented a c. 3% sample of the Site. The location for the trial trench evaluation was selected to enable an Infrastructure Maintenance Depot to be constructed as part of the HS2 Central Scheme of Works.
Re-Use Value Statement
The location of the trial trench evaluation was selected as the Site will be required for the construction of an Infrastructure Maintenance Depot as part of the HS2 Central Scheme of Works. These works will completely remove or significantly truncate the archaeological remains within its footprint. Given the limited remains encountered across Areas C25078 and C25092 of the Site, the majority of which were related to medieval/post-medieval–modern agricultural activity, it is unlikely that any significant mitigation excavation will be required in these areas. However, a low density of archaeological remains of Roman date were uncovered in Field F15_0031, and so if necessary, a detailed plan for mitigation of the impact of the scheme on these remains should be drawn up in discussion between the County.
Archaeological Advisor for Buckinghamshire, the Contractor and the Client. Further work should be concentrated around Trenches 218–233 where the remains of low-level Roman activity are indicated by the trial trench evaluation results.
