A605 Peterborough to Whittlesey Improvements: An Archaeological Desktop Study

This study attempts to define the archaeological potential of land along the route of the proposed A605 Peterborough to Whittlesey improvement scheme centred on TL 225/963. It also attempts to determine the potential impact of the development proposals upon the archaeological resource and suggests possible mitigation strategies. The study was commissioned by WS Atkins Consultants Ltd, on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council. It is largely based on existing sources, and the results of recent excavations along the proposed route. The proposed route approximately follows the existing A605 between Whittlesey and Horsey Bridge, deviating to the south of Stanground and north of Farcet, eventually joining up with the proposed Peterborough Southern Township development. The study area lies within a zone of high archaeological potential crossing the Fen Edge, and islands within the Fen. The entire area is rich in sites from the later prehistoric and Roman periods. Prehistoric finds have also been discovered very close to the route, and further abroad in the Fen, while the Bronze Age site of Flag Fen is only 2.5km to the north, and the potential exists to find similar sites. The greatest potential of the development corridor is for the discovery of further Roman artefacts, of which numerous examples have already been recovered, both as stray finds and during excavations. The route converges to within c500m of the Roman Fen Causeway at its eastern end. Around Horsey Hill Civil War Fort, any developments may reveal 17th century artefacts, both military and civilian, and could potentially reveal the location of any earthworks that have been ploughed out. Alluvium and peat cover, coupled with modern landuse mean that aerial photography and geophysical survey are of limited use in establishing the precise location of archaeological remains within the study area. Fieldwalking and trial trenching, along with other intrusive methods, would be the best way of characterising these remains.