SNN108478 - Archaeological Evaluation at Glapthorn Road, Oundle, Northamptonshire

An archaeological evaluation was undertaken to determine the archaeological implications of proposed development on the site. The site lies c.300m east of a significant late Iron Age and Romano-British settlement site. However, only a single ditch dated to the mid to late Iron Age was revealed during the investigation. An undated possible posthole base lay in close proximity to the ditch and is possibly associated with it. Quarrying of uncertain date may have taken place between trenches 1 and 2 at the southeastern end of the site. The evaluation identified a sequence of natural deposits overlain directly by topsoil at the west of the site and natural deposits overlain by a buried subsoil nd topsoil at the eastern end of the site. Levelling deposits of redeposited natural clay overlay this buried soil profile. The trenching revealed that the site lay on a significantly steep hillside where the high ground to the west had been truncated and the lower ground to the east built up in order to form a level surface currently in use as a playing field. As a result of this, any archaeological remains occurring at the western end of the site are likely to have been truncated, whilst any towards the eastern and northeastern edge may occur at significant enough depths so as not to be distubed by development.