Archaeological Investigations at Haversham Road, Milton Keynes: Phase 2 PXA

Résumé 0

This report presents the archaeological results from the 2016 Haversham excavation. This marks the final phase of work to be carried out at the Manor Farm/Haversham Quarry. Further excavation took place on the cursus complex previously recorded at the site, whilst the Wolverton Mound, a suspected barrow exposed in the 2015 excavation, saw some investigation. Additional archaeology comprised a Grooved Ware pit cluster, some wateringholes and two pit alignments. With the site situated directly on the Great Ouse valley floodplain, fluvial processes were highly influential on the sites formation sequence. Blanket alluvium deposits and palaeochannels attest to the sites dynamic paleogeography and environmental succession. Abundant palaeoenvironmental remains have so far allowed detailed studies of the Neolithic and Iron Age environments. During the Neolithic, the valley was largely free of alluvium. The monument complex was seen to be carefully situated in reference to the contours and active river channels of the pre-alluvium landscape. Whilst posts driven into the palaeochannels show some usage of the active watercourses, the landscape was largely grassland with cereal cultivation nearby. In the Iron Age, the valley had become much aggraded by alluvium. Pit alignments crossed the floodplain, which at this time, was grazed meadow. Cereal cultivation and stands of woodland and scrubland or hedgerows were located nearby, but clearly off site.