ENN105086 - Land At Dando Close, Excavation, 2000-2002 (Excavation)

[SMR note 09/02/2011: mapping of excavation trench has error +/- 3m.] Excavation was undertaken in two phases in the summer of 2000, with a further stage of excavation on an extension of the site to the north, carried out in 2002. {1} In response to archaeological conditions placed on a number of planing consents for the development of land to the north of Dando Close, Wollaston, Northants, the Heritage Network was commissioned by the developers to undertake a programme of archaeological work to meet the planning authority's requirements. An archaeological evaluation, completed in early 1998, demonstrated a spread of early and middle Saxon features across the northern half of the site. Further evaluation, in the autumn of the same year, showed that these features did not extend into the southern half of the site. The main excavation was undertaken in two phases in the summer of 2000, with a further stage of excavation, on an extension of the site to the north, carried out in 2002. In the course of the work, eight sunken, featured buildings were identified, together with at least ten post-built structures, and associated features and deposits, largely ranging in date from the 5th to the 14th centuries. The various finds assemblages suggest a domestic settlement, with associated craft and industrial activities, including weaving and metalworking. A programme of further research is proposed to clarify the function of identified structures and the phasing of the settlement and its associated activities. [Site code: HN350 and HN261]