Monument record 6075/1/1 - Saxon Road, Scours Field

A limestone trackway was discovered beneath the alluvium extending across the valley floor towards the present course of the River Nene.

{1} A watching brief was undertaken in 1986 by S. Parry; a limestone trackway was observed running towards the River Nene; there were timber stakes and brushwood where it crossed the previous river course; a radiocarbon date of 660-980 AD was obtained from the channel and from horseshoes found on the track surface; an undated track was also found which ran towards timber staging set into the palaeochannel; this consisted of 2 timbers 2.4m long and set 2m apart, and the space was filled with brushwood and smaller branches held in place by stakes; although it was undated pottery dating to 1200-1500 was found in the overlying alluvium; a stone fishing basket weight was also found;

{2} The track was examined at three points along its length, including where it crossed the palaeochannel and close to the present river channel, although it is uncertain whether it crossed to the west bank. A crushed Brill Boarstall ware jug dating to between 1200 and 1500 was found immediately above the alluvium adjacent to the river at SP 967721. This limited evidence, taken together with the likely date of the trackway, suggests that the alluvium was deposited in the Middle Ages in this area and perhaps ceased by the 15th century.

<1> 1993, Untitled Source, /52 (Full Report). SNN37218.

<2> Parry S. et al, 2006, Raunds Area Survey: An Archaeological Study of The Landscape of Raunds, Northamptonshire 1985-94, p. 160 (Site 5) (Book). SNN105780.

Record last edited

Nov 27 2019 9:16AM