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HS2: Oxford Archaeology as part of COPA JV

COPA JV, a joint venture between Oxford Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology and Pre-Construct Archaeology, carried out works on the 60-mile-long central section of HS2 Phase 1, running from London to Southam, along with works on the Birmingham HS2 north section and Phase 2 Birmingham to Crewe section.

HS2 is a high-speed railway linking London the Midlands and the North. The scheme is one of the largest complex infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK. COPA JV supplied significant input to the HS2 archaeological programme, including the provision of a design department that produced the majority of investigation specifications in the central section, trial trenching, test pitting, geoarchaeological modelling and investigations, built heritage recording, historic landscape recording, settings recordings, school outreach, public dissemination, and large-scale mitigation excavations.  

COPA provided a vital assurance of capacity for HS2, with all works completed to programme. To date, COPA has completed 200 project plans and written schemes of investigation, 26 trenching operations, 1500 trenches, all built heritage and settings work on Phase 1 north, and a substantial part of built heritage works and five major excavations on the central section. All excavations, which included a Roman roadside settlement and burial ground, a deserted medieval village, two complex Roman settlements, and a prehistoric pit alignment, were concluded with a programme of post-excavation assessment. 

Practical delivery of the fieldwork elements of the project on this vast scheme was greatly enhanced by Oxford Archaeology’s ‘as live’ GIS viewer, which enables clients, stakeholders and third-party contractors to access up-to-date mapping of all Oxford Archaeology’s work, including not just archaeology but logistical operations and relevant survey data or layers as required. 

The project, which commenced in 2017, is ongoing, and has been carried out for Fusion JV, LMJV, AECOM, RPS, Kier and EKFB on behalf of HS2.
 

  • An aerial view of the Chetwode Roman Villa Site
  • Archaeologists taking a photo of excavated skeleton
  • Aerial view of an area of excavation at Grove Hill Farm and Oatleys Farm showing the pit alignment
  • Aerial view of an excavation area showing the pit alignment
  • Excavation plan of Roman Akeman Street and its roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
  • Photo of excavated archaeological feature, a part of a large pit alignment
  • COPA staff soil sieving and trenching in the Colne Valley ahead of the HS2 work
  • A Roman die from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
  • Roman pottery vessels from the excavations from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston
  • The Woodsman Pub included within the Phase 1 North Birmingham Settings Recording
  • An aerial view of the Chetwode Roman Villa Site
    An aerial view of the Chetwode Roman Villa Site
  • Archaeologists taking a photo of excavated skeleton
    Archaeologists taking a photo of excavated skeleton
  • Aerial view of an area of excavation at Grove Hill Farm and Oatleys Farm showing the pit alignment
    Aerial view of an area of excavation at Grove Hill Farm and Oatleys Farm showing the pit alignment
  • Aerial view of an excavation area showing the pit alignment
    Aerial view of an excavation area showing the pit alignment
  • Excavation plan of Roman Akeman Street and its roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
    Excavation plan of Roman Akeman Street and its roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
  • Photo of excavated archaeological feature, a part of a large pit alignment
    An excavated archaeological feature, a part of a large pit alignment
  • COPA staff soil sieving and trenching in the Colne Valley ahead of the HS2 work
    COPA staff soil sieving and trenching in the Colne Valley ahead of the HS2 work
  • A Roman die from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
    A Roman die from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston, Aylesbury
  • Roman pottery vessels from the excavations from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston
    Roman pottery vessels from the excavations from the Roman roadside settlement at Fleet Marston
  • The Woodsman Pub included within the Phase 1 North Birmingham Settings Recording
    The Woodsman Pub included within the Phase 1 North Birmingham Settings Recording