Orchardway Wind Farm Hill Farm,

Archaeological Evaluation

for AMEC Environment & Infrastructure UK Ltd on behalf of RWE Npower Renewables

CA Project: 660012 CA Report: 11276

October 2011

Orchardway Wind Farm Hill Farm, Haversham Milton Keynes

Archaeological Evaluation

CA Project: 660012 CA Report: 11276

prepared by Simon Carlyle, Project Manager

date 27 October 2011

checked by Simon Carlyle, Project Manager

date 31 October 2011

approved by Roland Smith, Regional Manager

signed

date 1 November 2011

issue 01

This report is confidential to the client. Cotswold Archaeology accepts no responsibility or liability to any third party to whom this report, or any part of it, is made known. Any such party relies upon this report entirely at their own risk. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without permission.

© Cotswold Archaeology Unit 4, Cromwell Business Centre, Howard Way, , Milton Keynes MK16 9QS t. 01908 218320 e. [email protected] © Cotswold Archaeology Orchardway Wind Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Evaluation

CONTENTS

SUMMARY...... 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...... 3

2. RESULTS ...... 6

3. DISCUSSION...... 13

4. CA PROJECT TEAM ...... 14

5. REFERENCES ...... 15

APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS...... 16 APPENDIX B: THE FINDS...... 21 APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE...... 22 APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM ...... 23

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location plan, 1:25,000 Fig. 2 Trench location plan, showing archaeological features and geophysical survey results 1:5,000 Fig. 3 Trench 1; plan, sections and photograph Fig. 4 Trenches 8 and 10; plans, sections and photograph Fig. 5 Trench 13; plan, sections and photograph Fig. 6 Trenches 14, 15, 16 and 18; plans, sections and photograph

1 © Cotswold Archaeology Orchardway Wind Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Evaluation

SUMMARY

Project Name: Orchardway Wind Farm, Hill Farm, Haversham Location: Milton Keynes NGR: SP 8300 4420 Type: Evaluation Date: August and September 2011 Location of Archive: County Museum Services Accession Number: AYBCM: 2011.220 Site Code: OWF 11

An archaeological evaluation, comprising the excavation of eighteen trial trenches, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) on the proposed site of the Orchardway Wind Farm, at Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes. The work, which was commissioned by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd, acting on behalf of RWE Npower Renewables, was carried out in two stages, in August and September 2011.

The earliest remains encountered dated to the middle to late Iron Age, and these were largely located on the ridge of high ground at the northern end of the site, overlooking the valley of the . They comprised a sub-rectangular enclosure and associated ditches and pits in the area of Turbine 2, and two ring ditches and a possible second enclosure on the track, approximately 200m to the east. A human cremation burial (left in situ), also believed to be of Iron Age date, was identified to the south of the ring ditches. Iron Age remains, forming part of a small D-shaped enclosure, were also encountered on the track c. 400m to the north-west of the site for Turbine 2, and an isolated pit was investigated in the proposed area for Turbine 4. Although no Roman features were identified, a number of sherds of Roman pottery recovered from the upper fills of Iron Age features on the hill top suggest Roman activity in the vicinity. Elsewhere, there were a number of medieval, post- medieval or modern agricultural features, including furrows, former drainage ditches, land drains and spreads of stone and tile. The remains of a possible medieval or post-medieval industrial feature were identified within the Iron Age enclosure in the area for Turbine 2. This was one of three highly magnetised discrete anomalies that were identified within the enclosure by geophysical survey and interpreted as possible lime kilns.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 An archaeological evaluation, comprising the excavation of eighteen trial trenches, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology (CA) on the proposed site of the Orchardway Wind Farm, at Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes (centred on NGR: SP 8300 4420; Fig. 1). The work, which was commissioned by AMEC Environment and Infrastructure UK Ltd on behalf of RWE Npower Renewables, was carried out in two stages, in August and September 2011, prior to the submission of planning proposals for the wind farm to Milton Keynes Council.

1.2 The evaluation was carried out at the request of Nick Crank (2011), Milton Keynes Council’s Archaeological Officer (MKCAO), and in accordance with the approved Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) prepared by CA (2011). The fieldwork also followed the Institute for Archaeologists’ Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Field Evaluation (IfA 2008), and the English Heritage procedural documents Management of Archaeological Projects 2 (EH 1991) and the Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MoRPHE): Project Manager’s Guide (EH 2006). The fieldwork was monitored by MKCAO, with a site visit made on 29 September 2011.

The site

1.3 The site of the proposed wind farm, which covers an area of c. 228ha, lies on the northern outskirts of Milton Keynes, approximately 3.2km to the west-north-west of Newport Pagnell (Fig. 1). It comprises a number of fields of arable and pasture, bounded by the road leading from to Faversham to the south-east, by a small stream, a tributary of the River Great Ouse, to the north-west, Little Linford Wood to the north-east and agricultural land to the south-west. The ground rises gradually to the north, from c. 86m aOD near Hill Farm to c. 97m aOD on the top of the slope overlooking the Great Ouse valley.

1.4 The solid geology comprises a range of Jurassic rocks, with those of the Blisworth Clay and Limestone Formations occurring on the south-facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Great Ouse, and those of the of the Cornbrash and Kellaways Formations on the upper slope (BGS 2010). On the hill top, in the northern part of

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the site, the bedrock is predominately mudstone of the Peterborough Member, overlain by drift deposits of glacial till (Oadby Member).

