Excavations at Grendon Underwood, The Hardwick to Marsh Gibbon Pipeline, Buckinghamshire

During 2006-7 CAM ARC conducted a programme of archaeological evaluation and excavation along the route of the Hardwick to Marsh Gibbon Gas Pipeline in advance of construction works along the pipe route. Two areas of high archaeological potential were selected for full excavation to the southeast of Grendon Underwood. These revealed evidence for human activity spanning the Bronze Age to Late Roman periods. The main focus of Late Iron Age activity was located in Area 2 where although large quantities of smelting slag were recovered, no evidence for in situ metalworking was recovered. In Area 1 a Roman settlement of Early Roman origins was recorded whose basic layout was adhered to throughout the Roman occupation. A series of boundary and enclosure ditches were recorded that showed a general expansion of the settlement towards the east over time, with a shifting pattern of internal boundaries and enclosures. The most intensive phase of activity on site appeared to be the Late Roman period. This included the construction of a building recorded at the centre of Area 1 represented by a number of in situ elements that included a section of wall constructed and faced with limestone rubble and blocks and 6 post pads, which suggested a roughly square layout. It was determined that the remains would be preserved in situ by reinstating the ground and sinking a bore to route the pipeline beneath the building at a depth which would ensure its survival, rather than fully excavate it.