A45: Girton to Stow cum Quy. Field Walking Programme

Fieldwalking was carried out by the Archaeological Field Unit, Cambridgeshire County Council in advance of detailed proposals for the widening of the A45 being submitted.

Fieldwork indicates that the discard of preservable artefacts was largely contained within those areas previously identified as archaeological by cropmarks. The finds associated with these cropmarks indicated intense but spatially restricted Roman activities. However, in addition a number of early and late prehistoric sites were recognised lying in close proximity to the cropmark sites.

The fieldwalking programme has served the objective of defining areas of archaeological interest. This will aid the formulation of adequate proposals for the recording of remains affected by road construction. However, fields not under arable or where access was restricted due to sensitivity of crop have so far not been evaluated. Other more appropriate techniques need to be considered in such areas.