SNN105874 - Proposed Agricultural Reservoir, Elton Estate, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

In February 2006, Archaeological Solutions Ltd conducted a fieldwalking and metal detector archaeological survey on land at the Elton Estate, Warmington, Northamptonshire. The site occupies 5 hectares of land proposed for a new minerals processing plant associated with the construction of the adjacent agricultural reservoir. Situated within the Nene Valley in the north-eastern corner of Northamptonshire the site runs parallel to the A605 Warmington Bypass with Elton Estate located to the north (Grant 2002). Evidence for prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval activity has been recorded in the vicinity, and archaeological finds and cropmarks indicative of human activity are recorded in close proximity to (and within) the site. Previous fieldwalking in advance of the construction of the A605 Warmington Bypass recovered ten sherds of medieval pottery (SMR 5810). Cropmarks are also present in the north-eastern third of the site indicative of former boundaries and trackways that date to a later prehistoric or Roman period (SMR 2590/0/1). A further possible early boundary (SMR 2590/0/4) and an adjacent ploughed-razed Bronze Age barrow are present in the south-west. Another plough-razed Bronze Age barrow is also present in the north-eastern part of the site. To the north-east of Warmington lie additional possibly associated features over a wide area, and also to the east and south of the current area (Grant 2002). The brief records the presence of a Roman road that runs along the Nene Valley and links Water Newton, Oundle and Thrapston, and passes to the east of the site (SMR 1897/10). The brief also notes that early Saxon pottery sherds possibly indicative of contemporary settlement along with medieval and post-medieval material were present during archaeological work in 1991 in the southern part of the site (SMR 6070). The majority of finds recovered during the fieldwalking/metal detector comprise some 61 sherds of pottery dating from the medieval to early modern periods. The pottery is principally post-medieval and early modern. Thirteen iron object, predominantly nails and plough parts, were recovered along with one belt buckle and a possible stirrup. The fieldwalking survey recovered a cow bell and thirteen struck flints, a cluster of which was present in the south-west corner.