Data from a Trial Trench Evaluation at Wellwick Farm, Wendover Green, Buckinghamshire, 2018-2019 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., INFRA Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1119344. 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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- ADS Collection: 4492
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1119344
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises a digital archive of photographs, reports, GIS, spreadsheets, and scanned site records from a trial trench evaluation by INFRA Archaeology at Wellwick Farm, near Wendover, Buckinghamshire between November 2018 and January 2019.
Project Summary
The trial trench evaluation was undertaken on land located to the south-west of the town of Wendover, Buckinghamshire, immediately south-west of the A413 trunk road. The site comprises a single land parcel, which extends along a linear distance of c.1.85km from south-east to north-west, incorporating parts of four large arable fields, and covering a total area of 42.34 ha.
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 aims of the trial trenching were to:
- Confirm the presence/absence, extent and depth of any surviving archaeological remains within the site
- Determine the nature, date, condition, state of preservation, complexity and significance of any archaeological remains
- Determine the likely range, quality and quantity of artefactual and environmental evidence present
- Suggest measures, if appropriate and feasible, for further archaeological investigation to mitigate identified significant impacts
The trial trenching also sought to contribute to the delivery of the following GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives:
- KC9: Does a lack of visibility of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments reflect genuine area distinctiveness, or is this due to variation in geology or investigative techniques?
- KC15: Can we identify regional patterns in the 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?
- KC19: The Romano-British period saw the beginning of a more established infrastructure network. Can we investigate the development of these routes, trackways and roads and the influence they had on landscape change?
- KC20: Investigate the changing nature of funerary rites in the Late Iron Age and Roman periods. What evidence is there that the adoption of new rites or changes in existing practices are the result of the movement of people, contact with new ideas, or even new religions?
- 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
- KC31: Identify the location of Middle to Late Saxon settlement, explore processes of settlement nucleation and understand the development of associated field types and agricultural regimes
- KC40: Identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid-14th century
Re-Use Value Statement
The trial trench evaluation has demonstrated areas of archaeological activity across the site and this information can be used in order to inform an appropriate mitigation strategy. It was recommended that open-area excavation be carried out to allow a complete picture of the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age occupation on site, and expand our understanding both on the layout and form the occupation took and answer questions surrounding the Roman and Medieval occupation which is present in this area. This suggested work was carried out in 2019-2020 under the site code 1C19WWFAR.
The assemblage of pottery dating from the Late Bronze to the Late Iron Age period is not numerous in the Chilterns. This site has the potential to increase our understanding of and begin to synthesise regional ceramic typologies which will benefit the sequencing of other sites.
The Site sits close by to a potential Roman villa structure highlighted in the Archaeological Notification Area of Wellwick Farm to the west, suggests a possible continued presence between the Iron Age and Roman period and may have some bearing on the siting of a potential high status Roman building which has also produced a rare Roman casket burial (Zeepvat 2003).
