ENN111037 - Barley Mow Farm, 2023 (Trial trench)

Seventeen trenches were excavated across the proposed development area in locations agreed by Northamptonshire Planning Archaeologist. Four trenches measuring 25m x 1.8m were situated to the north, where alluvial material was expected to be present, and thirteen measuring 50m x 1.8m were situated where the archaeological potential was considered to be higher. The evaluation phase has enabled ground-truthing of the geophysics results. It has demonstrated the presence of linear features matching the geophysics and crop mark evidence in the eastern part of the Site (Trenches 15-17). Artefactual evidence supports a date for these features within the later Iron Age/early Roman period. Further features dating to this period were found to the north of these Trenches, within Trench 07, which did not completely correspond to the geophysics. Agricultural activity dating to the medieval period onwards was also represented by the furrows present in the western and northern parts of the Site. Further features of uncertain date were present in Trench 03.