Archaeological Research Services Ltd was commissioned by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes Ltd to undertake a scheme of archaeological works on land in Bodicote, Oxfordshire in fulfilment of a condition attached to planning permission for a residential development and associated landscaping and infrastructure. Four areas were subject to open area excavation. Area 1 and Area 4 were within the proposed development area. Areas 2 and 3 targeted geophysical anomalies identified during an earlier phase of geophysical survey and evaluation trenching. The majority of the archaeological remains were encountered in Area 1 and Area 4, with no anthropogenic features encountered in Area 2 and only natural features encountered in Area 3. The archaeological features in Area 1 predominantly dated to the Iron Age and comprised over 200 storage pits, 10 of which contained human burials. In addition, a series of enclosures, likely associated with animal husbandry were encountered. The area of Iron Age activity was demarcated by a large outer boundary ditch which marked the northern, western and southern limits of the Iron Age archaeology. Although no direct evidence of settlement structures was encountered on the site, the sheer number and density of storage pits indicates that there must have been a substantial Iron Age settlement in the vicinity. A modest number of small pits were also encountered, some of which contained humanly-struck flints, suggesting a potential Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date and attesting to a long history of human activity on the site. In addition, a small number of late 19th-early 20th century pits were encountered, most likely associated with allotments shown on historic mapping from this period. In Area 4, the remains of a large ring ditch with 5 entrances, as well as three smaller ring ditches were encountered. Although finds from these ditches were very scarce, flint recovered from some of the fills indicate a potential Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date. In addition a modest number of pits were encountered in this area, probably of a contemporary date to the ring ditches. Three post medieval field boundary ditches were also excavated in Area 4, which produced 19th century pottery and clay tobacco pipe fragments.
Rebecca L Trow (Mon,) studied this question.