Medieval, Post-Medieval, and Undated Features South of Denmark Road, Cottenham: An Archaeological Evaluation

Cambridgeshire County Council's Archaeological Field Unit has carried out an archaeological evaluation to the south-east of Denmark Road, Cottenham (centred on TL 452/673). The work was conducted between July 1996 and February 1997 for the Melbourne Property Company Ltd. in advance of a proposed housing development. Twenty two linear trenches were opened by machine so that archaeological features could be recorded and samples excavated by hand. The areas of greatest archaeological interest were shown to be the St. Johns College Field and the north west part of Graves's land (fields 13 and 16 respectively on the development plans). In the St John's College Field, (TL 4515/6730), a variety of pits, ditches and gullies were recorded; most could be dated to the medieval period because of associated pottery. An enclosure ditch and the foundations of a timber building have been located, as well as boundary ditches and evidence for quarrying and rubbish disposal. The remains may be associated with a medieval manor known from documentary sources, although the quantities of pottery and animal bone found were not great. More medieval pits were revealed near the street front on Grave's land, (TL 4505/6727), as well as a small oven and possible timber structure which have not been dated. Elsewhere in the development area, further back from the road, the density of archaeological feature declined. A number of boundary ditches were located, many of which tied in with boundaries visible on historic maps. The finds from these features were mostly post-medieval or modern.