Archaeological background

1.5 The Milton Keynes Historic Environment Record (HER) lists two Heritage Interest Areas (HIAs) within the site, containing archaeological remains that have largely been identified from cropmarks shown on aerial photographs. The earliest remains in the HIA in the northern part of the site, on the high ground south of Little Linford Wood, consist of two ring ditches that could be the remains of Bronze Age burial mounds; one of these was excavated in 1960 by the and District Archaeological Society (Entec UK 2011). Approximately 350m to the north-east there is a rectangular enclosure, encompassing c. 0.28ha, that may be the site of a Romano-British settlement. To the south-east, near Hill Farm, the second HIA contains the remains of a further Romano-British settlement (Mudd 2006). It has been suggested that two Roman roads, Viatores 172 and 174, pass through the site from north-west to south-east and north to south respectively; Viatores 172 is thought to follow the line of an existing track that follows the crest of the ridge (Entec UK 2011). The site of a former farm, Wood Farm, is located on the track close to the northern edge of the site, where the remains of a substantial stone barn can still be seen.

1.6 A geophysical survey, carried out by Northamptonshire Archaeology, was undertaken as part of the current programme of archaeological evaluation (NA 2011). This identified two main areas of archaeological potential, comprising a ditch system, a sub-rectangular enclosure and a cluster of pits on the hill top, and to the south-east, on the upper slope, a pair of ring ditches and parts of a second ditch system. Possible industrial features of medieval or post-medieval date, interpreted as potential lime kilns, were identified within the Iron Age enclosure. Ridge and furrow cultivation was evident in several of the areas surveyed.

Archaeological objectives

1.7 The objectives of the evaluation were to establish the character, quality, date and extent of any archaeological remains or deposits surviving within the site. This information will assist MKCAO in making an informed judgement on the significance

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of the archaeological resource, and the likely impact upon it of the proposed development.

Methodology

1.8 The fieldwork comprised the excavation of eighteen trenches of various lengths (260 linear metres at 2.0m wide) in the locations, approved by MKCAO, shown in Figure 2. The trenches were located within the footprints of the turbine foundations/crane pads, on the site of the meteorological (‘met’) mast and development compound/control building, and along the wind farm access track. Where geophysical survey had indicated the presence of potential archaeological features within these areas, the trenches were positioned to investigate the anomalies. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using a Leica 1200 series SmartRover GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA’s Technical Manual 4: Survey Manual (CA 2009).

1.9 All trenches were excavated by a JCB-type mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. All machine excavation was undertaken under constant archaeological supervision to the top of the first significant archaeological horizon or the natural substrate, whichever was encountered first. Where archaeological deposits were encountered they were excavated by hand in accordance with Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual (CA 2007).

1.10 Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential in accordance with Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites (CA 2003) and were sampled and processed. All artefacts recovered were processed in accordance with Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation (CA 2010).

1.11 The archive and artefacts from the evaluation are currently held by CA at their offices in Milton Keynes. Subject to the agreement of the legal landowner the artefacts will be deposited with Buckinghamshire County Museum Services (accession number AYBCM: 2011.220), along with the site archive. A summary of information from this project, set out within Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain.

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2. RESULTS

2.1 General stratigraphy The geology encountered in the southern part of the site, in the area of Trenches 5 to 8, was Blisworth Clay, which occurred as stiff greenish or greyish-brown clay (Fig. 2). Elsewhere, the geology was glacial till, which was predominately yellowish-brown clay containing pebbles and small cobbles in a wide variety of rock types. The subsoil, which was intermittent across the site, was generally mid brown silty clay, with an average thickness of c. 0.12m. The topsoil, which was approximately 0.3m thick, was mid greyish-brown organic silty or sandy clay.

2.2 Turbine 1, Trenches 3 and 16 At the southern end of Trench 16 there was a linear ditch, 1603, aligned north-west to south-east (Fig. 6). It measured 1.7m wide by 0.36m deep and was filled with three deposits, derived from initial weathering of the ditch sides and gradual silting. The ditch contained no dating evidence but it was sealed by the subsoil, suggesting that it may be at least post-medieval in date, if not earlier. The ditch is shown on the geophysical survey plot and is at least 50m long.

There were no archaeological remains in Trench 3.

2.3 Turbine 2, Trenches 13 and 14 Near the centre of Trench 13 there were two intersecting ditches, both of which appear to have been recut (Fig. 5). The relationship between the two ditches was uncertain, as a gravel-filled land drain had been cut through the point of intersection.

The northernmost ditch, 1304, corresponds with the slightly curvilinear anomaly shown on the geophysical survey plot, seen curving to the north-west and north from the eastern arm of the horseshoe-shaped enclosure near the southern edge of the survey area. The original ditch had largely been truncated by the recut, 1306; the part of the ditch that survived indicates that it would have had a V-shaped profile and measured approximately 1.4m wide by 0.44m deep (Fig. 5, Section GG). The recut had a more pronounced V-shape with steeper sides and a narrower base, and measured 1.2m wide by 0.73m deep. The ditch fills were fairly homogeneous, consistent with gradual weathering of the exposed sides and subsequent silting,

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although the upper fill of the recut, 1308, was very stony, suggesting that the ditch may have been backfilled.

The southern ditch formed part of the northern side of the horseshoe-shaped enclosure mentioned above. The full profile of the ditch, 1313, was not determined, but it had a steeply sloping southern edge and was c. 2.0m wide and over 0.6m deep (Fig. 5, Section HH). A far smaller ditch, 1315, cut into the southern, inside edge of the ditch, had a flat-bottomed, steep-sided V-shaped profile and was 1.05m wide and 0.39m deep.

Several sherds of Iron Age pottery were recovered from these ditches, including some middle Iron Age pottery from the fill, 1314, of the horseshoe-shaped enclosure ditch, 1313.

