North West Cambridge Archaeology. University of Cambridge. 2013 Excavations. The Traveller’s Rest Sub-site Site. (NWC Report No. 8)

Abstract

This was the last of the current North-West Cambridge sites excavated. Against background Mesolithic/earlier Neolithic and later Neolithic/Bronze Age flintwork a few Bronze Age features extended into the area's southwestern margin. These were associated with Site II's MBA paddock/enclosure system and Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement cluster. The main phases of occupation were Middle/Late Iron Age and Romano-British, both with substantial assemblages. Of the former, aside from a few 'open' settlement-phase roundhouses, this was manifest by recut enclosures, two with roundhouses, of sub-circular form and of Middle Iron Age date; the third, 'Late' one, was much larger and sub-rectangular. The site saw continuity of settlement into Early Roman times and, during the first century AD, rectangular compounds were established; associated with the eastern end of a terrace-edge/boundary that ran across much of Site II. Associated with this Early Roman usage was a quarry-field. Based on LiDAR and borehole data, this quarrying possibly resulted in a large wet hollow, which - never subject to later arable production - was responsible for the existence of the copse bordering the site's southern side. During the later second century AD many 'Early'-phase features had been backfilled with finds-rich midden deposits. Extending along its south-central edge were two sub-rectangular ditch-lines. These appeared to be a part of a third century compound that must run under the copse. With the site beside the former Traveller's Rest Pit Quarry - where Palaeolithic flintwork was recovered - a machine-dug cutting was taken down into the gravels to test for other such finds.