Monument record 7858/0/2 - Probable late Iron Age/Roman features, west of Park Hall Farm

Site of probable Iron Age/Roman activity, although scarce pottery suggests it lay some distance from dense habitation. Probably associated with the large site to the south-east [4775/0/1]

{1} A possible ditch and pit, and an uninterpreted anomaly to the west.

[2} In the north-eastern part of this field geophysical survey identified a small negative anomaly of almost circular form, measuring about 8m across. Although it cannot be firmly interpreted, it would be
consistent with a circular stone footing and, hence could mark the site of the windmill believed to have stood somewhere in the vicinity. Admittedly it lies over 500m east of the location which the HER suggests for the windmill, but that location is in itself a speculative opinion, supported only by a doubtful cropmark (pre ref: 4786).
A broad positive linear anomaly passes close by. Probably geological, but there is a possibility that it could represent a large ditch or a hollow-way.

{3} A single trial trench revealed the circular feature and ditch previously identified by the geophysical survey. Both appeared to be of Iron Age/Roman origin. The circular feature is likely to be a ring ditch. Additional pits and ditches were also identified. Most of the fills were sterile colluvium. A single sherd of Roman pottery was recovered from one of the ditch fills.

The trenching has shown that more features are present in the area than indicated by the geophysical survey. The full extent of features in this part of the development is uncertain.

<1> Butler A., 2007, Geophysical Survey at Towcester Vale, Towcester, Northamptonshire, March 2007, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN105999.

<2> Walford J., 2012, Archaeological Geophysical Survey of the Proposed 'Towcester Vale' Development Area, Towcester, Northamptonshire March-April 2012 (Report). SNN109219.

<3> Clements, P., 2017, Archaeological trial trench evaluation: Towcester South, Phase 1, Northamptonshire, March 2017 (Report). SNN111205.

Record last edited

Sep 10 2019 9:34AM