Archaeological Investigations at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire. Phases I and II. Post Exacavtion Assessment

Résumé 0

Archaeological excavations were undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) ahead of plant site/quarry compound construction and gravel extraction at Broom South Quarry, Bedfordshire (approximately centred on NGR TL 175 417). The work was carried out on behalf of Tarmac Ltd. in two phases; Phase 1 took place between April and November 2013 and Phase 2 between August and December 2016. The combined area encompassed some 38.6ha. The work followed an archaeological evaluation of the area undertaken in 2004, which identified 12 concentrations of archaeology dating from the Neolithic through to the Anglo-Saxon period but with the majority of sites dating to the Iron Age and Roman periods. Of these six fell within the current excavation/strip, map and record area, these comprised: an area of potential Romano-British settlement, which extended beyond the limit of extraction to the south, an Iron Age settlement site and three sites identified respectively by the presence of a Beaker period pit, a potentially Early Bronze Age ring ditch and an Anglo-Saxon Sunken Floored Building (SFB). Situated on the western flank of the Ivel valley, the 2013 and 2016 excavations revealed both archaeology associated with the sites identified by the evaluation as well as significant remains that had not previously been identified. The earliest evidence comprised an Early Neolithic multiple inhumation associated with Carinated Bowl pottery, whilst two pit clusters associated with Mildenhall type pottery represent slightly later settlement activity. Further Neolithic activity was encountered in the form of a long enclosure and two pits, both associated with Peterborough Ware pottery. Bronze Age activity at the site was evidently more limited with a small cremation cemetery the only notable feature, however, Iron Age settlement remains in the form of roundhouse gullies, enclosures and pits, apparently representing a series of discrete farmsteads, were widespread. Whilst the Ivel valley is undoubtedly an important Roman landscape – as indicated by previous evaluations and aerial photographs – remains of this period were limited to two trackways marked by parallel ditches, along with associated field system ditches, and part of an enclosure system in the south of the site. As indicated by cropmarks the densest Roman remains clearly occur to the east of the site closer to the River Ivel. Finally, Anglo-Saxon remains comprising a small inhumation cemetery and four SFBs – which are particularly notable for their worked bone assemblages – complete the archaeological record for the site. The results of the excavations – particularly the Neolithic, Iron Age and Anglo Saxon remains – are significant and add to a growing corpus of evidence, including previous excavations at Broom Quarry, which will allow landscape scale analysis of the prehistory and early history of the Ivel Valley.