Ab
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Northamptonshire Archaeology
A43 Corby Link Road, Northamptonshire
NGR SP 861833 to 910872
Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Trial Excavation
Tim Upson-Smith
December 2005
Report 05/151
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Northamptonshire Archaeology 2 Bolton House
Wootton Hall Park Northampton NN4 8BE
w. www.northantsarchaeology.co.uk t. 01604 700493/4
f. 01604 702822
e. sparry@northamptonshire.gov.uk
STAFF
Project Manager Andy Mudd BA MIFA
Fieldwork Tim Upson-Smith BA PG Dip
Geophysics Adrian Butler BSc MA AIFA & Ian Fisher BA
Text Tim Upson-Smith
Geophysics text Adrian Butler
Pottery Andy Chapman BSc MIFA
Animal Bone Karen Deighton MSc
Charred Plants Karen Deighton
Illustrations Drew Smith BA
Jacqueline Harding BA HND
Adrian Butler
QUALITY CONTROL
Print name Signed Date
Verified by
A Mudd
Checked by
P Chapman
Approved by
A Chapman
OASIS REPORT FORM
PROJECT DETAILS
Project name
A43 Corby Link Road, Northamptonshire, Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Trial Excavation
Short description (250 words maximum)
Northamptonshire Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation comprising a geophysical survey and trial trench excavation on the line of the proposed A43 Corby Link Road, in October- November 2005. The features consisted of an isolated ring ditch in Trench 33, a further potential ring ditch in Trench 67, an Iron Age ditch in Trench 10 and two Roman ditches, one in Trench 2 and one in Trenches 41 and 69. The features appeared to be scattered with no obvious concentration.
Project type
(eg DBA, evaluation etc)
Geophysical survey and Evaluation
Site status
(none, NT, SAM etc)
None
Previous work (SMR numbers etc)
SMR
Current Land use
Agricultural
Future work
(yes, no, unknown)
Unknown
Monument type/ period
Significant finds (artefact type and period) Iron Age and Roman pottery
PROJECT LOCATION
County Northamptonshire
Site address (including postcode)
Study area (sq.m or ha)
OS Easting & Northing (use grid sq. numbers) 48612833 to 49102872
Height OD
PROJECT CREATORS
Organisation Northamptonshire Archaeology
Project brief originator NCC Historic Environment Team and Atkins Heritage
Project Design originator NA
Director/Supervisor Tim Upson-Smith
Project Manager Andy Mudd
Sponsor or funding body Atkins/NCC
PROJECT DATE
Start date October 2005
End date November 2005
ARCHIVES Location (Accession no.) Content (eg pottery, animal bone etc)
Physical
Pottery, animal bone, charred plant remains
Paper
Field records, reports, photographs
Digital
Maps, survey data, report and illustrations
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Journal/monograph, published or forthcoming, or unpublished client report (NA report)
Title
Serial title & volume
Author(s)
Page numbers
Date
A43 Corby Link Road
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 4
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 5
3 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY 6
4 OBJECTIVES 6
5 METHODS 6
Geophysical Reconnaissance Survey 6
Detailed Geophysical Survey 7
Trial Trenching 7
Health and Safety 8
6 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY RESULTS 8
Reconnaissance Survey 8
Detailed Survey 9
7 EVALUATION RESULTS 9
Trench 2 (Field 2) 10
Trench 10 (Field 3) 10
Trench 12 (Field 3) 10
Trench 67 (Field 3) 11
Trench 33 (Field 8) 11
Trench 41 (Field 12) 12
Trench 69 (Field 12) 12
8 FINDS 12
The Iron Age and Roman pottery by Andy Chapman 12
Animal bone by Karen Deighton 13
Charred plant macrofossils by Karen Deighton 13
9 CONCLUSION 13
BIBLIOGRAPHY 15
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Figures
1 Site location
2 Geophysical Reconnaissance Survey
3 Gradiometer Survey Results, Area A
4 Gradiometer Survey Results & Interpretation, Area A
5 Gradiometer Survey Results, Area B
6 Gradiometer Survey Results & Interpretation, Area B
7 Gradiometer Survey Results, Area C
8 Gradiometer Survey Results & Interpretation, Area C
9 Gradiometer Survey Results, Area D
10 Gradiometer Survey Results & Interpretation, Area D
11 Trench and feature locations, Trenches 1-16, 67 & 68
12 Trench and feature locations, Trenches 15-34
13 Trench and feature locations, Trenches 25-51 & 69
14 Trench and feature locations, Trenches 25-66
15 Sections 1, 2, 3
16 Sections 5, 7, 9
A43 Corby Link Road
A43 CORBY LINK ROAD, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
NGR SP 861833 TO 910872
ARCHAEOLOGICAL GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY AND TRIAL EXCAVATION
Abstract
Northamptonshire Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation comprising a geophysical survey and trial trench excavation on the line of the proposed A43 Corby Link Road, in October-November 2005. The discovered features consisted of an isolated ring ditch in Trench 33, Iron Age ditches in Trenches 10 and 67, and two Roman ditches, one in Trench 2 and one in Trenches 41 and 69. The features appeared to be scattered with no obvious concentration. The potential for early medieval settlement, two Roman roads, and ironworking remains had been identified in previous desk-based assessment, but there was no evidence of these features in the fieldwork.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Northamptonshire County Council are proposing to construct a new road to run from a junction with the existing A6003 near Barford Bridge on the River Ise, to the A43 north of Stanion, bypassing the villages of Great Oakley and the southern suburbs of Corby. For approximately half its length the proposed road follows the course of the freight railway line from Kettering to Oakham (Fig 1). The corridor of the proposed new road is about 6.5 km long and, for the purpose of archaeological investigation, 80 m wide.
