Jane R. Timby – författare

This volume reports upon the excavation of late Bronze Age to middle Iron Age remains at Fairfield Park, Stotfold, Bedfordshire, by Oxford Archaeology in 2002–3. The excavations took place at two separate locations (Sites A and B) within the grounds of the former Fairfield Hospital, which lies on a prominent hilltop. The earliest features at Site A were datable to the late Bronze Age and included a large, apparently empty enclosure and an adjacent cluster of pits. Three late Bronze Age cremation burials also occurred, one at Site A and two at Site B. After a possible hiatus in occupation, substantial settlements were laid out at both sites in the latter stages of the early Iron Age, around the 5th-4th centuries BC. Features at both settlements included small enclosures, roundhouses, four-post structures and numerous storage pits. There was some limited continuity of occupation into the middle Iron Age at Site B. Post-Iron Age activity was limited to agricultural use of the hilltop. The site is significant as it represents one of the first large-scale modern excavations of early Iron Age settlement remains within the region. Extensive assemblages of artefacts and faunal remains were recovered, along with good environmental evidence. A number of unusual artefacts occurred, including pottery with unique forms of decoration, a group of atypically early rotary querns, a set of 49 bone weaving tools from a single pit, and a range of metal objects including an involuted pin with coral studs. Human remains and articulated animal skeletons had been deposited in several of the pits. The richness of the data is such that detailed analyses have been possible of spatial patterning both within and between the two settlements.

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.

Report on the rescue excavations of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery discovered during 1974/5. Full catalogue of some 150 graves - mostly of the sixth century AD - and of the jewellery, weapons and other objects found with them. Fully illustrated catalogue of the finds and a discussion of them and their significance. Numerous specialist reports.EPUB3: Reflowable