Fieldwork Report for Archaeological Monitoring (CIR) at Ellesborough Road, Buckinghamshire

The CIR was undertaken in February 2022 and comprised the Archaeological Monitoring of the site access road and associated works, including test pits, totalling a stripped area of approximately 1.11ha within C21047. The work was undertaken following the scope, methodologies, and deliverables for the Archaeological Monitoring was provided in AWH - Project Plan for Archaeological monitoring and Construction Integrated Recording - Route Wide (1EW03-FUS-EV-REP-C000-009812) and sought to address specific HERDS objectives for the Site The Archaeological Monitoring was undertaken on a single Land Parcel (C21047) approximately 0.11ha. The earliest recorded feature was a single Neolithic pit with an almost intact Langdale polished stone axe head, showing at least some activity during the prehistoric period be it minimal within the site, with a relative hiatus until the Iron Age. The excavation revealed an Iron Age presence with a few land boundaries and pits apparent, which are then superseded by a large arcing enclosure ditch of Late Iron Age to Early Roman date. The ditch is approximately 75m long sweeping from south-west to north-east aligned on a slight bluff in the landscape which overlooks the flat plain to the north. Two definitive posthole alignments are located internally following the arc of the ditch. A series of features are cut and recut along the south-western edge of the ditch which appear to demarcate either an internal division of the enclosure or the southern edge and activity appears to revolve around establishing or restricting movement along this edge during the Late Iron age and Roman period. Other notable finds were a Roman pit with a first century military dagger, alongside a pit with a collection of varying types of loomweights, both depositions appear to be placed deposits. A large Roman lime kiln which may have been sited over a previous shaft was also uncovered with courses of faced stone surviving. Later activity is minimal with a single medieval pit and a post-medieval building toward the eastern side of site.