Data from an Archaeological Monitoring at Three Bears Cottage, South Heath Cutting, Buckinghamshire, 2021 (HS2 Phase One)
High Speed Two Ltd., INFRA Archaeology, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1124524. 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: 4861
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1124524
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises photographs, reports and a spreadsheet from archaeological monitoring by INFRA Archaeology at Three Bears Cottage, Grim's Ditch, South Heath Cutting, Buckinghamshire in July 2021.
The monitoring 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 Site comprised a single Land Parcel C21059 measuring 0.037ha and encompassed a residential property, Three Bears Cottage, this was immediately adjacent to Grim’s Ditch, a linear bank earthwork which is a Scheduled Monument and protected by law. The monument is believed to be prehistoric in origin, possibly dating to the Iron Age, and part of a monumental boundary ditch system.
The general aims of the monitoring were to:
- Provide information concerning the monument that can be used by main works design engineers in the determination of appropriate routes, depths and construction methodology that will so far as is practicable minimise damage to the monument, including any design variation (Schedule 2 of the Agreement)
- Provide a record of the Site prior to any impact from the HS2 scheme
- Confirm the presence/absence, extent and depth of surviving archaeological remains within the Site
- Determine the nature, date, condition, state of preservation including any preservation bias, complexity and significance of any archaeological remains
- Determine the range, quality and quantity of artefactual and environmental evidence present
- Suggest measures for further archaeological investigation to mitigate identified significant impacts
The project also sought to contribute to the delivery of the following GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives:
- KC13: What was the date of the establishment of Grim’s Ditch? What impact did it have on the landscape following its construction?
- 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
- KC16: Investigate the degree of continuity that existed between Late Bronze Age and Iron Age communities in terms of population, mobility and subsistence