Approximately 2.5m to the north of ditch 1306 was a small oval pit, 1309, measuring c. 1.1m long by 0.8m wide by 0.18m deep (Fig. 5, Section FF). The fill, 1310, contained no artefactual evidence, but it did contain charcoal flecks and several burnt pebbles, possibly derived from hearth waste. There was no evidence of in situ burning.

A shallow furrow, 1311, investigated at the southern end of the trench, corresponds with the series of furrows, aligned north-west to south-east, shown on the geophysical survey plot.

Passing through the centre of Trench 14 on a north-east to south-west alignment was a large ditch, corresponding with the southern perimeter of the large, sub- angular enclosure identified by the geophysical survey (Figs. 2 and 6). The ditch, 1403, which had a broad, V-shaped profile and measured 2.4m wide by 0.60m deep, was filled with a fairly homogeneous deposit, derived from weathering and gradual silting, and contained sherds of middle Iron Age pottery (Fig. 6, Section II). A small posthole, 1405, with a diameter of 0.4m, was identified close to the inside edge of the enclosure ditch; a sherd of Iron Age pottery was recovered from its surface.

Further evidence for Iron Age activity was identified at the north-western end of the trench, where part of a large cut, probably a pit, 1407, was exposed. The feature

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was over 2m long and 1.9m wide and a hand-dug slot demonstrated that it was over 0.3m deep. A sherd of middle Iron Age pottery was recovered from the fill.

Excavation of pit 1407 was hampered by a gravel-filled land drain and a large, angular pit, 1409, one corner of which was exposed in the trench. It had been cut into the fill of the Iron Age feature and lay directly beneath the ploughsoil; plough scars were evident on its surface. The pit, which had vertical sides and measured over 2.0m long, 1.5m wide and 0.3m deep, had been backfilled or packed with excavated clay, mixed with some soil. This feature corresponds with one of the three discrete geophysical anomalies within the enclosure, interpreted as being of possible industrial origin, perhaps lime kilns. Within the narrow confines of the trench it was not possible to confirm this interpretation, but it is possible that the deposit of clay may have formed a lining or part of a collapsed superstructure for a kiln.

2.4 Turbine 3, Trenches 11 and 17 No archaeological remains were encountered in the two trial trenches in this area.

2.5 Turbine 4, Trenches 9 and 10 An Iron Age pit, 1003, was identified in Trench 10 (Fig. 4). It was roughly oval in plan, had short, concave sides, a flat base and measured approximately 1.4m long by 1.2m wide by 0.23m deep (Fig. 4, Section EE). It contained several small sherds of Iron Age pottery, burnt pebbles and charcoal flecks, the material probably derived from domestic waste.

There were no archaeological features in Trench 9.

2.6 Turbine 5, Trenches 5 and 6 There were no archaeological remains in these trenches, and the only features recorded were land drains, aligned north-east to south-west. Two of the drains in Trench 5 had been set into the edge of a shallow, flat-bottomed trench, 503.

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2.7 Access road, Trenches 1, 4, 12, 15 and 18 The remains of Iron Age settlement were encountered in Trench 1, and the adjacent trench to the south-east, Trench 18. The remains had previously been identified by the geophysical survey.

In Trench 1 there were two ring ditches, 103 and 107, probably the remains of roundhouses, and a linear ditch, 109, that passed through the centre of ring ditch 107 on an east to west alignment (Fig. 3). The northernmost ring ditch, 103, had an internal diameter of c. 9m and the ditch was approximately 1.8m wide and 0.4m deep (Fig. 3, Section AA). Ring ditch 107, which lay 6m to the south, was slightly larger, with an internal diameter of 12m, and the ditch was c. 2.3m wide and 0.5m deep (Fig. 3, Section BB). The linear ditch, 109, was approximately 2.0m wide and 0.4m deep and had a splayed, V-shaped profile (Fig. 3, Section CC). It is not known if the ditch pre- or post-dates ring ditch 107. It may form the north-western side of a sub-rectangular enclosure, the south-eastern side being formed by the large ditch investigated in Trench 18. Iron Age pottery was recovered from all three features and a flint blade and burnt stones were recovered from ring ditch 107.

Immediately to the north of ring ditch 103 there was a spread of limestone pebbles and small cobbles, 115, in the area of the putative Roman road, Viatores 172. However, the stones appeared to overlie the thin subsoil and the farmer (Mr Paton pers. comm.) recounted that he had put down considerable quantities of stone in this area to firm up the track, so the stone layer is therefore likely to be recent in date. A small ditch, 113, packed with limestone cobbles at the southern end of the trench is probably a post-medieval land drain.

In Trench 18, approximately 55m to the south-east of the ring ditches, there was a large ditch, 1803, that may form the south-eastern side of the possible enclosure mentioned above; the geophysical survey suggests that there may be an entrance to the enclosure on this side, immediately to the east of the trench. The ditch had a broad, V-shaped profile, measured c. 4.0m wide by 0.55m deep, and Iron Age pottery was recovered from its fill, 1804. Less than a metre to the south of the ditch there was a human cremation, interred in a small pit, 1805, with a diameter of 0.45m; the cremation was recorded but left in situ. A post-medieval rubble land drain, 1808, was located at the southern end of the trench.

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Further evidence for Iron Age activity in the area was identified in Trench 15, where a ditch and pit were investigated (Fig. 6). The ditch, 1503, was aligned north-west to south-east, had a splayed, V-shaped profile and measured 0.9m wide by 0.16m deep (Fig. 6, Section JJ). The geophysical survey plot shows a small D-shaped enclosure abutting the northern side of a linear ditch; the ditch in Trench 15 corresponds with the western arm of the enclosure. The pit, 1505, was oval in plan and measured 1.3m long by 0.8m wide by 0.17m deep. Late Iron Age pottery was recovered from both features.