1.2 The present archaeological evaluation of the route corridor was undertaken by Northamptonshire Archaeology in October and November 2005 in accordance with an approved specification of work (NA 2005). This was guided by a Brief issued by Northamptonshire County Council Historic Environment Team (NNCHET) and Atkins Heritage (Doc Ref. B14002, dated 16/09/2004), which was later partly revised. The Brief stipulated the requirement for systematic geophysical and surface collection (fieldwalking) surveys, and targeted trial trenching. Following a redesign of the route in 2005 the requirements were modified and the current scheme of works proposed geophysical survey and trial trenching.
1.3 The first stage of fieldwork comprised a programme of reconnaissance and detailed geophysical survey. This was followed by the excavation of 1800 m of trial trenching providing, as far as possible, a sample coverage of the whole of this proposed route corridor.
1.4 The archaeological evaluation was undertaken in accordance with current guidelines and
A43 Corby Link Road
best practice. These include the Institute of Field Archaeologists Standards and Guidance for Field Evaluation (revised 2001), English Heritage and the Institute of Field Archaeologists Guidance and technical notes for geophysical survey (revised 2001); Highways Agency Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Section 3, Part 2, (2001), and Northamptonshire County Council Fieldwork Standards and Guidance (1995). Northamptonshire Archaeology is a Registered Organisation under the Institute of Field Archaeologists.
2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 The Brief provided a summary of the archaeological background drawn from the Northamptonshire Sites and Monuments Record and other sources as part of the Stage III Assessment for Cultural Heritage (Atkins 2005). A total of 64 sites were located within the study corridor (encompassing an area slightly larger than the proposed fieldwork corridor). The sites included two possible Bronze Age ring ditches, Iron Age settlement, two Roman roads, a Roman villa, a Roman barrow and early medieval kilns.
2.2 In historical times the region had been the focus of both iron smelting and woodland activities. The site lies within the extent of the medieval Rockingham Forest, a royal hunting preserve which contained a high proportion of woodland. This was largely cleared in the 19th century, although a few pockets of historic woodland remain, including Oakley Purlieus at the northern end of the proposed route. The iron industry, which was based on the local Ironstone ore has been shown to have been extensive in the Roman and Saxon periods and was nationally important in the medieval period. It is possible that the early iron industry was linked closely to woodland management in order to produce charcoal.
2.3 From the early 19th century the region became radically transformed by the revival of the iron industry, with extensive woodland clearance and opencast quarrying taking place. Corby became a nationally important centre for steel production in the 20th century, leading to rapid industrial and suburban expansion. Archaeological finds deriving largely from casual discoveries during the course of modern development, have indicated that the area has a high archaeological potential.
2.4 Features considered most likely to fall within the fieldwork corridor included:
1 A possible ring ditch visible on aerial photographs in Field 8 (Site 15 of
cultural heritage gazetteer)
A43 Corby Link Road
2 The projected line of a possible Roman road in Field 12 or 13 (Site 33)
3 A possible Saxon/early medieval settlement identified by pottery and iron slag scatters in Field 3 (Site 52)
4 The projected line of the Roman Gartree Road in Field 24 or 25 (Site 16)
3 TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY
3.1 Topographically the route traverses gently rolling agricultural countryside incised by the River Ise, in the extreme south, and by a tributary stream, Harper�s Brook. The underlying geology largely comprises Boulder Clay, with narrow bands of Estuarine Series limestones and clays in the valleys.
