Evidence for Akeman Street Roman Road at New Farm, Green End, Landbeach: An Archaeological Evaluation

On the 22nd and 23rd September 2003 staff of the Archaeological Field Unit of Cambridgeshire County Council (AFU) conducted and archaeological evaluation at New Farm, Green End, Landbeach (TL 4683 6646). The work was carried out in advance of re-development of former farm buildings proposed by Mr James Matthews who also commissioned the work.
The development site is c.1km to the north of the historic village of Landbeach on the line of the Roman road, Akeman Street, and west of the Roman Car Dyke. The evaluation aimed to establish the presence/absence, nature and degree of preservation of archaeological remains in an area of high archaeological potential, with particular reference to Akeman Street.
Two trenches were excavated. The length of trenching was 28m giving a 10.8% sample of the 0.03ha development area. Both trenches contained archaeological remains associated with the Roman road.
The evaluation revealed the remains of Akeman Street, known from cropmarks visible on aerial photographs. The road had been severely damaged by modern farming practices which had caused the almost entire obliteration of the agger (raised causeway which served as the foundation for the construction of Roman roads). The roadside ditches were still well preserved underneath a layer of debris from the recent demolition of the farm buildings.
Three main phases of activity were identified. The earliest phase dated to the Roman period and was characterised by the presence of Akeman Street. Two undated/post Roman? shallow features may have represented the remains of small quarry pits associated with later repairs to the agger.
The latest phase of activity was represented by remains of an early 20th century post-built structure (fence or shed) associated with the farm buildings which had been demolished before the archaeological evaluation.