Natural Feature record 6253/0/1 - Early Mesolithic land surface, Flore Hill

Evidence of an early Mesolithic land surface was identified as part of an auger survey undertaken prior to the construction of the A45 link road. The sediment, which comprised organic material and sand, situated 1.96m below current ground level, was radiocarbon dated to 8346–8165 cal BC.

{2} Geoarchaeological investigation was undertaken across the valley to the north of Weedon Bec prior to construction of the A45 link road. Auger hole AH5, which lay mid-slope on the west facing side of Flore Hill (NGR SP 63005 60500), penetrated organic material and sand, thought to represent a soil horizon, 800mm thick, at 80.04m aOD and located 1.96m below the ground surface that lay directly over river terrace deposits. A sample from this layer underwent pollen and mollusc assessment and organic material was sent for radiocarbon dating analysis.
The soil was identified as representing a former land surface which was dated to the early Mesolithic from sediment 8346–8165 cal BC (95% confidence, 9030±60BP, Queen’s Belfast UB30298). The fossil pollen grains were too weathered to analyse, but other work that has been undertaken along the Nene indicates that pine, birch and hazel woodland is characteristic of the postglacial landscape at this time.
The depth of the former buried land surface indicates considerable downslope erosional movement of soils, presumably from colluvial or solifluction processes and later agricultural activity, such as the medieval ridge and furrow ploughing. This may suggest further prehistoric land surfaces, and potentially archaeological sites, have been preserved under these conditions.

<1> Brown, J., 2015, Further archaeological evaluation for the A45 Northampton to Daventry Link Road, January 2015, p. 22-28 (Report). SNN110326.

<2> Spurr, G., 2015, Flore and Weedon Bec bypass, Northamptonshire, Geoarchaeological post-excavation assessment (Report). SNN111583.

<3> Morris, S., 2018, Archaeological mitigation along the route of the A45 Northampton to Daventry Link Road Northamptonshire September 2015 to January 2017: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design (Report). SNN111582.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:09PM