4 OBJECTIVES
4.1 The main objective of the archaeological evaluation was to contribute to an understanding of the buried archaeological resource within the route corridor.
4.2 The specific aims of the project were to identify, date and characterise archaeological features, as far as possible, using the techniques outlined below.
4.3 The resulting characterisation of the archaeological resource will form a part of the overall Environmental Assessment of the impacts of the scheme.
5 METHODS
Geophysical Reconnaissance Survey
5.1 An initial geophysical reconnaissance survey using magnetometer scanning was carried out along the whole length of the proposed bypass corridor, covering a width of 80 m (40 m either side of the centre line) - a total of approximately 50.5 ha (Fig 2). The survey corridor did not include the final field at the north-eastern terminus of the Link Road, known to have been subject to past quarrying (Atkins Land-use map August 2003; Drawing: 0309Corby.dwg).
5.2 The objective was to identify individual or groups of magnetic anomalies which might indicate buried archaeological remains. Reconnaissance used Geoscan Research fluxgate gradiometers, continually monitored for activity whilst carried along transects spaced at 20m intervals. Areas highlighted in the reconnaissance were marked in the field and
A43 Corby Link Road
identified on a scale map (Fig 2). Anomalous zones were to be subjected to detailed geophysical survey in order to define their extent and nature.
Detailed Geophysical Survey
5.3 Following the completion of the reconnaissance survey, the percentage of the corridor subject to detailed magnetometer survey, advised by the location of known cropmarks, was agreed in consultation with Atkins Heritage and NCCHET.
5.4 Where appropriate, detailed magnetometer survey was carried out using Bartington Grad601-2 twin sensor fluxgate gradiometers. The relevant areas were divided into 30m x 30m grid-squares, traversed at rapid pace in a zig-zag pattern. Instrument readings logged at 1.0m x 0.25m intervals in accordance with with English Heritage and the Institute of Field Archaeologists Guidelines (EH 1995 & Gaffney, Gater and Ovendon 2002).
5.5 The data was analysed using Geoplot 3.00s software. Low (negative) magnetism is shown as white and high (positive) magnetism as black in the resultant greyscale plots. To avoid the introduction of bias, minimal processing was carried out on the data. The �Zero Mean Traverse� function was applied in order to brin g the average level of each line of data into a balanced zero.
5.6 The processed data is presented here in the form of greyscale highlighting the weaker magnetic anomalies (-2T / +2T scale, Figs 3, 5, 7 & 9) and interpretive plots (Figs 4, 6, 8 & 10) and are referred to directly in the following Survey Results section.
Trial Trenching
5.7 A series of 69 trial trenches, measuring 30 m long by 2 m wide were excavated in the proposed road corridor (Figs 11-14). The trench locations were designed to intercept known or suspected features identified in the geophysical survey, to investigate areas of potential, and provide coverage of apparently blank areas.
5.8 The trenches were plotted on the ground using Leica System 1200 GPS surveying equipment (with a tolerance of generally +/- c 0.3m) and were related to Ordnance Survey.
5.9 The topsoil, subsoil and non-structural post-medieval and later deposits were removed under archaeological supervision by mechanical excavator, fitted with a toothless ditching bucket, to reveal significant archaeological remains or, where these were absent, the natural substrate. All features of potential archaeological significance were sampled by hand excavation to determine their date and character.
5.10 All archaeological deposits and artefacts encountered during the course of excavation were fully recorded. Recording followed standard Northamptonshire procedures.
A43 Corby Link Road
Archaeological deposits were given individual context numbers and were described on pro-forma context sheets. All potential archaeological features were excavated.
5.11 Where appropriate the surface of the trenches was cleaned by hand to enhance feature definition, and planned at a scale of 1:20 or 1:50. Sections through features and areas of complex stratigraphy were drawn at a scale of 1:10 or 1:20. Levels were related to Ordnance Datum.
5.12 Soil samples were taken from appropriate archaeologically significant deposits for the retrieval and assessment of environmental and economic data.
5.13 A full photographic record comprising both 35mm monochrome negatives, and colour transparencies was maintained this was supplemented with digital photographs.
Health and Safety
5.14 Fieldwork was conducted in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy of Services Northamptonshire. A site specific risk assessment was prepared and re-assessed during the progress of work. All site staff were inducted in the risk assessment and made aware of potential hazards before they commence the works on site.
