Archaeological Investigations at Duxford Cambridgeshire 1991 (Part II - Trial Investigations)

Abstract

In September 1991 the major sites identified in our previous desktop and fieldwalking survey (October 1989; Evans 1990a) were investigated through the excavation of a series of trial trenches. Eleven trenches, extending for nearly 900m in total length, were opened in the fields east of Hunt's Road. Some 1,975 sq. m were thus investigated, representing a 0.35% sample of this portion of the application site (56ha). Our brief was to investigate the major sites known within this area, rather than to undertake a landscape sampling programme. As a result, no trenches were randomly sited. Access to this area was restricted by the fact that the northernmost field lay under sugar beet and crop compensation had to be paid for the trenches cut there. Compensation even had to be paid for the other trenches in the fields under corn stubble; this has implications concerning the evaluation of 'unknown' or 'incidental' archaeological factors. The programme succeeded in demonstrating the characteristics of the three main sites in this area. In total more than 130 archaeological features were identified, thus establishing a firm basis of archaeological provision should the development proceed. This report is intended to be read in conjunction with the first report of the C.A.U.'s Duxford investigations (Evans 1990a) in which the site's topography, documentary history, aerial photographs and archaeological background are discussed. Throughout this report reference will be made to the eleven sites (of varying degrees of probability/archaeological 'reality') either identified through background researches or discovered in the course of fieldwalking. These are fully described within the gazetteer of the first report.