Bedfordshire Aggregates Archaeological Resource Assessment
Central Bedfordshire Council, 2011. https://doi.org/10.5284/1011173. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © Central Bedfordshire Council unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Martin
Oake
Archaeology Team
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
SG17 5TQ
UK
Tel: 0300 300 6029
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 1046
- ALSF Project Number: 5759
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1011173
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
The project represents a largely HER based archaeological assessment for the aggregate mineral producing areas of Bedfordshire. Between 2004 and 2009 aggregate sales in Bedfordshire averaged around 1.4 million tonnes per year. Quarried deposits include; the river valley sands and gravels from the Lower Ouse and Ivel Valleys, the glacial sands and gravels of the Biggleswade area and the cretaceous sands of the Greensand Ridge. The discovery of archaeological remains associated with aggregate quarrying has a long history in Bedfordshire and includes sites and artefacts of regional and national importance.
Data from the Bedfordshire and Luton Minerals Planning Authority (BLMPA) and from the British Geological Survey (BGS) has been used to divide those geological deposits within the county suitable for aggregate extraction into two Aggregate Study Areas (AS-As) and three Aggregate Study Sub-Areas (AS-As). The archaeological resource for each AS-A or AS-SA has been summarised and characterised in chronological order, using the sub-divisions in use in the Bedfordshire and Luton HERs.
The Resource Assessment is followed by a Research Agenda and Mitigation Strategy. The Research Agenda identifies key themes and topics for future study. The Mitigation Strategy uses case studies to present assessments of current methodologies associated with the evaluation, excavation and mitigation of the archaeological resource and proposes a range of options to improve those methodologies.
The results of the project have demonstrated that approximately 37% of the archaeological resource for Bedfordshire lies within areas suitable for aggregate extraction. There is obvious variation in the character of the resource between the riverine study areas and the upland Woburn Sands Formation Study Area. There are also significant differences amongst the river valleys themselves. These differences and indeed similarities demonstrate that Bedfordshire's aggregate producing geologies have some of the most complex and unique archaeological sites within the county and region. As a consequence the recognition of this significance is vital to ensuring their adequate protection and promotion.
