ENN109922 - Aynho Park Plot 3, 2020-1 (Observation)

Border Archaeology was instructed to carry out a programme of Archaeological Observation of groundworks for the construction of a property on Plot 3 at Aynho Park Corner. The excavated groundworks covered an area of approximately 435.878m2 but the wider stripped area comprising a swimming pool and soakaway (1952.336m²) was also observed such that the entirety of the archaeological works could be carried out in a single phase. No archaeological material was encountered on the eastern half of the site, where a thin 0.28m thick topsoil and 0.23m thick subsoil were noted. The western portion revealed a much more substantial 1.11m thick topsoil/subsoil covering an area of 331.400m² wherein the skeletal remains of least nine individuals were encountered representing part of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Seven of these interments survived in the form of articulated human remains aligned roughly east to west (head to west as per Christian tradition), with a further two represented only by disarticulated bone. The graves of Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3 and Skeleton 5 contained associated metal grave goods, chiefly short blades placed around the pelvis area. The burial assemblage is clearly of some significance in adding to the regional dataset of Early-Middle Anglo-Saxon sherds recovered from graves, with only a few late medieval/early post-medieval fabrics present, represents an assemblage of importance not only by virtue of its largely Saxon date but also due to the association of pottery and burial assemblage and the very limited residuality seen. Iron whittle tang knife blades were found associated with three of the interments, knives these being common finds in burials of both sexes. These examples represent a general Early Medieval type rather than a specific identifiable form such as a Seax, although a blade associated with female burial Skeleton 2 is of a slightly longer distinctive Ottway type E type. In addition to the pottery, several pieces of animal bone and evidence of cereal processing suggest contemporary settlement nearby and support an Anglo-Saxon date. An ‘iron sword-shaped object’ found in the subsoil has been interpreted, based on the blade’s square edges and the absence of other items of weaponry normally found in sword inhumations, as a weaving batten used to pack down weft threads after each throw on the loom. A number of other examples of swords being repurposed as battens are known from cemeteries both in Britain and continental Europe, including West Stow (Suffolk), Edix Hill (Cambridgeshire) and Saltwood and Buckland Dover (Kent). Although often poorly preserved and fragmentary, the bone was nonetheless able to disclose enough information to establish a broad demographic profile and age structure, with six of the seven identified as adult, one of whom was female and another male, with two individuals thought potentially to be male. These were accompanied by a single subadult aged 7-10, suggesting perhaps a fairly low rate of infant and childhood mortality. These were mainly simple burials comprising a supine extended inhumation within an earth cut grave which amounted to little more than a shallow scoop leaving the remains susceptible to damage and any later intrusive groundworks such as landscaping or the construction of military infrastructure. Skeleton 2, Skeleton 3 and Skeleton 5, representing just under half of the interments were buried with accompanying grave goods, chiefly iron whittle tang knife blades, knives these being common finds in burials of both sexes. Each blade was found pointing right to left across the pelvis area indicating a lack of disturbance and possibly that these individuals were right-handed, as the tang would have been positioned toward the right-hand side. These examples represent a general Early Medieval type rather than a specific identifiable form such as a Seax, although a blade associated with female burial Skeleton 2 is of a slightly longer distinctive Ottway type E type. Such items have a strong Anglo-Saxon association and are quite typical for burials of this period from Northamptonshire. The western area additionally contained two east to west running ditches, one being the recut of the other, earlier ditch. These linear features were observed over a distance of more than 6m before continuing west beyond the site boundary and contained animal bone and pottery assemblages, with the earlier of the two producing a flint transverse arrowhead recovered which may point to a Later Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date, which would not be wholly inconsistent with the reported discovery in the 19th Century of a Bronze Age axe and crouched inhumation in Aynho Park. These significant results suggest the need for archaeological mitigation should any future development occur in this area as the full extent of this funerary landscape has yet to be fully determined. Information from OASIS online form