The sites are located some 2 miles south-west of Marlow centre, see location plan (Ref 1) (Drg. No. 755/77). The site main survey datum north is at NG 84046:85573 with the site grid aligned magnetic at 4.57 deg west of NG north.

Low Grounds farm, shown edged blue on the location plan.

Low Grounds north shown red.

Hunters, between the main site and the Henley Road, shown yellow edged blue.

Pens Place (sometimes spelt Penn’s) Stonyware, shown edged green.

Also of relevance is a trench excavated in 2003 (HNW03) on the north boundary between Low Grounds and Hunters (subject of a separate report).

MAS commenced investigation of the area in 1999 as a result of interest created by a series of air photographs an example of which is (Ref 2) (Drg. No. 755/85). The area shown on this air photo is more or less the same as shown red on the location plan but as viewed from the north-east. This air photo shows 3 features running approximately south-west to north-east, the top a double ring, middle a large single ring and bottom a smaller ring. Between the top and middle rings there is a horseshoe shape and to the left of this another small ring or similar. These features are generally recorded as SMR 1161. Not very clear on this print but faintly visible on this and a number of other air photos are a number of small crop mark rings and similar, between the 3 main rings and the bottom right (north) corner of the field. There have been a number of air photo plots recorded on the NMR see (Ref 3) (Drg. No. 755/78). The number of rings shown in similar locations appears to arise from different positions recorded for the same feature. For ease of identification the areas of the features are designated A south ring, B centre ring, C an area south of A, D north ring, with the features within A being E and F.

All SMR records within 1 km of the site are included in Appendix (SMR Mar/Harly) with abridged details. Further detail on any item can be supplied.

The site is on a series of gravel terraces with the main crop marks on the highest point, a ridge about 450m long and an average of about 90m wide. Some mile or so to the east is the current position of the Thames and immediately to the west at the edge of the field is a paleo channel. It appears that the area at the north end of the field was at sometime an island between branches of the Thames with a bank to the river immediately to the west (see section on Hunters) and marsh to the east.

Auger bore and trial pits reveal the top or plough soil to be shallow alluvium only some 0.35m deep on the higher areas, increasing in depth down the slope. To the east the gravel dips in a series of banks (terracing) with a more pronounced bank running along the line of the track. To the west the gravel is on a more continuous slope, dipping to the paleo channel.

The top of the island and apparent barrows have been eroded by ploughing. This seems to have been more damaging to the archaeology on the east face of the slope (see section on plough lines)

1999<2001 a number of Field walks over the higher areas. When the density of burnt and worked flint was plotted there is an apparent increase in finds density immediately to the north west of the north barrow see (Ref 4) (Drg. No. 755/82).

2001 Resistivity over features A and B. This was using rather simple equipment and whilst the results were uncertain did reveal part of the ditch of feature B.

2002 Resistivity using more sophisticated equipment and plotting software over feature B (Ref 5) (Drg. No. 755/35) and feature D (Ref 6) (Drg. No. 755/43). An attempt was made with Resistivity on area C to seek to establish if other features or barrows had existed on the south end of the ridge. There was no indication of any features which in any event if they had existed may have been ploughed out.

2003 Magnetometer survey of areas and features A, B, E and F. (Ref 6) (Drg. No. 755/52), detail of E (Ref 7) (Drg. No. 755/52), detail of F (Ref 8) (Drg. No. 755/58). Also Magnetometer survey of the north area, same as shown blue on Ref 3. This proved difficult to analyse and plot due to the small range of the data. High anomalies and indications of features were extracted from the data and plotted on (Ref 9) (Drg. No. 755/60). Resistivity was attempted on the same north area but dry ground conditions prevented any useful results.

Resistivity and auger was carried out along the garden to Hunters Cottage from the boundary to Low Grounds (subject of this report) and the Henley Road to the north. The auger survey established the existence of a paleo channel of the Thames (Ref 17) (Drg. No 827/13)

In 2003 an excavation was carried out across the boundary between Low Grounds and Hunters. (on the northern edge of the area covered by this report). Although this trench was only some 7m long it produced some 300 finds. These were mainly flint, worked and tools, probably Bronze Age, with some Medieval ceramic. Of significance was a bank apparently from the higher areas sloping down to the paleo channel, see report John Hawes, October 2005 and (Ref 18) (Drg. No. 827/14)

Three barrows were revealed. The barrow to the south A having a double ring with a central rectangular feature. The centre barrow B being a well preserved ditch with 4 distinct anomalies in the ditch. Comparison of Resistivity and magnetometer data showed these 4 anomalies to be non magnetic. The plots showed that part of the burm and mound were intact but with a cut out on the east side, now suspected to be excavation by an antiquarian active in the area in he 19th century. Barrow D showed part of ditch to be well preserved but with little of the east section of the ditch and mound, this apparently having been ploughed out. Also a line of 4 strong anomalies to the east. Feature F alongside barrow A appeared to be a U shaped ditch, interpreted as a possible mortuary enclosure. Feature E is confusing seeming to be two features, one circular and one rectilinear. Field walking revealed a pattern of burnt and worked flint increasing in density towards the north-west corner of the field.

The auger survey of Hunters Cottage revealed a paleo channel indicating that the higher areas where the Barrows are was probably at some time an island and the possibility that the evidence for occupation was an area fronting on to this channel.

