Evaluation of Iron Age, Roman and Sxon Archaeology at the Proposed Wellcome Trust Genome Campus Extension, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. TL 500433. Environmental Statement Technical Annex C

Evaluation trenching was carried out in January and February 1998 on the site of the proposed Wellcome Trust Genome Centre Campus Extension, Hinxton Hall, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire. Archaeological field evaluation confirmed the survival of archaeological features, many of which had previously been identified from cropmarks and geophysical survey data. The evaluation showed that these remains mostly date from the late Iron Age through to the late Saxon periods.

The earliest archaeology present within the development area consists of a general background scatter of Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age flint work which lies within the topsoil or later archaeological features. The earliest identified cut features are of late Iron Age date, representing a small farmstead comprising post built structures, pits, boundaries, midden deposits infilling ditches and enclosures. Early Romano-British archaeology continues the Iron Age land use pattern, although at a later date in the period pitting and quarrying for the extraction of sands and gravels occurs along the riverside. Land to the east appears to continue as a zone of agricultural activity.

During the late Saxon, and possibly earlier, a discrete zone of pitting occurs along the riverside within the smaller of the Iron Age enclosures. Trackways from the Saxon settlement at Hinxton Hall link the two activity areas.

The evaluation has helped to identify important elements of the Iron Age, Roman and Saxon landscapes which, if studied in greater detail will help us to understand the activity zones, their inter-relationships and their temporal and spatial transformations.

The primary impact areas from the proposed development (building footprints) for the most part avoid those areas where the greatest concentrations of remains are present, but still partly impinge on zones of archaeological significance. Secondary development impacts (landscaping etc.) which are nonetheless equally destructive of archaeology in such shallow topsoil environments, include a number of areas of known and important remains.

The results of the evaluation and implications of the proposed development suggest that a scheme incorporating 'preservation by record' will be necessary in order to secure information that may otherwise be lost.