SNN100497 - Latimer Park, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Excavation, 2000

An archaeological excavation was undertaken in May 1999 on land at Latimer Park, Burton Latimer by Foundations Archaeology. The excavation comprised the excavation and recording of an area measuring 2800m². Three phases of activity were identified during the course of the project, although a general lack of artefactual evidence hampered conclusive, accurate dating. The first phase comprised a number of tree holes indicative of the clearance of wood and scrubland. A number of features were sampled for radiocarbon dating, of which only one contained sufficient charcoal analysis. This provided a date in the late 5th millennium BC. The second phase was a series of prehistoric ditches and gullies indicating agricultural use of the area. These linears are likely to have comprised a boundary, possibly to an enclosure. A radiocarbon date from a posthole set at the junction of the two gullies provided a Late Neolithic date. A single worked flint, probably of Neolithic date, was also recovered from the fill of the ditch [109]. Although the radiocarbon dates suggest that phases I and II were separated by a considerable amount of tie, the entire dating sequence is based on two radiocarbon samples and a single, possibly residual, worked flint. As a result it remains possible that the radiocarbon date from Phase I represents a tree burnt as a result of a lightning strike or other natural occurrence, and that the general clearance took place later when the linear features were laid out. Phase three comprised a medieval ridge and furrow system overlying the earlier deposits.