Monument record 8264/8 - Probable Roman, medieval and post-medieval field systems and trackways, Shenley Farm

Archaeological excavation identified an area of widely-spaced ditched boundaries and trackways probably representing field systems and boundaries dating from the Roman, medieval and post-medieval periods

{3} Archaeological excavation of Area 4 identified a series of widely-spaced ditch. Two ditches, aligned east to west, 150m and 186m long and spaced 10-12m apart, may have been medieval or earlier in date and possibly related to a long-lived boundary. Both were roughly aligned on a block of ridge and furrow visible on a previous lidar survey {4}. Contemporary features may have included a trackway situated in the south-western corner of the excavation area and possible enclosures and field system. Later, post-medieval activity was characterised by a series of boundary ditches, which probably formed part of a field system pre-dating the laying out of the modern field boundaries shown on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map.

<1> Coyne, J., 2016, DIRFT III, Land East of Watling Street (A5), Northants: Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN110791.

<2> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 35-6 (Journal). SNN111362.

<3> Coyne, J & Stansbie, D, 2017, DIRFT III: Land east of Watling Street (A5), Northamptonshire. Excavation Report (Report). SNN111439.

<4> Boyer, P., 2017, DIRFT III, Ridge and Furrow Survey, Northamptonshire: Geoarchaeological and Archaeological Investigation (Report). SNN111395.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:13PM