SNN107016 - Archaeological Evaluation by Trial Trenching at Rothwell Truck Stop, Rothwell, Northamptonshire

Phoenix Consulting Archaeology Ltd carried out an archaeological trial trench evaluation across land off Orton Road, Rothwell, Northamptonshire, during March 2010. The work was carried out on behalf of Rothwell Land Ltd in support of an application for a truck stop with associated facilities. The works were required in order to assess the presence, extent, nature and survival of archaeological features across the site. The desk-based assessment and archaeo-geophysical survey did not identify any archaeology on the site apart from the remains of ridge and furrow. 14 trial trenches were therefore plotted in a random fashion, positioned to provide a suitable coverage of the ground surface. The only archaeological features identified during the course of the trenching exercise were the remains of ridge and furrow. Several former stream courses were also encountered. The only artefacts recovered were of 19th and 20th century date. During the proceedings, the spoil from each trench was inspected and a metal detector was employed in order to characterise the artefact content of the plough horizon. No finds pre-dating the modern period were recovered. The lack of archaeological evidence within the trenches, even in the form of residual artefacts, suggests that little activity, aside from post-medieval farming, has ever been carried out across the site.