Archaeological evaluation at Magna Park (Phase 3), Wavendon, Milton Keynes, November-December 2013

Northamptonshire Archaeology (now trading as MOLA Northampton) was commissioned by CgMs Consulting, on behalf of Gazeley, to carry out archaeological evaluation at Magna Park, Milton Keynes. The work comprised detailed magnetometer survey followed by trial trench evaluation. In addition to evidence for medieval ridge and furrow agriculture, the magnetometer survey identified a number of isolated anomalies of potential archaeological origin. The trial trenching examined these anomalies together with the 'blank areas'. The trial trenching found no archaeological features in the 'blank' areas, and showed that most of the magnetometer anomalies related to furrows, vegetation disturbance or geological variations. The only archaeological features present were a pair of ditches at the eastern edge of the site which produced abraded Roman pottery. These correlated to a magnetometer anomaly and are likely to be peripheral features associated with a settlement site excavated to the east.