CBA SMA\SMA 1983.PDF - Council for British Archaeology

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in 1973 (Beds. Historical Record Society vol. 52). Surveys planned
for 1983 include Caddington and Kensworth in South Beds., Northill
and Old Warden in mid-Beds., and Goldington (Bedford).
Apart from work on parish surveys themselves, watching briefs
were carried out by Stephen Coleman adjoining Yielden Castle where
stream bed clearance produced little of interest, and by John Wood
at Bromham and Biddenham where trial pits were being made for the
proposed Bromham bypass. Apart from evidence of a previously
unlocated backfilled 20th century gravel pit in Biddenham, no archaeological
features were revealed.
John Wood also investigated a report of burials found in a garden
in Felmersham (North Beds.) at some distance from the present churchyard.
From pottery and a bronze clip found with the skeletons an early
14th century date was considered most likely. The reason for the
burials was however far from clear: perhaps they were associated with
the economic disasters and epidemics of the period. The bronze clip
appears to have been some sort of loop-fastener for a jerkin or
similar garment and was quite finely worked.
The earthwork survey of the deserted hamlet of Tilwick in
Ravensden (North Beds.) has been completed by Stephen Coleman and
Bedford Archaeological Society. Two areas of earthworks linked by a
distinct hollow way were defined: to the west are low building platforms
and lower down the slope to the east, a group of irregular teatures
of uncertain purpose.
FIELDWALKING - John Wood
Work took place over two weekends in the autumn and winter of
1982 by a small group of professional and amateur archaeologists. Part
of the line of the proposed Bromham bypass was fieldwalked in October
to discover whether Roman occupation material recorded many years ago
by F.W. Kuhlicke was likely to be affected by the new road. It was
found that if the present proposed line is followed by the bypass it
will miss the site of a small Roman farmstead to the north of Box End,
Kempston. Much evidence of 18th and 19th century manuring in the form
of scattered sherds and other debris remained on the fields, but there
was virtually no Roman material. However, a first century fibula
(brooch) was recovered by Stephen Coleman to the west of Box End Road.
This interesting find has been recorded by Pat Walsh, whose drawing
appears below (Fig.2).
In December, two crop-mark sites in Cardington were walked. Both
of these appear to represent late Iron Age/Romano-British settlements
and both are scheduled ancient monuments. One of them, north of
Chapel End, also includes what seems to be a neolithic causewayed camp.
The farmer here has DoE permission to deep plough the site. Two
distinct concentrations of material were found on a natural ridge,
close to the remains of a medieval headland. Apart from local greywares,
one sherd of samian and some examples of Nene Valley colour-coated ware
were recovered. South of Cardington village, the other site examined
proved more enigmatic. Despite extensive cropmarks on a series of
aerial photographs taken bY St Joseph and others, only one sherd of
hand-made coarse black pottery was found. This could have been Iron