Data from a Trial Trench Evaluation at North Portal, South Heath Cutting, Buckinghamshire, 2018 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., INFRA Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1116914. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4423
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1116914
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises a digital archive of photographs, reports and scanned site records from a trial trench evaluation by INFRA Archaeology on land at North Portal C2a, near Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire between August and November 2018.
The evaluation forms part of Phase One of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project, which will involve the construction of a new railway approximately 230km (143 miles) in length between London and the West Midlands. Powers for the construction, operation and maintenance of Phase One are conferred by the High-Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017.
Project Summary
The main aim of the trial trench evaluation was to identify the location, extent, survival and significance of any heritage assets at North Portal, and to contribute to the following specific GWSI: Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS) objectives:
- KC5: Identifying settlement location and developing models for settlement patterns for the Mesolithic, Neolithic and early Bronze Age.
- KC34: Undertake research and investigation into medieval manorial complexes. What was their origin, development and impact on the landscape?
- KC40: Identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid-14th century.
Reuse Value Statement
A total of 159 trenches were excavated producing substantial ditches, large pits and a moderate assemblage of smaller ditches and pits along with some possible postholes and a single inhumation. Prehistoric occupation is indicated by a single flexed inhumation burial and large ditch features, while one large pit had the remains of a complete medieval vessel at the base. The larger pits, which were not numerous, are possibly storage pits. post-medieval brown, lead-glazed, 18th century red earthen wares were recovered from linear features probably associated with a previous field boundary toward the northwest of site, with a large quantity of Post Medieval tile recovered from the overburden across site.
The ditch which skirts the western side of site (through trenches 115, 118 and possibly returns through to 130) is 12m wide and over 1.8m deep, suggesting a substantial enclosure feature if not defensive in function. The recovery of a single inhumation alongside large possible storage pits, within the supposed confines of the enclosure, suggests a multi-purpose site, but unlikely to be domestic due to the paucity of finds and the lack of any post-built structures noted. A second large ditch, located further north on the plateau of the hill (trench 77), appears to be a field boundary that was relocated during the post-medieval period, and may relate to an earlier boundary.
The majority of features did not produce dating evidence. The single pit dated to the Roman period, located toward the north of site (trench 49) may have a bearing on the smaller parallel linear ditches within that vicinity, which may form an enclosure. The topography of the site slopes toward the south, which may be related to the presence of shallow linear features. These features appear to have been used to create terracing in the landscape and are still visible on the surface. Such features may represent medieval lynchets, however the dating recovered from one of these features (trench 134) comprised post-medieval tile, which may suggest they were in use into this period.
The results of the evaluation, although lacking in dating material, have identified a multi-phase site spanning several periods from the Prehistoric through to the post-medieval period. The evidence of iron smelting on a small scale is of interest, and is likely related to agricultural activity, however further investigation of the sample and feature would be advisable in order to ascertain a date for this activity. The data presented within this archive is beneficial to any archaeological investigations or research in the wider area as it contains evidence of activity from several periods spanning thousands of years.
