An Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Former RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire

In October 2004, the Archaeological Field Unit (AFU) of Cambridgeshire County Council conducted an archaeological evaluation on fifteen hectares of land at the former RAF Cardington, Shortstown, Bedfordshire (TL 0776 4678/TL 0840 4710). The investigation consisted of nineteen trenches totalling 1480m in length, located to both the east and west of the historic Grade II* listed airship hangers.
In the Eastern Area three ditches were excavated in Trenches 11, 17 and 19, and discrete artefact scatters, independent from archaeological features, were recorded in Trenches 11, 12 and 17. Two of these ditches are broadly parallel and have been tentatively dated as prehistoric, whilst the third corresponds with a post-medieval enclosure ditch.
In the Western Area trenches revealed evidence of post-medieval agricultural activity in the form of ridge and furrow and a post-medieval field boundary. There was also a considerable amount of World War II intrusion across the site, but particularly to the west. These included Nissen Hit footings, a haul road, construction rubble ad service trenches.