High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works Little Marlow Stw - High Wycombe Stw

HIGH WYCOMBE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS LITTLE MARLOW STW - HIGH WYCOMBE STW

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

NGR: SU 8750 8740 to SU 8810 8890

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

Report No. 324 December 2003

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

HIGH WYCOMBE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS LITTLE MARLOW STW-HIGHWYCOMBE STW

NGR: SU 8750 8740 - SU 8810 8890

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING

December 2003

This report has been compiled with all reasonable skill care and attention to detail within the terms of the project as specified by the client and within the general terms and conditions of Archaeological Management Services Ltd trading as Foundations Archaeology. This report is confidential to the client. AMS Ltd accepts no responsibility whatsoever to third parties to whom this report or any part thereof is made known. Any such party relies on this report at their own risk.

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations

Summary

Glossary

1 INTRODUCTION

2 PROJECT BACKGROUND

3 AIMS

4 METHODOLOGY

5 RESULTS

6 CONCLUSIONS

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Appendix 1 Pottery Report

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1: Site Location

Figure 2: Location of Areas of Archaeological Activity

Figure 3: Detail Plan 1

Figure 4: Detail Plans 2 & 3

Figure 5: Detail Plan 4 & 5

Figure 6: Detail Plan 6

Figure 7: Sections

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

SUMMARY

In March 2003 Foundations Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording on the construction of an approximately 1.5km section of new sewer; from Little Marlow STW at NGR: SU 8750 8740 to a point to the northwest of Fern NGR: SU 8810 8890 (Figure 2). From Fern the remainder of the pipeline (3.2km) to High Wycombe STW was to be tunnelled and therefore had no potential for the recovery of archaeological deposits. The archaeological works comprised the monitoring of the topsoil strip of a 30m wide easement across the study area (Figure 2). Pipe trenching was thereafter undertaken under watching brief conditions as specified in the Project Design. Spoil tips were scanned for unstratified finds along the route.

A number of archaeological features were revealed during the course of the works. These consisted of a number of posthole-type features and two ditches. These features appeared to date to the Late Iron Age- early Roman period.

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

GLOSSARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Archaeology

For the purpose of this project archaeology is taken to mean the study of past human societies through their material remains from prehistoric times to the modern era. No rigid upper date limit has been set, but AD 1900 is used as a general cut-off point.

Medieval

The period between the Norman Conquest (AD 1066) and c. AD 1500.

Natural

In archaeological terms this refers to the undisturbed natural geology of a site, in this case Gravel over London Clay, with Brickearth deposits across the central section of the route.

Neolithic

Prehistoric period traditionally dated between 4000 and 2800 BC

NGR

National Grid Reference from the Ordnance Survey Grid.

Ordnance datum; used to express a given height above sea-level.

Ordnance Survey

Romano-British

Term used to describe the synthesis of indigenous late Iron Age cultures with the invasive Roman culture. Traditionally dated between AD 43 and c. AD 410

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Between March and May 2003, Foundations Archaeology undertook a programme of archaeological monitoring and recording on a section of pipe laying between Little Marlow STW and a point to the northwest of Fern at (NGR: SU 8810 8890) (Figure 1). The work was commissioned by Lang Hall Archaeology on behalf of Thames Water Utilities, following the advice of the Archaeology Section of Buckinghamshire County Council.

1.2 The study area comprised a 1.5 km length of pipeline with easement. The works were undertaken in accordance with a project design prepared by Foundations Archaeology (2003) based on a specification prepared by Lang Hall Archaeology (2003) and a brief prepared by Buckinghamshire County Council (2003). The project was undertaken in accordance with the Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs issued by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (1999) and Archaeological Guidance Paper 4: Archaeological Watching Briefs: (guidelines) issued by English Heritage (London Region).

1.3 This document presents the findings of the archaeological monitoring and the excavation of a number of archaeological features identified along the route.

2 PROJECT BACKGROUND

2.1 The new sewage pipe covered by this project was constructed as part of a larger scheme between the Little Marlow South Sewage Treatment Works (NGR: SU 8750 8740) and the High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works (NGR: SU 8820 9220). The pipeline was constructed partly by traditional open-cut method and partly by tunnel. The open-cut section ran between the Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Works and a point northwest of Fern (NGR: SU 8810 8890) for a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometres. This section required archaeological monitoring and is hereafter referred to throughout the report as ‘the pipeline’. Additional archaeological monitoring was undertaken on works at both Sewage Treatment Works, the contractors compound and the access road. The remaining 3.2km of the pipeline was tunnelled from the compound at NGR: SU 8810 8890 to the High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works and did not require archaeological monitoring.

2.2 South of the A4155 the route crossed the Spade Quarry Landfill site and followed the route defined on Figure 2 to the Little Marlow STW.

