Land to the East of Biggleswade Bedfordshire

Oxford Archaeology carried out a field evaluation at Land to the East of Biggleswade on behalf of Martin Grant Homes Ltd and Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd. The evaluation comprised field walking (Stage 1) as well as scan and detailed geophysical survey (Stage 2). This document details the results of the field walking, summarises the overall evaluation and includes the scan and detailed geophysical survey reports as appendices. The evaluation has highlighted the probable presence of prehistoric activity to the centre of the site.
Oxford Archaeology carried out a three stage field evaluation at Land to the
East of Biggleswade for RPS Town planning and Environmental Consultants, on behalf of Martin Grant Homes Ltd and Taylor Woodrow Developments Ltd. The evaluation comprised field walking (Stage 1), which was followed by
detailed geophysical survey (Stage 2) and trial trenching (Stage 3). The evaluation identified four areas of activity that have been provisionally dated
from the Bronze Age to Roman periods. For the purposes of this report the four areas of activity will be identified as Areas 1-4.
The possible Bronze Age activity was identified in Area 4, located in the central area of the site, and comprised by a single ring ditch. This type feature is typically identified as a funerary structure, however, no evidence of human remains, in the form of a central burial or cremation deposit, was identified during the evaluation.
The main phase of activity was dated to the late Iron Age-Roman periods and was located in Areas 1-3, the north-eastern, eastern and southern areas of the proposed development site. The activity identified comprised a series of ditches that appeared to form enclosure boundaries, possibly associated with either agricultural practice or small farmsteads. Evidence for a possible settlement areas was identified in Area 2. This was characterised by the presence of waterholes and large ditches that may have provided a defensive function. Evidence for Saxon activity was limited to a single ditch in the southern area of
the site.