Investigation of the Archaeological Landscape at Broom Quarry, Bedfordshire (Phase 8)

Abstract

An eighth phase of archaeological investigation was undertaken at Broom Quarry, Bedfordshire (centred TL 175 440) by a team from Cambridge Archaeological Unit in June - September 2003. The work was carried out on behalf of Tarmac Quarry Products (Central) Ltd in advance of gravel extraction. It comprised a programme of targeted trial trenching over 13 hectares followed by two open areas of excavation covering approximately 2 ha. This revealed traces of later Neolithic and early Bronze Age occupation, sustained terminal Bronze through to later Iron Age open and enclosed settlement (1000-100 BC), and a single Anglo-Saxon pit. The results complimented those from earlier investigations at Broom, providing a context for the later Bronze Age and earlier Iron Age occupation excavated 700m to the west and 1.5km to the south west.. In addition, the transition from unenclosed to enclosed settlement, the unusual architectural forms of buildings and enclosures, significant metalworking deposit and large pottery assemblage from this site gave a fresh insight into later Bronze Age and Iron Age occupation in the region.