In the southern part of Trench 12 there was a large ditch that appears to be associated with the pond immediately to the north; it may have served as a drain to improve ground conditions in this area. The earliest cut of the ditch, 1203, was aligned north-west to south-east and measured 1.0m wide by 0.41m deep. When this had silted up a new ditch, 1206, of a similar size was cut, offset slightly to the south-west. This had a steep-sided, V-shaped profile and its base was filled with limestone rubble to aid drainage; there is a suggestion by the excavator that the stones may have been arranged to form a conduit, but this was not certain. The shallow depression over the silted/backfilled ditches appears to have been levelled with a deposit of tile/brick fragments and stony soil, 2012. There was no artefactual dating evidence in the ditches, but they are likely to be post-medieval in date.

No archaeological remains were encountered in Trench 4.

2.8 Meteorological mast, Trench 2 No archaeological remains were encountered in Trench 2 and the only feature observed was a modern land drain that ran down the length of the trench on a north- west to south-east alignment.

2.9 Compound and control building, Trenches 7 and 8 In Trench 7 there was a series of four relatively shallow, parallel furrows, spaced c. 8m apart between centres and aligned north-west to south-east. Two of the furrows were investigated and were shown to be between 0.2m and 0.4m deep.

At the south-east end of Trench 8 there was a small, poorly defined ditch, 803, which was aligned north-east to south-west, had a flat-bottomed, V-shaped profile and measured approximately 1.0m wide by 0.3m deep (Fig 4, Section DD). No dating evidence was recovered from the ditch, but it was sealed by the subsoil,

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suggesting that it may be post-medieval or earlier in date. The trench was crossed by a number of modern land drains on a similar alignment.

The Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence

2.10 Artefactual material by Ed McSloy Artefactual material was recovered from nineteen deposits (Appendix B). Pottery of late prehistoric and Roman type was identified from fifteen deposits, mainly the fills of linear features and pits/postholes. The assemblage has been quantified and is shown in Appendix B.

Pottery A total of 135 sherds of pottery of late prehistoric type was recovered. The majority occurs as bodysherds in handmade grogged, sandy and fossil shell-tempered fabrics of Iron Age type known from the area (Knight 1993; Slowikowski 2005; McSloy forthcoming). The condition of this material is generally good, although with some moderate abrasion noted with selected context groups (106, 1504, 1506).

Where vessel forms and/or decoration are evident these point to a middle and late Iron Age date. Where smaller bodysherds occur, dating is necessarily broader. Most identifiable vessel forms are jars; three examples were recorded from ditch fill 1404 (fill of 1403) which are of slack-shouldered or ovoid profile and with simple upright rims. Decoration was noted as light vertical scoring recorded on two sherds from ditch deposit 1313; burnishing on two sherds from the fill, 1404, of ditch 1403 and a sherd from the fill, 1408, of pit 1407 which features fingertip impressions to its rim. The vessel forms and decoration would be consistent with a long-lived tradition in the region dating across the 4th to 1st centuries BC (Knight 1993, 237–38). Pottery of the succeeding Belgic tradition was noted as wheel-thrown grog-tempered sherds from ditch fill 1804 (fill of 1803) and possibly also from ditch fill 1504 (fill of 1503). Identifiable forms are limited to a deep-necked bowl with multiple cordons, which compare to vessels previously recorded from the Milton Keynes area (Marney 1989, fig. 37, nos. 79-80).

Pottery of Roman date was recorded from two deposits. Two mortarium sherds of Northamptonshire (Upper Nene Valley) type from deposit 1404 probably date to the later 2nd or 3rd centuries although appear to be intrusive, occurring with a moderately large and unabraded group of middle Iron Age pottery. A rimsherd from

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subsoil deposit 101 is identifiable as a necked bowl in Oxford red slipped ware (form C75) dateable c. 325–400+ (Young 1977, 164-66).

The non-ceramic material recovered is restricted to quantities of burnt stone, worked flint and fuel ash (highly-fired or part vitrified clay resulting from high temperature processes). Burnt stone (from deposits 108, 110 and 1313) consists of rounded cobbles/pebbles in fine-grained sandstone and possibly quartzite. The worked flint comprises mainly flakes which include primary removals struck from gravel flint. Most or all is re-deposited, mainly occurring with late prehistoric pottery. Little is dateable, although broken blades/bladelets, probably of Mesolithic date, were identified from deposits 108 and 1401.

2.10 Palaeoenvironmental evidence by Sarah Cobain Six environmental samples (48 litres of soil) were retrieved from a range of dated deposits with the intention of recovering evidence of industrial, agricultural or domestic activity, and material for radiocarbon dating. The samples were processed by standard flotation procedures (CA’s Technical Manual No. 2). The quantity of ecofacts recovered from the samples was poor, although preservation, exclusively by charring, was moderately good. The poor potential for the recovery of environmental remains had been noted on site. The results are summarized in Appendix C.

Samples 1 and 2 were taken from the fills (106 and 108) within Iron Age ring ditches 105 and 107 respectively. The material recovered consisted of moderately well- preserved charcoal identified as oak (Quercus spp).

Sample 3 was taken from fill 110 within Iron Age ditch 109. The material recovered consisted of charcoal identified as well-preserved oak, cherry spp (Prunus spp) and hawthorn/rowan/crab apple (Crataegus monogyna/Sorbus spp/Malus sylvestris) fragments.

