SNN108074 - Land at Darsdale Farm, Raunds, Northamptonshire: Archaeological Evaluation

In July and August 2009 Foundations Archaeology undertook a programme of archaeological evaluation on land at Darsdale Farm, Raunds, Northamptonshire (NGR: SP 9950 7185). The project was commissioned by Waterman Energy, Environment and Design on behalf of Taylor Wimpey plc. In accordance with the approved Written Scheme of Investigation, the evaluation comprised the excavation and recording of 32 trenches, within seven fields, across the potential development area. The current project has identified variable levels of archaeological activity within the site, along with evidence for ridge and furrow and later ploughing across the study area. Fields 1 and 2 contained a generally dispersed, poorly dated set of features. An undated ditch in Trench 1 and a possible Saxon cut feature in Trench 2 suggested that the northern part of Field 1 contained the potential for archaeological remains, which may be related to the scheduled site immediately to the north. Field 3 was situated on a steeply sloping topography. No archaeological features or artefacts were present within Trench 16. The northern part of Field 4 was associated with evidence for possible industrial activity, in the form of pits filled with burnt and vitrified material. This activity remained undated. The eastern part of Field 4 contained evidence for post-medieval cut features, of uncertain function. Field 5 contained a single, undated ditch. Field 6 and 7 were associated with evidence for early Roman activity, in the form of field or enclosure ditches, gullies, a pit and a cut feature, which were associated with fairly unabraded 1st century AD pottery, burnt clay, animal bone and charcoal. It is, at present, unclear how this was related to the cropmark enclosure to the southwest of the current site. A copper alloy handle, recovered from Trench 27, was datable to the Roman period. The artefact was probably from a small item of furniture such as a drawer, box, or casket, although the possibility that it was from a military helmet could not be entirely ruled out. Features were located beneath ridge and furrow ploughsoil and former modern ploughsoil. It is likely, therefore, that some degree of plough truncation has occurred across the site. However, due to the nature of ridge and furrow ploughing, the level of truncation is likely to be variable. The presence of a number of posthole/gully type features indicated that, in places, preservation conditions were moderate to good.