The site is located on the south west margins of Marlow, Buckinghamshire 700 m west of the river Thames. The site is situated on an island of flood plain terrace gravel surrounded by alluvium (BGS sheet 255, 1979).

A summary of SMR information is attached (Appendix A)

The site lies in an area of known archaeological potential. Aerial photographs of the site and its vicinity show a number of crop marks consistent with later prehistoric funerary and agricultural activity (SMR Nos. BC3512 -17).

A series of up to four circular ring ditch features, interpreted as barrows, have been identified on a ridge running across the site. One of these features appears to be a double ditched feature. These crop marks have been interpreted as a barrow cemetery dating from the Late Neolithic period through to the Late Iron Age. Associated linear features suggest a field system and possible palaeo channels.

The crop mark complex has been investigated over a number of years by the Marlow Archaeological Society. Specifically this involved fieldwalking, geophysical survey and limited trial trenching. Details of these phases of work are held in the SMR.

Fieldwalking (1999/2000) produced a concentration of finds along the northern edge of Low Grounds 100 acre field. These consisted of flint implements (142 tools, 17 cores and 106 flakes -?noted as largely Mesolithic?), a small amount of pottery (including 1 prehistoric and 3 Roman sherds), and recent metal finds, brick and tile.

Geophysical survey was undertaken in a number of areas between 1999 and 2004. These surveys have identified a number of areas of potential archaeological interest. A focused study on the three most well defined barrows, seen previously as crop marks, have confirmed their presence. A larger magnetometry survey in the northern most corner of the field has provide speculative evidence for a large number of ring ditches (SMR report November 2005) .

Successive geophysical works have expanded these archaeologically significant areas incorporating evidence for smaller circular monuments between the barrows and more specifically a possible link between the settlement(?) activity and the northern most barrow. Within this interpretative drawing are also indicated areas of activity denoted by the presence of either burnt flint or worked flint obtained during field walking. The heightened density of finds towards the northern edge of the field may be indicative of archaeological activity or alternatively a result of redistribution by the plough. (SMR report November 2005)

Three evaluation trenches were opened on the site in 2001 with the third of these reopened in 2002. Only the report on the 2002 work was available for inspection at the SMR. The available documentation does not make clear where the trenches were excavated. The re-excavated trench 3 did reveal the position of a ditch 2m wide and 0.94 m deep directly beneath plough soil. Finds were recovered from topsoil and ‘unstratified’ including flint but no prehistoric pottery.

In 2003 an investigation was carried out by MAS into the archaeological relationship between the higher areas on Low Grounds (Barrows) and the much lower ground to the north in the gardens of the houses on the Henley Road. This included a terrain and auger survey from the boundary of low grounds to the Henley Road, plus a small trench 8m * 1m across the boundary. The auger survey produced convincing evidence for a palaeo channel of the Thames and the line of this was noted alongside Low Grounds Lane to the Thames somewhere south of Higginson Park. The trench on the boundary produced confusing stratigraphy but indications that this may have been the position of a bank to the palaeo channel. The trench produced a surprising number of artefacts (some 250) mainly worked flint. This material was identified by ASE Ltd and the Institute of Archaeology, Oxford, as being Neolithic but the range of forms perhaps indicating Neolithic to early Bronze Age. (SMR report, John Hawes, October 2005)

A single stray find of a Middle Bronze Age spear head (SMR No. MBC 3488) has been noted from the vicinity of the site as being dredged from the nearby Thames gravels.

During 2005 OA excavated a number of trenches in the field to the north of Low Grounds (Pens Place) for the Environment Agency as part of an investigation into a flood elevation scheme (OA SMR report June 2005. An attempt has been made to relate this investigation to that of MAS (Fig 2 Drg No. 755/87). The OA report concluded that "The results suggest that a continuation of the activity previously identified in the adjacent southern field (MAS Low Grounds) continues across the western limit of the site. This is supported by the presence of residual material remains in hollows and tree throws coupled with a number of isolated pits. One in particular has produced a significant artefact assemblage and is securely dated to early Neolithic. This pit also yielded a flint assemblage, charred hazelnut shells and charred grains of spelt/emmer wheat suggesting at least a small early Neolithic settlement with arable cultivation nearby"

Together the evidence suggests not only a small group of funerary/ceremonial monuments but also possible field and settlement enclosures. This pattern of association has been noted elsewhere in the Thames valley (e.g. South Lea Farm, Datchet).

Few finds dating from the Roman to post medieval periods have been noted in the vicinity of the site. This is almost certainly because the site lies within the Thames flood plain, and would have been for exclusively agricultural use during these periods.

The objective and justification is to establish the presence/absence of archaeological remains within the proposal area and in particular to ascertain the nature of archaeology indicted by geophysics and fieldwalk finds density.

To determine the extent, condition, nature, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains present.

To involve so far as possible members of the Society, the Community and wider public.

To make available the results of the investigation.

To help define any relevant research priorities if additional archaeological investigation proves necessary.

