SNN108163 - Archaeological evaluation of land at Harley Way, Benefield, Northamptonshire

In September 2011, an archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Northamptonshire Archaeology on behalf of CgMs Consulting Ltd on land at Harley Way, Benefield, Northamptonshire. The development area, comprising 6ha of land to the south-east of Lower Benefield, has been subject to a desk-based assessment and a geophysical survey. This report provides the results for sixteen evaluation trenches within the development area. The evaluation has proved the veracity of the geophysical survey results with the excavation of a number of Romano-British ditches, a probable trackway and a single pit dating to the 1st to early 2nd centuries AD. The skeletal remains of a human baby were found at the top of the pit. However, the general paucity of artefacts and complete absence of fine pottery indicates that it was probably a low status rural farmstead. The trenching has confirmed that the Roman settlement is confined to an area of just over 1ha within the eastern part of the field. In the northern part of the field, where aerial photography identified rectilinear soil marks probably relating to the remains of Churchfield deserted medieval village, the remains of a medieval stone building were found. Pottery associated with the building dated to the 13th century. A further spread of material in another trench may suggest that further building remains may survive on the northern boundaries of the site; to the south evidence of remnant furrows indicates much of the site was part of the open field system. Large pits at the west indicated quarrying had also taken place during the medieval period. Although the extent of the medieval settlement remains is not precisely defined, it is likely that thy are concentrated close to the Northern boundary of the site.