2.3 The pipeline route was subject of an Environmental Impact Assessment, which included an archaeological component. This information is summarised here. The assessment has identified no known archaeological or historic sites that would be directly affected by the pipeline, although the pipeline traverses an area an area

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

that has not been the subject of previous archaeological fieldwork. The route itself lies within an area of archaeological potential.

2.4 Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic artefacts have been recorded from the general vicinity, as well as Bronze Age and Iron Age sites and finds. Roman, medieval and post-medieval activity is also known. Gravel extraction at the Marlow Quarry (Site 6146) revealed deposits and features relating to Mesolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age activity. The most significant finding was evidence for Bronze Age stream-side activity in the form of burnt stone spreads. Neolithic and Roman artefacts have also been recovered east of Little Marlow STW (Site Nos. 2897 and 4666).

2.5 A geophysical survey of the area was undertaken by GSB in 2002. This highlighted a very limited potential for archaeological features within the study area. Potential features were identified in survey blocks 1C, 1F and 2. The features in block 1F fell entirely outside the pipeline easement, while only a single possible ditch in block 1C fell within the observed area. A small concentration of anomalies was noted in block 2. These were interpreted as being of potential archaeological origin. The report concluded that interpretation of features as being of archaeological origin was tentative and that alternative origins should be considered equally likely.

3 AIMS

3.1 The aims of the archaeological monitoring were to gather high quality data from the direct observation of archaeological deposits in order to provide sufficient information to establish the nature, extent, preservation and potential of any surviving archaeological remains.

3.2 These aims were to be achieved by the pursuit of the following specific objectives as stated in the Project Design (Foundations Archaeology 2003).

i) to define, identify and record any archaeological deposits on site, and date these where possible.

ii) to attempt to characterise the nature of the archaeological sequence and recover as much information as possible about the spatial patterning of features present on the site.

iii) where possible to recover a well dated stratigraphic sequence and recover coherent artefact, ecofact and environmental samples.

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

4 METHODOLOGY

4.1 The compound, access road and an easement of c.30m width were topsoil stripped across the entire study area under appropriate archaeological supervision (Figure 2). Minor works at the Sewage Treatment Works were also observed. Archaeological features identified were excavated in accordance with the Project Design (2003). Discrete features were initially half-sampled and were subsequently excavated to 100%. Pipe trenching was undertaken under watching brief conditions as specified in the Project Design. Spoil tips were scanned for unstratified finds across the entire study area.

4.2 Palaeoenvironmental samples were taken from all features excavated. Processing of these samples revealed no evidence for charred cereals, molluscs or either categories of environmentally significant material. No suitable contexts were present for scientific dating.

5 RESULTS

5.1 The project ran without significant problems. In general the natural ground was present immediately beneath the top/ploughsoil, although considerable depths of modern made ground were present at the Little Marlow STW.

5.2 Little artefactual evidence was present during the observation of the topsoil strip, and consisted of several fragments of undiagnostic tile and modern chinaware.

5.3 No archaeological features were revealed within the compound area. The pit-like anomalies identified by the geophysical survey (Area 2) were not present as identifiable cut features and are likely, therefore, to have been caused by magnetic anomalies within the ploughsoil.

5.4 A number of archaeological features, predominantly in the form of pit/posthole like features were present between the compound and the track (Figures 3-7). These did not form any clear alignments indicative of structures.

5.5 Pit/posthole [006] measured 0.64m long by 0.51m wide by 0.22m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (007). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.6 Posthole [008] measured 0.39m long by 0.34m wide by 0.16m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (009). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.7 Pit/posthole [010] measured 0.60m long by 0.52m wide by 0.14m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (011). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature. © Foundations Archaeology HWS03.fa.wb 109 Albion Street, Swindon SN1 5LP Tel/Fax 08700 780 555/01793 529403 email: [email protected]

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

5.8 Pit/posthole [012] measured 0.64m long by 0.57m wide by 0.23m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (013). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.9 Pit/posthole [014] measured 0.65m long by 0.55m wide by 0.16m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (015). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.10 Pit/posthole [016] measured 0.50m long by 0.48m wide by 0.19m deep with steep sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (017). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.11 Posthole [018] measured 0.30m in diameter by 0.05m deep with rounded sides and base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (019). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.12 Pit/posthole [020] measured 0.95m long by 0.60m wide by 0.22m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (021). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.13 Pit/posthole [022] measured 0.55m long by 0.48m wide by 0.13m deep with sloping sides and an uneven rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (023). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.14 Pit/posthole [024] measured 0.53m long by 0.44m wide by 0.25m deep with steeply sloping sides and a narrow base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (025). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.15 Posthole [026] measured 0.36m long by 0.32m wide by 0.10m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (027). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.16 Posthole [028] measured 0.33m long by 0.30m wide by 0.10m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (029). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.17 Pit/posthole [030] measured 0.47m long by 0.49m wide by 0.12m deep with sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (031). A single sherd of Roman pottery was recovered from this feature.

