Bedfordshire Archaeological Journal Volume 10 1975

An investigation of a proposed Bypass route for the town of Ampthill by the local archaeological society illustrates how the small group with limited resources, working in a confined area, and often using inexperienced persons, in this type of activity can increase considerably the knowledge of the archaeology of their district.

A chance find of post holes and pits, some with Iron Age pottery, discovered during gravel extraction in 1971.

The trial excavations on the earth works to the south and south east of Castle Hill demonstrated that none of them represented building platforms or enclosures as part of Cainhoe D.M. V. The area to the S.E. at this date was probably wet and marshy, unsuitable for habitation. There were however the remains of a stake and wattle structure of an earlier period (Carbon-dated AD 500 ± 70 years) Excavation on the side of the hill to the south of the Motte showed that the defences at this point were entirely natural. A road surface uncovered to the south east of the hill, although orientated towards one of the castle entrances was not necessarily contemporary with the castle usage. The earthworks to the south of Castle Hill proved to be devoid of features and probably were the result of field drainage and/or quarrying into the side of the hill.

Drainage works on the site of the manor house at Strixton, Northants revealed a group of late-seventeenth century pottery and other finds. The artefacts were deposited during a major building phase of the manor, and the pottery is one of the few well dated local post-medieval groups.

Description of an Iberian olive jar found at Cople

Brief round-up of current/recent excavations