Data from a Trial Trenching at Little Halings Wood, Buckinghamshire, 2017-2021 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., Cotswold Archaeology, COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1126709. 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).
Primary contact
High Speed Two Ltd.
2 Snowhill
Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6GA
United Kingdom
Tel: 08081 434 434
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4592
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1126709
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises of images and a spreadsheet from a trial trench evaluation carried out by COPA (Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology) at Little Halings Wood, Buckinghamshire during December 2017.
Project Summary
The trial trenching is required to determine, as far as reasonably possible, the nature of the archaeological resource within the Site. The Site is located to the west of the River Colne in an area of high potential for prehistoric and Roman archaeology. It is possible that the county boundary to the north of the Site follows the line of a Roman road. The geophysical survey indicated the presence of a possible trackway on the Site which may be associated with the possible Roman Road north of the Site. The HS2 geophysical survey of the Site in 2017 noted two parallel, linear features which may be trackway orientated north-east to south-west across the Site. The HS2 2015-16 geophysical survey identified three short linear anomalies in a C shape (possibly an enclosure) and three other linears located 150m north of the Site. These features noted during the geophysical survey of the Site and field to the north may be prehistoric/Roman. The possible trackway across the Site will be investigated with trial trenching.
The objective of the investigation is to identify the extent and character of any surviving archaeological remains within the Site and to inform an archaeological resource assessment of its knowledge value and ability to contribute to Specific Objectives. The outcomes of the investigation will be used to inform the requirement and strategy of further archaeological investigation. Where present the investigation will define the character, extent, quality, preservation and significance of the archaeology in order to determine its potential to contribute to Specific Objectives set out in the GWSI: HERDS.
The aims of the trial trenching are:
- to confirm the presence/absence, extent and depth of any surviving archaeological remains within the Site;
- to investigate the potential north-east to south-west possible trackway identified during the 2017 geophysical survey of 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;
- suggest measures, if appropriate and feasible, for further archaeological investigation to mitigate identified significant impacts; and
- contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives as specified in Section 4.2.
Re-Use Value Statement
The location, extent, survival and significance of any heritage assets of archaeological interest on this site have been captured in this dataset. This can inform future research into the archaeology and practices within the site and surrounding landscape, but also for the county as a whole.
