ENN110363 - Drovers Lane, 2021 (Trial trench)

The evaluation was successful in addressing its aims and objectives. The southern part of the field Watergate (trenches 7, 9 and 11) contained Romano-British and undated features. These comprised ditches, pits, a pond, and, most significantly, cremation graves. The cremations were not excavated and were preserved in situ. The field immediately south of Watergate had previously been subject to archaeological evaluation (Northamptonshire Archaeology 2011) revealing evidence of a Romano-British settlement. The remains revealed by the present work almost certainly form part of the same settlement. The recovered Romano-British pottery spans the period. It is possible that the greatest level of activity was later in the period, although the amount of pottery recovered is small and this pattern is not reliably attested. Undated ditches and pits from the adjacent Long Meadow may form part of the same settlement, although a more recent date for some or all of the features cannot be ruled out. The Northamptonshire Archaeology evaluation (2011) revealed both Iron Age and Romano-British activity in this general area and it is possible that some of the remains revealed by the present work date from these periods. Other features are of less significance, including three ditches in Dandelion Field that are almost certainly relict elements of the extant field system and therefore likely to be of recent origin. Furrows were common across the evaluation area, although with the exception of trench 68, it was rare for multiple adjacent furrows to be preserved together. At times it has been difficult to differentially interpret individual features as either furrows or ditches. Away from the focus of Romano-British activity in the south of Watergate (and perhaps extending into Long Meadow), there was an absence of significant archaeological remains. The north of Watergate, the south of Long Meadow, Great Ground and the entire southern parcel appear to have low archaeological potential. The existing geophysical survey (AOC 2021) was successful in identifying the areas in which archaeological remains were subsequently identified by trial trench evaluation. However, the detailed layout of these archaeological remains did not correlate closely with the geophysical survey results. Trial trenching in areas resistant to geophysical investigation (Great Ground and the southern parcel) did not reveal significant archaeological results. No remains were identified that can be directly related to the nearby deserted medieval village at Stuchbury. Ridge and furrow cultivation identified by the evaluation may be contemporary with the occupation of Stuchbury, however these areas of cultivation may have been undertaken from other nearby settlements and no association with Stuchbury can be demonstrated.