SNN105632 - Archaeological Evaluation on Land at Priors Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire (CPH06)

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken at Priors Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire, as part of a planning condition prior to aggregate extraction at the site. The following is an interim statement to be followed by full analysis of the results at a later stage of the results. In total twenty-two trenches were excavated within the proposed development area. The trenches were excavated over geophysical anomalies and also within ‘blank’ areas of the site to test the integrity of the former survey. The trial excavations served to confirm the results of the geophysical survey as a largely reliable source in the pre-determination of the presence of archaeological features. The main focus of archaeological activity lay within the eastern part of the site with sparsely distributed prehistoric features being identified in Trenches 12, 13 and 15, including a possible well in Trench 12. An iron smelting site was recorded in Trench 9, including remnants of what appears to be an in-situ furnace. In Trench 22, adjacent to the scheduled Romano-British villa area, an undated ditch and flue were identified. Evidence of former agricultural practice was present across the site in the form of furrows. The ridges have subsequently been ploughed out.