Data From Fieldwalking and Construction Integrated Recording of Flint Scatters in No-Data (Blank) Areas C23, Overview and Data, 2021-2022 (HS2 Phase One)
Archaeological Research Services Ltd, High Speed Two Ltd., 2025. https://doi.org/10.5284/1134879. 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).
Primary contact
High Speed Two Ltd.
2 Snowhill
Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6GA
United Kingdom
Tel: 08081 434 434
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 5667
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1134879
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This is the parent collection for the fieldwalking and construction integrated recordings (CIR) of flint scatters in no-data (blank) areas C23 completed as part of Phase One of the High Speed 2 railway line (London to West Midlands). These archaeological interventions were undertaken by Archaeological Research Services Ltd at four sites in Radstone and Whitfield, Northamptonshire between September 2021 and May 2022. The four sites include:
- Versions Farm (1C21VEFFW, 1C21VEFCI)
- North of Illet's Farm (1C21NILFW, 1C21NILCI)
- Hall Farm (1C21HAFFW, 1C21HAFCI)
- North of Radstone (1C21NORFW, 1C21NORCI)
Project Summary
CIR across the Blank Area Testing (BAT) project comprised open area excavation in four areas (C30061, C30063, C30065 and C30067). The CIR targeted four key areas which, through preliminary fieldwalking, test pits, drone, geochemical, and magnetic susceptibility surveys, were demonstrated as having high potential for buried archaeological remains dating to the early prehistoric period which were not visible through conventional geophysical survey.
The CIR was necessary to allow for the recording of archaeological remains prior to their truncation by the HS2 scheme, and to better understand the extent, nature, and date of archaeological remains identified during the previous scheme of works.
All four areas provided evidence for potential Palaeolithic – Mesolithic archaeological activity extending through to the mid-Holocene, as well as a significant catchment-wide colluviation episode that could relate to mid-Holocene landscape reorganisation and land use change, together with later remains, typically cut into the colluvium of Iron Age, Roman, and early medieval date.
Re-use value
The archive forms part of the archaeological investigative work undertaken ahead of the construction of the HS2. 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.