6 GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY RESULTS
Reconnaissance Survey
6.1 Gradiometer scanning located only a few areas of anomalous magnetism along the road corridor (Fig 2).
Field 1 was found to be extremely magnetically noisy, probably indicating former quarrying or made-up ground.
Field 3 was the source of anomalous readings over the 2 ha area identified in the Stage III Assessment for Cultural Heritage Gazetteer as a possible medieval settlement (Atkins 2005, Site 16).
Field 5 had an uneven, ploughed surface with the result of an inability to detect significant readings.
Field 8 contained anomalies where the ring-ditch (Site 15) was expected.
Field 12 had an area of positive anomalies located in the north-east part.
Field 19 was pasture where the ground surface indicated possible earthwork survival. Several magnetic anomalies were detected.
Field 24 exhibited similar extreme data as Field 1 indicating probable quarrying.
A43 Corby Link Road
Detailed Survey
6.2 Four areas of detailed gradiometry were carried out.
Area A (Field 3, Figs 3 & 4). Two �C-shaped� positive anomalies were detected in the north-east half of the survey area, putatively two partial ditched enclosures. Also in the same north-eastern half were two zones of positive and negative magnetisation possibly indicating occupation or an �activity area�. Centrally, there were highly magnetic readings in a topographic hollow possibly relating to a quarry. In the south-west of the Area A were numerous linear, rectilinear and discrete positive anomalies likely to indicate ditches, enclosures and pits.
Area B (Field 8, Figs 5 & 6). In this area the survey detected a circular positive anomaly of c 38m diameter, almost certainly a large ring ditch situated exactly where aerial photography predicted (Atkins 2005, Site 15). A discrete positive anomaly to the east and linear anomaly to the west are likely to indicate a pit and narrow ditch respectively. Other weakly positive anomalies lay to the south of the area, parallel to the stream, probably a response to the edge of alluvium. Weakly magnetic banding orientated north-south across the area was almost definitely the remains of medieval ridge-and-furrow cultivation.
Area C (Field 12, Figs 7 & 8). An 'L-shaped' arrangement of anomalies representing ditches were detected in the southern half of Area C. Survey detected a high level of ferrous contamination throughout the area.
Area D (Field 19, Figs 9 & 10). Magnetometry detected a remnant medieval ridge and furrow field system orientated south-east, as indicated by surface earthworks. Much of the area was disturbed by iron water pipes feeding a steel cattle trough to the north. The north of Area D featured a large number of anomalies of ferrous or ceramic (i.e. brick?) source, likely to be related to consolidation of the land adjacent to a pond.
7 EVALUATION RESULTS
7.1 Of the sixty-nine trenches excavated only seven contained archaeological deposits - Trenches 2, 10, 12, 33, 41, 67 and 69. These all contained single ditches, six of which were dated by pottery; the ditch in Trench 12 contained no finds, but was sealed by the subsoil and is therefore also likely to be archaeologically significant. The remaining ditches dated to the Iron Age and early Roman periods.
A43 Corby Link Road
7.2 Nothing of archaeological significance was encountered in the other trenches and these are not described in this report.
7.3 Trenches 63, 64, 65 and 66 at the northern end of the proposed road corridor were excavated in a reinstated area which had previously been quarried for ironstone. Trench 62 also showed extensive disturbance, probably from the former railway embankment here.
7.4 Context numbers include the trench number as a prefix throughout.
Trench 2 (Field 2)
7.5 The trench was untargeted and aligned east-west. Natural buff Boulder Clay (203) was exposed at a depth of 1.00m. A single north to south aligned ditch [205] cut the clay at the eastern end of the trench (Fig 11). The ditch was 0.28m deep by 1.5m wide and irregular in profile (Fig 15, Section 1). The single fill (204) consisted of firm dark orange grey clay, which contained Roman pottery and animal bone, suggesting a 1st century AD date for the feature.
7.6 The ditch was overlain by a 0.7m-deep layer of medium orange brown clay loam subsoil (202), which in turn was overlain by a 0.3m-deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (201).
Trench 10 (Field 3)
7.7 This trench was one of a group of three targeted on features identified in the geophysical survey (Fig 11). The trench was aligned north-west to south-east. Natural orange brown Boulder Clay (1003) was exposed at a depth of 0.65m. A single north-south aligned ditch [1005] cut the natural clay at the north western end of the trench (Fig 11). The ditch was 0.29m deep by 1.45m wide and irregular in profile (Fig 15, Section 2). The single fill (1004) consisted of firm dark orange brown clay, which contained middle Iron Age pottery and animal bone.
7.8 The ditch was overlain by a 0.35m deep layer of medium orange brown clay loam subsoil (1002), which in turn was overlain by a 0.3 m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (1001).