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

5.18 Pit [032] measured 1.46m long by 1.26m wide by 0.17m deep with shallow sloping sides and a flat base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (033). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature.

5.19 Ditch [034] was aligned northwest-southeast and measured 1.55m wide by 0.35m deep with uneven sloping sides and a rounded base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (035). No artefactual material was recovered from this feature, which could not be traced across the entire easement.

5.20 Ditch [036] was aligned east-west and measured 1.09m wide by 0.36m deep with sloping sides and a flat base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay with flint inclusions (037). This feature corresponds to the ditch-like feature identified by the geophysical survey, although it could not be traced across the entire easement. The ditch was cut by pit [038], which measured 1.05m long by 0.94m wide by 0.16m deep with shallow sloping sides and a flat base. It contained a dark grey brown silty clay fill (039) from which Roman pottery was recovered.

6 CONCLUSIONS

6.1 Archaeological features were identified during the course of the watching brief, close to the contractors compound. No other archaeological features were present during the topsoil strip of the entire area of pipeline, nor during the pipe trenching itself. Artefactual evidence was restricted to a small assemblage of Roman material and a number of finds of modern transfer pattern and chinaware.

6.2 Archaeological features consisted of two ditches, two pits and thirteen small pits/postholes. The pits/postholes were grouped together, but had no clear alignments and did not appear to relate to structural activity. Dating evidence was recovered from only one of these features and was of early Roman date. No dating evidence was recovered from the ditches, although ditch [036] was cut by a pit of early Roman date and is, therefore, stratigraphically earlier. No dating evidence was recovered from the other pit, but as this fell within the group of small pits/postholes and was visually identical in its fill, it is reasonable to assume that this feature is also of Roman date. In general, based on the dating evidence and the close proximity of the features to one another, it appears most likely that all the features recovered represent Late Iron Age-early Roman activity

6.3 With the exception of a single ditch, none of the archaeological features were identified by the geophysical survey. There appears to be no identifiable reason for one of the ditches being identified but not the other, as both were similar in dimension, depth and fill. None of the pits/postholes were identified by the geophysical survey. A background of small ferrous responses was identified across each of the geophysical survey blocks, but none of these corresponded to archaeological features. A small group of pit-like responses identified by the

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

geophysical survey at the Contractors compound were not visible as negative features and do not appear to have been archaeological in origin.

6.4 The archaeological monitoring has identified a number of Roman features within the easement of the pipeline. These features were spatially restricted to the area close to the compound and the remainder of the pipeline route was archaeologically sterile.

6.5 The finds and archive will be deposited with Aylesbury Museum. A summary report of the findings will be sent to South Midlands Archaeology and Records of Buckinghamshire for publication.

7 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Buckinghamshire County Archaeological Service 2003 High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Brief for an Archaeological Watching Brief.

Foundations Archaeology 2003 High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works Transfer Scheme Watching Brief: Project Design.

GSB 2002 High Wycombe STW: Geophysical Survey Report 2002/94

IFA 1999 Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Watching Briefs. Institute of Field Archaeologists

Lang Hall Archaeology 2003 High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works Transfer Scheme: Brief for Archaeological Monitoring

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Foundations Archaeology would like to thank Mike Lang Hall of Lang Hall Archaeology, Thames Water Utilities and David Radford of Buckinghamshire County Archaeological Service.

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

APPENDIX 1

POTTERY REPORT

High Wycombe Sewage Treatment Works: Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

For: Foundations Site: High Wickham Sewage works 2003 Site code: HWSW03 Author: Dr J Timby

THE POTTERY

A total of 97 sherds of pottery were recovered from two features excavated during a watching brief on a pipeline between Little Marlow and High Wycombe.

A single undiagnostic bodysherd of handmade grog and organic-tempered pottery weighing 10 g was recovered from pit/posthole [031]. Date: 1st century AD.

A collection of 96 sherds weighing 1749 g was recovered from pit [038]. The assemblage is in good condition with large fresh sherds, mainly from just two vessels. A single small piece of amorphous fired clay was also recovered from the same context. The vessels comprise the following:

1) Seventy-four sherds from a handmade grog and organic-tempered large jar. Most of the rim is missing. Date: 1st century AD 2) Nineteen sherds from a Verulamium whiteware, single-handled flagon, probably a ring-necked type. The upper neck and rim are missing. Date: 1st century AD (Flavian onwards). 3) A rim and bodysherd, probably from two vessels, both large jars with a hard fired, grog-tempered fabric. Date: 1st century AD.

The completeness of the vessels recovered from pit [038] is unusual and suggests that they were deposited whole. The absence of the rims could suggest that the vessels were set upright and that these parts have been lost through truncation of the deposit through ploughing or some other mechanism.