Data from a Trial Trenching Evaluation at Land Parcel C21014 Upper Wendover Dean Farm, Buckinghamshire, 2019 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., INFRA Archaeology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5284/1119040. 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: 4429
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1119040
- 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 Upper Wendover Dean Farm (land parcel C21014), near Wendover Dean, Buckinghamshire, during February 2019.
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.
The Site encompassed a single large, arable field located to the south and west of Hartley Farm, covering an area of 5.77ha. The evaluation, comprising 23 trenches, was targeted on the proposed site of the Small Dean South Embankments and Rocky Lane Cutting, including HS2 vehicle access construction, provision of satellite construction compounds, pond and basin excavation, public right of way diversion and construction, tree planting and landscaping.
Project Summary
The aims of the trial trenching were:
- To confirm the presence/absence, extent and depth of any surviving archaeological remains within the Site;
- To determine the nature, date, condition, state of preservation, complexity and significance of any archaeological remains;
- To determine the likely range, quality and quantity of artefactual and environmental evidence present;
- To suggest measures, if appropriate and feasible, for further archaeological investigation to mitigate identified significant impacts.
The trial trenching also contributed to the delivery of the following GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives:
- KC5: Identifying settlement location and developing models for settlement patterns for the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Early Bronze Age
- KC15: Can we identify regional patterns in the form and location of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements across the route, and are there associated differences in landscape organisation and enclosure?
- KC21: Assess the evidence for regional and cultural distinctiveness along the length of the route in the Roman period, with particular regard to the different settlement types encountered along the route.
- KC23: Identify evidence for late Roman occupation and attempt to identify any continuity in settlement patterns between the end of the Romano-British period and the Early Medieval period.
- KC40: Identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid-14th century.
No archaeological features or deposits were recorded in any of the trenches. One trench contained a modern disturbance. Due to the absence of archaeological remains from the evaluation, no further work is recommended for this Site.
The absence of archaeological activity is not unexpected given the lack of known sites from any period in the vicinity. Prehistoric, post-medieval and undated features were revealed during trial trench evaluations at Rocky Lane to the immediate north of Site (site code 1C18RCLTT), and Upper Wendover Dean Farm (land parcel 21011) to the immediate south (site code 1C19RLATT). The existence of a nearby prehistoric settlement with which this activity could be associated was postulated, however the absence of activity within Upper Wendover Dean Farm (land parcel 21014) could indicate the presence of separate or migrated activity. The forthcoming assessment results of the evaluation of Upper Wendover Dean Farm (land parcel 21011) will further refine the wider context of the results of this evaluation. The archive presented here would be beneficial to any further work, for both future archaeological interventions and other non-destructive approaches.
Reuse Value Statement
Due to the absence of archaeological remains from the trial trench evaluation at Upper Wendover Dean Farm, no further work is recommended for this Site.
The absence of archaeological activity is not unexpected given the lack of known sites from any period in the vicinity. Prehistoric, post-medieval and undated features were revealed during trial trench evaluations at Rocky Lane to the immediate north of Site (site code 1C18RCLTT), and Upper Wendover Dean Farm (21011) to the immediate south (site code 1C19RLATT). The existence of a nearby prehistoric settlement with which this activity could be associated was postulated, however the absence of activity within Upper Wendover Dean Farm (21014) could indicate the presence of separate or migrated activity. The forthcoming assessment results of the evaluation of Upper Wendover Dean Farm (21011) will further refine the wider context of the results of this evaluation.
The archive presented here would be beneficial to any further work, for both future archaeological interventions and other non-destructive approaches.
