Update on archaeological investigations at Linmere, north of Houghton Regis

Albion Archaeology have been carrying out investigations at Linmere, the large development north of Houghton Regis. These investigations, at the foot of the Chilterns escarpment, have revealed a wealth of information about the life and death of the inhabitants of Linmere across nearly 8,000 years of history. The work was carried out for Houghton Regis Management Company and Land Improvement Holdings and will continue as other areas of the site are developed.

Open area excavation, Linmere developmentPhoto Credit: Albion Archaeology — Open area excavation, Linmere development
Photo Credit: Albion Archaeology

Back in 2012 geophysical survey and nearly 300 trial trenches identified 21 areas of archaeological interest, all of which have required some form of archaeological intervention. Over the past three years over 22ha have been archaeologically investigated, including 9.5ha of open area excavation.

The earliest finds include auroch bones dating back to the later Mesolithic (c. 6,000BC). Aurochs were a large species of wild cattle which became extinct in Britain during the Bronze Age. Radiocarbon dating has given various dates for these and other bones to between 6,636 BC and 5,627 BC .

Area F1-F2 field systems and enclosuresPhoto Credit: Dronescapes — Area F1-F2 field systems and enclosures
Photo Credit: Dronescapes

Most of the excavated remains are Iron Age and Roman, dating between the 1st century BC and 3rd century AD. During this period the area was home to a series of farmsteads linked by routeways running through the surrounding fields. The distinctive marks of ditched, rectangular enclosures were found in many of the areas excavated. The land had clearly been settled before this, as we also found dispersed burials (including some within round barrows) and pits dating from the Bronze Age. Later activity is indicated by traces of early Anglo-Saxon buildings which have been found on several of our excavation sites. During the medieval period most of the area contained open fields associated with nearby villages. Our excavations often uncover the ditches which would once have surrounded these fields. Some of these ditches can be seen on 19th century Ordnance Survey maps of the area bringing the history of the area right up to the present day.

Amongst the large amount of pottery recovered during our excavations was a fragment bearing a Latin inscription written in black ink. The inscription on this unusual find has been translated by Roger Tomlin as: ‘For a flagon of the gods Jupiter and Vulcan’. There is other evidence from elsewhere in Roman Britain for the cults of these two deities being combined. As Roger says, ‘The purpose of this flagon can only be guessed, but perhaps it held wine to refresh a guild of worshippers’.