Bedfordshire Archaeology Volume 26 2010

Obituaries of John Bailey and Angie Simco

A flint scatter site on the northern slope of the valley of the River Flit, to the west of Flitwick, was extensively sampled before and during construction of the Steppingley to Aylesbury natural gas pipeline. A large assemblage of flint tools and debitage was recovered, including pieces characteristic of both Mesolithic and later prehistoric technologies. Abandoned channels of the River Flit contained long sequences of peat which were sampled for pollen analysis, providing valuable evidence for the development of the later Holocene environment. There is some evidence for use of the site in the Middle Iron Age. The flint assemblage indicates that Mesolithic activity was sporadic and probably seasonal, the variety of tools perhaps being more typical of small hunting groups rather than longer-term domestic occupation. Analysis of the spatial distribution of the flints indicates that there were specific centres of activity. A high proportion of the assemblage consists of flint-working waste. Although this is difficult to date, there are indications that it mostly resulted from Bronze Age activity, otherwise represented by a number of diagnostic pieces, particularly arrowheads and scrapers. A few typical Neolithic forms were also recorded.

Archaeological evaluation, monitoring and excavation on the route of a water main between Cople and Biggleswade provided an opportunity to examine the archaeology of two distinct landscapes, the Greensand Ridge and the Ivel Valley. Four sites were excavated, one of late Bronze Age date and three belonging to the late Iron Age and Roman periods. On the rest of the route, no significant features were identified during the watching brief. The results of the excavations have in general confirmed the existing view of the archaeology of those areas through which the water main passes.

Between May and September 2001 Albion Archaeology undertook archaeological investigations in advance of housing development at Luton Road, Wilstead, Bedfordshire. Evidence for settlement from the early–middle Iron Age, the late Iron Age/Romano-British period and the Saxo-Norman period was located. Early–middle Iron Age: the early–middle Iron Age settlement was unenclosed, but restricted in extent. It comprised clusters of pits, postholes and a single ditch of uncertain function. A relatively large contemporary pottery assemblage was recovered along with a small quantity of charred cereal remains. Late Iron Age/early Romano-British: prior to the Roman Conquest a new farmstead was established at a different location to the early–middle Iron Age settlement, possibly fitting a regional trend of settlement shift during this period. Two distinct domestic foci were identified, both containing structural remains, a water pit and smaller pits. Both were located to the south of a contemporary boundary ditch but it is unclear if this was part of an enclosure. Possibly from the late 1st century AD a rectangular ditched enclosure system which incorporated the earlier boundary ditch was established in the same area as the earlier farmstead. Every enclosure contained settlement-type features, which included clusters of pits and postholes along with a roundhouse that was securely dated to this period. Later Roman: at some point in the later Roman period a single, new enclosure was established in the same area as the earlier enclosures, but on a different alignment. This clearly represents a major change in settlement layout, possibly associated with a break in occupation. The enclosure contained only a handful of settlement-type features and, with one exception, a small finds assemblage. However, a centrally positioned depression produced a large and unusual finds assemblage, including a ‘special’ deposit associated with ritual sheep sacrifice. This evidence may suggest that the site took on a more religious function during this period. Saxo-Norman: the Saxo-Norman settlement was established away from the earlier Iron Age and Roman farmsteads. It comprised two domestic foci, separated by a boundary ditch. It probably lay on the periphery of a larger, dispersed settlement, associated with the Domesday Manor of Wilshamstead.

Excavations at the site of the New Venue development in Dunstable revealed a Roman cemetery that comprised 20 cremations and seven inhumation burials. The cemetery was in use during the first two centuries AD, after which the area appears to have been abandoned.

Following an initial evaluation, excavation of a site off High Street, Meppershall was undertaken in late 2001 and early 2002, prior to housing development. Investigations revealed mainly agricultural features of Roman date, including ditches, pits and postholes, and part of an enclosure ditch. Several small intercutting pits surrounded a spring in the centre of the excavation area. Samples taken from these pits revealed that the manufacture of bone plates or plaques was taking place on the site. Evidence for iron smithing was also identified. Although no buildings or other structural evidence were found during the excavation, from the number of features and quantity of pottery present it is likely that a farmstead lies in the immediate vicinity, probably on rising ground to the east of the site.

An adulterine motte and bailey castle was built by the mercenary Robert de Waudari at Luton in 1139. It was only in existence until 1154 when it was demolished under the terms of the Treaty of Winchester, signed the previous year by King Stephen and his agreed successor, Henry of Anjou. In 1963 construction works on the Luton News printing works revealed the remains of a large ditch south-east of Castle Street. It was suggested that this represented part of the bailey ditch of Robert de Waudari’s castle. Recent redevelopment of the site has provided a second opportunity to study these remains through open area archaeological excavation. The excavation has confirmed the existence of the castle ditch and an attempt has been made to map its known, and putative, extent. The topographical reasons behind the castle’s location are discussed and the later history of this part of Luton is considered.

Investigations by Albion Archaeology in 2008 at Westoning Lower School revealed numerous postholes, gullies and ditches, representing the remains of two phases of medieval activity. The earliest phase comprised the partial footprints of three probable buildings dated by pottery to the 12th–13th centuries. Their location suggests that a road on the line of the present-day High Street was already in existence by this time. This road is possibly one of three focal points from which the village of Westoning developed. By the beginning of the 14th century, the buildings appear to have been abandoned and were replaced by ditches demarcating a NE–SW boundary. These had become completely infilled by the end of the 15th century, from which time the site appears to have been used as farmland until the construction of the school in the early 20th century.

An overview of the forms, styles and construction details used in Bedfordshire's earliest timber-framed buildings

An archaeological investigation at the site known as New Venue, Dunstable, site code NVD 04, revealed an almost complete World War II air raid shelter.