Trial Trench at Three Bridge Mill, Twyford, Buckinghamshire

Trial Trench Evaluation A total of 24 of the 29 trial trenches contained 132 features of archaeological potential. Of these 44 were within land parcel C25077 and 88 in land parcel C25082. Within land parcel C25077 features were broadly focused north /south in the eastern half of the parcel, with a dense grouping in Trench 9. Features in Trenches 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 reflected activity associated with a likely trackway and enclosure arrangement, with Trench 7 probably reflecting elements of this too. The features of archaeological potential in land parcel C25077 comprised ditches (38), furrows (3), pits (4) and a gully (1). Within land parcel C25082 features were widely distributed throughout, with little evidence of particular foci of activity. A small cluster of features could be seen in Trenches 23 and 24, where the results of the geophysical survey are unclear, but elsewhere features reflected the widely distributed evidence of pits and ditches indicated in the survey results. The features of archaeological potential in land parcel C25082 comprised ditches (39), furrows (37), pits (2), a post-hole (1) and gullies (7) and two areas of bioturbation (2). The results of the evaluation identified three main phases of activity, dating to the Late Iron Age / Early Roman period, the Mid - Late Roman period and agricultural activity dating to the wider medieval / post-medieval periods. There was sufficient diagnostic material within the finds assemblage from which to form a basic Site phasing, though it was less possible to identify phase-specific foci of activity within the Site due to finds residuality. The results also demonstrate that activity within the Late Iron Age / Early Roman period was extensive across the Site and that the earliest evidence of activity across the Site dates from this transitional period.