Monument record 1176/0/15 - Medieval pond or quarry pit

{1} A large pond/ quarry pit cut the natural gravels. Its full size and shape lay beyond the limit of the trench, except for its western edge which was at a 45 degree angle with a flat base. The upper deposit contained three sherds of medieval Potterspury ware.
The environmental sample contained a variety of snail species, indicating periods of wet and dryer conditions, which suggest that the feature may have silted up over a period of time.

{4} The land on the eastern side of the plot was dominated by repeated inundations from the stream to the south within a hollow into which the stream banks overflowed. During the medieval period these flooding episodes ensured that semi-aquatic mollusc species colonised the area. Gradually the hollow, wgich contained slow or totally still water, silted up. It became marsh, then slowly dried out. By the end of the medieval period some form of occupation was able to spread as far as the pond's northern edge.

<1> Foard-Colby A., 2011, Archaeological Evaluation on Land in Church Lane, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire January 2011, p.8,12 (checked) (Report). SNN107259.

<2> Horne B. (Editor), 2012, South Midlands Archaeology (42), 42/30 (checked) (Journal). SNN108346.

<3> Chapman P. (Editor), 2012, Archaeology in Northamptonshire, 2011, 37/211 (checked) (Chapter). SNN108375.

<4> Soden I, 2012, Archaeological excavations in advance of development at Church Lane, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire, checked (Report). SNN110304.

Record last edited

May 20 2016 2:52PM