The archaeological excavations at Hanwell Fields, Banbury, Oxfordshire, April-November 2015

Archaeological excavations were undertaken by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) on behalf of CgMs (part of RPS Group) for Persimmon Homes on land at Hanwell Fields, Banbury, Oxfordshire, between April and November 2015. Seven separate excavation areas (A to G) were carried out within the 18.4ha development. Archaeology dating from the Bronze Age to the medieval period was present. The Bronze Age activity comprised a ring ditch, probably a ploughed-out round barrow (Area G), and two cremations (Area C). Areas of middle Iron Age to Roman settlement were uncovered over c350m by c250m area. Middle to Late Iron Age activity was found in four areas (B, C, D and E), and was characterised by boundary ditches, three large enclosures, two roundhouses and more than 100 pits, most of which were likely to have been used for storage and subsequently for waste deposition. Large faunal assemblages were retrieved from some pits, perhaps feasting deposits. The middle Iron Age post-built roundhouse (Area C) was unenclosed and a pit burial of the same date lay to the south (Area D). The later Iron Age roundhouse (Area D) lay within an enclosure formed of segmented ditches and pits. A field system lay to the south (Area F). The early Roman activity in Area B comprised a possible small square shrine situated on the hilltop within a large double ditched enclosure and accessed by a ditched routeway. An early Roman enclosure was situated some distance to the west (Area A). Later in the Roman period, an industrial grain processing site was situated in the same area, including three stone-lined corn drying ovens, a metalled trackway, yard surface, possible metal working and three possible beam-slot and post-built buildings. A single coffined supine burial came from this period. A moderate assemblage of Iron Age and Roman pottery and a large faunal assemblage were retrieved.