Portfields Rise, Milton Keynes Archaeological Evaluation Report

Between 30th April and 11th May 2018, Crestwood Environmental on behalf
of Grand Union Housing, undertook an archaeological evaluation comprising
14 trenches at the site of a proposed housing development known as
Portfields Rise, Milton Keynes (NGR SP 85287 44042). The work was
undertaken as a condition of the planning permission.
Cropmark evidence and the results of a geophysical survey indicated the
presence of several rectangular enclosures and a circular enclosure within
the proposed development area.
The results of the trial trenching correlated well with the results of the
geophysical survey. A trapezoidal enclosure of Roman date was identified
within Area 1, adjacent to an undated circular enclosure that may be
contemporary or of prehistoric date. An early Roman farmstead was
identified in Area 2, comprising two closely adjacent rectangular enclosures,
the smaller of which contained two probable roundhouses. The enclosures
were adjoined to the south-west by an area of smaller enclosures, possibly
including further buildings, and were enclosed to the north and east by a
ditched boundary. Artefactual evidence from the farmstead included an iron
arrowhead and a rare example of a roughcast indented beaker in a colourcoated
fine ware