Data from an Excavation at Chetwode, Buckinghamshire, 2021-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, High Speed Two Ltd., Cotswold Archaeology, 2024. https://doi.org/10.5284/1124375. 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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High Speed Two Ltd.
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5084
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1124375
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection includes reports, drawings, site photographs, databases, GIS data and site records from an excavation carried out by Cotswold Archaeology at Chetwode, Buckinghamshire between February and December 2021.
Project Summary
General aims:
1.1.1 The AR/CIR aimed to mitigate the impact of construction on the archaeological remains within the Site. The general aim of the AR was to locate, identify, characterise, date and record the archaeological resource of the Site ahead of the construction of HS2 Phase 1 Central.
1.1.2 The aims of the AR/CIR, as stated in the PP (Document No. 1EW03-FUS-EV-PLN-CS06_CL21-000003), were to:
• Confirm and record the presence/absence, extent and depth of any surviving archaeological remains within the Site;
• Confirm and record the presence, extent and character of any areas of Middle Iron Age, Late Iron Age/Early Roman, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and/or medieval domestic activity/settlement within the Site;
• Place the Site within the historic landscape, with particular emphasis on its development, function(s) and evolution (e.g. ironworking, food processing, funerary activity and period of use/continuity);
• Investigate and examine the potential for further preserved, waterlogged organic remains;
• Establish how the Site is perceived as an interacting element of a wider working landscape;
• Understand more of the possible Roman trackway network across the Site and if this may relate to the wider Roman infrastructure of the surrounding landscape;
• Determine if any further funerary remains are present within the Site;
• Determine if the Site has any specific, specialised function which might be comparable to other Late Iron Age/Roman settlements along the route;
• To confirm and record the origin of any domestic activity and its continuation through the periods;
• Investigate the character and manifestation of the transition from the Iron Age to the Roman period in the archaeological record;
• To investigate geophysical anomalies not sufficiently targeted by the previous trial trench evaluation;
• To understand the impact of agricultural regimes on earlier activity; and
• To contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS Specific Objectives as specified in Section 4.2.
1.1.3 The archaeological recording sought to contribute to the following GWSI: HERDS site-specific objectives:
• KC15: Can we identify regional patterns in the form and location of Late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlement across the route, and are there associated differences in landscape organisation and enclosure?
• KC17: What evidence is there for regionality in the mortuary rites of the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, and how does that alter over time?
• KC18: Explore the evidence for increasing social complexity in the archaeological record in the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, and to identify patterns of intra-regional and regional variation.
• 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 Romano-British 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 Romano-British 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.
• KC30: Identify the location and form of Early and Middle Saxon settlement and investigate evidence for land use in the 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.
• KC34: Undertake research and investigation into medieval manorial complexes. What was their origin, development and impact on the landscape?
• KC35: Investigate the impacts on rural communities of social and economic shocks in the mid-14th century and thereafter and their contribution to settlement desertion.
• KC40: Identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid-14th century.
• KC47: Test and develop geophysical survey methodologies.
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.