The excavation on the boundary (HNW03) was intended to establish the ground relationship between the higher areas, see contour (Ref. 19) (Drg. No. 755/6) and the paleo channel. The quantity of flint artefacts was surprising and may indicate occupation in the vicinity.

Previous Field walking in the central areas of the barrows indicated an increase in the density of worked and burnt flint towards the north west corner of the field. A trench (HNW03) excavated on the north west boundary revealed considerable quantities of worked flint (subject of a separate report). The objective for 2004 was a disciplined Fieldwalk on the areas between the previously walked central area and HNW03 trench. The primary objective being the of distribution and density of worked and burnt flint. The location and grid for the Fieldwalk is shown blue on (Ref 10) ( Drg. No. 755/72)

Previous magnetometer survey of the north west field corner whilst indistinct, indicated the possibility of circular and other features as did the air photographs. Experience had shown that on this site Resistivity under good moisture conditions produced good results. The objective for 2004 was a Resistivity survey of the north west field corner between barrow D and the field boundary. The location and grid for the Resistivity is shown red on (Ref 10) (Drg. No. 755/72)

The method used was a grid of 74, 10m boxes as shown blue on (Ref 10) ( Drg. No. 755/72) set out by EDM from and aligned to the main site datum. Collection was from south to north of all man made objects, placed in separate numbered bags for each box. In general there was one person to each box, some areas were partly covered in straw waste and extra help was applied to clear this. The Field walkers were of varying experience but the site supervisor gave prior training to all on method with examples of material likely to be found. The weather was ideal being warm and dry with the ground damp, the whole exercise was completed in 3 days plus 1 day to set out. A schedule of the finds is (Ref 11) (Drg. No. 755/83)

The Fieldwalk finds were sorted and identified by experienced MAS members but the identification has not been verified. The distinction therefore between burnt<boiled/cracked is not certain, this also applies to tools<worked. The density of different finds were plotted using Surfer 8 as shown on (Ref 12) (Drg. No. 755/80) As the purpose of the exercise was to gain information regarding possible occupation the finds were grouped as burnt/boiled/cracked showing evidence generally of cooking and tools/worked as areas of flint working. The areas of activity from these two density plots were overlaid onto the survey (Ref 13) (Drg. No. 755/79). No firm conclusions were made as to date but the tools appeared to be early Bronze Age.

The method used was a grid of 16, 20m boxes as shown red on (Ref 10) ( Drg. No. 755/72) set out by EDM from and aligned to the main site datum. Ground conditions were fairly good being moist but not ideal. The equipment used was a TR/CIA Resistance Meter, the data was downloaded and combined on a Lotus system and plotted by Surfer 8 using various methods. Readings were taken at 1m intervals from south to north.

The Resistivity survey was carried out over a number of days during which time the moisture conditions changed making calibration uncertain and if combined in the normal way produced distortion of the plot. To overcome this problem a mosaic system was used where the data at the edge of each grid is not linked to adjoining grids. This is shown combined with the earlier surveys on (Ref 14) (Drg No. 755/84)

When the Resistivity as above was plotted there were indications of a feature running between the previous 2002 Resistivity on barrow D shown light green and the above Resistivity shown red on (Ref. 10) (Drg. No. 755/72). The data in the corners between these two surveys was not obtained in 2004. A follow up Resistivity survey of these corners was carried out in early 2005 shown green cross hatched on (Ref 10) (Drg. No. 755/72 and included here under the 2004 report. This follow up data is plotted on (Ref 14) (Drg. No. 755/84)

A complication on this site are the lines running at about 45d best seen on the plots of B and D. Investigation was carried out as to what may be causing these and fortunately an over ninety year old farm hand who worked on this farm hand still lives nearby. He stated that the area was deep ploughed by drag line plough between the wars but he thought this was only done once or twice. On close inspection of the plot the deep plough lines show as narrow areas of low Resistivity none seem to show as high. From this a plot was produced of the deepest of these plough lines (Ref 15) (Drg. No. 755/81).

As may be seen on (Ref 14) (Drg. No. 755/84) the colour of the plot changes from brown to green towards the north west corner of the field. This change is indicating reducing density due to the plough soil being fairly shallow over the higher areas where the barrows are and increasing in depth down the field slope.

An unusual anomaly was noticed to the north west of barrow D and the grids in this area were subjected to further analysis, see (Ref 14) (Drg. No. 755/76). There seemed to be 2 linear depressions with a bank either side running from the barrow D ditch towards the north west. The line of these are roughly the same orientation as the deep plough lines but not exactly. The depressions seem too wide to be deep ploughing and there are the banks which do not occur with other plough lines. This feature comes to an abrupt end with the two banks seeming to turn and join at a sharp angle. Almost at the end is what appears to be a box like shape of higher resistance (Ref. 16) (Drg. No. 755/76). Despite considerable work in endeavouring to filter the data to get a better picture this feature remains a mystery.

The objective of the Fieldwork was to gain more information on the area between Barrow D and the field corner including the possibility of early occupation. Whilst none of the fieldwork in isolation is conclusive there is now an accumulation of information from different methods that seems to be pointing towards occupation of this area of early Bronze Age and possibly earlier. The Environment Agency towards the end of 2004 carried out extensive excavation of the adjacent field shown edged green on location plan (Ref. 1) (Drg. No. 755/77). Detailed information from this excavation is not available at the date of this report but it is hoped that when combined with the information here will enable a better understanding of the archaeological of this area.