A421 Archaeology along the Great Barford Bypass

During 2004–2005 Oxford Archaeology carried out a
series of archaeological excavations along the
proposed route of the A421 Great Barford Bypass,
Bedfordshire (NGR TL 102 513–TL 159 554). The
route extends from the Black Cat roundabout on the
A1 and runs to the north and west of Great Barford
linking up at its western end to the A421 Bedford
Southern Bypass near Water End.
A total of nine sites (Sites 1–9) were investigated
in detail revealing evidence of activity from early
prehistoric times through to the post-medieval
period. Earlier prehistoric activity was sparse and
largely evidenced through a light flint scatter over
the entire route and a single early Neolithic pit on
Site 2. Isolated early Bronze Age pits were located
at Sites 2 and 6. Following an apparent hiatus in the
middle Bronze Age small-scale activity reappeared
at Site 2 in the later Bronze Age-early Iron Age.
More widespread occupation and associated activities
were apparent from the middle Iron Age and
have been documented at Sites 2, 4, 6 and 7. Three
of these sites (2, 4 and 6) continued to be occupied
into the later Iron Age. By the early Roman period
Site 6 had become abandoned shortly followed by
Site 2, but activity was still evident at Sites 1, 4, 7
and 8. Of these only Site 8 continued to be inhabited
into the later Roman period, although a late
Roman cemetery was excavated at Site 4,
suggesting continued occupation nearby. Site 8 also
saw some post-Roman activity as did the adjacent
site at Site 9 where a small hamlet was established
in the late Saxon/early medieval period possibly
over an earlier mid-late Saxon settlement. Two new
sites (Sites 3 and 5) saw small settlements established
dating to the 10th–13th and 12th centuries
respectively.
Summary