Coton to Bourn Pipeline, Cambridgeshire: An Archaeological Evaluation and Excavation.

Abstract

This report is the assessment of the results from an archaeological evaluation comprised of a geophysical survey, field survey and trial trenching, followed by the resulting excavations. The project was undertaken between the villages of Coton to Bourn, Cambridgeshire between May and August 2008 and was commissioned by Cambridge Water Company. The pipeline route (PR) lies to the north of the adjacent A428, opposite Bourn Airfield, and further east, from Scotland Farm to the A1303/ A428 slip road, south of Park Farm before continuing south of the A428 to Coton. The pipeline originates at TL 3370 5990 and terminates at TL 4060 5900. The programme of works followed on from the results of a desk based assessment (DBA), (Appleby, G. A. and Beadsmoore, E. 2008), which identified the potential for prehistoric, Roman, Medieval and post-Medieval settlement activity. The evaluation confirmed these findings and identified four zones of significant archaeological activity. The excavation then expanded three of these zones into archaeological excavations, providing substantial evidence of Romano British (Areas 1 and 2), and Iron Age (Area 3) settlement. The forth area comprised of Late Neolithic/ Early Bronze Age and Romano British activity and was preserved in situ.