Library

This archaeological desktop assessment was requested by Peterborough City Council to assess the likely impact of the development of the site of Bushfield Community College (centred NGR 515294 / 295626). Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows that the site contains medieval and Post-Medieval land divisions and cultivation remains. The potential for earlier archaeology is indicated by known remains from the wider landscape that include a Scheduled Ancient Monument and activity and settlement spanning the Palaeolithic to Anglo-Saxon periods.

The report outlines the results of evaluation fieldwork across a c.105 ha area of the Over terraces along the lower reaches of the River Great Ouse, comprising a wet landscape crossed by three palaeochannels, with one gravel island and two sand 'ridges'. Significant archaeology from the Late Mesolithic to the Iron Age was encountered on the sand ridges. Mesolithic and Neolithic activity was represented by flint artefacts within the buried soil. Five barrows probably dated to the Early Bronze Age; a possible fieldsystem and two cremation burials were probably also Bronze Age in date. Late Bronze Age activity was represented by a small assemblage of potsherds. The Iron Age was well-represented, and a possible Iron Age settlement was encountered in the western part of the northern of the two ridges. A single sherd of Roman pottery was also found.

Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook an archaeological evaluation on land at Chittering Farm in advance of the construction of two reservoirs. 21 trenches were machined totalling 515.75m. One small pit on unknown date containing degraded animal bone was excavated along with remnants of a potentially prehistoric buried soil visible in 12 of the trenches to the southern end of the site.

Investigations were undertaken in advance of gravel extraction, and formed the westward continuation of the 2004 Phase 4 excavation. A total of 114 archaeological features were recorded. Whilst residual Neolithic and Early Bronze Age flintwork was recovered, no early prehistoric features were found. The earliest features on site were a series of pits or wells, some of which produced Middle Iron Age pottery. There was evidence of continuity in the use of these wells through the Iron Age and into the Roman period. The beginning of Romano-British occupation of the site commenced during the late 1st to mid 2nd century AD, involving the construction of four enclosures (A,B,C and D), a trackway, buildings, some possible corn-drying kilns and a cremation. Between the mid to late 2nd and 4th century Enclosure A was re-cut and a further enclosure (E) established, alongside the establishment of a rectilinear field system. This also coincided with the beginnings of an inhumation cemetery.

This archaeological desktop assessment was commissioned by ENVIRON to assess the likely impact of development of a 38ha site (divided into three parcels, identified as Bear�s Croft, Judith�s Field and Area NW) centred on NGR TL 2540 6980. Evaluation of the archaeological, historical, aerial and cartographic evidence shows the proposed development areas (PDAs) to be located on the eastern edge of Godmanchester in an area of known prehistoric, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and post-Medieval activity. Evidence of earlier human activity dating from the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods is attested immediately adjacent to the western PDA, and the A14 is assumed to adhere to a Roman road, the Via Devanna, and the A1198 to Ermine Street, alongside which have been discovered inhumation and cremation cemeteries and road-side settlements.

The Cambridge Archaeological Unit undertook an archaeological excavation in the grounds of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge between the 7th and 21st January 2008 in advance of building library and student facilities. The area of investigation comprised approximately 500 sqm of land located on the northwestern side of Cambridge at TL 439 595. The site yielded evidence of human activity from the Bronze Age through to modern times, with most periods represented. The Bronze Age phase was characterised by two substantial ditches and their later re-cuts, probably related to a series of paddocks forming a Middle Bronze Age field system. Three postholes may have been part of a roundhouse. An indeterminate feature may have been Late Iron Age or Romano-British, whilst a single ditch had a Romano-British date and was possibly the extension of a ditch previously encountered during excavations at neighbouring New Hall. Medieval activity was limited to a single pottery sherd in a tree bowl, indicating the agricultural use of this area during that period. A low level of post-Medieval was attested to by the probable remains of a small rubbish dump. In the 19th century, the still standing 'The Grove' was constructed, and several features attested to the landscaping of the area around the house.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) in January and February 2008, along the proposed route of a water supply pipeline, as part of the Anglian Water Peterborough to March reinforcement scheme. The proposed pipeline route links King's Delph reservoir, Whittlesey (TL 234 960), in the west, to Linwood reservoir, Wimblington (TL 409 935), in the east. The work was commissioned by Grontmij Ltd on behalf of Anglian Water Services Ltd and comprised a programme of trial trenches and 4x4m test pits located in order to evaluate three areas of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental potential along the proposed route. The archaeological remains exposed along the proposed route of the pipeline were confined to two areas of high ground, or 'dry land' at each end of the route. At King's Delph, Whittlesey remains provisionally dated to the later prehistoric period in the form of a possible pit alignment and ditch occupying the fen edge were exposed. A series of four parallel ditches, one of which contained a fragment of Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age pottery, were also exposed on the crest of the high ground. At Linwood Farm, Wimblington, evidence of later prehistoric land division was encountered in the form of a series of ditches, two of which yielded Late Bronze Age / Early Iron Age pottery fragments. Further potential phases of land division or drainage are also represented by a number of undated ditches. An area of low lying fen measuring some 16km in length, which divides the two areas was confirmed to be of low archaeological potential.

An archaeological evaluation was carried out at the College of West Anglia, Elm High Road, Wisbech between 6th - 11th March 2008. This consisted of the digging of twelve 4m2 test pits over an area of approx. 5.85 hectares, most of this on agricultural land due for development. No archaeology apart from a single un-dated east-west drainage ditch was found; the latter possibly a medieval or post-medieval ditch connected with land reclamation. The roddon creek silts of the Terrington Beds were proved in all the test pits, suggesting that in Iron Age-Roman times this area was in the intertidal zone.

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during the excavation of two boreholes and four trial pits located on a 990m square area of land in the northern part of the city of Cambridge on the 15th of February 2008. Along with evidence of the foundations of the standing 19th century Gonville and Caius Boathouse, a substantial peat deposit was also revealed. This material, which is situated immediately adjacent to the present course of the river Cam and is some 3m deep, appears to be associated with an area of marshland shown on a map of 1830 as lying immediately adjacent to a feature known as the 'Cambridge Sluice'.

Archaeological monitoring was undertaken during the excavation of two boreholes and four trial pits located on a 990m square area of land in the northern part of the city of Cambridge on the 15th of February 2008. Along with evidence of the foundations of the standing 19th century Gonville and Caius Boathouse, a substantial peat deposit was also revealed. This material, which is situated immediately adjacent to the present course of the river Cam and is some 3m deep, appears to be associated with an area of marshland shown on a map of 1830 as lying immediately adjacent to a feature known as the 'Cambridge Sluice'.

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit on land at 119 Ely Road, Littleport, Cambridgeshire, centred on TL 5641 8560. The results from this evaluation revealed no archaeology or artefacts from the prehistoric or later periods, however, three pits dated to the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods were sampled and recorded.

An archaeological excavation and watching brief was undertaken by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit on behalf of Hanson Aggregates PLC on a 1.77ha site at Baston No. 2 Quarry. The excavation revealed settlement and field systems of Middle Bronze Age date, in addition to pits, wells and postholes with complimentary domestic debris, including a large assemblage of pottery, was excavated and recorded. The results of the excavation provide an insight to the community of the Bronze Age people and place the site in context with the surrounding landscape.