Edmondson, G., Beswick, I., Walsh, T. and Wells, J. (2002). A6 Clapham Bypass. Rescue Archaeological Works. Assessment of Potential and Updated Project Design (2001/55). Bedford: Albion Archaeology.

Title:

A6 Clapham Bypass. Rescue Archaeological Works. Assessment of Potential and Updated Project Design (2001/55)

Number of Pages:

Biblio Note

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Publication Type:

Report

Abstract:

Archaeological investigation was undertaken of the proposed road corridor of the A6 Clapham Bypass. In 2000 BCAS had carried out a two stage evaluation of the proposed route. This had identified a possible Iron Age to Roman farmstead close to the River Great Ouse. In 2001 this concentration of archaeological deposits covering c.1.7ha within the road corridor was fully excavated. The excavation revealed features that ranged in date from the Early Iron Age through Late Iron Age to Roman, Saxon and medieval periods. Small quantities of worked flint and occasional pottery sherds dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Age were recovered from features dated to later periods. These residual artefacts indicated, although no definite archaeological features dating to this period were identified, that the area was being utilised. The earliest dateable features comprised a cluster of pits and two post holes, dated by associated artefacts to the Early-Middle Iron Age. In the Late Iron Age, the first enclosures of distinct curvilinear form were established. It was possible that these were associated with at least one and possibly two round houses, defined by the drainage ditches. A reorganisation of the area was indicated by the establishment of a rectilinear series of enclosures. As there was considerable variation in the size of the individual parcels, this indicated that they fulfilled varied functions. There was evidence of alterations to the land divisions over time. No associated buildings were identified within the excavations, though a variety of artefacts were incorporated into the ditch fills that indicated habitation in the vicinity. The final Roman enclosure system, apparently dating to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD, had an alignment similar to the previous system, though the land parcels had been reorganised around perpendicular routeways. The only associated structure was a T-shaped oven, situated in the corner of one of the enclosures. There was evidence of sequential modification of the ditched boundaries, which suggested that the enclosures remained in use for a period of time. A variety of artefacts were incorporated into the ditch fills. On the lower ground in the south, towards the river, the continuation of this enclosure system was covered by alluvial deposits associated with a period of river flooding. In the early-middle Saxon period, habitation occurred on the slightly higher ground north of the alluvium. This comprised two clusters of distinct buildings known as 'Sunken-Features Buildings' or 'grubenhauser'. Each of the clusters contained two buildings with an isolated example further east. Based on their distribution, it was possible that these utilised earlier land divisions. In the medieval period the area returned to arable cultivation, with possible quarries in the north of the site. [Au(abr)]

Author:

G Edmondson
I Beswick
Tony Walsh
Jackie Wells

Publisher:

Albion Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2002

Locations:

Location - Auto Detected:

River Great Ouse

Subjects / Periods:

Late Iron Age (Auto Detected Temporal)
Saxon (Auto Detected Temporal)
EARLY IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)
BRONZE AGE (Historic England Periods)
NEOLITHIC (Historic England Periods)
2nd3rd Centuries Ad (Auto Detected Temporal)
Roman Saxon (Auto Detected Temporal)
Roman (Auto Detected Temporal)
MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)

Note:

Date Of Issue From: 2002 Date Of Coverage From: 01 Date Of Coverage To: 01 Editorial Expansion: Site name: A6 CLAPHAM BYPASS
Study area: 1.7ha
Investigation type: Post-determination/Research
District: Bedford
Monument: ROUND HOUSE (DOMESTIC). Late Iron Age, STORAGE PIT. Middle Iron Age, [finds]. Early Iron Age, [finds]. Late Iron Age, [finds]. Early Medieval (410-1066), [finds]. Prehistoric, [finds]. Roman (AD43-410), POST HOLE. Middle Iron Age, [finds]. Middle Iron Age
Ngr: TL02205280
Parish: Clapham
Postcode: MK416AN

Source:

BIAB (Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))

Created Date:

19 Jan 2009