1116107. Cite this using datacite

Title:

Evaluation at Overstone Green, Northamptonshire

Series:

Oxford Archaeological Unit unpublished report series

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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.

Licence Type:

ADS Terms of Use and Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5284/1116107

Publication Type:

Report (in Series)

Abstract:

A programme of 266 trenches measuring up to 50m by 2m were targeted on the archaeological areas identified on the previous geophysical survey (MoLA 2017; Fig 3). A series of potential areas of archaeology were identified in the survey including a barrow ditch (Field 4), a rectangular enclosure (Field 5) and a number of field boundary and enclosure ditches (Fields 6 and 7). The proposed trench locations were subject to slight adjustments in the field in order to avoid services, badger setts and other unforeseen obstacles. The trenches were located to investigate potential natural features and to test blank areas within the geophysical survey. The trenches were excavated using a tracked machine fitted with a flat toothless bucket (Plate 1). Machining continued in spits down to the top of the natural geology or the archaeological horizon, whichever was encountered first. Once archaeological deposits had been exposed, excavation continued by hand. A sample of each feature was excavated in each trench as outlined within the project WSI (OA 2018). Sufficient excavation was undertaken in each trench to resolve the principle aims of the evaluation. Where an exceptional number of archaeological deposits were uncovered, a sample excavation was undertaken in order to be minimally intrusive. In November 2018, Oxford Archaeology were commissioned by Pegasus Group on behalf of Davidsons Group and Gallagher Estates to undertake an archaeological evaluation on the site of a proposed housing development to the north-west of Overstone, Northamptonshire (SP 804 674). A programme of 259 trenches was undertaken across the site to ground-truth a previous phase of geophysical survey and assess the archaeological potential of the site. The evaluation confirmed the presence of archaeological remains in areas identified on the geophysical survey. The results of the evaluation corresponded well with the mapped features, whilst other features were found to match areas of geological variations. Undated ditches were also identified within areas not highlighted in the survey. The remains of a potential linear round barrow cemetery were found in the southern corner of the site. Three potential barrows were identified within the geophysical survey; one was confirmed through trenching, no traces of the second barrow could be found and third was not investigate due to the presence of overhead power cables. No central burials or buried soils were found associated with the barrow remains, which had been ploughed flat. Bronze Age pottery and charred cereal grains recovered from the ditch fills, indicated later cultivation of the surrounding fields, potential from the middlelate Bronze Age through to the Roman period. As series of undated fieldsystem ditches were also identified in the fields to the west and north-east of the site. A middle-late Iron-Age enclosed farmstead was found in the south-east of the site. This contained a concentration of features including pits, postholes and enclosure ditches that contained a small assemblage of pottery, animal bone and burnt stone. Charred cereal grains from the ditch fills indicate the enclosure was domestic in nature and was surrounded by cultivated fields. A potential un-urned cremation was also identified just outside of the enclosure to the north-east. Evidence of fieldsystem ditches were also identified in fields 2, 3 and 7. A Roman ditch was also identified to the west of the site within field 1. No Saxon activity was identified on the site, but the surrounding area has produced a wealth of both settlement and burial activity from this period. Evidence from the site of Overstone Leys, just to the south of the site, indicates early Saxon burials and settlement activity associated with the barrow cemetery. It is possible this activity may extend into the site area, focused on the continuation of the cemetery.

Author:

Lee Sparks

Publisher:

Oxford Archaeology

Year of Publication:

2019

Locations:

County:	West Northamptonshire
District:	Daventry
Parish:	Overstone
District:	West Northamptonshire
Country:	England
County:	Northamptonshire

Grid Reference: 480399, 267399 (Easting, Northing)

Subjects / Periods:

DITCH (Monument Type England)

PLOUGH MARKS (Monument Type England)

LATE IRON AGE SHERD (Tag)

RING DITCH (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN BOUNDARY DITCH (Tag)

POST HOLE (Monument Type England)

BRONZE AGE RING DITCH (Tag)

ANIMAL REMAINS (Object England)

UNCERTAIN DRAINAGE DITCH (Tag)

BOUNDARY DITCH (Monument Type England)

MEDIEVAL RIDGE AND FURROW (Tag)

IRON AGE ANIMAL REMAINS (Tag)

UNCERTAIN DITCH (Tag)

LATE IRON AGE DITCH (Tag)

ROMAN SHERD (Tag)

UNCERTAIN FIELD DRAIN (Tag)

PIT (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN PLOUGH MARKS (Tag)

LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Object England)

MIDDLE BRONZE AGE LITHIC IMPLEMENT (Tag)

RIDGE AND FURROW (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN PIT (Tag)

ROMAN DITCH (Tag)

EVALUATION (Event)

CREMATION (Object England)

UNCERTAIN POST HOLE (Tag)

SHERD (Object England)

FIELD DRAIN (Monument Type England)

DRAINAGE DITCH (Monument Type England)

UNCERTAIN RING DITCH (Tag)

UNCERTAIN CREMATION (Tag)

BRONZE AGE SHERD (Tag)

IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

BRONZE AGE (Historic England Periods)

LATE IRON AGE (Historic England Periods)

ROMAN (Historic England Periods)

MIDDLE BRONZE AGE (Historic England Periods)

MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)

UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods)

Identifiers:

OASIS Id:

oxfordar1-515485

Source:

OASIS (OASIS)

Relations:

Created Date:

30 Nov 2023