| Title: |
Land west of Buckingham Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation |
| Series: |
Cotswold Archaeology unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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cotswold2-510330_192360.pdf (7 MB)
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Download
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has not been reviewed by the relevant HER. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 23 trenches (Fig. 2): • 2no 20m x 1.8m trenches; • 9no 30m x 1.8 trenches; and • 12no 40m x 1.8m trenches. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid co-ordinates using Leica GPS. Overburden was stripped from the trenches by a mechanical excavator fitted with a toothless grading bucket. All machining was conducted under archaeological supervision to the top of the natural substrate, which was the level at which archaeological features were first encountered. Archaeological features/deposits were investigated, planned and recorded in accordance with CA Technical Manual 1: Fieldwork Recording Manual. Deposits were assessed for their palaeoenvironmental potential and samples were taken in accordance with CA Technical Manual 2: The Taking and Processing of Environmental and Other Samples from Archaeological Sites. Artefacts were processed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 3: Treatment of Finds Immediately after Excavation. CA will make arrangements with Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre for the deposition of the project archive and, subject to agreement with the legal landowner(s), the artefact collection. A digital archive will also be prepared and deposited with the Archaeology Data Service (ADS). The archives (museum and digital) will be prepared and deposited in accordance with Standard and guidance for the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of archaeological archives (CIfA 2014; updated October 2020). A summary of information from this project, as set out in Appendix D, will be entered onto the OASIS online database of archaeological projects in Britain. In May 2022, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land west of Buckingham Road, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire for Pegasus Group acting on behalf of Davidson’s Developments Ltd. The evaluation comprised the excavation of 23 trenches across the 12.5ha site, primarily positioned to investigate anomalies of probable and possible archaeological origin identified by a preceding geophysical survey. The results of the evaluation broadly confirmed the results of the geophysical survey identifying archaeological remains, concentrated in the northern limits of the evaluation area, of agricultural activity and occupation of a rural nature. The dateable features can be attributed to one of three main periods comprising Middle-Late Iron Age/ Early Roman, Roman and post-medieval/ modern periods. The pottery assemblage indicates that activity began in the Middle-Late Iron Age focused around the trapezoidal enclosure containing a roundhouse. A circular enclosure directly to the southwest contained no internal features and possibly represents a stock enclosure. The enclosures are likely the remains of a small Iron Age farmstead with two ditches extending to the north and the east of the trapezoidal enclosure demarcating land boundaries of the farmstead with occupation continuing into the Late Iron Age/ Early Roman transitional period. Evidence of ridge and furrow agricultural practice was evident across the site, surviving as truncated furrow bases, with multiple alignments identified, consistent with the geophysical survey, indicating the potential for small field plots. These remains are likely to represent evidence of a well-established medieval open field system and later post-medieval agricultural activity. However, the limited results of the evaluation are insufficient to establish any phasing to the furrows due to the extensive modern ploughing truncating the furrow bases which were not cut into the natural substrate. A post-medieval ditch was excavated in the centre of site which was found to correlate with a field boundary depicted on historic mapping from 1892. Two other parallel ditches to the south of this are indicative of an agricultural field system and contained a sherd of 16-18 century pottery. |
| Author: |
Ralph Brown
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| Publisher: |
Cotswold Archaeology
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Deanshanger |
| District: |
South Northamptonshire |
| County: |
West Northamptonshire |
| District: |
West Northamptonshire |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Northamptonshire |
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Grid Reference: 476457, 239158 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
cotswold2-510330 |
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| Source: |
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| Relations: |
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| Created Date: |
24 Nov 2023 |
