SNN104975 - Higham Ferrers, King Meadow Lane, Prehistoric Activity and The Roman Roadside Settlement: Revised Post-Excavation Assessment & Updated Project Design

Between August 2002 and March 2003 Oxford Archaeology undertook a programme of archaeological work on part of an important Roman roadside settlement at Kings Meadow Lane, Higham Ferrers, on the eastern side of the Nene Valley. The excavations were the final part of a longstanding series of archaeological investigations in the area, in advance of a recreational development on 42 hectatres of land by the Duchy of Lancaster. In addition to a nationally important Saxon settkement, which is subject to a separately funded post-excavation programme, a number of highly significant discoveries were made, including: An extensice assemblage of early Mesolithic flint which suggests the presence of a significant settlement site, perhaps repeatadly re-occupies over an extended period of time. Also a later Neolithic/early Bronze Age ring ditch with central shallow cremation pit, and an early Bronze Age pit burial containing an inverted collared urn with an associated cremation deposit. Plus a middle to late Iron Age settlment consisting of a series of enclosures with associated ring gullies and other settlment features. Finally a substantial part of a well preserved Romano-Britiah roadside settlement.