Trench 12 (Field 3)
7.9 This trench was located to the north of Trench 10. The trench was aligned north-east south-west. Natural Boulder Clay (1203) was exposed at a depth of 0.53m. A single north-south aligned ditch [1205] cut the clay at the south-western end of the trench (Fig 11). The ditch was 0.19m deep by 0.45m wide and U-shaped in profile (Fig 15, Section 3). The single fill (1204) consisted of firm dark orange brown clay. The boundaries of the fill were unclear and no finds were recovered from this feature.
7.10 The ditch was overlain by a 0.12m deep layer of medium orange grey clay loam subsoil
A43 Corby Link Road
(1202), which in turn was overlain by a 0.43m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (1201).
Trench 67 (Field 3)
7.11 The trench was opened to investigate a semicircular feature identified by the geophysical survey. The trench was aligned north-west to south-east. Natural buff Boulder Clay (6703) was exposed at a depth of 0.48m. A single north-east south-west aligned ditch [6704] cut the natural at the south-east end of the trench (Fig 11). The ditch was 0.9m deep by 4.2m wide and irregular in profile (Fig 16 Section 9). The primary fill (6707) consisted of a soft mid brown silty clay, which was overlain by (6706), a firm buff brown silty clay containing 10% fine and coarse pebbles. This was overlain by the upper fill (6705) a soft mid brown clay. Pottery and animal bone was recovered from (6705) and (6706), the pottery would suggest a broad Iron Age date for the backfilling of the ditch.
7.12 The ditch was overlain by a 0.18m deep layer of buff clay loam subsoil (6702) which in turn was overlain by a 0.3m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (6701).
Trench 33 (Field 8)
7.13 The trench was opened to investigate a ring ditch, which had previously been identified by both aerial photography and by the geophysical survey. The trench was aligned north-east to south-west. Natural orange buff sandy clay with gravel (3304) was exposed at a depth of 0.65m. A single north-west south-east aligned ditch [3303] cut the natural in the middle of the trench (Fig 12). The ditch, which was the south-western arm of the ring ditch (Fig 5), was 0.9m deep by 4.8m wide and irregular in profile (Fig 16 Section 5). The primary fill (3310) consisted of firm mid orange brown sandy clay loam, which was overlain by (3309) a firm brown sandy clay containing fine and coarse pebbles. This was overlain by (3307) a mid orange brown sandy clay loam containing fine pebbles and gravel. This was overlain by (3306) a buff orange brown sandy clay with up to 60% gravel and grit, above this was (3308) a firm medium orange brown sandy clay with 10% gravel and grit. The final fill of the ditch a compact dark brown sandy clay (3305) contained pottery and animal bone. The pottery is not diagnostic but is prehistoric in character and probably Iron Age.
7.14 After the ditch had been backfilled a shallow pit was cut into the south western edge [3311]. The pit was 0.56m wide and 0.26m deep with a single fill (3312) a firm mid orange brown sandy clay. The pit was undated.
7.15 A buried soil (3313) was identified to the south-west of the ditch below the subsoil (3302) outside the ring ditch.
7.16 The ditch was overlain by a 0.35m deep layer of medium orange brown clay loam subsoil (3302), which in turn was overlain by a 0.3m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (3301).
A43 Corby Link Road
7.17 The evidence would suggest that the ditch silted up over a long time period.
Trench 41 (Field 12)
7.18 The trench was aligned north to south. Natural buff Boulder Clay (4103) was exposed at a depth of 0.53m. A single east to west aligned ditch [4104] cut the natural clay at the northern end of the trench (Fig 13). The ditch was 0.30m deep by 0.9m wide with a flat base (Fig 16 Section 7). The single fill (4105) consisted of loose dark grey clay, which contained Roman pottery, suggesting a 1st century AD date for the feature.
7.19 The ditch was overlain by a 0.23m deep layer of buff clay loam subsoil (4102), which in turn was overlain by a 0.3m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (4101).
Trench 69 (Field 12)
7.20 This trench was to the east of Trench 41 to investigate further the ditch found there. The trench was aligned north to south. Natural buff Boulder Clay (6903) was exposed at a depth of 0.60m. A single east to west aligned ditch [6904] cut the natural clay at the northern end of the trench (Fig13). The ditch was 0.30m deep by 1.0m wide with a flat base. The single fill (6905) consisted of loose dark grey clay, which contained Roman pottery, suggesting a 1st century AD date for the feature.
