ENN107873 - DIRFT II, Zone 3, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire (Evaluation)

{1} In November 2012, archaeological evaluation comprising the excavation of ninety-one trial trenches, was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology on land to the north of Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT), on the border of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. The work, which was commissioned by RPS Energy, was carried out in support of a revised planning application for the commercial development of the site. Areas C and E lie within Northamptonshire, the remainder in Warwickshire. The earliest archaeological features were encountered in Area C, to the north of the haulage depot, where the remains of a ditch system were investigated. Although undated, these remains probably form part of the Iron Age/Roman agricultural landscape, associated with settlements on the higher ground to the south and east of the site. The main feature was a linear ditch that extended across the area on a north-east to south-west alignment and appeared to mark the north-western boundary of an area of activity to the south-east. This activity comprised a seemingly regular pattern of small ditches, forming possible livestock enclosures or small fields, and a small number of possible shallow pits and postholes. The absence of artefactual material and charred plant material from these features, combined with their setting in a low-lying area adjacent to a stream, suggests that the features are peripheral to areas of contemporary settlement and that they are probably associated with the agricultural activities. Site code: DRZ12