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Summary

Regular rectilinear enclosures are visible as cropmarks in this location. Because of their regularity and good state of preservation they are thought to be post-medieval.

Monument Type(s):

• ENCLOSURE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• FIELD SYSTEM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? to 1900 AD?)
• RING DITCH (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• ENCLOSURE (Iron Age - 800 BC to 42 AD)
• DITCH (Late Iron Age - 100 BC to 42 AD)
• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• TRACKWAY (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• POST BUILT STRUCTURE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• OVEN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WATER CHANNEL? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HARD STANDING (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds:

• ANIMAL REMAINS (Early Iron Age to 5th century Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• BRICK (Early Iron Age to 5th century Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• COIN (Early Iron Age to 5th century Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Early Iron Age to 5th century Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Early Iron Age to 5th century Roman - 800 BC to 409 AD)
• SHERD (Medieval to 19th century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Events:

• A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvements scheme, 2008
• AP assessment along proposed A14 improvement route (Ellington to Fen Ditton), 2003
• Aerial photographic assessement for A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme, 2014
• Evaluation of A14 Improvement Scheme, Cambridgeshire, 2016
• Excavation at TEA 28, A14 Improvement Scheme, Cambridgeshire, 2017-18

Full description

1. Regular rectilinear enclosures forming well planned field system - probably Post Medieval because of its regularity and good preservation as a cropmark.

2. Prior to implementation of the A14 Improvement Scheme, several features were recorded along its route by gradiometer survey including a number of possible post medieval ditches and pits at this location.

3. An assessment of aerial photographs examined a corridor of at least 200m each side of proposed routes of 30km of A14 improvements. An extensive group of enclosures (TL 300 675) may represent an area of settlement. This area also shows periglacial cracks and recent boundaries. Linear ditches to west and north that may relate to those at TL297680. A banjo enclosure (TL30196797) is poorly photographed and its position is approximate. Possible ditched features at TL305680.

4. Aerial photographic assessment in 2014 identified extensive cropmarks for curvilinear and rectilinear ditches and pits. A small banjo shaped enclosure with parallel ditched entrances was also visible.

5. Evaluation carried out between May and July 2016 by Cotswold Oxford Pre-Construct Archaeology consortium (COPA) across ten plots of land as part of the early works scheme on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme. This report is one of a larger scheme of works associated with the improvement scheme for the A14. The archaeology is significant and extensive and includes Roman and Prehistoric archaeology, however the excavation phase of works have not yet been released in the public domain.

Fourteen evaluation trenches were investigated in plot 76 based primarily on known cropmark and geophysical evidence for the area. Significant archaeological remains were encountered, particularly in the northern half where evidence included ditches, pits and post holes. The features largely corresponded to that recorded in the aerial photographic assessment. Dating was limited, however, the features were interpreted as Iron Age to Roman in date with a number of medieval to post medieval furrows.

6. Archaeological excavation carried out in this area between 2017 and 2018 aimed to investigate the extent of Iron Age and Roman activity across the site. The excavation was part of the long running A14 road improvement scheme. The main area identified two main phases of activity comprising a small Iron Age settlement and later Roman settlement.

Iron Age features comprised six roundhouses on a roughly linear alignment spanning some 500m. The roundhouses measured between 9.5m and 14m in diameter with no recorded evidence from within them. They were surrounded by a series of small enclosures with a regular field system to the west and east. The Iron Age settlement extended beyond the southern limit of the excavation area. These features appeared to survive into the 1st century AD.

Roman evidence comprised a larger settlement connect via two trackways with a smaller settlement to the north (PRN 08819). The 2nd century AD saw a major shift in settlement pattern with the creation of a rectilinear enclosure site that survived into the 4th century AD. The central feature was a north-south aligned track leading north with large rectilinear enclosures to the east and west. Evidence of recutting, division and alteration was recorded in both enclosures. The western enclosure is tentatively interpreted as the focus for domestic activity with seven post built structures all on a north-south alignment and a bread oven. The eastern enclosure contained smaller enclosures only with little evidence of processing or production activity. East of this, a metalled surface approximately 30m across was recorded over a natural spring, a trench was cut through the surface composed of wattle panels held in place with wooden stakes and braces. It is thought to represent a water filtration system. Dating was tentatively placed in the late 2nd to early 3rd century AD. Other tracks were also recorded extending north towards the smaller settlement.

The finds assemblage has not been fully assessed at this stage, however, large quantities of animal bone, pottery, coins, brooches, military equipment and other domestic artefacts were recovered.

Medieval and post medieval furrows were recorded across the entire site, many of which appear to significantly truncate the earlier features.

Smith, A. & Bowsher, D., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 1: post-excavation assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74521.

Smith, A. & Bowsher, D., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 2 Updated Project Design (Unpublished report). SCB74522.

Smith, A. & Bowsher, D., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.1 Finds Assessment (non pottery) (Unpublished report). SCB74523.

Sutton, A., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.2 Pottery assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74524.

Carty, N. & Knox, E., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.3 Human Remains Assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74525.

Pipe, A. & Ewens, V., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.4 Animal remains and molluscs assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74526.

Walker, A., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.5 Plant and insect remains assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74527.

Taylor, D. & Spurr, G., 2019, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Archaeological investigations Volume 3.6 Geoarchaeology Assessment (Unpublished report). SCB74528.

<1> Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SCB7876.

<2> Bunn, D., 2008, Fluxgate Gradiometersurvey: A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvements: volume 1 of 2 (Unpublished report). SCB21314.

<3> Palmer, R., 2003, A14 Improvement, Ellington (TL1772) to Fen Ditton (TL4961), Cambridgeshire. Aerial Photographic Assessment (Unpublished report). SCB21409.

<4> Cox, C., 2014, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme: Brampton to Fen Drayton: Assessment of Aerial Photographs for Archaeology (Unpublished report). SCB46591.

<5> Clarke, G et al, 2016, A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme Early Works Programme archaeological evaluation report, plot 76 (Unpublished report). SCB48308.

<6> Hewitt, G., 2018, TEA 28 - Summary Report: Fenstanton (Unpublished report). SCB54771.

Sources and further reading

Documents

Related documents and web pages

• https://library.thehumanjourney.net/4878/

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