7.21 The ditch was overlain by a 0.29m deep layer of buff clay loam subsoil (6902), which in turn was overlain by a 0.31m deep layer dark brown loam topsoil (6901).
8 FINDS
The Iron Age and Roman pottery by Andy Chapman
8.1 Only small quantities of pottery were recovered, a total of 39 sherds weighing 440g. Four contexts, 1004 (Ditch 1005), 3305 (Ditch 3303), 6705 (Ditch 6704) and 6706 (Ditch 6704), produced handmade wares, typically containing crushed shell, a total of 21 sherds weighing 120g, and these may be assigned a broad Iron Age date. This material contains few diagnostic features, as it mainly comprises plain body sherds, but a single scored ware sherd, from context 1004, can be attributed to the middle Iron Age.
8.2 Three contexts, 204 (Ditch 205), 4105 (Ditch 4104) and 6905 (Ditch 6904), produced wheel-thrown pottery of Roman date, 18 sherds weighing 320g. A range of coarseware fabrics are represented, and the group includes a large storage jar with a rolled rim and combed decoration on the body, and smaller jars with simple cordons or grooves. While the assemblage is small, a mid- to late-1st century AD date would appear to be appropriate.
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Animal bone by Karen Deighton
8.3 A total of 672 grammes of animal bone were hand recovered from the excavation. These were scanned to determine the species present, state of preservation and to assess the potential for future work. Identifiable bones were noted. Ageable and measurable bones (after Von Den Driesch 1976) were also noted. Ageable elements included cheek tooth rows, bones where the state of fusion is apparent, and neonatal bones.
8.4 Fragmentation was fairly heavy, this was largely the result of fresh breaks. Surface condition varied with context, material from Trench 10 was particularly heavily abraded. A single example of canid gnawing was noted. Only a single bone element could be aged, a horse mandible from ditch [205].
Table1: Identifiable animal bones
Trench Context Ditch Date Bos Sus Equus Total
2 204 205 Roman 2 1 3
67 6705 6704 Iron Age 3 3
67 6706 6704 Iron Age 1 1 2
69 6905 6904 Roman 1 1
Total 7 1 1 9
8.5 The bone assemblage is too small to warrant further analysis but should larger assemblages be recovered from any future work, there would be the possibility of gaining useful information about Iron Age and Roman animal husbandry.
Charred plant macrofossils by Karen Deighton
8.6 A 40 litre sample was collected from Trench 33, Ditch 3303 (3305). The material was processed using a Serif tank fitted with a 500 micron mesh and float sieve. The resulting float was dried and examined with a microscope (10x magnification).
8.7 The sample produced approximately 20 fragments of charcoal which were too small and abraded to allow further identification. Four charred seeds were observed these were Campion (Silene sp), Fat Hen (Chenopodium album), Dock (Rumex sp), and Persicaria (Persicaria sp).
8.8 The above are all common ruderal and weeds of cultivation and would not be out of place in an Iron Age context. Their presence was possibly due to burning of fuel straw or hay.
8.9 Overall, the potential for recovering environmental indicators in any future work would seem to be low.
9 CONCLUSION
9.1 The evaluation demonstrated that archaeological features lie within the proposed road
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corridor, although they would appear to be dispersed with no concentrations. The dating evidence indicates that the features are Iron Age and Roman in date. They comprised an isolated, possibly Iron Age, ring ditch in Trench 33 (Field 8); Iron Age ditches in Trenches 10 and 67 (Field 3); and two Roman ditches, one in Trench 2 (Field 2) and the other in Trenches 41 and 69 (Field 12). The proximity of the ditches in Field 3 suggests the edge of an Iron Age settlement (Fig 4). The amount of pottery recovered from the ditch sections in Trenches 41 and 69 would perhaps indicate that there is a Roman settlement in the vicinity.
9.2 The ring ditch, 3303, was 0.9 m deep forming a perfect circle about 35 m in diameter (Fig
5). This is more characteristic of Bronze Age funerary monuments than Iron Age enclosures, and the Iron Age pottery from 3305 can be seen as relating to a late stage of silting rather than to its more probable origin in the early Bronze Age. Its low-lying situation meant it was reasonably well preserved and ploughing does not seem to have reached the natural substrate. There was no indication of a central mound which may have been lost to ploughing. There was no grave pit within the trench and no bone was recovered from the ditch. The charred plant remains from the soil sample from 3305 were meagre.
