Land to the West of Hale Road, Benson, Oxfordshire

In September 2017 Oxford Archaeology undertook a trial trench evaluation at
land to the West of Hale Road, Benson, Oxfordshire, centred on SU 61680
92280. The trenches were targeted on the results of the geophysical survey
which identified ferrous spreads and a potential linear feature of agricultural
origin. The results of the geophysical survey are suspected to have been
negatively affected by the spreading of ‘green waste’ across the site.
The trenching identified two pits, one of late Neolithic or early Bronze Age
date and the second undated, though suspected to be of the same phase. The
artefactual and ecofactual evidence recovered from the pits is indicative of
domestic activity. Two undated linear features were also excavated. One
relating to the anomaly identified by the geophysical survey and is suspected
to be a medieval or post-medieval boundary ditch. The second contained an
assemblage of burnt flint and is believed to be associated with the late
Neolithic or early Bronze Age pits.
The results of the evaluation indicate the site has moderate archaeological
potential for activity of late Neolithic or early Bronze Age and medieval / postmedieval
periods. The late Neolithic or early Bronze Age features are likely to
represent the continuation of the activity observed during previous
archaeological works both to the west of the proposed development area