Data from an Archaeological Recording at Thorpe Mandeville and Sulgrave, Boddington, Northamptonshire, 2021-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
Headland Archaeology Ltd, High Speed Two Ltd., 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1119913. How to cite using this DOI
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This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5046
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1119913
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises digital photographs, drawings, context sheets, site reports, and CAD files from the archaeological recording conducted by Headland Archaeology at Thorpe Mandeville and Sulgrave, Boddington, Northamptonshire from February to April 2021.
Project Summary
This work details the background, methodology, archaeological findings and potential for further research at Thorpe Mandeville, Northamptonshire (hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’, Figure 1). The Site was located c.730m east of the village of Thorpe Mandeville and c. 1.6km south-west of Sulgrave within the Greatworth to Lower Boddington Community Forum Area (CFA15). Previous archaeological work comprising two phases of geophysical survey and a trial trench evaluation revealed possible Iron Age –Roman enclosures, ditches, and discrete features. This informed further archaeological investigations at the Site encompassing two areas of Archaeological Recording measuring c. 0.55ha (Area C31034) and c. 0.67ha (Area C31035). A third area was subject to Construction Integrated Recording (CIR), comprising c. 0.25ha (Area C31039).
The scope of the Archaeological Recording was to enable the closer inspection of a D-shaped enclosure and associated features identified at C31034. C31035 was placed to enable several linear features to be investigated in more detail. The scope of the CIR at C31039 was to explore a collection of linear features from which Roman pottery was recovered during the trial trench evaluations. The delivery of this work was expected to contribute to a range of Generic Written Scheme of Investigation (GWSI): Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS) Specific Objectives focused on the development of settlement patterns and social complexity over time including: Knowledge Creation KC15, KC18, KC21, KC40 and KC47.
The results of the archaeological works indicate activity primarily dating from the prehistoric to the Romano-British period. The presence of the D-shaped enclosure in C31034was confirmed with middle-late Iron Age pottery recovered from a range of features within the interior including pits and a ring-ditch defined structure. A single ditch was uncovered in C31039 with the assessment of the pottery assemblage suggesting a late Iron Age date. A possible enclosure system defined by numerous intercutting, re-cut and truncated ditches was revealed in C31035.The artefactual assemblage recovered from the ditches indicates a broadly Roman date for this activity. The radiocarbon dating of a short ditch in the north-western corner of the site revealed evidence for possible Saxon activity. The latest feature uncovered was a north to south aligned medieval –post-medieval field boundary, located at the eastern extent of C31035.
Re-use Value Statement
- KC15: Scheme wide comparison of Iron Age sites including C31034.The provenance of the Iron Age pottery and the forms present on site would contribute towards understanding the economy of the site and the geography of supply routes. It could also point towards specific activities being undertaken in different areas of the site.
- KC18: Scheme wide comparison of Iron Age sites including C31034. Comparative analysis of the different dating of the Iron Age pottery from different areas and contextual analysis of these finds can contribute towards understanding of the development of the site over time.
- KC21: Scheme wide comparison of Iron Age sites including C31035.The Romano-British pottery assemblage is small but further analysis could make a small contribution to characterising the activity at the site during this period and identifying trade links, cultural affinities, social status and the nature of activity at the site. Full analysis is recommended for plant remains from specific contexts in C31035 to explore the nature and extent of arable activity on the site.
- KC40: Radiocarbon dating of contexts in C31035 to establish the presence and influence of earlier (potentially Saxon) boundaries (KC31).