Sample 4 was taken from fill 1804 within late Iron Age enclosure ditch 1803. The material recovered consisted of moderately well-preserved charcoal identified as alder/hazel (Alnus glutinosa/Corylus avellana).

Sample 5 was recovered from fill 1404 within Iron Age ditch 1403. The material recovered consisted of moderately well-preserved charcoal identified as oak and

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alder/hazel (Alnus glutinosa/Corylus avellana) and hawthorn/rowan/crab apple, indeterminate carbonised cereal grains and a fragment of slag.

Sample 6 was sterile.

The carbonised plant remains recovered from the above samples occurred in very low densities, suggesting that much of it is wind-blown ‘background’ material, although a certain amount may have been discarded directly into the ditches as domestic waste. Although a small quantity of cereal grain (two grains) was recovered from ditch 1403, the quantity is too small to determine whether crop processing was being carried out at the site or if the grains were included in domestic waste. Any of the carbonised plant macrofossil material and any of the charcoal (with the exception of oak) would be suitable for radiocarbon dating.

3. DISCUSSION

3.1 The trial trench evaluation broadly confirmed the findings of the geophysical survey carried out by Northamptonshire Archaeology (2011), and was successful in characterising the archaeology within the site.

The majority of the remains were located on the ridge of high ground overlooking the valley of the River Great Ouse, in the northern part of the site. They date predominately to the late Iron Age, although there was some evidence for middle Iron Age activity in the vicinity of Turbine 2. The remains comprised a sub-rectangular enclosure and associated ditches and pits in the area of Turbine 2, and two ring ditches and a possible second enclosure on the track, approximately 200m to the east. A human cremation burial (left in situ), also believed to be of Iron Age date, was identified to the south of the ring ditches. Iron Age remains, forming part of a small D- shaped enclosure, were also encountered on the track c. 400m to the north-west of Turbine 2; although undated, the ditch encountered in Trench 16 may be associated with this ditch system. An isolated pit was investigated further down the valley side, in the area of Turbine 4.

Roman activity in the area was sparse, although several sherds of Roman pottery were recovered from one of the enclosure ditches in the area of Turbine 2; this

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material is thought to be intrusive as the ditch also contained a small but well- preserved assemblage of middle Iron Age pottery. No evidence was found for the suggested Roman roads in the area, Viatores 172 and 174.

Furrows, the remnants of a medieval and post-medieval open field system, were recorded in the vicinity of Turbines 2 and 5.

Tentative evidence for medieval or post-medieval industrial activity was found inside the Iron Age enclosure in the area of Turbine 2. This was a large, angular, vertically- sided pit, packed or backfilled with yellowish-brown clay; only one corner of the pit was exposed in the trench. No evidence for burning, in the form of scorching, ash or charcoal, was observed, but pieces of limestone were noted in the ploughsoil in the surrounding area. The clay deposit may have formed a lining or part of the superstructure to a kiln, possibly a lime kiln, as postulated in the geophysical survey report (NA 2011). It is likely that the burnt core of the kiln that produced the strong magnetic signal detected by the magnetometer survey lies immediately to the north- west of the trench. The limestone cobbles in the ploughsoil may have formed part of the kiln or been part of the load to be reduced to lime.

Elsewhere, there were a number of post-medieval or modern agricultural features, including former drainage ditches, land drains and spreads of stone and tile.

4. CA PROJECT TEAM

Fieldwork was undertaken by Jeremy Mordue and Alistair Barber, assisted by Simon Carlyle, Dan Riley, Donal Lucey and John Pick. The report was written by Simon Carlyle, assisted by Jeremy Mordue, Ed Mc Sloy and Sarah Cobain. The illustrations were prepared by Lorna Gray. The archive has been compiled by Jerry Mordue and prepared for deposition by Kathryn Price. The project was managed for CA by Simon Carlyle.

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5. REFERENCES

BGS (British Geological Survey) 2010 Bedford, Bedrock and Superficial Deposits, and Wales, Sheet 203, 1:50,000

Dawson, M, 2005 An Iron Age Settlement at Salford, Bedfordshire Bedford, Bedfordshire Archaeology Monograph 6, Albion Archaeology and Bedfordshire Archaeological Council

Entec UK 2011 Orchardway Wind Farm, Milton Keynes: Draft Specification for Geophysical Survey

Knight, D, 1993 ’Late Bronze Age and Iron Age Pottery from Pennyland’, in Williams 1993, 219-38

Marney, P T, 1989 Roman and Belgic Pottery From Excavations in Milton Keynes 1972–82 Aylesbury, Bucks Archaeological Society Monograph series No. 2

Mudd, A, 2006 The Roman site at Hill Farm, Haversham: Excavations and Watching Brief, Records of Buckinghamshire, 46, 1-18

NA (Northamptonshire Archaeology) 2011 Archaeological geophysical survey on land proposed for the Orchardway Wind Farm (Phase 2) at Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes, report 11/92

Slowikowski, A, 2005 ‘The Pottery’, in Dawson 2005, 95-117

Young, C J, 1977 Oxfordshire Roman pottery Brit. Archaeol. Rep. Brit. Series. 43, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports

Williams, R J, 1993 Pennyland and Hartigans: Two Iron Age and Saxon sites in Milton Keynes, Bucks Archaeological Society Monograph No. 4, Aylesbury

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APPENDIX A: CONTEXT DESCRIPTIONS

