ENN110497 - Stanton Cross Area 10, Wellingborough, 2022 (Trial trench)

A total of three trial trenches were excavated, two measuring 30m long and a third a 10 x 10m square. They were located over geophysical anomalies. The evaluation and investigation identified a large multi-phased, NW-SE aligned, prehistoric boundary. It primarily comprised an alignment of large, sub-circular pits, which was subsequently replaced by a ditch of similar size and depth. Three smaller boundary ditches on varying alignments were identified to the south of the prehistoric boundary. Although no firm dating evidence was recovered, their spatial layout and alignment in relation to historical mapping suggests that they represent post-medieval/modern field boundaries. The prehistoric pit alignment/boundary ditch is likely to be of local to regional significance. It has potential to address a number of research aims highlighted in the regional agenda. The smaller boundary ditches to the south of the pit alignment are likely to relate to post-medieval agricultural activity and as such have no potential to address regional research themes.