ENN110457 - Prospect Avenue, 2021 (Trial trench)

In November 2021, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land off Prospect Avenue, Rushden, Northamptonshire. The evaluation was undertaken for RPS Consulting acting on behalf of Ilke Homes. A total of 18 trenches, each measuring 40m long by 1.80m wide, were excavated across the 3.3ha proposed development area, which comprises two former fields, north and south. The evaluation followed on from a preceding geophysical survey that identified scattered linear anomalies but no clear signs of significant archaeological remains. The trenching identified archaeological remains only in the southwest part of the site, on a brashy/ degraded limestone outcrop in the south field. No archaeological remains were identified in the north part of the south field or the north field. Where archaeological remains were present then it was noted that due to the shallow nature of the ploughsoil and resulting heavy plough truncation feature preservation had been adversely affected, with plough scarring of the natural substrate clearly visible. Activity during the Roman period was represented by two pits and four ditches located as a concentration of features on the elevated clay and degraded/ brashy limestone geology in trenches 14 and 17, in the southwest of the site. Three sherds of pottery in the Late Iron Age – Early Roman tradition may point to a genuine Late Iron Age origin for the activity but the amount of material of this date recovered from the site is too small to be considered definitive evidence. The Roman pottery assemblage indicates a broad mid- 1st to 3rd century date for the activity, with the material comprising for the most part of locally produced, domestic vessel types. This suggests that the activity was relatively low status and not heavily Romanised. The evaluation also identified plough furrows associated with the medieval and/or early post-medieval ridge and furrow cultivation of the site. These features showed a mixed correlation with anomalies identified by the geophysical survey. No evidence for an extension of the quarrying activity recorded to the west of the site was seen in any of the trenches and, the area of the coal yard aside, the area appears to have remained as farmland or rough pasture through to the present.