ENN110390 - Sparrow Lodge Farm, Wicken, 2021 (Trial trench)

An archaeological evaluation at Sparrow Lodge, Wicken, Northamptonshire was commissioned by RPS Group on behalf of Elgin Energy. A total of 63 trenches was excavated. The evaluation revealed a series of archaeological features, most of which conformed to anomalies identified via cropmark and geophysical survey of the area. There were two main periods represented by Iron Age and medieval settlement activity, while there was also a number of undated features present. The Iron Age activity included a concentration in Field 5 that was previously identified through survey and proved to represent a well-preserved series of enclosures, ring ditches and gullies as well as a trackway with a mettled surface. Medieval activity included pits, ditches and a pond feature that lay either side of a wooded enclosure. Very late or post-medieval ridge and furrow was present in numerous trenches across every field. Artefactual material largely compromised pottery, animal bone, and some CBM, with a limited background-scatter of flint