To excavate 3 trenches, 1.8m * 20m located and aligned on the basis of the highest concentration of evidence from air photographs, geophysics and surface finds density. Depending on results and OA advice one of the most productive trench to be enlarged to 20m * 20m and features followed up to a practical distance. Experience from other trenching indicates that archaeology or natural is unlikely to be deeper than 0.5m. (Fig 3, Drg No. 755/88). Program on (Fig 4, Drg No. 755/89).

The trenches will be excavated, under constant archaeological supervision by OA, by a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless ditching bucket. The trenches will be excavated to the top of the first archaeologically significant horizon. Where alluvium or other masking deposits are present this will be investigated to ensure it does not seal archaeological remains.

Particular care will be taken to ensure that archaeological deposits are not damaged through excessive use of machine excavation.

The exposed deposits will be hand cleaned. Any archaeological features/deposits will be sufficiently sampled in order to date, characterise and assess them only. No further excavation will take place without prior agreement by the County Archaeological Officer.

All features and deposits will be issued with unique context numbers, and context recording will be in accordance with the established OA Field Manual, (OAU 1992). Colour transparency and black-and-white negative photographs will be taken of all archaeological features.

If deposits of environmental significance/potential are uncovered they will be sampled in accordance with the project aims, OA’s Environmental Manual and English Heritage Guidelines Environmental Archaeology (2002). In particular, deposits of clearly waterlogged, organic or charcoal rich nature will be targeted, as well as a representative samples of fills of cut features and other deposits.

The stratigraphy of the trenches will be recorded even where no archaeological deposits are identified.

Spoil heaps will be monitored to allow analysis of the spatial distribution of artefacts.

Supervision of the opening of trenches and general direction of excavation would be by Jonathan Hiller MIFA, Senior Project Manager (OA) managed by Nick. Shepherd (Head of Fieldwork, OA). With general management, logistics and volunteer workers supplied by MAS.

Any human remains that are encountered will initially be left in situ. If removal is necessary this will comply with the relevant Home Office regulations.

Monitoring of the evaluation will be undertaken by Buckinghamshire County Archaeological Services.

A visual inspection of the entire site will be undertaken. This will include the examination of any available exposures (e.g. recently cut field ditches and geological test pits).

The 1.8m * 20m trenches will be excavated to first significant archaeology or natural by 360d machine under the direction of OA.

The enlarged trench will be excavated by 360d machine to first significant archaeology or natural, under the direction of OA, with the spoil removed well clear of the trench by dumper if necessary.

At the natural or archaeological level the trenches will be swept by metal detector and indications of ferrous material marked with plastic pegs so at to alert the excavators but not excavated separately.

Following machine clearance, all faces of the trench that require examination or recording will be cleaned using appropriate hand tools.

Spoil heaps will be monitored in order to recover artifacts to assist in the analysis of the spatial distribution of artifacts. Modern artifacts will be noted but not retained.

All investigation of archaeological levels and or features will be by hand, with cleaning, examination and recording both in plan and section.

Within significant archaeological levels a minimum number of features required to meet the aims will be hand excavated. Pits and post holes will be subject to a 50% sample by volume. Linear features will be sectioned as appropriate. Features not suited to excavation within narrow trenches will not be sampled. No archaeological deposits will be entirely removed unless this is unavoidable. It is not necessarily the intention that all trial trenches will be fully excavated to natural stratigraphy, but the depth of archaeological deposits across the entire site will be assessed. The stratigraphy of all evaluation trenches will be recorded even where no archaeological deposits have been identified.

Any excavation, both by machine and by hand, will be undertaken with a view to avoiding damage to any archaeological features or deposits which appear to be worthy of preservation in situ.

Different environmental sampling strategies may be employed according to established research targets and the perceived importance of the strata under investigation. Bulk samples of a standard 40 liters will normally be taken. Bulk samples will be taken from any waterlogged deposits present for macroscopic plant remains. Columns for pollen analysis will be taken if appropriate. Mollusc samples will be collected if present. Other bulk samples for small animal bones and other small artifacts may be taken from appropriate contexts.

Any finds of human remains will be left insitu, covered and protected and the coroner informed. If removal is essential it will only take place under appropriate Home Office license, section 25 of the Burial Act 1857 and local environmental health regulations, and if appropriate in compliance with the Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act 1981.

All finds of gold and silver will be removed to a safe place and reported to the local Coroner according to the procedures relating to Treasure Trove. Where removal can not be effected on the same working day as the discovery, suitable security measures will be taken to protect the finds from theft.

MAS welcomes monitoring visits by the local authorities' archaeological representatives. Timetables of the on-site work will be provided in order that visits can be made at appropriate times.

After recording, the trenches bottom will be marked with colored tape and back filled with excavated material, but will otherwise not be reinstated.

A report of the findings will be produced as soon as practical after the completion of fieldwork. Copies will be sent to the County Archaeological Service and the Sites and Monuments Record Office.

The site archive will be created in accordance with the guidelines published in Guidelines for the preparation of Excavation Archives for long-term storage (UK Inst. for Conservation 1990) and standards in the Museum care of archaeological collections - see Appendix 8. The project archive will ultimately be deposited with the Buckinghamshire County Museum Service, Aylesbury.