Data from an Archaeological Recording at Doddershall Deserted Medieval Village (DMV), Buckinghamshire, 2020-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
COPA: Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology, High Speed Two Ltd., 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1125983. 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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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5085
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1125983
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises image, report, site record, spreadsheet, database and GIS Data from Archaeological Recording Work at Doddershall Deserted Medieval Village, Buckinghamshire. The work was undertaken between 2020-2022.
Project Summary
General aims:
The archaeological recording was required to mitigate the impact of construction on the archaeological remains within the site. The general aim of the archaeological recording was to locate, identify, characterise, date and record the nature of the archaeological resource of the site ahead of the construction of HS2 Phase 1 Central. The aims of the fieldwork, as stated in the LSWSI (Document No. 1EW03-FUS_COP-EV-REP-CS05-000001), were to:
- Confirm the presence/absence, extent and depth of any surviving archaeological remains within the site
- Record any archaeological remains that may be present
- Determine the level of truncation from ploughing
- Determine the nature, date, condition, state of preservation, complexity and significance of any archaeological remains present, in particular those associated with the DMV as identified in the Test Pit Evaluation
- Determine and understand the range, quality and quantity of artefactual and environmental evidence present
- Contribute to the delivery of GWSI: HERDS specific objectives as specified in section 1.5
1.4 Specific HERDS Objectives aims
1.4.0 For Land Parcel C25089 the Project Plan and LSWSI identified that the archaeological investigation may make a contribution to the following objectives set out in the GWSI: HERDS.
1.4.1 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 in their contribution to the settlement’s desertion;
• KC40: identify patterns of change within medieval rural settlement from the 11th to mid 14th century; and,
• Kc47: test and develop geophysical survey methods.
1.4.2 In addition to the above HERDS objectives there were a number of detailed site-specific objectives, which the work aimed to address. These were:
1.4.3 Gaining an understanding of the origin of the settlement including potential Prehistoric, Roman and early medieval precursors to the settlement and site land use during these periods.
1.4.4 Gaining an understanding of the early form of the settlement and any evidence for formal planning in the origins/growth of the village or determining if growth was more organic.
1.4.5 Gaining an understanding of the chronology of the settlement during its life leading to a comprehensive phasing plan for the development, decline and eventual abandonment of the settlement and ancillary land.
1.4.6 Gaining an understanding of the later use of the abandoned settlement and inclusion into the post-medieval rural landscape.
1.4.7 Gaining an understanding of the routeways into and around the settlement, represented by tracks and paths.
1.4.8 Gaining an understanding of structural building techniques.
1.4.9 Defining economic activity, agricultural regimes and local production on site.
1.4.10 Understanding the degree of regionally / nationally imported material (both produce and craft items) versus locally produced material.
1.4.11 Defining lifestyle parameters, diet and quality of life.
1.4.12 Gaining an understanding of population density and change through time
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.