9.3 An unexpectedly low number of the geophysical anomalies in Field 3 were subsequently identified as features by excavation. This suggests that there are few (if any) subsoil features associated with the surface scatters of early medieval pottery in this field (Atkins 2005, Site 52). In retrospect, many of the magnetic anomalies may be a result of changing response to the complicated geological sequence of the hillside of Field 3: Lower Estuarine, Upper Lincolnshire Limestone and Boulder Clay, from north to south. However, the south of the area contained three archaeological features including Iron Age ditches in Trenches 10 and 67.
9.4 The surface slag in Field 3 was not associated with any iron working furnaces or hearths which could be identified in the geophysical survey or trial trenching.
9.5 No Roman roads were identified in Fields 12/13 or 24/25. The Roman Gartree Road in Fields 24 or 25 would have been lost to quarrying. The possible road in Field 12 or 13, had it existed, may have been ploughed out. The Roman ditch in Trenches 41 and 69 (Field 12) is not correctly aligned to have been a roadside ditch.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins 2005 Draft Section from Stage III Assessment for Cultural Heritage
NA 2005 A43 Corby Link Road, Northamptonshire, NGR SP 861833 to 903874. Project Design for Archaeological Geophysical Survey and Trial Excavation, Northamptonshire Archaeology v2 25th August 2005
English Heritage 1995 Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation, Research and Professional Services Guideline, 1
Gaffney, C, Gater, J, and Ovendon, S, 2002 The Use of Geophysical Techniques in Archaeological Evaluations, Institute of Field Archaeologists Technical Paper, 6
Von den Driesch, A. 1976 A guide to the measurement of animal bone from Archaeological sites, Harvard: Harvard University press
Northamptonshire Archaeology
a service of Northamptonshire County Council v2 8th February 2006
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D D D DD D D D D D D D D D
DD D D
D DD D D
D D D D
D DD D D D D A
D D D D D D D D
D D D D D D
D D D D D A D D
D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
D D D D DD
D D D D
D D D D D D D
D D D D
D D
D D D
D D
D D D D D 870
DD D D
DD D D
D D D D
D D D
D D D
DD D DD Stanion
A D D D C D D D D
D E D D
D D
DDD
D DD D
D D
D 860
D
D D
D D D DD D D
D Great Oakley
DD D D D D D D D D
B Little Oakley D D D
D D D D D D D D D
D D D
D D D
D D D
D
D
D D D A 850
D D D D
A D D D D D D
D D D
D D D
D D DD
D D DD
D D D
D D D
D Geddington Chase Geddington Chase D
D D D D
A D D
D D
D D D D D D
D
D D D D
D D 840
D D
D
D D
D
D D D
D
D D
D Newton D A D D D D
D D D
D
D D
D D D
Geddington
D D 830
D D D
D D D
D D D D D D
D D
D D D AD
D D D
D D D D
D D D D
D D
D
D DD D
D D D D
D D D
D D D
D D D D D D D DD D DD D
D D D D D DD
820 D
D DD D D D
DD D D D D D
A D D
D D DE D
D D D
D D D D D D D D D D
D D D Road Corridor D D A
D D D D D D D
DD D D D D D D
D D D D D D D D DD
D D DD D D D Boughton Park D D
D DDD A
D D D D D D DDD D D D D E A D Magnetic Anomaly Area - Detailed Survey
D DD D D DD D D D D D D D D DD D D D D
D (c) Crown copyright. All rights reserved
Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. 1000119331 Published December 2005 D D D D D D D D D D D A D DD D
D D D D D
D D D D D D
Fig 2 Reconnaissance Survey Scale: 1:25000
N 660 670 680 690
460
1500 .000
1400 .000 450
ETL
El Ps
1300 .000
440
El Ps
1200 .000
El Ps
430
1100. 000
El Ps
L
T El Ps
E
Anomalies /nT
1000. 000 +2.0 black /
-2.0 white
c k
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council: r a
T 0 50m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 3 Detailed Survey Results, Area A Scale 1:2000
N 660 670 680
460
1500 .000
1400 .000 450
ETL
El Ps
1300 .000
440
El Ps
1200 .000
El Ps
430
1100. 000
El Ps
L Ditch / Pit
T El Ps
E
Activity Area
1000. 000
Highly Magnetic
c k
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council: r a 0
T 50m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 4 Detailed Survey Results & Interpretation, Area A Scale 1:2000
N 820
33 00.
00 0
t
c
u
d
i a
V
D
ost
570
MP 77.5
32 00.
FB 00 0
31 00.
00 0
560
Anomalies /nT
+2.0 black /
-2.0 white
81.4m� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council:
0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 5 Detailed Survey Results, Area B Scale 1:1000
N 820
33 00.
