Data from a Construction Integrated Recording at Illett's Farm, Northamptonshire, 2021-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
Archaeological Research Services Ltd, High Speed Two Ltd., 2024. https://doi.org/10.5284/1119071. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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High Speed Two Ltd.
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Birmingham
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Tel: 08081 434 434
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4860
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1119071
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises of digital photographs, vector graphics, spreadsheets, artefact assessments, and scanned site records and drawings from a construction integrated recording by Archaeological Research Services at Illett's Farm, Northamptonshire. The recording was carried out between November and December 2021.
Project Summary
The recording formed part of Phase One of the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project. The project was granted Royal Assent in 2017 as the High-Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act. Phase One of the project runs 230 km from Euston Station in London to Curzon Street in Birmingham.
The overarching aims of the works at Ilett's Farm were to fully investigate and record the archaeological remains identified at the site prior to the excavation of a L-shaped trench for drainage purposes. The works were designed to further investigate archaeological remains identified from previous stages of archaeological prospection work.
The specific HERDS objectives the project aimed to address are: KC15: Can we identify regional patterns in the form and location of late Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements across the route, and are there associated differences in landscape organisation and enclosure?
KC19: The Roman period saw the beginning of a more established infrastructure network. Can we investigate the development of these routes, trackways and roads and the influence they had on landscape change?
KC20: Investigate the changing nature of funerary rites in the late Iron Age and Romano‐British periods. What evidence is there that the adoption of new rites or changes in existing practices are the result of the movement of people, contact with new ideas, or even new religions?
KC21: Assess the evidence for regional and cultural distinctiveness along the length of the route in the Roman period, with particular regard to the different settlement types encountered along the route
KC23: Explore how the evidence along the route can inform us about the end of Roman Britain and attempt to identify any continuity in settlement patterns between the end of the Roman period and the early medieval period.
KC27: Investigate the origins, development and decline of the Roman settlement and possible temple at Sundale/Illett's Farm.
Reuse Value Statement
An L-shaped trench was excavated to facilitate the construction of a drainage ditch. Previous Geophysical survey and trial trenching of the site confirmed the presence of a Romano-British settlement complex consisting of square enclosures, pits and two metalled surfaces. Potential trackway ditches were visible on the geophysical survey of the site.
The excavation of the L-Shaped trench picked up the presence of two north-east to south-west aligned graves, aligned parallel to a potential trackway in the unexcavated field approximately 1.2m to the north-west. One grave contained the remains of an adult female buried on her side with arms outstretched and crossed at the wrists. The other grave contained an adult female buried prone with a Romano-British pot placed by her side and a copper alloy ring on her right hand. Both graves were found in close proximity to a single post hole which did not contain dateable material.
Further boundary ditches and pits were recorded within the trench which contained Romano-British pottery and residual Late Iron Age pottery. Cutting across the top of these features was a regiment of north-west to south-east aligned plough furrows which contained residual artefacts, including neolithic flint and Romano-British pottery suggesting truncation of earlier prehistoric and Romano-British archaeology.
The archive forms part of the archaeological investigative work undertaken ahead of the construction of High Speed 2. All of the files contained within the archive are suitable for reuse as they are in standard, easily accessible formats, in line with the FAIR principles. The archive may be looked at in conjunction with other archives to further add depth and context to the works (including the evaluation trenching phase of works on this site). All specialist reporting was taken to assessment stage, therefore there is potential for further analysis.
The paper and artefactual archive will in turn be deposited with a museum, following guidance from HS2 Ltd.
