Post-Excavation Assessment Report for Archaeological recording at Widmore Farm, Oxfordshire

0.2 The archaeological investigations comprised two archaeological recording areas, measuring c. 0.56ha (Area C25086, 1C20WIDAR) and c. 0.38ha (Area C25107, 1C20WIDAR), together with 17 No. trenches (1c20WIDTT): 13 No. trenches 30m long and c. 2m wide, 2 No. trenches 15m long and c. 2m wide, 1 No. trench 40m long and c. 2m wide and 1 No. trench, 10m long and c. 4m wide (trenches measuring in total 960m2, all within C25086) Most of the archaeology was uncovered within the eastern part of Area C25086, this comprised part of an unenclosed Middle Iron Age row settlement and associated activity. The settlement at Widmore Farm was principally demonstrated by the presence of six roundhouse buildings, these were built up along a boundary line which appears to have originated as some form of pit alignment, up to three pit rows were evident. Some of the pits contained what appear to be domestic waste dumps and appear to indicate there was some form of domestic settlement activity in the vicinity of the Site prior to the construction of the roundhouses. The boundary was initially defined by pits, and the subsequent roundhouses were positioned almost directly onto of the pit locations. This somewhat auspicious association was also seen in another broadly perpendicular boundary mostly constructed as pairs of post holes. It predated the roundhouse structures but was perfectly articulated with the entranceway to one of them. Two clay lined pits and two pit features were cut into the boundary in locations where there almost certainly had been postholes. A small number of other clay lined pits were recorded in the vicinity. The pottery dating contains some archaic elements but appears to be broadly all within the Middle Iron Age, however a slightly earlier date for some of the activity, notably the initial laying out of the first of the pit rows cannot be precluded. Little animal bone was recovered, and the finds assemblage was overall modest. Environmental remains were sparse and principally demonstrated largely residual evidence for low level crop processing, hearth waste and other domestic activity. The row settlement at Widmore Farm appears to be a direct continuation of a Middle Iron Age row settlement recorded at Finmere quarry c.300m to the south-east. There were 17 Trial trenches excavated around the C25086 area. With the exception of two parallel ditches which appear to be a direct continuation of a possible Roman trackway identified at the Finmere Quarry Site, the features identified were undated and results did not suggest there to be further significant remains present and the recording area was not extended. The archaeology in Area C25107 consisted of a series of undated pits accompanied by a significant number of natural features/bioturbation. Two pits produced a single flint (likely residual). The pit features broadly align north-west/south-east with the boundary and row settlement recorded in C25086 and appear to demonstrate that this boundary line continued to the north-east.