Elstow Pit South, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report

The programme of archaeological works initially comprised of 11 evaluation trenches: eight in Area 1 measuring 30m x 1.8m, and three in Area 2 measuring 15m x 1.8m. The trenches were positioned to target the areas of construction to gain an understanding of the archaeological potential, and if necessary, devise a mitigation strategy to minimise the impact of development on the archaeology. Due to weather constraints and water ingress from the water table, Area 2 was subject to a phase of archaeological monitoring and recording. All trenches and the area of archaeological monitoring and recording were excavated to natural deposits, revealing sediments comprising of a mid yellow brown silty clay with lenses of gravel. Subsoil was identified only in Area 2 and consisted of mid brown grey clay silt. The topsoil across site consisted of a dark grey brown clay silt. In total, two ditches, two gullies and six discrete features were identified in Area 2, which ranged in date from prehistoric to modern.