Monument record 4608/0/3 - Undated Ditch, Harlestone Road

A north-south aligned ditch at least 30m long was identified during geophysical survey and trial trench excavation, but not subsequently identified during archaeological excavation.

{1} Geophysical survey was undertaken as part of development proposals. In the western field were several short positive linear anomalies which may represent sections of ditch. Most are aligned roughly west-south-west to east-south-east, and all are 20-25m long. They do not form any particularly diagnostic pattern and there are no grounds on which to suggest a date for them. It should be stressed that geological conditions were particularly adverse for the magnetic survey, the underlying ironstone giving rise to exceptional strong background variations.
A similar short positive linear anomaly possibly also representing a section of ditch, was detected in the north-west of the eastern field which was surveyed.

{2} A north-south aligned ditch at least 30m long (and observed in the geophysical survey) was present within Trenches 8 and 9. It ranged from 0.7-1.4m wide x 0.35-0.55m deep and had an irregular stepped profile. Within Trench 8 there was a truncated pit or posthole at the base of the ditch. On its western edge the ditch was cut by a further ditch, probably a later re-cut. This was 1.00m wide x 0.25m deep, with a concave profile.
A lack of pottery or other material artefacts may suggest that any focus of settlement activity was some distance away from the features recorded.

[3} No evidence of the ditch was identified during subsequent excavation.

<1> Butler A.; Fisher I.; Walford J., 2012, Archaeological Geophysical Evaluation for the Dallington Gateway, Northampton May 2012, p.4-5 (checked) (Report). SNN109214.

<2> Walker C.; Wolframm-Murray Y., 2012, An Archaeological Evaluation of Land at Dallington Gateway, Northampton September 2012, p.14+20 (checked) (Report). SNN109265.

<3> Chinnock, C & Muldowney, M, 16/6, Archaeological mitigation at Dallington Gateway, Harlestone Road, Northampton August to October 2014 (Report). SNN111345.

Record last edited

Jan 6 2025 11:09AM