00 0
t
c
u
d
i a
V
D
ost
570
MP 77.5
32 00.
FB 00 0
31 00.
00 0
560
DItch / Pit
Ridge & Furrow
Geological
Ferrous disturbance
81.4m� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council:
0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 6 Detailed Survey Results & Interpretation, Area B Scale 1:1000
N 860 870
630
40 00.
000
L
T
E
39 00.
000
620
38 00.
00 0
Anomalies /nT
+2.0 black /
-2.0 white
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council:
0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 7 Detailed Survey Results, Area C Scale 1:1000
N 860 870
630
40 00.
000
L
T
E
39 00.
000
620
38 00.
00 0
Ditch
Ferrous Disturbance
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council:
0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 8 Detailed Survey Results & Interpretation, Area C Scale 1:1000
N 990 000
Pond
660
5300. 00
0
5
2
0
0
.
0
0
0
650
Anomalies /nT
+2.0 black /
-2.0 white
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council: 0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 9 Detailed Survey Results, Area D Scale 1:1000
N 990 000
Pond
660
5300. 00
0
5
2
0
0
.
0
0
0
650
Ferrous Pipeline
Magnetic disturbance
Ferrous/ceramic debris
Ridge & Furrow
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Northamptonshire County Council: 0 25m
Licence No. 100019331. Published 30/09/2005.
Fig 10 Detailed Survey Results & Interpretation, Area D Scale 1:1000
870
Tr 16
Field 4
Tr 15
Tr 14
Tr 13
1205
Tr 12
S.3 .
Tr 68
Field 3
Tr 11 S.9 . Iron Age Ditches
Tr 67
S.2 . 6704
1005
Tr 10
Tr 9
Tr 8
Tr 7
840
Tr 6
Tr 5
Tr 4
Field 2
Tr 3
Tr 2 S.1 .
205 Roman Ditch
Tr 1
Road Corridor
Trenches
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. 100019334. Published 2005. 0 150m
0 150m
880 890
Field 15 Field 15Field 15 Field 15 Field 15 Field 15 Field 15 Field 15 Field 15
Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50 Tr 50
Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49 Tr 49
Field 14 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 48 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51 Tr 51
Tr 47 Tr 47Tr 47 Tr 47 Tr 47 Tr 47 Tr 47 Tr 47 Tr 47
Tr 46 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16 Field 16
Tr 45
Tr 44
Tr 43
Tr 41 Tr 42
Field 13
Tr 40 S.7 . 4103 Tr 69
Roman Ditch
Tr 39
Tr 38 Field 12
Field 11
860
Tr 37
Tr 36
Field 10
Tr 35
Tr 34
Field 9
Tr 32
Tr 33
Tr 31
Field 8
TR 30
Tr 25
Road Corridor
Trenches
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. 100019334. Published 2005. 0 150m
900
Field 25 Field 25Field 25 Field 25 Field 25 Field 25 Field 25 Field 25 Field 25
Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66 Tr 66
Tr 65 Tr 65Tr 65 Tr 65 Tr 65 Tr 65 Tr 65 Tr 65 Tr 65 870
Field 24 Field 24Field 24 Field 24 Field 24 Field 24 Field 24 Field 24 Field 24
Tr 63 Tr 63Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 63 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64 Tr 64
Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62 Tr 62
Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61 Tr 61
Tr 60 Tr 60Tr 60 Tr 60 Tr 60 Tr 60 Tr 60 Tr 60 Tr 60
Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23 Field 23
Field 20 Tr 58
Tr 59
Field 17 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22 Field 22
Tr 56
Tr 57
Tr 55
Field 15
Tr 50 Tr 52 Tr 53 Tr 54
Tr 49 Field 21
Field 14 Tr 48 Tr 51
Field 18 Field 19
Tr 47
Tr 46 Field 16
Tr 45
Road Corridor
Trenches
� Crown copyright. All rights reserved Northamptonshire County Council: Licence No. 100019334. Published 2005. 0 150m
Section 1 - Trench 2
98.42mOD
E W
201
202
204
205
Section 2 - Trench 10
102.17mOD
W E
1001
1002
1004
1005
Section 3 - Trench 12
103.94mOD
E W
1201
1202
1204
1205
0 1m
Section 5 - Trench 33
80.5mOD
SW NE
3301
3302
3313
3312
3311 3305
3307
3310
3306
3310
3308 3309
3303
Section 7 - Trench 41 Section 9 - Trench 67
91mOD
W E
4101 6701
4102 6702
102.63mOD
S N
4105 6705
4104
6706
6707 6704
0 1m