Trench 1

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 100 Ploughsoil Mid greyish-brown humic clayey-sand - - 0.20 101 Subsoil Mid yellowish-brown silty clay - - 0.15 102 Natural Light yellowish brown clay with moderate - - - pebbles, mostly flint 103 Ring ditch A Ring ditch (not excavated), see 105 2.0+ 1.5 ne 104 Fill Fill of 103, mid greyish-brown clayey sand - - ne 105 Ring ditch A Shallow V-shaped ditch 2.4+ 1.8 0.4 106 Fill Fill of 105, mid brown sandy clay - - 0.4 107 Ring ditch B Shallow V-shaped ditch 2.4+ 2.3 0.5 108 Fill Fill of 107, mid orangey-brown sandy clay - - 0.5 109 Ditch Stepped, V-shaped linear ditch, aligned NE-SW 2.4+ 2.0 0.37 110 Fill Fill of 109, mid yellowish to greyish-brown - - 0.37 sandy clay 111 Ring ditch B Ring ditch (not excavated), see 107 2.4+ 2.1 ne 112 Fill Fill of 111, mid greyish-brown clayey sand - - ne 113 Drain trench Cut for stone drain (unexcavated) 4.0+ 0.6 ne 114 Stone drain Stone drain set in 113, limestone rubble - - ne 115 Layer Stone spread 2.0+ 2.0+ 0.03

Trench 2

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 201 Ploughsoil Mid greyish-brown humic sandy clay - - 0.31 202 Subsoil Mid yellowish-brown silty clay - - 0.16 203 Natural Light yellow clay with chalk pebbles - - -

Trench 3

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 300 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.32 301 Natural Mid orangey-brown silty clay with moderate - - - pebbles, mostly flint

Trench 4

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 400 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.31 401 Natural Mid orangey-brown silty clay with moderate - - - pebbles, mostly flint

16

Trench 5

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 500 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.18 501 Subsoil Mid greyish-brown clay with small chalk pebbles - - 0.12 502 Natural Mid greyish-brown clay - - - 503 Ditch? Shallow, flat-bottomed ditch, aligned SW-NE 2.0+ 1.14 0.13 504 Fill Fill of 503, dark greyish brown clay - - 0.13

Trench 6

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 600 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.25 601 Subsoil Dark greyish-brown stony clay - - 0.10 602 Natural Light greyish-brown clay with patches of gravel - - -

Trench 7

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 700 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.20 701 Subsoil Dark greyish-brown stony clay - - 0.20 702 Natural Mid greenish/greyish-yellow clay - - - 703 Furrow Shallow linear cut, aligned NW-SE 2.0+ 3.0 0.20 704 Fill Fill of 703, mid greyish-brown clay - - 0.20 705 Furrow Shallow linear cut (not excavated), aligned NW- 2.0+ 6.2 - SE 706 Fill Fill of 705, mid greyish-brown clay - - - 707 Furrow Shallow linear cut (not excavated), aligned NW- 2.0+ 3.5 - SE 708 Fill Fill of 707, mid greyish-brown clay - - - 710 Furrow Shallow linear cut (not excavated), aligned NW- 2.0+ 3.5 - SE 711 Fill Fill of 710, mid greyish-brown clay - - -

Trench 8

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 800 Topsoil Dark brownish-grey humic silty clay - - 0.20 801 Subsoil Light greyish-brown stony clay - - 0.13 802 Natural Mid yellowish-brown clay with moderate flint - - - pebbles 803 Ditch Linear, V-shaped ditch, aligned NE-SW 2.0+ 1.02 0.31 804 Fill Fill of 803, dark greenish-brown slightly silty clay - - 0.31

Trench 9

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 900 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.26 901 Natural Mid yellowish-brown clay with moderate flint - - - pebbles

17

Trench 10

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1000 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic clayey silt - - 0.26 1001 Subsoil Dark yellowish-brown clay - - 0.05 1002 Natural Light yellowish-brown clay with moderate flint - - - pebbles 1003 Pit Irregular oval cut with moderately steep sides and 1.42 1.22 0.23 flat base, aligned NE-SW 1004 Fill Lower fill of 1003, mid brownish-grey clay - - 0.10 1005 Fill Upper fill of 1003, orange mottled mid grey clay - - 0.20

Trench 11

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1100 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic clayey silt - - 0.25 1101 Subsoil Mid yellowish-brown clay - - 0.10 1102 Natural Mid greyish-brown to light yellowish-brown clay - - -

Trench 12

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1200 Topsoil Mid greyish-brown humic clayey silt - - 0.22 1201 Subsoil Mid brown clay - - 0.08 1202 Natural Mid yellowish-brown clay with fine limestone - - n/k pebbles 1203 Ditch Linear, U-shaped ditch, aligned E-W 2.0+ 1.0 0.41 1204 Fill Lower fill of 1203, light orangey-brown sand - - 0.20 1205 Fill Upper fill of 1203, mid brownish-grey clay - - 0.41 1206 Drain trench Cut for stone drain 2.0+ 1.16 0.45 1207 Stone drain Stone drain set in 1206, limestone rubble - - 0.32 1208 Fill Fill of 1206, dark greenish-grey clay - - 0.27 1209 Fill Fill of 1206, dark greenish-grey clay - - 0.32 1210 Fill Fill of 1206, mid greyish-brown clay - - 0.26 1211 Fill Fill of 1206, dark brown, almost black clay - - 0.30 1212 Layer Spread covering ditch 1203 and drain 1206, 2.0+ 3.05 0.17 dark greyish-brown clay

