5a Rectory Road, Oakley, Hampshire

In February 2007 Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out an excavation at 5a Rectory Road, Oakley NGR (SU 5730 5015) on behalf of Scott Wilson Ltd. The work was in advance of a new housing development by BJ Champion. The work revealed a finds rich middle Iron Age pit and ditch, indicative of a nearby settlement. A late Iron Age ditch and three early Roman ditches were also observed. Several undated postholes were observed in close proximity to an early Roman pit, and were probably contemporary. The late Iron Age ditches were re-cut and backfilled in the 2nd century, after which there was no evidence for further activity on the site. The ditches probably formed field boundaries at the edge of a settlement to the south, which was occupied between the middle Iron Age and 2nd century AD.