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Report Title

Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine Bedfordshire - Archaeological Field Evaluation

Publisher and Publication Year

Albion Archaeology - 2004

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Summary

Non-Technical Summary In August 2004 Albion Archaeology undertook an archaeological field evaluation on land at Manor Farm, Woburn Road, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire on behalf of Peter Farmer, Chartered Architect. The aim was to establish the extent and condition of any archaeological remains located within the study area, to characterise them and to allow their importance to be assessed. The evaluation would also allow an appropriate mitigation strategy to be developed. The study area lies in a landscape rich in archaeological remains dating from the prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval periods. The site is bordered by Morteyne Manor, a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM11547) to the north-east. Three trial trenches were opened. They were located within the boundaries of the proposed development area on land immediately adjacent to the proposed new housing plots. A total of eight archaeological features were recorded: These consisted of two ditches and three postholes sealed below subsoil deposits. A further three possible post medieval pits were observed cutting through subsoil deposits. None of these excavated features produced any artefactual or ecofactual material. Despite modern disturbance and contamination, the evaluation demonstrated the presence of archaeological features within the study area that were relatively well preserved. The discovery of field boundaries and postholes suggests field subdivision and demarcation perhaps contemporary with Morteyne Manor's adjacent field systems. Further discovery of buried soil horizons adds to the further possibility of good archaeological preservation within the study area. Albion Archaeology Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire Archaeological Field Evaluation 5 1. INTRODUCTION3.2 Summary The evaluation has demonstrated the presence of archaeological features within the study area. It has also successfully demonstrated the nature and state of preservation of these deposits. Excavations north-east of the study area revealed a late Iron Age and early Roman settlement focus (AFU 2000). However, that activity does not appear to have included the current development area. This trend was evident in the trench plans from that earlier piece of fieldwork, which clearly demonstrated that the spread of archaeological features decreased in density towards the study area. It is possible that the undated features observed at Manor Farm Barns are not related to the Iron Age/early Roman activity at all. Instead, they are more likely to be related to the medieval moated site (SAM11547) located immediately to the north-east. The presence of field boundaries and postholes within the study area may indicate the sub-division of farmland and demarcation of land boundaries. Perhaps these boundaries were contemporary with the use of Morteyne Manor and represent its adjacent field systems. Medieval moated sites and medieval settlement remains within modern villages have been identified as valuable topics for research in the eastern region of England (Coleman 1990, Wade 1997). This site represents an opportunity to study medieval land use immediately around a moated site, as opposed to within it. Many similar plots within this regions villages have already been infilled with modern development, making this a potentially valuable archaeological site. Albion Archaeology Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire Archaeological Field Evaluation 12 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Table of Contents

List of Figures.....................................................................................................................................2 List of Plates........................................................................................................................................2 Preface.................................................................................................................................................3 Structure of this Report.....................................................................................................................3 Key Terms...........................................................................................................................................3 Non-Technical Summary...................................................................................................................4 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 5 1.1 Planning Background ..........................................................................................................5 1.2 Site Location and Description.............................................................................................5 1.3 Archaeological Background................................................................................................5 2. TRIAL TRENCH EXCAVATION .............................................................. 7 2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................7 2.2 Aims and Method Statement...............................................................................................7 2.3 Results...................................................................................................................................7 3. SYNTHESIS........................................................................................... 11 3.1 Significance of Results .......................................................................................................11 3.2 Summary.............................................................................................................................11 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................... 12 5. APPENDIX............................................................................................. 13 5.1 Trench And Context Summaries...........................................................................................13

Headings

List of Plates
Preface
Key Terms
Non-Technical Summary
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Planning Background
1.2 Site Location and Description
1.3 Archaeological Background
2. TRIAL TRENCH EXCAVATION
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Aims and Method Statement
2.3 Results
3. SYNTHESIS
3.1 Significance of Results
3.2 Summary
4. BIBLIOGRAPHY
5. APPENDIX
5.1 Trench And Context Summaries
Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire
Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire
Land at Moat Farm Barns, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire