Iron Age Activity at Town Farm, Whaddon.

Full excavation at Town Farm, Whaddon in September 1995 revealed two main periods of activity. Mesolithic/Neolithic flint tools and irregular features were discovered suggesting some presence on the site during this period. The other main phase of archaeological activity dated from the early Iron Age to early Roman period.

Occupation on the site ranges from the early Iron Age (with possible transitional late Bronze Age/early Iron Age presence) through a middle Iron Age phase to a late Iron Age/early Roman occupation which contains a few significant sherds of fine wares from one feature indicating the presence of a high status settlement in the vicinity. The site appears to represent land peripheral to a settlement and contains a series of steep sided rectangular pits. Cereal grains from some of these pits show that crop processing and other activities occurred in the vicinity but do not suggest a primary use of the pits for storage. Although no industrial debris was found to indicate the use of the pits in some industrial process large quantities of burnt flint were found which shows very high temperatures were achieved for some purpose. A domestic "oven" with clay lining, pierced shelf or floor and many burnt stones was also found. The site was divided during the Iron Age into two parts by a gully for a fence. That this division was in use for some time is shown by the re cutting of this feature. Eventually later Iron Age features cut the abandoned line of this fence.

No clear evidence for Saxon or medieval occupation of the area was discovered in spite of the evidence for at least eight medieval moated sites in the village and the suggestion that Whaddon had a middle Saxon common.