SNN105413 - An Archaeological Excavation and Watching Brief at West Haddon Bypass, Northamptonshire: Assessment Report and Updated Project Design

Northamptonshire Archaeology carried out an open area excavation and series of watching briefs in advance and during construction of the West Haddon Bypass scheme. Field Survey and subsequent trial trenching undertaken in 1997/8 had demonstrated the survival of archareological remains realting to an early Romano-British Settlment located to the south east of Village Farm. An area of 0.9 ha was initially subjected to full archaeological excavation prior to construction commencing, with a further 0.15 ha being excavated as a result of discoveries during the watching brief. The earliest evidence for occupation of the site was a circular ditched enclosure and a larger irregular enclosure defined by a sinuous gully. Both of these undated features predate the establishement of the Romano-British Settlement comprising of a series of sub-rectangulkar enclosures set out either side of a trackway. The excavation examined parts of three such enclosures together with associated features and a section of the trackway. The evidence indicates a rural settlement of modest status whose economy was based upon crop cultivation. The Romano-British settlement appears to have been established in the mid-1st century and reached its zenith in the 2nd and 3rd centuries before being abondoned by the late 3rd century.