Long Holme Drove Investigations II: 2020 Excavations within Hanson’s Over/Needingworth Quarry (Phase V.1): Post-Excavation Assessment

Abstract

Archaeological excavations were undertaken by the Cambridge Archaeological Unit (CAU) at Hanson’s Over/Needingworth Quarry (centred on TL3890 7290) between July 2020 and May 2021. Taking place within the Phase V.1 area of the quarry, excavations were carried out in three areas (A-C) totalling 12.64ha. The excavations mark the latest phase of a long-running archaeological project within the Over/Needingworth quarry (dating back to the mid 1990s), which has revealed a significant and well-preserved prehistoric landscape. The current phase recorded archaeological remains dating from the Mesolithic through to the Roman period. With Mesolithic evidence largely limited to residual flint and a small flint assemblage recovered from a tree throw, the site’s first major phase dates to the Neolithic. Early Neolithic activity was represented by two small pit clusters, whilst a round barrow (Barrow 22) with a central double primary inhumation overlain has been provisionally dated to the Middle Neolithic based on a number of worked flints evidently placed as ‘grave goods’. Further Neolithic monuments comprising a small timber circle/hengiform monument and part of a possible henge were also excavated. More extensive evidence of Late Neolithic occupation comprised pits, a possible structure and a large pit-well, which yielded an important finds assemblage including large quantities of animal bone and Grooved Ware pottery. Often occupying the same parts of the landscape as the preceding Late Neolithic Activity, Beaker period occupation was represented by a series of pit clusters. A second round barrow (Barrow 20) was well preserved and having been identified previously during the site’s evaluation this monument was a particular focus of the excavations. Surrounded by a ring-ditch the barrow’s upstanding mound sealed a primary cremation – dated to the Early Bronze Age – associated with in situ pyre remains situated on the preserved pre-barrow ground surface. Evidence of Middle Bronze Age activity was dominated by an extensive field system(s), apparently representing both ‘infield’ and ‘outfield’ components either side of a droveway that extended across the site. Clear evidence of contemporary settlement was limited to a single roundhouse, however, a large number of pits and postholes – including a number of further structures – seem likely to also date to the Middle Bronze Age. Also broadly dating to the Bronze Age, a series of watering holes/pit-wells contained waterlogged fills and a number of important finds including wooden artefacts. Finally, a dense concentration of preserved wooden posts, amongst further degraded posts/postholes, has proven to date the Roman period and appears to represent activity along a possible former channel cut through the overlying fen deposits. The excavations have also produced an important assemblage of prehistoric artefacts and ecofacts including worked flint, pottery, worked bone, worked stone, worked wood/wooden artefacts, faunal remains and human remains, which are included within this assessment. In addition, as part of the ongoing palaeoenvironmental investigations at Over/Needingworth bulk environmental samples have been assessed and hold significant potential for further analysis, whilst further work on pollen and geoarchaeological sampling is outlined in this report.