| Abstract: |
Trial Trench Evaluation The Trial Trench Evaluation encompassed two parcels of land over several
fields comprising land package C25091 (centred on NGR 462916, 231057)
comprising a total of 3.25ha. The evaluation comprised 21 trenches (1 – 21).
The geophysical survey identified the presence of seven of the 17 features
excavated, comprising three ditches, a limestone outcrop, in which two quarry
pits were recorded and two furrows. It also uncovered features that were not
evident in the results of the geophysical survey, comprising part of a former
Roman road that linked Alchester and Towcester (Margary 160a, Via Glareata),
two pits, a large posthole, one ditch, one gully, three more furrows and a tree
throw.
The results of the Trial Trench Evaluation identified three main phases of
activity. The basal remains of the former Roman road were identified in Trench
3 and a ditch in the same trench may represent an associated roadside
drainage ditch. Another, possible agricultural boundary ditch in Trench 2 may
have respected the alignment of the road and been of contemporary date. A
medieval to post-medieval furrow in Trench 7 yielded a single sherd of Roman
pottery. This may have derived from an underlying pit, which was cut by the
furrow, and very tentatively may also be ascribed a Roman period origin. In
addition, also tentatively, a V-Shaped ditch at the southern end of Trench 7,
aligned broadly east / west, could also be of Roman origin; however, a piece of
modern bottle glass was recovered from it which could either date it to the
modern period, or could be intrusive.
Elsewhere agricultural activity, comprising five broadly north-east / south-west
aligned furrows were recorded in Trenches 6, 7, 12 and 15. These are likely to
date to the wider medieval to post-medieval periods. A possible agricultural
boundary ditch was identified in Trench 17, on an east / west alignment, which
may represent the remains of an agricultural boundary ditch. This may also
date to the medieval or post-medieval period, though this interpretation remains
tentative since no dating evidence was recovered. These agricultural features
are likely to be associated with agricultural practices in medieval and postmedieval
Newton Purcell, or possibly the medieval moated manor located c.
400m to the south-west of the Site.
A posthole of probable modern origin, its wooden post in situ and broadly
intact, and two probably modern quarry pits, were recorded in Trench 2. These
may well be associated with the development of the Great Central Railway.
Finally, there are the remains of a gully in Trench 19 and an elongated pit in
Trench 5, which are difficult to ascribe by morphology or location to any specific
period, and so remain undated.
With the exception of the single redeposited Roman period sherd from the
furrow in Trench 7, in situ post and piece of bottle glass, no dating evidence
was recovered from any of the features excavated during the Trial Trenching
Evaluation, on this basis firm dating of the majority of features is unconfirmed
and the above phases have been defined on morphological grounds and the
preceding evidence of non-intrusive investigations and desk-based
assessment. |
