Albion Archaeology has undertaken extensive investigations, overseen by CgMs Consulting on behalf of Southill Estates, in advance of flood compensation measures at Eastcotts to the east of Bedford. The presence of flint tools and flakes hints at human activity in the late Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age (up to 8000 years ago). However, the first substantive evidence for activity on the site dates to the early Iron Age (2700 years ago) when a major boundary was constructed. This was modified in the middle Iron Age and endured, in some form, into the Roman period. Despite the presence of this boundary only limited evidence for middle and late Iron Age activity was identified. In contrast, the area was intensively occupied in the Roman period (2000 years ago) when there were two settlements (one on each side of the Brook), fields and dispersed activity that included isolated burials. The settlement to the north of the Brook is interpreted as a planned rural village - a type that is rarely identified in Roman Britain. The only evidence for post-Roman settlement was an isolated early Saxon building to the south of the Brook. By the medieval period the area fell within the open field systems of the nearby townships of Harrowden and Cardington. It is hoped that this project will be written up and publication with that of the Bedford Southern Bypass