18

Trench 13

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1301 Ploughsoil Dark brownish-grey humic silt - - 0.32 1302 Subsoil Mid brown clayey silt - - 0.18 1303 Natural Mid yellow or orange stony clay - - - 1304 Ditch Linear cut, broad V-shaped profile, flattish base, 2.0+ 0.4+ 0.44 aligned NW-SE 1305 Fill Fill of 1304, mid brown silty clay - - 0.44 1306 Ditch Linear cut, steep-sided V-shaped profile with 2.0+ 1.2 0.73 narrow concave base, aligned NW-SE (probably an offset recut of 1304) 1307 Fill Basal fill of 1306, mid greyish brown silty clay - - 0.47 1308 Fill Upper fill of 1306, mid brown clayey silt - - 0.26 1309 Pit Shallow oval cut, aligned NE-SW 1.08 0.81 0.18 1310 Fill Fill of 1309, dark grey clayey silt with occasional - - 0.18 charcoal flecks and pebbles, some burnt 1311 Furrow Shallow linear cut , aligned NW-SE 2.4+ 1.0 0.12 1312 Fill Fill of 1311, mid brown clayey silt - - 0.12 1313 Ditch Probable curvilinear cut, aligned E-W, very steep- 2.0+ c 1.4 0.6+ sided, not bottomed 1314 Fill Fill of 1313, mid greyish brown silty clay - - 0.6+ 1315 Ditch Probable curvilinear cut, aligned ENE-WSW, 2.1+ 1.0 0.39 steep-sided V-shaped profile with wide flat base 1316 Fill Fill of 1313, mid greyish-brown silty clay - - 0.39

Trench 14

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1400 Ploughsoil Dark brownish-grey humic silty clay - - 0.35 1401 Subsoil Mid brown clayey silt - - 0.20 1402 Natural Mid brownish-orange stony sandy silty clay - - - 1403 Ditch Linear cut, moderately steep-sided V-shaped 2.0+ 2.4 0.60 profile with a narrow concave base, aligned NE- SW 1404 Fill Fill of 1403, mid greyish-brown clayey silt - - 0.60 1405 Posthole Small circular cut (not excavated) 0.4 0.4 ne 1406 Fill Fill of 1405, mid greyish-brown silty clay - - ne 1407 Pit? Part of a large cut, only partly excavated 1.9+ 2.0+ 0.36+ 1408 Fill Fill of 1407, dark brownish-grey clayey silt - - 0.36+ 1409 Pit/kiln Part of a large cut with straight, vertical sides (not 2.0+ 1.5+ 0.36+ excavated) 1410 Fill Fill of 1409, mixed layered deposit of brownish - - 0.36+ yellow clay and dark grey silty clay (backfill)

19

Trench 15

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1500 Ploughsoil Dark greyish-brown humic sandy clay - - 0.20 1501 Subsoil Mid yellowish-brown sandy clay - - 0.1 1502 Natural Mid yellow stony clay - - - 1503 Ditch Linear V-shaped cut, aligned NW-SE 2.0+ 0.90 0.15 1504 Fill Fill of ditch 1503, mottled orangey-brown sandy - - 0.15 clay 1505 Pit Shallow oval cut, aligned NE-SW 1.3 0.8 0.17 1506 Fill Fill of 1505, mid greyish-brown humic sandy clay - - 0.17

Trench 16

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1600 Ploughsoil Mid greyish-brown humic sandy clay - - 0.25 1601 Subsoil Dark brown clay - - 0.10 1602 Natural Mid yellowish-brown stony clay - - - 1603 Ditch Linear U-shaped cut with moderately steep sides, 1.6 1.66 0.36 aligned NW-SE 1604 Fill Basal fill of 1603, mid yellowish-brown clay - - 0.11 1605 Fill Middle fill of 1603, dark yellowish-brown sandy - - 0.19 clay 1606 Fill Upper fill of 1603, mid greyish-brown silty clay - - 0.12

Trench 17

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1700 Ploughsoil Mid greyish-brown humic sandy clay - - 0.25 1701 Subsoil Mid greyish-brown clay - - 0.05 1702 Natural Dark greyish-brown stony clay - - -

Trench 18

No. Type Description Length Width Depth Spot- (m) (m) (m) date 1800 Ploughsoil Dark greyish-brown humic silty clay - - 0.24 1801 Subsoil Mid orangey-brown silt - - 0.14 1802 Natural Mid yellowish-brown stony silty clay - - - 1803 Ditch Linear V-shaped cut, slightly stepped, aligned 2.0+ 4.0 0.55 NE-SW 1804 Fill Fill of 1803, mid brownish-grey silty clay - - 0.55 1805 Cremation Circular cut (not excavated) 0.45 0.45 ne 1806 Fill Fill of 1805, dark brownish-grey clayey silt - - ne containing burnt bone, believed to be human 1807 Drain trench Cut of stone drain (unexcavated) 3.0+ 0.55 - 1808 Stone drain Stone drain set in 1807, limestone rubble - - - 1809 Fill Fill of 1807, mid yellowish-brown clayey silt - - -

