Bicester Arc, Bicester, Oxfordshire - Archaeological Evaluation

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake an archaeological evaluation of a parcel of land north of Bicester Avenue Garden Centre, Oxford Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire; centred on NGR 457850 221584. A total of ten trenches were excavated, with nine trenches evaluating the area to the north west of the site and trench 10 evaluating the pond which is to be created 317 m to the south-east, within the proposed ecopark area.

Six trenches, contained archaeological features; five trenches contained linear features and one trench contained a pit. The pit and two of the linear features were dated to the medieval period, with continuity of use into the post-medieval period evidenced within one of the linear features (gully 4003), on the basis of material culture remains. The remaining linear features did not produce artefactual evidence and remain undated. The archaeological features support previous evidence (evaluation and mapping) identifying multiple phases of agricultural usage of the area.