SNN100017 - Runway Enhancements At Sywell Aerodrome, Sywell, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Field Evaluation

Sywell Aerodrome Ltd are seeking planning permission to carry out runway enhancement and ancillary works at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire. Bedfordshire County Archaeology Service (BCAS) was commissioned to undertake an archaeological field evaluation. BCAS commissioned the specialist sub-contractor West Yorkshire Archaeology Service to carry out a geophysical survey of the application area to inform further archaeological evaluation. The survey did not identify any anomalies believed to indicate archaeological features. Thirteen trial trenches were excavated in January 2000. Archaeological features were present to the south and north of the main runway. To the south, a large ditch of late Iron Age date was uncovered in trench 11. This may relate to the farmstead previously excavated (Parry 1996; Parry 1999). An undated ditch terminated in Trench 10, which also contained a single posthole. North of the runway were boundary ditches of late medieval date, some of which had previously been identified as cropmarks. A single pit of unknown date was found in Trench 2. A variety of post medieval/ modern activity was uncovered. A modern boundary and possible fenceline were revealed in Trench 10. An area of hand standing was discovered in trench 6, perhaps associated with the operation of the airfield or agriculture. The geophysical survey noted massive magnetic disturbance, probably related to modern dumping, at the southern end of the runway. Evidence of ridge and furrow cultivation and modern agricultural land drains were recorded in most trial trenches.