1MC12 - Stage 2 - Main Works Civils for C2 and C3 Sectors Survey Report for Construction Integrated Recording at C24020 Fleet Marston Cemetery Area Putlowes Cutting Buckinghamshire

The CIR Area comprised an area totalling c. 77.4 square metres, representing the undisturbed area of the cemetery remaining after archaeological works surrounding it had been completed. The CIR Area was not excavated during the previous phase of work due to an exclusion zone placed on a power line pole. C24020 is positioned over a location where archaeological features are known to occur from the results of previous archaeological excavation and recording. All archaeological work was carried out in accordance with the over-arching Project Plan for Construction Integrated Recording (1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-C000-009812), The Location Specific WSI (MC12-EKF-EV-REP-CS04-000068), the AWHi - Fieldwork Change Control Form (1EW03-FUS-EV-FRM-CS04_CL20-000019) and any further instructions from the Contractor. These plans and guidelines were created in accordance with the Generic Written Scheme of Investigation, the Technical Standards for Specification for historic environment project plans and location specific written schemes of investigation (HS2-HS2-EVSTD-000-000036) and Specification for Historic Environment Investigations (HS2-HS2-EV-STD-000-000035), Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation (CIfA 2023a; 2023b) and Standard and Guidance for the Creation, Compilation, Transfer and Deposition of Archaeological Archives (CIfA 2020). The CIR Area was cleaned carefully by a mechanical excavator under archaeological supervision to remove any remaining obscuring deposits, and weathered material, so that any surviving archaeological features could be identified. The on-site archaeological recording and recovery techniques were in line with the methods set out in the Project Plan, the LSWSI and current industry best practices, and were fully understood by all. All paper and digital records made during the course of the archaeological works, and the treatment of artefacts and environmental remains, were reviewed continuously. Record checking and collation were completed at regular intervals, as appropriate, and before the area was considered complete. Human remains were excavated and recorded following the Employer's Human remains and monuments procedure (HS2-HS2-EV-PRO-0000-000008) and Technical Standard Specification for historic environment investigations (HS2-HS2-EV-STD-000-000035 Methodology for archaeological excavation of human burials). The program of CIR revealed the remains of eleven individuals placed in an equal number of grave cuts. All grave cuts were north-east to south-west aligned with the graves arranged in three well-organised north-west to southeast orientated rows. This layout pattern suggests a systematic expansion of the cemetery whereby rows were potentially filled chronologically, without a specific grouping strategy. The rows form a continuation of the pattern identified across the wider cemetery. In line with contemporary cemeteries in other parts of England, Fleet Marston produced a very limited number of grave furnishings. The most prominent] category of grave find is pottery with a general Roman-period date. Miscellaneous shell-tempered ware is the most common type. In the case of Grave 100019, the Roman date is refined by the presence of five coins, identified as probable Nummi, which date to the fourth century AD. The demography of the burials showed a mix of male and female individuals of varying ages, including a young juvenile, an adolescent and two older adults. All individuals were buried in supine stretched position with the head situated in the south-west and the feet in the north-east. Pathologies observed on the skeletal remains are mainly the result of wear and tear of the body, commensurate with age at time of death. Two skeletons show traces of minor historical trauma and three individuals likely suffered from an infection. No traces were found of excessive violence or other trauma that could have caused death.