SNN102326 - Pitsford Quarry (Stage 2), Northamptonshire: An Assessment And Updated Project Design

A Watching Brief followed by archaeological recording was carried out in advance of quarrying in Bottom Sheep Dale Field, Pitsford. The continuation of settlement remains previously identified during the first stage of recording in 2001, was recorded over an area of approximately one hectare. The pit alignment continued to extend southwards across the site and beyond the limit of excavation. A further 22 pits were recorded, all were undated, but stratigraphically they were the earliest features on the site. The full extent of many of the enclosures identified in 2001 was established and more settlement features were exposed. Small assemblages of Iron Age pottery, faunal remains and ecofacts were recovered adding to the corpus of material recovered from the previous strip. The evidence suggests that enclosures and boundary features, as well as the pit alignment, continue southwards, down-slope, beyond the limits of the current strip. The southern part of the field is due to be quarried in Autumn 2002. It is suggested that post-excavation analysis should be postponed until the full extent of the archaeological remains in this field can be established and a suitable strategy for recording, analysis and publication of the results of the recording for all three stages can be determined.