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APPENDIX B: THE FINDS

Context Description Count Weight (g) Spot-date

101 Roman pottery: Oxford red slipped 1 24 C4 106 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered; shell-tempered 2 6 IA (leached) Worked flint: flake 1 5 108 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered; coarse shell- 14 82 IA tempered 1 1 Worked flint: broken blade 2 216 Burnt stone: sandstone cobbles 1 5 Burnt flint 110 Late prehistoric pottery: grog/limestone-tempered; grog- 26 997 IA? tempered; Burnt stone: sandstone cobbles 8 663 Worked flint: flakes; broken flake 3 34 110 Burnt stone: sandstone cobbles 1 128 - <3> 400 Worked flint: core fragment 1 24 - 1100 Worked flint: core 1 52 - 1005 Late prehistoric pottery: quartz/grog-tempered 4 16 IA Worked flint: chip 1 1 1208 Fired clay 1 1 - 1308 Late prehistoric pottery: shell-tempered 4 3 IA 1313 Late prehistoric pottery: coarse/finer shell-tempered 39 231 MIA Worked flint: flakes; core fragment 3 39 Burnt stone 1 8 1401 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered 1 9 IA Worked flint: broken blade 1 1 1404 Late prehistoric pottery: coarse/finer shell-tempered 13 190 MIA;C2-C3 Roman pottery: Northants mortarium 2 116 1404 Fuel ash 3 10 - <5> 1406 Late prehistoric pottery: grog/limestone 1 3 IA 1408 Late prehistoric pottery: coarse shell-tempered; quartz- 3 21 MIA tempered 1504 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered; quartz tempered 5 26 LIA-C1 1506 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered 2 4 IA Burnt stone: sandstone 1 89 1804 Late prehistoric pottery: grog-tempered; coarse shell- 11 89 LIA-C1 tempered 1806 Human bone: skull fragment (burnt) 1 5

21

APPENDIX C: THE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL EVIDENCE xt No xt Sample No Conte Volume (L) of Percentage sample processed Flots (g) Flot Weight Material Weight (g) Identification (where applicable) 1 106 7 100% 1mm 3 Charcoal <1 Quercus spp (Oak spp) and plus 0.25mm flot

2 108 7 100% 1mm 3 Charcoal 2 plus Quercus spp (Oak spp) and flot 0.25mm

3 110 7 100% 1mm 1 Charcoal <1 Prunus spp (Cherry spp) and plus Crateagus monogyna/Sorbus 0.25mm flot spp/Malus sylvestris (Hawthorn/rowan/crab apple) Quercus spp (Oak spp) Plant In flot macrofossils Burnt stone 128 4 1804 100% 1mm 9 Charcoal <1 Alnus glutinosa/Corylus avellana and plus (Alder/hazel) 0.25mm flot 5 1404 10 50% 1mm 21 Charcoal 4 plus Alnus glutinosa/Corylus avellana and flot (Alder/hazel) 0.25mm Crateagus monogyna/Sorbus spp/Malus sylvestris (Hawthorn/rowan/crab apple) Plant In flot Poaceae (Indeterminate cereal macrofossils grains) Fuel ash 10 6 1314 10 50% 1mm 35 Nil and 0.25mm

22

APPENDIX D: OASIS REPORT FORM

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name Orchardway Wind Farm, Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes Short description (250 words maximum) The earliest remains encountered dated to the middle to late Iron Age, and these were largely located on the ridge of high ground at the northern end of the site, overlooking the valley of the River Great Ouse. They comprised a sub-rectangular enclosure and associated ditches and pits in the area of Turbine 2, and two ring ditches and a possible second enclosure on the track, approximately 200m to the east. A human cremation burial (left in situ), also believed to be of Iron Age date, was identified to the south of the ring ditches. Iron Age remains, forming part of a small D-shaped enclosure, were also encountered on the track c. 400m to the north-west of the site for Turbine 2, and an isolated pit was investigated in the proposed area for Turbine 4. Although no Roman features were identified, a number of sherds of Roman pottery recovered from the upper fills of Iron Age features on the hill top suggest Roman activity in the vicinity. Elsewhere, there were a number of medieval, post-medieval or modern agricultural features, including furrows, former drainage ditches, land drains and spreads of stone and tile. The remains of a possible medieval or post-medieval industrial feature were identified within the Iron Age enclosure in the area for Turbine 2. This was one of three highly magnetised discrete anomalies that were identified within the enclosure by geophysical survey and interpreted as possible lime kilns. Project dates 22-26 August and 28-30 September 2011 Project type Trial trench evaluation (260 linear metres) Previous work Geophysical survey (NA 2011) Future work Unknown PROJECT LOCATION

Site location Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes Study area (m2/ha) 228ha Site co-ordinates (8 Fig Grid Reference) SP 8300 4420 PROJECT CREATORS

Name of organisation Cotswold Archaeology (CA) Project Brief originator Nick Crank, Milton Keynes Council Project Design (WSI) originator Cotswold Archaeology Project Manager Simon Carlyle (CA) Project Supervisor Alistair Barber and Jerry Mordue (CA) Monument type Iron Age enclosures and ditch systems, possible medieval/post- medieval kiln Significant finds Iron Age pottery and animal bone PROJECT ARCHIVES

Physical Buckinghamshire County Museum Animal bone, Iron Age Service, accession no. AYBCM: pottery, plant macrofossils Paper 2011.220 Site archive Digital Milton Keynes HER Report and digital photos BIBLIOGRAPHY

CA (Cotswold Archaeology) 2011 Orchardway Wind Farm, Hill Farm, Haversham, Milton Keynes: Archaeological Evaluation. CA typescript report 11276

23 N t 01285 771022 Cotswold f 01285 771033 Archaeology w www.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk e [email protected]

site PROJECT TITLE Orchardway Wind Farm, Haversham turbine location Milton Keynes

meteorological mast FIGURE TITLE Milton Keynes Site location plan

0 1km

FIGURE NO. Reproduced from the 1999 Ordnance Survey Explorer map with PROJECT NO. 660012 DATE 03-11-2011 the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller DRAWN BY LG REVISION 01 of Her Majesty's Stationery Office c Crown copyright Cotswold Archaeological Trust 100002109 APPROVED BY PJM SCALE@A4 1:25,000 1